Age & Sex: 7 yr. old Male	UTD: Yes
Weight:  72 lbs.	Other Dogs: Yes
Color:  Mahogancy Fawn	Cats: Unknown
Ears: Natural	Children: Under 5: Yes     Over 5: Yes
Tail: Docked	Professional Training Required: No
Neutered: Yes	Microchipped: No
Owner Surrender	Location: East Lyme, CT
Adoption Donation $150

2/15/10 - Rocco has fit into our home so well that we have decided to make him a permanent member of our family.   He is absolutely wonderful with our 2 young grandchildren ages 1 and 3.  And he and our Boxer are getting along famously - not one squabble at all, but a lot of playing and chasing balls.  His only drawback is that he will not use the doggie dog, but when the weather warms up we will work on that.

1/26/10 - Rocco made it to his new foster home on Saturday.  His pictures don't do him justice at all.  He is very handsome.  He has a very classic looking big square head and flat snout.  He looks very gray in the pictures, but that is not the case at all, he is actually just a little gray.  And what a personality he has!!  He just loves everyone.  We have a 6 yr old male Boxer and kept them separated for the first few days just to give them time to get used to one another.  The first day they saw each other through the gates, then on Sun. we tookt hem both out into the yard together and there was a lot of barking and jumping by our own dog.  On Monday they settled down and we brought Rocco into the family room on a leash and put our Kaiser on a leash also far enough apart that they could not get to one another.  They were very good and calm.  This morning I was putting my grand daughter down for a nap and I heard a dog come into the room and assumed it was Kaiser, but when I looked aroud I was very surprised to see Rocco.  He ran downstairs and into the room where Kaiser was and they were fine together.  I came down and looked around to see how he had gotten out but all the doors and gates were shut.  He must have jumped the 3 ft superyard that I had up in the living room to give him more room.  So that was it, he was out in the main part of the house with our dog and we have not had a problem at all with them.  They have both been loose the rest of the day and are now taking a nap after playing.  He has a lot of energy for a 7 yr old but is also very calm and easy going.  He does get excited when someone comes into the house or he hears a noise. This guy is a real keeper!

1/23/10 - Rocco is moving to a new foster home today.  He has been a joy to foster and he could always make me smile.  He is only moving because I have personal business that I have to take care of and can not foster for several weeks.  I miss him already and he has been only gone an hour.  Enjoy your new foster home Rocco and keep on being a good boy.

1/13/10 - Foster mom is busy so I'm writing my update this time.  She said something about putting away the Christmas decorations before foster brother Simba eats them all.  Good thing I'm a good boy and never eat anything I'm not supposed to eat.  I've even been staying off the dining room table - maybe because mom has it all covered with stuff.  I've been really enjoying my foster home - even the snow has been fun, Especially when foster dad throws the ball for me - except the ball keeps getting lost in the snow.  I also got to go to Florida with my foster family.  No snow there but it was a little chilly - still lots of fun chasing my ball.  I really love balls!!!!   Riding in the car all that way wasn't much fun - foster sister Star took up most of the back seat - but I just laid down and slept most of the trip.  However coming home we had to pick up Simba, so the back seat got really crowded.  Good thing it was only for a little while.  Mom says I'm getting better about not being too excited.  However, mom's granddaughter, Maggie, still doesn't like me washing her face - jeepers,  I'm only giving her kisses.  I'm also better about staying around off-leash outside.  Mom lets Star and me outside to do our bathroom business and I come right back to the door when I'm done  - I don't go chasing the squirrels or exploring like Star does.  All right -  I also come right back because it has been really cold and I don't want to stay out very long. ,  So I've been a good boy this last month.  I don't know why mom and dad keep telling me to get out of the recliner chairs - the chairs are so comfy.  But every time they catch me I get told "OFF".  I always get off the chair but my dog pillow  is just not the same.  The only thing better than the chair is a nice patch of sunshine on the rug!!  I'm still waiting for my forever home.  I'm a really good boy and I make my foster family laugh.  I'll make you laugh too.  What are you waiting for - get your application in for me - ROCCO - with two C's and no K.  Just in case -  so you don't confuse me with the other Rocko

12/7/09 - Rocco had his wellness vet visit last week.  He was a good boy for most of the visit and gave the vet and techs lots of wiggles and slobbery kisses.  He weighed in at 72 lbs.  - so I was a little under on estimating his weight.  Rocco is now up to date on all his shots and his heartworm and fecal tests were negative.  He has a couple minor medical problems. First is a low grade heart murmur - which the vet was not too concerned about.  Second is gingivial hyperplasia, which is an overgrowth of gum tissue, and it is common in older dogs.  Rocco tends to get over excited in new situations, so he did some pulling and barking at the other dogs in the vet waiting room.  He would have been better if I had better control of him but I also had Simba to deal with as well. In new situations, Rocco does better if he is the only dog.,  Rocco continues to be a very good guest.  He listens well and knows his commands - although outside recall needs some work.  Jumping on visitors when they first enter the house needs work as well.  He usually responds to correction -until he gets excited again.  He is very playful and has the energy of a 2 year old.  He loves to play fetch, chase balls and chew rawhide bones.  He loves attention , his ears and belly rubbed and cuddling.  He loves to eat - so much that I discovered him standing in the middle of my dining room table eating dog biscuits out of the bag  :-}}}}}.  I had to laugh, cry and scold.  Rocco is such a bad boy clown!!  The dog biscuits have been relocated but now I know to watch him for counter surfing.  Rocco has also found my recliner and couch - those he much prefers to his dog pillow.  I try to discourage my dogs from getting on the furniture but Rocco must have been allowed in his former home. He is told "off" every time I catch him on the furniture but I fear I'm  losing this battle. Rocco will make you laugh - he'll make you cry.  He'll make you angry and he'll make you happy.  He'll give you lots of wiggles and kisses.  He'll give you love and devotion and be a loyal companion.  He'll give you lots of energy and keep you young.  What more could you want - adopt this wonderful boy!!!!  He'd really like a forever home for Christmas  -  and lots of balls and treats too!!!

11/28/09 - Rocco has been here a week and is fitting into my pack very well.  He sits and stays well when waiting for his supper and when waiting to go outside.  Once in a while it is difficult for him because he gets excited.  He loves to play and loves attention.  And he would love to cuddle on the couch or chair with me but then he tends to growl at his foster Siblings, Star and Simba.  So we don't do that for now.  Other than that he gets along well with the other dogs.  I think Rocco might get along  with cats.  He is curious about my cats but is not obsessive about them.  However, he hasn't spent a lot of time with them because I have to keep the cats separated from Simba.  Rocco loves to fetch a ball outside and stays around well when off-leash.  He also quickly takes care of bathroom business when outside.  Rocco does have a lot of energy and needs more exercise than I can give him.  He can get over excited when visitors come to the house and will jump on them - but he eventually responds to "off". We are working on that.   Rocco just has difficulty containing himself when he is excited - his tongue and mouth start going, he starts licking the air and wiggling, and then bouncing up in the air - all four feet - two feet off the ground.  Tigger would be a better name for him when this happens. I can't help but laugh but then I have to get him to calm down - and he does calm down in a short time.  He can be such a clown but also such a good boy.  He goes for his wellness check-up at the vet this week and will then be up to date on all his immunizations and ready for his forever home.  Do you have energy and love to spare?  Then Rocco is you boy.  He'll reward you with tons of wiggles and kisses.  He is a cutie!!

11/22/09 - Rocco is now safely in his foster home.  He arrived here late yesterday afternoon - many thanks to his transporters -  Carl, Diane and  his owner.  He has settled in very well and is now getting along with his foster siblings, Star and Simba.  Introductions were a little rough to start, but everyone has decided to get along.  Rocco has a reddish brown coat and a white chest - he is a very handsome boy. He also has quite an underbite so his face is smooched and his tongue peeks out of his mouth all the time - extremely cute!!!  And that tongue - it is one of the longest and fastest boxers' tongues I have ever met.  Rocco just loves to give kisses.  Rocco is eating well and slept upstairs with Simba and me last night.  It took a couple of "Offs" to convince him he wasn't sleeping on the bed last night but then he slept on a dog pillow on the floor the rest of the night.  Rocco seems to know most commands - sit, stay, down, off.  However sit & stay is difficult because he gets excited and just has to wiggle.  He is housetrained and has not had an accident in the house even with all the changes and stress in his life yesterday.  ,   Rocco is a very friendly , energetic boxer - he acts more like he's 2 years old rather than 7.  He is a sweetheart so keep watching for further updates on this great boy!