Hello!  Mighty Rocky Dog here! (well, more correctly mite-ee dog, but we don't want to talk about that...)

I have a question for all you fellow dogs out there.  It's been bugging me since I was a wee pup, and I hoped over time this issue would resolve itself, but if anything, it's gotten worse.  What is that thing that follows you around everywhere you go?  First, I'll see it out of the corner of my eye on the left, then it's on the right, back and forth, back and forth.  It's SO annoying.  It's very quick.  I try to ignore it, and sometimes it goes away and I can't see it at all.  The other day I sat real still and it stayed just where I could see it.  Very slowly, I moved my head in its direction and it still didn't move.  I think it was asleep.  Then I made this tremendous lunge at it, and quick as a wink it was gone.  It's the most distracting when I'm really excited and concentrating on something.  Then it's on one side, then the other, faster than I can keep track of it.  I really got a good hold of it the other day and it pulled me in circles for 15 seconds before it finally dragged me across the room and smacked my head into a wall.  I'm trying to be more careful now, but I'd still like to catch that thing and really give it a good shake.  Let me know if you have any ideas.

Conversations With Rocky:

The mail keeps coming in!  I'm so pleased.  And, what's more, another Rocky-dog first;  a letter from a person!  Check this out...
 

Rocky, I'm sure enjoying your photos and notes from your friends and relatives! One question is on my mind, though: What's a 'retired' breed?  You mention it in your last letter, and it has me wondering... is your whole breed in retirement?  How many dogs can go fishing every day and hang out at McDonalds reading the paper every morning from 7am til noon?  Does most of the breed live in Florida, like retired people?  Are there many retired breeds?  Is that why so many dogs have that smile on their faces? Inquiring minds want to know. Brad (a person) P.S., I don't have a dog now, but I thought you'd like to see a picture of my dog from many, many years ago.

First of all, thanks for the picture of Skipper.  Nice dog.  What's that long fluffy thing laying on the floor behind him?  hmmm....  Now, I just assume Skipper is a he, but I have been fooled by names people have called their owners in the past.  Like, I heard of this one dog named Augie, and she lived with that name her entire life.  I've heard tell that a dog can suffer extreme emotional anxiety from being carelessly named.  But, that's a subject for another day.

Now, Brad, to answer your question about retirement.  Yes, my entire breed has retired.  We were civilized by Gentleman Jim 50 or 60 years ago, and we have given up fighting for good.  Unfortunately, some unscrupulous people have attempted from time to time to bring us out of retirement and return us to action, but we really don't do that as a breed anymore.  So, quite simply, from the day I was born I've been retired.  Cool huh?!  And yes, you've figured it out - it really does make me smile a lot!  In fact, this week's pictures could be titled as an essay on smiles.

Here are some (very) little known facts - Some other retired breeds include the Siberian Woolly Mammoth Hound.  These very large dogs adopted people to help them hunt the Woolly Mammoth for food.  When the Mammoth became extinct, the breed had to retire, and because of a food shortage, the breed itself has become extinct.  At least, I've never seen one.  I think the Dodo Retriever suffered a similar fate more recently. The trick apparently is to avoid your own extinction after your breed is retired.

I could probably be a herding dog if I really wanted a job.  My big blue ball goes pretty much exactly where I want it now.  I can dig big holes, which has to be good for something,  and I could probably pull a pretty good sized cart.  I'd make a great guard dog because I can snarl and growl quit viciously, but I enjoy just hanging out with people too much.  I'd never chase one off.  But, there are plenty of dogs that still have to go to work every day as herders, retrievers, scent hounds, etc. but not me!  I just take pictures, manage my website, putter about the yard, and watch Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune on TV.  That's it! (oh, and chew on stuff!)

Until next time...

Rocky!

This is Skipper.  You can tell a lot about a dog by the people it keeps.

This is the new toy my people gave me when I returned from the 'resort'. Maybe they were feeling just a bit guilty?	Just grinnin'!

Another shot of me and my Aunt Fergie

Here Fergie tries to teach me how to pretend we just got run over by the fourwheeler!	I just don't get it, I guess...