Rocky the Otterhound, an endangered breed: Rocky the Otterhound: High winds, recycling and Holidays.

Well this week Rocky has had a full and enjoyable time of it. His “dad” and I have had a week off work and as a result Rocky has had a great time. He has had new experiences; and so have we!! As a result of being so young Rocky’s character is still forming and each day we are seeing more and more why Otterhounds are called “the clowns of the hound world”.

But first I must warn any potential Otterhound owners about Young Otterhounds and high winds. No-one told us so we weren’t prepared but let me give you an insight: ………… While being walked in a field nearby, Rocky settled down to produce what all good dogs produce after a meal (yes sorry about the image this may bring up but it is important to the story) ……….. It so happens that on this day we were having strong gusty winds alongside the glorious sunshine ………….. Anyway, a particularly strong gust of wind popped up just as Rocky was attending to his needs (he had his back in the direction of the wind at the time) ………. This gust seemed to have startled him somewhat because he suddenly turned around very quickly while impersonating a snapping turtle in full snap!! On realising there was nothing there he got spooked and shot into the long grass around the edge of the field, whereupon another few gusts caused the grass to sway to and fro. This caused Rocky to move up a gear from spooked to playful, he spun around and around quickly, three times - got his legs all tangled in his lead and promptly fell over!! Needless to say rescue for Rocky was a little long in coming as it is difficult to untangle anything when you are almost crying with laughter! So be warned: - mixing young Otterhounds and high winds can cause terminal laughter!!

The week at home started with Rocky being as demanding as an Otterhound gets; that is, he asked cutely and then waited patiently ………

You see, we recycle our plastic bottles twice – they are washed out and given to Rocky (he just loves playing with them) then they are recycled yet again through the council collection.

While waiting to go out to the bin one of his well chewed bottles was left on our dining table ………. Rocky had spotted it and become interested again – hence the endearing “mum, pleased can I have” look! I, of course, missed the cue – poor lad being saddled with me!

However, while sitting down to my breakfast Rocky managed to make it abundantly clear what he was after …….. Even I couldn’t miss the resting chin and eyes staring at the object of his desire ……… well, not while it is right in front of me!!
Rocky got his bottle back!

Rocky has had many long and happy walks this week, one of which saw us up on the plain again. The sun was shining (no wind this day), the chalk down-land was in full bloom and the skylarks were singing up a storm, it was a beautiful walk.

We went uphill and down dale and Rocky trotted about merrily having a good time

He was lucky enough to meet another new friend and chases and playtime was abundant. Rocky was quite tired and panting by the time his new friend moved on, so we thought we would stop for some refreshment!

Well clever us ……… we had thought to bring along some water for Rocky but had, of course, not given a thought to our own requirements!! That water sure looked nice!!

Was Rocky sympathetic when we told him we were thirsty too?

………. Perhaps not.

The past couple of weeks Rocky has been developing a few new traits; one of which is evident at feeding time. He has always sat for his food (not our training, he arrived like that) but he has decided to take it a step further lately ………

It seems that he feels that a great big cheesy grin might get “dad” to let him at his food quicker ………… it seems he hasn’t quite connected human laughter with delayed commands or actions!!

One of his favourite people paid him a visit this week as well ………. Rocky loves him so much he even lets him lay on his sofa!!

“I love you Rocky and I want a cuddle”…….

Rocky, as I mentioned last week, is becoming ever more agreeable to this sort of behaviour ………. So cuddle it was!

Another new trait that Rocky has developed is “Trophy hunting”. It appears to have become a mission of his to find (and bring home) at least one trophy from a days walking. We have all sorts come home with him (bakery bags, plastic bottles to name but a few), and each is carried home with head held high and a haughty step!!
This walk produced (another) abandoned tennis ball!!

We have also had a baby’s dummy (or pacifier?)

……. And endless small trees or windfall branches!

Each trophy is a prized possession until it has been home, had a jolly good playing with and then been carefully abandoned somewhere within the house where it will get in the way the most!!
Love him?!

One of Rocky’s walks was on a particularly hot day, the grass on the verges had been cut and the cuttings had shrivelled in the heat.

Rocky of course thought this marvellous fun and proceeded to bury his head in as much of it as possible before rolling around and getting as many grass seeds in his fur as possible – all done with a huge grin on his face!!