Rocky514


	Age & Sex: 4 month old male


UTD: Yes


	Weight & Color: 15 lb. Fawn


Other Dogs: Yes


	Obedience Training Required


Cats: Yes


	Ears: Natural


Children under 5: Unknown


	Tail: Docked


Children over 5: Yes


	Neutered: Yes


Microchipped: No


	Owner Surrender


Location: Groton, CT

Adoption Donation $350

2/23/06 - Rocky had his vet appointment yesterday for his neuter. He did just great! He was alert when I picked him up and although more subdued than usual, you would never know that he had surgery in the morning. He slept on my lap most of the evening, tolerated his food well and took pain meds with no problem. It will be quite a feat to keep him inactive for a few days. He is such a good, but curious and busy boy! Kassie and Maverick were quite concerned about him and were very restless while he was at the vet. After he came home, Kassie cleaned his ears and Maverick wanted to tug toys, but he was too sleepy!

12/22/05 - Our Rocky has experienced many firsts since my last update. There is absolutely nothing funnier than seeing a boxer experience his first snow fall! We have found out that Rocky is a "plower". Kassie likes to chase snowflakes, Maverick likes to hide balls in the snow and dig them back up, but Rocky puts his face to the ground and plows! Our own three ring circus! Rocky has had his first Thanksgiving at home with family and other family pets. We had 8 people, 5 boxers, three turkeys (a contest between fried, rotissery and baked) and all we needed was a partridge in a pear tree! All pups were very good and we are proud of Rocky's behavior around such a Motley crew! He also experienced his first neighborhood Christmas party last week. Again he was very good, but he is used to seeing all of those people coming and going and playing with the kids. He has chewed up a few ornaments (I have now put bells all over the Christmas tree and he now associates his name with a bell sound), unwrapped at least one gift and is quite curious about all of the wrapping paper and bows (showing a preference to tissue paper), but all in all, he has been a good boy. Santa has a few special toys for him!

11/01/05 - Rocky is now up to 50 lbs! He is the cutest, happiest, playful boxer puppy you have ever seen! He has the complete adoration of the entire neighborhood and even our vet is smitten! He eats well, sleeps all night on the padded cedar chest at the bottom of our bed and plays with Maverick and Kassie all day. He had the best time on Halloween watching the trick or treaters come to the door. What a fun puppy to have around.

10/6/05 - Our Rocky is getting bigger by the minute. Each day we think he looks larger than the day before. He is doing well with his feeding stand and we have very few spit-ups! We have to watch him around new shoes, as he likes to chew on them and listen for TV programs with dogs barking, because his fur stripe goes up and he want to protect his home! He is still tussling with Maverick - tugging and boxing and cuddling with Kassie! What a pleasure he his to have around. All of the people at the vet's office fell in love with the little guy and he will be scheduled for a neuter within the next few months. He is now up to date on everything and has the glossiest ginger colored coat I have ever seen. What a cutie!

9/16/05 - Rocky is growing by leaps and bounds! He is about 37 pounds of energy and fun. We have taken down the crate and he sleeps on his puppy bed in our room or snuggled with Kassie or Maverick. Once he got the idea that he only goes pee outside, there was no slipping up! He is a sweetheart. Very loving and happy.

9/1/05 - Just a quick update - my wonderful puppy that LOVES the water, splashing in the wading pool, putting his nose in the shower, running through the sprinklers and standing under outdoor hanging plants that are being watered - WILL NOT GO OUTSIDE IN THE RAIN TO PEE! Go figure!

8/29/05 - Rocky continues to do well. He is eating with very few incidents and growing like a weed! He is spending less and less time in the crate and has almost the run of the house. I find him sitting on my feet or on my lap every evening and he has adopted me as much as I have adopted him! He has a vet appointment in September and we will discuss his neuter at that time. He is like Maverick's shadow and best friend. All of the dogs get along so well. He is such a sweetheart!

8/16/05 - We have decided to adopt Rocky. He has fit in so well with our boxers and our routine, life just would not be the same if he were not around. We are almost there with the housebreaking and he has learned to sit, and give a paw. Maverick and Kassie have a great time playing with him and they are all so amusing together. Rocky still has days on which he regurgitates some of his food, but with the high feeding stand (we have raised it already - he is getting such long legs) and softened food offered 3 times a day, he is doing well. We have to watch the grazing in the yard. He and Maverick like to eat grass occasionally, and that is always a recipe for a messy clean up! All in all, we love the little guy to pieces!

8/5/05 - Rocky starts each day like it is "Rocky's Great Adventure"! He seems to get into something or find something new each day. Yesterday was his first experience with boxer curiosity gone bad! At least he just observed and did not participate. Kassie was tapping on the sliding door to go out into the fenced yard last night and when I opened the door, Maverick dashed out behind her - their boxer sixth sense - or sense of smell at work. A few seconds later, a skunk smell wafted into the house through the air conditioner vents and I realized what the rush to go outside was all about! YES they did - both were sprayed! Rocky was napping on the floor and the proceeding baths and rubbing the magic recipe to remove skunk odor was quite interesting to him! It was 10:00 pm and I was tired and the poor pup sat like a little angel watching the baths and whimpering grown up boxers get the skunk treatment! The look on his face was priceless - he just did not know what to make of the commotion! Just another day in Rocky world.

8/2/05 - Rocky had quite a busy weekend! We looked after our son's two boxer's while they were in Iowa for his in-laws reunion. Kody is 10 and K.C. is 2 (and a total Rocky look alike). Along with Maverick at almost 8 and Kassie at almost 4 we had quite boxer variety all four with specific personalities and all quite spoiled! Rocky got along with them famously, expecially K.C. who has the energy to play "keep away" for hours! After a very active weekend, a few throw up's, a few wet crates in the morning, K.C. and Kody went home and we are back on our routine. Rocky's crate was dry the last two mornings and when he naps during the day, he snuggles up to either Maverick or Kassie. He is such a loving puppy!

7/27/05 - FEARLESS - the pup is FEARLESS! We are amazed at the energy Rocky has! He is eating at his feeding stand with no problem, the food is staying down, no noises at night and two mornings with a dry crate! House breaking is best done by taking him out alone, Maverick and Kassie are just too much of a distraction. Keeping him in the part of the yard in which I want him to do his business is helpful, too. We have had very few accidents in the house. But, he will take on anyone, of any size, at any time! We are amazed that he has the audacity to run up to Maverick and take away any toy he is playing with. No matter how many times Rocky looses or is rebuffed, he will keep trying! Rocky met our neighbor's children (6 yrs and 8 yrs) yesterday and played frantically for about 15 minutes. He loved them, and everyone loves Rocky! There is no need for a television with him around, he is so amusing and entertaining!

7/25/05 - Adorable puppy Rocky arrived yesterday at our house to be greeted by Maverick (8 yr old NEBR adoption) and Kassie (4 yr old BAR adoption) boxers. I expected Rocky to experience a little attitude problem with Maverick, but Miss Jealousy Kassy was the one with the attitude! After about an hour of hugs and reassurance, she seemed to grudgingly accept Rocky.

This little fellow is full of energy, curiosity and confidence! We are new to the puppy fostering role and offered to foster Rocky since our Maverick also has megaesophagus and we are quite familiar with feeding procedures. Since there is no cure, several minor adjustments must be taken when feeding these pups to aid their digestion. We use a feeding stand, built by my husband so that the pup is standing upright while eating, employing gravity to draw the food into his stomach. He should remain in the upright position for a few minutes after feeding to insure that the food goes down. Sorry for the lecture, but that is pretty much all you can do for them - besides using a nutritious, softened, sensitive system food! If that procedure is followed, there is very little if any food coming back up. Rocky took to the feeding stand like he has always eaten standing up! In fact, he ate about 3 1/2 cups of softened food through out the course of the day with one small throw up of mostly water.

Other than that, he is a perfectly normal, energetic boxer puppy! We have learned that he loves the wading pool and will put his head into the water to retrieve toys, just like his buddy Maverick. Kassie thinks they are insane and just uses the pool as a large drinking dish. Rocky explored every inch of the 1/4 acre fenced in area, the deck, and played tug with a Maverick and Kassie - he is quite brave!

After a busy day, Rocky whimpered for a few minutes then fell asleep in his crate. This morning I discovered he had peed in the crate, but he will adjust - everything is new. Yesterday was all fun and introductions - today the routine begins. Housebreaking will be a challange! What a sweet, funny, loving little boy! If you want to put in the time, love and some effort, this little guy will reward you with plenty of love.

7/23/05 - ROCKY IS A MEDICAL NEEDS DOG AND WILL NEED SPECIAL FEEDING ARRANGEMENTS. HE HAS WHAT IS CALLED MEGA ESOPHAGUS...It is a disorder in which the food does not always go down his esophagus and will be regurgitated at a later time. You can read more on the disorder at: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_megaesophagus.html (copy and paste)
Rocky is doing great here in our home. He is a typical puppy with LOTS of energy. He plays non stop with our dogs and gets into everything....forgot what it's like to have a pup around...everything must be picked up or get chewed on! He eats well and sleeps very quietly in his crate at night. He is crated during the day while I am at work and keeps his crate dry. Will be nice to see him go to a home with another dog to keep him company as he has never been alone. Anyone adopting him must realize there will be chewed up items, pee, poop and LOTS of training ahead...OBEDIENCE WILL BE REQUIRED NO IFS, ANDS, BUTS OR ORS ABOUT IT