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 ......... !!