Signs of Spring
The slow transition from winter to spring has begun.
The slow transition from winter to spring has begun. One of the early indicators is when Rocky lingers outside to lie in the grass, as he is doing in today’s photo. There are many other signs, from migrating birds to early blooms, and extreme weather changes from day to day.
We are past the worst of winter and I am happy to be spending more time outside now, whether with the dogs as they linger in the grass that is getting greener each day, or running on my favorite trail which has finally thawed free of winter’s grip.
It’s a Wrap with Rocky
Rocky gets the last photo of the month.
Rocky gets the last photo of the month, wrapping up a February full of wild weather. It’s been bitter cold most of the month, with high winds and a layer of snow and ice on the ground. Today, the sun was shining and we hit 50 degrees, melting the snow and leaving icy puddles in its place. Hopefully this is paving the way for a warmer March.
Make a Wish Rocky
Rocky wishes for a tasty treat.
An adorable capture of the Rockstar with his eyes closed. He seems to be wishing for something, almost certainly a tasty treat. He gets plenty of treats during our photo sessions which is how he became such a great model. 😀
A Brisk Walk with Rocky
Rocky poses on the winter landscape.
I took Rocky to Willow Metropark today and we had a nice but brisk walk in the winter weather. The temperatures are dropping and it will continue to get colder each day this week. Warmer and wet weather earlier this week made for muddy trail conditions, but the ground was frozen today which made walking more enjoyable, even with the colder temperatures.
A base layer under my clothes made it doable, but removing my gloves for photos was challenging. I kept the photo session brief and managed to get this lovely shot of the Rockstar posing on the winter landscape.
Portrait Pros
Rocky and Ringo set up another great shot.
Rocky and Ringo are both masters at posing for portraits, whether posing alone or as a team. I just can’t resist these shots when they are set up so perfectly for me. ❤️
Whispers of Winter
Our first day of winter weather, cold enough for gloves.
A snowy mist was falling as Rocky and I headed out for a trip to Willow Metropark today, and the air was cold and damp. We lucked out for most of November with unseasonably sunny and warm weather. Today’s wintry weather marked the first day of the season that I had to wear gloves, which had to be removed to capture this gorgeous shot of Rocky.
A Rain Check for Rocky
The weather cleared up for Rocky today.
It rained all day yesterday so Rocky’s regularly scheduled day trip got rained out. While Ringo and I have a rain or shine policy for his weekly trips, Rocky is not a fan of the rain so he took a rain check yesterday. The weather cleared up today for Rocky and we took a ride to Willow Metropark and hit the leaf-covered trails.
The leaves made a colorful background for the beautiful shot of Rocky above. Below, Rocky turns up the drama with his signature pose - a profile shot with that faraway look in his eyes. I love capturing these shots of him from the side as it really shows off that big, beautiful, blocky head. 😂
Rainy Day Dogs
It rained all day today.
A day of rain changed our plans and allowed me to capture some quiet indoor shots of the dogs.
Rocktober
Rocky poses for some gorgeous October portraits.
These gorgeous portraits feature Rocky enjoying a beautiful October afternoon. He is a rockstar when it comes to modeling, offering up great poses of his own and also responding perfectly to prompts from the photographer. The conditions were perfect for photography today and I also got some great shots of Moose and Ringo.
Rocky Unleashed
Rocky brightens up a cloudy day.
It’s a weekday, summer is over, and the skies are cloudy, which means fewer park visitors at Oakwoods Metropark today. We had the spacious Cedar Knoll area all to ourselves and I let Rocky explore off-leash. As he explored, I captured a few shots of him posing with some early fall colors in the background.
The fall colors add a little sparkle to the cloudy background, but nothing sparkles more brightly than Rocky who makes his own sunshine on cloudy days. It’s impossible to have a bad day with this happy go-getter at my side. ❤️
Blazing New Trails with Rocky
Rocky explores a new trail at Willow Metropark today.
Today’s day trip to Willow Metropark marks Rocky’s 25th day trip since we began this weekly routine. We’ve clocked many miles and steps since then and that practice has led to a lot of progress. Today we explored a new trail, which Rocky enjoyed on both three and four legs.
Rocky Shines at Sterling
Spreading positive vibes wherever he goes.
Rocky and I took a day trip to Sterling State Park today. I chose Sterling because the Rockstar needs to work on keeping it together in a moving vehicle, and a trip to Sterling gives him more time in the car. He tolerated the car ride well and then it was showtime!
Being the handsome hunk that he is, he turns a lot of heads. Most people have the same reaction to him. On the first look, they say, aww, what a cute dog. Then they realize he’s a three-legger and the fawning begins.
There is something about the underdog that reaches people on a deeper level. They want to know what happened to him, they want to punish the people who were responsible for it, and they love hearing that he got the ultimate revenge by overcoming it all and living his best life.
Just seeing him enjoy a summer afternoon in a beautiful park makes their day. It’s like he’s an official uncertified therapy dog.
While Rocky is unlikely to meet the incredibly high standards to become a legitimate therapy dog, he has a gift for lifting spirits and creating positive vibes everywhere he goes. My goal with Rocky is to get him to the point where he can visit dog-friendly retail establishments and interact with more people. I’m confident we’ll make that happen, it’s just a matter of practice.
Four Years with Rocky
Rocky is a role model for gracefully adapting to change.
Four years ago, I was standing in line at the shelter waiting to meet Rocky. It was the height of the pandemic and pet adoptions were at an all time high. This particular shelter has a first come, first served policy on pets, and I was hoping to be the first one to get to Rocky, who had just been featured on their social media channels as available for adoption.
As fate would have it, I was first to see Rocky. He came bounding in, sixty pounds of joy filling the meeting room with his energy, love and readiness. It was love at first sight for everyone, that magical chemistry that removes any doubts or fears and opens up a brightly lit path for a new beginning.
Rocky’s front left leg had been amputated five days earlier, leaving only a gruesome row of stitches across the side of his shaved body. He had already adapted to the missing leg, and wanted nothing more than to play with his new big brother Charlie, despite the veterinarian’s orders that he rest for several weeks while his surgical wound healed.
Rocky found a sense of security in Charlie, a dog twelve years senior to him, and they began a two-year journey together, bonding quickly as if they knew their time together would be short. When Charlie passed, I was concerned about how Rocky would react, but he showed his characteristic adaptability as he gracefully transitioned from little brother to an only dog.
A month went by as I tried Rocky out as an only dog, a situation I wanted for myself. But a one-dog situation was not in the cards for me or for Rocky. I was being called to make room for another dog and Rocky was being called to take on another role, this time as big brother.
Enter Ringo, another dog with a rough start in life involving physical trauma, finding refuge in my home with the help of a more experienced dog. It would now be Rocky’s turn to provide a sense of security and leadership for a younger dog. Once again, Rocky adapted and became the capable big brother he was taught to be by Charlie.
The Rocky and Ringo chapter was meant to be, with a pairing so perfect, I felt the Universe’s magic in making it happen. It lasted about ten months before I had a temporary loss of sanity and adopted a puppy. I didn’t realize it at the time, but by bringing Moose home I was asking Rocky to become the leader of this newly formed pack.
Rocky approached this next step cautiously, observing Ringo and Moose from a distance while they chased one another around the backyard, playing rambunctiously, Ringo effortlessly taking on the role of big brother to Moose. While Ringo and Moose became playmates, it became evident that Rocky was the leader of this pack, and Rocky once again adapted to a new situation and a new role.
Watching Rocky gracefully evolve in his roles from little brother to only dog, big brother and leader of the pack in a matter of three years has been truly inspiring, especially following his ultimate act of adaptability after losing his leg and starting a whole new life here. Any time I feel self-doubt, fatigue or worry, I turn to Rocky and find the motivation I need to keep going, push harder, or try something new.
We were meant to be together. He needed me to provide a safe place to heal and blossom and I needed him as a guide and source of inspiration. We have grown so much together in these four years, and we continue to help each other grow as individuals while we grow closer as a pair.
Happy anniversary to my little go-getter, my daily inspiration, the one and only unsinkable Rocky!
Feeling Grounded with Rocky
He's got a great ground game.
We all have strengths and weaknesses. While Rocky is not a fan of being in a moving vehicle, he is great on the ground. Once out of the vehicle, he’s ready to explore and is happy to lead or follow. In addition to being trustworthy while off-leash, as shown here posing for a photo, he’s polite to other park visitors that we encounter.
While the car time is a little hairy with Rocky, the time on the ground is good and continues to get better with each day trip. The impetus for these day trips is preparation for a cross-country road trip that I’ll be making when I move back to New Mexico. The dogs have different strengths and weaknesses related to traveling and I’m working individually with each dog to get them ready for the Ultimate Road Trip.
We visited Crosswinds Marsh today, a short car ride for Rocky and an easy place for him to get around. Afterwards, we got some training time in by making a practice stop at a rest stop on the highway and then taking the FJ Cruiser through the car wash.
It’s great that we can have fun during our training rides, and if we get our practice runs right, the Ultimate Road Trip will be a lot of fun too!
Made in the Shade
It was a beautiful morning at Lake Erie Metropark.
Rocky poses under a shade tree at Cove Point in Lake Erie Metropark.
I returned to Lake Erie Metropark today, this time with Rocky. We had beautiful weather for our visit, with sunny blue skies and temps in the low seventies. We spent our time at Cove Point, an open and airy space with plenty of room to roam and expansive views of the water.
Rocky found some relief from the sun under a beautiful shade tree and it was the perfect place to capture this shot of him showing off his prosthetic leg. The leg makes it possible for Rocky to explore more of the park today, and has expanded his range since receiving it late last year.
Rocky has no trouble at all getting around on three legs, but in a scenario like ours today where there is a lot of ground to cover, the hopping motion he makes to get around becomes tiring. The leg provides some relief for that. The harness is easily removed in a situation where the leg interferes with climbing or resting, as he is doing in the shot below.
I’m looking forward to more exploring with Rocky as our weekly day trips continue every Thursday. ❤️
Sunny Skies for Rocky
Rocky and I had beautiful weather for today’s day trip.
Rocky takes in the view on the shore of the North Lagoon at Sterling State Park.
Today was Rocky’s turn for a day trip, and he lucked out weather-wise, especially compared to Ringo’s rainy outing yesterday. We went to Sterling State Park which was much busier today because of the beautiful weather. We started at the south end of the park where I let Rocky burn off some of the excitement from the car ride, then made our way to the North Lagoon where Rocky found a sandy spot next to the water where he could take in the view.
This is the first time I’ve seen Rocky near water. I’ve always been curious about his desire and ability to swim since he only has one leg in front for paddling. He would need a life jacket and human assistance to be safe. Maybe one day we’ll find a place to safely test his swimming skills and interest. Until then, he seems content to enjoy the water from shore.
A Moment with Rocky
Rocky as a role model for life.
I’m home alone with the dogs on weekdays so we spend a lot of time together. I often talk out loud to them when it’s just us, sharing my stream of consciousness. I have no idea if they understand what I’m saying but it seems to help me process my thoughts.
Today, as Rocky and I headed out for his weekly day trip, this time to Willow Metropark, I was talking about life being short. This is something dogs seem to instinctively understand, possibly because their lifespan is so much shorter than ours.
As my mind wandered on the topic, I realized there is a dichotomy there. On one hand, I want to linger in the present moment, taking the time to fully experience it, knowing life’s fleeting nature. On the other hand, I want to fit more things into each day, feeling this is the only way to experience everything I want to do in life before my time is up.
There is a balance to strike there and I often find myself making course corrections in one direction or the other. In today’s photos, Rocky is a role model for soaking up the present moment, and I’m able to put life’s distractions aside to linger and enjoy it with him.
Rocky on the Road
Thursday is Rocky's day on the road.
Today was Rocky’s turn to head out with me while the other dogs stayed home. This outing is part of my plan to take each dog out once a week for some training and road time in preparation for the four-day cross-country drive we’ll be taking together when I move.
Our trip today took us to Crosswinds Marsh, the perfect place for Rocky to stretch his three legs, meet new people and watch the horses go by. We had a great time and I’m looking forward to more Rocky on the Road adventures every Thursday. ❤️
Rocky at Rest
This dog poses in his sleep.
Rocky found a cozy spot in the sun and offered up this beautiful portrait today. ❤️
Still Best Friends
The bond between Rocky and Ringo endures.
Before Moose joined the pack, it was just Rocky and Ringo who had quickly become best friends less than a year earlier. As the middle-dog in the pack, Ringo acts as a bridge between Rocky and Moose, serving as both little and big brother, respectively. He balances his position in the pack gracefully, playing a leadership role with Moose while remaining best friends with Rocky. I was concerned that adding a third dog to the mix would diminish their relationship, but Rocky and Ringo are still best friends.❤️