Rocky has had a better week this week. The rain has disappeared, well mostly, and we have even had some sunny cold days; nice and crisp - just how we like them. Anyhows, Rocky has spent more time out of doors, enjoying life, the universe and everything!
This photo shows what it's like to try and get an Otterhound out for a walk - just a gentle stroll to stretch those legs................... Yes he's hiding, doing the "if I can't see you, you can't see me" thing!
The funny thing is that he has plagued us to go out into the garden since the rain stopped, he will spend ages out there watching the birds, sniffing the air and playing with his toys. Why he is reluctant to go for walks is a mystery, as he always finds something new to watch or explore!
Things have improved though, if it's not raining you can occasionally get an almost eager response out of him. So "hanging on in there" does have some benefits! He is still only six months old though, so there is still loads of time to get enthused, I guess.
Rocky has some new hobbies. One is sitting down (how Hound Dog) and having some good old fashioned fussing. He really seems to enjoy having a rub down with a rubber brush, it doesn't groom him as it has no effect on his top coat; it just catches any loose hairs from underneath that are floating about and ready to fall.
He does of course turn it into fun and games - there is the try and catch the brush with your teeth game, or his favourite - try and catch the hair bunnies that float around! This last one is a bit of a challenge, as the duty "fusser" has to try and get to the bunnies before Rocky does. If you fail there follows a more active game of trying to catch Rocky, in order to retrieve the hair bunny before he tries to swallow it!! He probably wouldn't really try that, as I am sure he is far more intelligent than we are prepared to admit. But, being responsible owners we have to assume he will do the worse.
Another hobby is seeing how many cushions you can bundle from the sofa to put "under you" before taking a nap.
In this photo he has four cushions under him!! Its not as if our sofa's are uncomfortable - they're not, honest!
I'd swear he was even pinching them from one sofa to put on another! Once he got big enough to walk on and off the sofa he seemed to forget all about his bed. "No thanks folks, if it's good enough for you it's good enough for me too"!
The most unappealing of his hobbies however, is making soup! Rocky is very fond of drinking water, I say drinking but most of the time it is more like relocating!
He stands there lapping at his water with his tongue, beard, ears and other furry parts dangling in the water.
Be warned, do not call to an Otterhound when its drinking ....................... the resultant shower as a head turns suddenly and flings multiple droplets of water from every single hair that has been in contact with it, is something to behold!!
If you have been clever enough to let things be, you will only be rewarded with "water relocation". This is where the multiple droplets of water drip from the offending hairs and either form a huge puddle under Rocky's chin or is more generously spread over the entire ground floor of the house!! I had to give up walking around in bare feet or socks due to this adorable Otterhound trait!
Anyway, back to the soup making. When first owning a puppy you are endlessly reminded to always make sure that there is a plentiful supply of fresh water for your dog - THANKS. Changing his water to ensure fresh water has become a six to eight times a day job, even more some days. As previously mentioned, it isn't just an Otterhounds tongue that enters the water .................. not only does drinking water refresh your Otterhound, it washes it inside and out!! The residue (that's all it can be termed as really) that is left in the water bowl consist of slobber, mud, paper, bits of stick, dust, sand and whatever else your curious Otterhound has had in or near its mouth in the last few hours - the resultant mess can only really be called "soup". It is very cloundy and generally so bad that even your Otterhound won't consider drinking it. Rocky will look at you imploringly to change it for something more appealing! We don't wait for the look anymore - we're well trained!
Rocky has learned a new skill this week, as well.
We are still giving trips out in the car and he appears to have settled well with car journeys. This is him by his open window, his seat belt allows him to catch the breeze (note the handsome swept back look he is sporting) while still being safely inside the car. He has got the knack of weight distribution with the car movement, and has settled very happily to the myriad of interesting things he can see from his vantage point.
This week we left him in the car, with his window open, for a short period of time while we went off to do some shopping.
He learned the skill of waiting patiently without eating the car (Yes we've had a dog that did that as well!), very well and was as good as gold.
I have honestly never had such a non destructive dog before, nothing to do with us, he's just like that. What a smasher............... mind you I have had to give up the idea of getting new dining furniture as a reult of raising a puppy in the house!
Lastly, after returning to the car we took him out for a little walk in a park where he enjoyed watching children play and cyclists go past. We bumped into a couple who asked us if Rocky was an Otterhound pup, amazing! - someone else who recognised the breed. It turns out that they had recently watched a programme on endangered breeds and Otterhounds were one of them.
That is , of course, the whole point of this blog - once people realise what smashing dogs they are to live with, demand has got to go up. Then we may have a chance of keeping this wonderful breed for future generations to enjoy!
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