Rocky the Otterhound: Presents and Christmas walks

Rocky has celebrated his first Christmas as a member of our family!

He became a little impatient on Christmas morning, when we all insisted on getting up and dressed before we opened the presents around the Christmas tree!

He wouldn't take his eyes off of them and his nose crept ever nearer to the chocolate Santa's!!

But he was a star, apart fom knocking one chocolate Christmas Santa on the floor (repeatedly), he waited until we were all ready to dive in and see what Santa had bought us!!

Rocky was as polite as ever when accepting the gifts secreted under the tree ................... If he had woken during the night, I'm sure he would have been the one to offer Santa a cup of tea and biscuit.

But as things were Rocky had been well remembered this Christmas; so he must have been a good boy!!

There are some who like to carefully unwrap presents in order to preserve the paper for prosperity, there are some who like to rip open the wrapping in as fast a time as possible .................... then there is Rocky!!

Rocky liked to ensure that he had everyones attention before beginning his investigation into the contents of a present. He would proudly display his gift to all, parade it around the room for a while until he was sure that all attention was on him ................... then set about ripping the wrapping to shreds. Where possible he also liked to spend time chewing the paper, in order to identify how expensive it is Perhaps??!

Eventually, like the rest of the family, all his presents were opened. He had squeeky toys, treats to eat, decorations to wear and a posh new dog towel .................... all in all he did very well this year!

The present which seemed to get the most attention from him though appeared to be his fluffy, "quacking" duck.

This may have been because it resembled Sparky's favourite toy (he had been drawn to it the moment Sparky came to stay), or it may have been the fluffy body and different noise it made when chomped?! Whatever the reason, it has remained a firm favourite so a big well done to Santa for finding it for him.

Rocky had a good day with all the family together, our neighbours (who have been part of the family for many years) were also able to take part in the gift giving and revieving.

So, with visitors, good neighbours and family members Rocky's pack has become extended. Like any good and loyal pack member, he has taken it all in his stride and enjoyed everyones company and attention for as long as they cared to give it.

Also like the rest of us, he was able to take a good long nap after a very enjoyable Christmas feast!

Traditionally, after the excesses of Christmas day comes the fresh air walk, a biggy, in order to try and reduce the waistline to its pre-Christmas levels.

So we took Rocky to a local common. Loads of enclosed space, loads of other people with the same idea and a chance for fun and games.

Rocky was so happy to run and play, we wished he had recieved a red cape for Christmas as he could well have become "Super Dog" on the common!!

I don't remember seeing him without a smile on his face during that trip out.

The fact that the common had become home to "Super Mole" (note ALL the mole hills), did not detract from our enjoyment. In fact Rocky found that mole hills make digging very easy!

We happened upon a small ancient burial mound surrounded by a fence ..................... of what interest could this be to a young Otterhound you may think??

Well if you are going to play "Chase me - ring a roses" what better place than around a circular fence .................. equals out the odds you see, as no one (not even an Otterhound), can cut through the middle!

But as we are learning, you can't outsmart an Otterhound ......................



Rocky would run no more than half way round, at which point he would stop and gauge which way his opponent (Hubby) would go. He would then run the opposite way and ensure that Hubby was the only one who ran all the way around the fence!

After several rounds of this game the less intelligent (?) of the two decided he was just too tired to carry on; despite the fun that the onlookers were having!

Then it was a case of all taking a seat where ever possible while Hubby got his breath back!!

Rocky (the clown) although sat with the rest of us, didn't seem to be at all out of breath!

How do you outsmart one of these dogs??

Answers on a postcard please ....................

Lastly, can you guess which of Santa's presents Hubby really, really liked?

A clue ?........................

Hubby likes to collect T shirts!!

Rocky the Otterhound: Visitors are such fun!!

Rocky has shared his home with some visitors this week. Our family came down to stay for a while and a good time was had by all. There were two more adults to make a fuss of him and three extra boys (of various sizes) to play with.

Rocky was so pleased he even shared his (!?) sofa with the boys.

This photo shows a crashed out Rocky after hours of playing, he kept forgetting to take his usual naps!

This is Rocky having one of many games with our youngest visitor.

They got on really well and, although only a baby himself, Rocky amazed us by how gentle he was when playing with him! Rocky is usually a very gentle lad anyway but he appeared to make an extra special effort with Ollie!

What wonderful creatures Otterhounds are!!

My sister-in-law seemed completely smitten and was often heard to utter "Ooooh!" "Aaaahh" and "I want an Otterhound"!!

They have thier own Spaniel which, as many know, are known to be rather bouncy and enthusiastic dogs.

Well "Sis" couldn't get over how gentle and "laid back" Rocky was in comparison!

But that is what our Otterhound is like, a quiet gentle giant (well soon to be giant), who loves to be with people. He has his enthusiastic moments where he leaps about like a young horse (including the not quite controlled leg thing foals have) and smiles and jumps, but he is generally so placid and sweet natured ............................ wins 'em over every time!

Anyhow, Rocky made best of friends with all, and especially Ollie; they ended up doing lots together.

By the time our visitors left it was like they had known each other all thier lives - lovely!

Rocky was a little shattered though! When people are about he usually does that dog thing; you know, like I'm fast asleep but if I hear you do anything interesting or hear you rustle food packs I'll be up and by your side. Well for the first time since he was iddy biddy, he slept so solidly (when he finally gave in to it) that people could even go in and out of the house without a twitch from him! Unheard of!!!

When I say that Rocky smiles (loads while our visitors were here), I'm sure there would be those that would say I was nuts; that dogs not only don't experience the same emotions as us but that they do not have the facial expressions to show them if they did!

Well just to prove all those unbelievers wrong ................

Here is a piccy of Rocky smiling!

Happiness is Rocky shaped!!!!

As well as having a whale of a time with our visitors Rocky is also stating to vary his diet a little. Well, when I say vary I actually mean aside from slugs, snails and stones!!!

While cooking up a storm in the kitchen, hubby accidently dropped some spaghetti on the floor ...................... never too far away from the interesting goings on in the kitchen, Rocky decided to help out by cleaning the floor for us.

He so obviosly enjoyed it that hubby got the idea of combining a treat of spaghetti with checking if Rocky was big enough to stand up and touch his shoulders yet.

Not quite it seems but I think further activities like this, from time to time, will tempt him to keep growing!!

So at the end of his busy and very entertaining week, what does our hero do?

He does what all good young dogs do ..........................

He catches up with all the sleep/growing time he missed out on while his pals were here!!

Sleep well pet, Christmas is just around the corner and that is always fun for the young!!

Rocky the Otterhound: Bad habits, old and new friends

Rocky has had a brilliant week, he has had a friend round to stay the night! Not the pyjama party he was hoping for, but an exciting time none the less!!

This is Sparky, the most laid back greyhound we have ever met ............... in fact he is so laid back he is literally horizontal!!! For most of the time!

Rocky got a little confused by the lack of excited doggy play so thought he would ask for a game ................

Come on Sparky old man ................... lets have a good game ..................

Sparky obviosly agreed to a game of hide and seek, he even covered his eyes and counted to 100, but ......................................................

wasn't too keen on the come and find you bit!

I think Rocky gave up on the games at that point but they settled down for a lovely peaceful night and I know Rocky enjoyed the experience and appeared everso fond of Sparky; he licked him to pieces!

Rocky also had an exciting trip to the city this week, his first time in such a big and busy place, we took him round the christmas market and he ended up with a very nice squeeky mince pie. He bahaved impecably and was often stopped and made such a fuss of he almost turned inside out with pleasure. To our surprise we met two people who identified him as an otterhound (not many people know what they look like). Of course, everyone who met him wanted one of thier own! In fact one lovely lady made her husband look skyward as she emphatically declared that Rocky was so beautiful she was going to get one to go with her three existing dogs!! Love him, what a good ambassador Rocky is!!

Our eldest son ( one of Rocky's favourite playmates) came home from university this week.

After practicing some student passtimes ..................... (the beer bottle was empty before Rocky got it ........ Honest)!

They decided to renew thier manly bond with a spot of wrestling ........................

Rocky often got the upper hand ......................

but not to be defeated too easily Dan would keep going in order to get an advantage ....................

In true manly style they tusseled and rolled ...............

Then rolled and tusseled

Eventually the game stopped when they both realised they were on camera!!!

Like all epic battles it ended .......................

With a nice cosy sleep!!

Rocky was weighed again this week .................... he is now 24.5 Kg !!! Wow!

However, I think we need to find a new way of finding out his weight. We only have bathroom scales and hubby has to lift Rocky up and stand on the scales with him.

Not only is he getting heavy .................... but I get the impression that Rocky is starting to feel a bit foolish when draping himself on "daddy's" shoulders!!





Finally this week Rocky has also been practising his recall skills .................

What's that funny noise??????

Oh Yes!!! I remeber .................... run to "mum" with a big smile on face = a tasty treat ............................ Yipee!!!!

Must remember ......................

Funny noise,

run back smiling,

tasty treat ..........................

Funny noise,

run back smiling,

tasty treat .....................

Funny noise .........................................

Rocky the Otterhound: Water, Impressions and food

Rocky has had a brand new experience this week! We decided he was old enough to have his first bath (well shower actually; as we cleverly replaced our unused bath with a shower just before we got him!).

So, for the first time he was allowed upstairs and he made a big show of going into every room and exploring. At least I think that was what he was doing - but maybe he was just looking for the cat?

We then took him into the bathroom where he had a good look round and was enticed into the shower cubicle .......................

This he thought to be no problem; not as soft and comfy as the sofas downstairs but acceptable enough.



Then he was introduced to the shower head and all the lovely water that comes out of it ..............


................ Suddenly not so sure!

However with loads of reassurance and the familiar scene of mum taking photo's in the background, he grudgingly accepted getting wet.




He seemed to enjoy having the shampoo rubbed in and became very squirmy while making lots of "Arf" noises .................


He even gave hubby lots of kisses while this was going on ..................

Little did he know that he had to have his head cleaned as well.

It was after having his head shampooed and rinsed that he decided to do another of his famous impresions ...............................



Rocky's impression of an alien!!!!!!!!



Pretty good I thought!






Anyway, after his wash Rocky got to do one of his favourite things ............. play tooth monster with the drying towels .......................... he squirmed and chewed to his hearts content and came out looking damp but gorgeous!




He then of course ran round like a complete idiot until he got himself totally dry.




We just had to take a picture of him then; before he got the chance to make himself look like a complete scruff again ............................ his usual and preferred look. Not a dog for looking posh or groomed our Rocky, much prefers to look like an old rocker!!





Rocky looking his best ............ pretty good Huh?






Like any good dog, Rocky has learned to identify the sounds and smells of food preparation. Not only is the production of his food important to him, but what we have is of equal importance!

On first identifying the clatter of our kitchen utensils he gets ready ............................







Note the taughtness of every muscle, the attention lines on his brow ......................... this dog is working up to something ........................














Once it has become obvous that there is definately some sort of food preparation going on .....................




He leaps into action and performs (the now perfected) sit up and beg for all your worth routine!!!


Please note, that being young Rocky's patience is not fully engaged. If after several minutes of performing this feat there is no pay off, he will squirm his way in between you and the food preparation surface; in an effort to ensure you are aware of his presence!! Making supper has just got more difficult!!

His wonderful grasp of how to interact with his world aside, Rocky has performed yet another selfless act of rescue ............................. a little distance from where he found the last baby hedgehog, Rocky found another this week.

Rocky got the scent (used to the smell of hedgehog now) and (as I was on the other end of the lead), I was drawn inevitably towards the object of his curiosity.

This little chap would not only not survive the winter if left, but appeared to have an injury of some kind on its back.

So, Rocky enable me to practice my KungFu mastery again by balancing a prickly ball of hog on one hand while leading a very curious and bouncy Rocky (who swerved and bounced up and down all the way) towards home.

Rocky gave the hedgehog a big kiss before he was put into a recepticle for transportation (my mixing bowl). As this little fella (yes, I looked again) wasn't keen on unrolling, Rocky had got his first sharp introduction to the breed.

Somehow I get the impression that this will not deter him in the future from tring to kiss hedgehogs, he just loves everything!

The little chap was dropped off and left in the care of our local wildlife hospital (the hedgehog that is, as was the previous one), and I will catch up on how he's doing next week.

Rocky has learned another new trick this week ...................... on his walks he has met and made friends with all sorts of local people and animals. However, if while on a walk he spies someone that does not seem to notice us; he has developed an approach that cleverly uses his walker.

He will sit down facing the object of his affection (he just adores people) and refuse to move. It proves useless to pull, cajole or offer bribes and eventually you have to just give up and stand with him.

Of course, the person being played will eventually realise that there is a strange person with a dog stood watching them. You are then put in the embarrasing position of trying to explain that you are not a wierdo, it's just that your dog will not move. Then comes the explanation that he is only young, loves people and wants to make friends with everyone.

The entire event then inevitably finishes with you standing there burning with embarssment while Rocky gets lots of hugs and attention from the people he first noticed!!

I am starting to think that there is something to be said for people who have dumb dogs ......... !!

Rocky the Otterhound: Fresh air and Friends

Rocky has at last had a ride in my car; he is big enough now to sit at the front (its an MG - only two seats) while wearing his seat belt and behave well. Hubby was taking my car to have its winter roof put on and Rocky went too!

He had his seat belt on but still managed to help by checking there was nothing coming when the car was reversed out of the drive.

On checking that the roof really was down Rocky looked forward to a really windy drive where he could let his fur (and ears) fly in the wind.



Rocky really loves his ears flying, does it all the time! This time was going to be different though, he wouldn't have to bounce up and down in order to feel them rise up and be free!!!



Once happy that all was in order he said a quick farewell to me and ordered his chauffeur to proceed.





They drove off into the distance and Rocky enjoyed all the sights, sounds and smells of the trip to thier fullest!


His return was a little more conventional (with the hard top on) but he was full of it when he came home and couldn't wait to tell me all about it .............................. lots of snarfing and wooing!



Timing has been on our side this week; shortly after the hard top went on the car we entered a stormy patch with high winds and pouring rain. We have discovered that Rocky doesn't like going for a walk in the rain! In fact he will obstinately cling to his sofa (being a couch potatoe it was no hardship for him), even a nice biscuity treat would do nothing to entice him!?

Eventually our nagging won the day and he went for a short walk around the block. However I think we did it in record time, as when out in the rain Rocky tends to walk at a much faster pace and get back home as quickly as possible! Can't blame him for that! Once home though he is rewarded with one of his favourite games - the towel and the tooth monster!

This game entails getting his towel out to dry him (saves soaking your furniture with a wet dog about). He will then proceed to get his teeth into the towel (preferably where your hand is underneath it) and very gently try to scupper your attempts at drying him. He loves this game so much thet he always sits and looks at the towel when he comes in from a walk, even if it hasn't been raining; and asks for a game. The towel is hung on a hook that allows it to be well within his reach but he will not touch it unless you get it down to try to dry his feet or body!


It is such fun for all of us that we generally give him a tooth monster game whether he needs drying or not now, he has such fun and we ususally end up in fits of laughter too!

Rocky also went to play with his friend Molly again this week.









Molly was amazed at how much Rocky had grown (he's now over 50 lbs), she is 3 months older than Rocky and can now run right under him





We were lucky with the weather again and Rocky and Molly decided that going out to play was the order of the day

We and our friends went to this huge enclosed field and gave the dogs room to play.

They had a wonderful time!






Molly was built for speed and Rocky for stamina, this resulted in Rocky never quite keeping up with molly (unless she stopped - which was not very often).


However, they both took full advantage of the ear flying possibilities and got lots of lovely fresh air into thier heads!

Rocky was able to show us how much he has learned and his recall was pretty good, especially since he had the distraction of games with best mate Molly.

When they slowed down a bit and the skies were getting greyer we decided to head indoors for a nice hot cup of coffee and let them play again before it was time to go.

Timing again!! Once indoors the heavens opened and down came the rain, we don't usually have this luck, in fact our family are renowned for our poor timing!

Anyway, Molly and Rocky continued thier playing, although in a far more sedate fashion.

I think Molly could have gone on for hours but Rocky is much more of a pace yourself dog and was begininng to withdraw from action just before we left for home.

A really good time was had by all and I'm sure we will meet up again before too long. Its nice to have lots of fresh air - and even nicer if you have friends to share it with!

Rocky the Otterhound: Wow that's weather (?) and family ties

I think Rocky has been growing again this week ..............................

He has indulged in his daily walking routine and played a bit; and eaten lots ....................

................ and slept ...............LOTS!

He has also laid claim to one of our sofa's! This is used purely for serious growing which is mainly manifest by very, very serious sleeping.

Due to his self indulgent growing fest, there is not a mass of interesting events to relay this week. However, there are a couple which I would like to share.







On our walks Rocky has experienced the joys of British weather, and early winter weather at that!

He has walked in rain, he has walked in wind, he has walked in the dark (anything after 4pm) and he has had several walks in his favourite type of weather (so far) .................. bright sunshine and hard frost! He still hasn't stopped his bouncy reaction to frost by the way, he is still just like a kid on a trampoline (but without the trampoline)!


This week though, Rocky was initiated into even more variety of weather. Whilst walking in the dark, in the rain, we had a sudden hard, fast, shower of hailstones. Rocky doesn't like hailstones, he doesn't do hailstones ...................... no amount of ressurance would get him to walk any further. We both stood there, me with my knees bent in order to shelter Rocky under my umbrella until the hailstones stopped! Did I feel a plonker?! Well just a bit, but it was either that or end up with a dog intent on strangling himself on his lead as he wound himself round and round my ankles.

The hailstones didn't last for long I'm glad to say. Rocky was enticed out from under the umbrella and we walked home! But of course to get him out on his next walk took some effort!!!

Rocky also went to visit his sister this week ............................. This is Duchess, a real cutie!!Rocky and Duchess got on like a house on fire, they were so happy to see each other. After initial greeting it was time for some serious playing ...........................

They played outside ...............








Ok, you go and hide ...................... I'll count to 30!














Found You!!!




You can come out now ...................... my turn to hide!










This is how you walk when you're an Otterhound ............................... No no, get your tail up lad!!






Look Sis, if do this with my head, my ears take off ......................... if I do it hard enough will I fly?
Then they played indoors .....................







You're right! .................... Your Dad does taste nice!!










That's really funny, I turned round to kiss you just as you turned round to kiss me ..........





Hey, what's that sudden bright light??





Then they went outside to play again!!






















Eventually .............................








They came back in again, and like any younster,
they wanted a snack after using up so much energy .......................








Please Miss, can we have a snack? We are a little peckish!












Synchronised sitting .....................


a favourite game ........................ !!









Finally .......................







Puppyhood and Otterhound (?hood!?) won the day and they both settled down for a well earned rest.











Rocky slept all the way home!!








Last words this week are that some say that Otterhounds are pack animals ............... of course they are, that is not in any doubt. But if you think about it, all dogs are pack animals, its just that now .............................. we are Rocky's pack.


I have yet to find any way that bringing up Rocky has been different from bringing up any other pup, except perhaps the amount of effort you have to put in to entice him off the soffa for a walk! But that may just be Hound (?hood!?). I love it!!