Dream Big -- Read!

Howdy Friends!  I'm so excited because tomorrow my mom and I will be helping to kick-off the summer reading program:  Dream Big-READ! at the Meredith Public Library!  And my mom came home yesterday from her trip with lots of new Usborne and Kane Miller Books from the Usborne Books & More Convention!  I've been having a hard time picking out which ones to bring tomorrow to read, but I think for sure one will be Dare to Dream...Change the World and another will be Johnathan James and the Whatif Monster.  I just know the kids are going to love them.  Sure hope they love me, too!

I Love My Job

Check this out!  A new friend I met at the Meredith Public Library gave me this yesterday at my "Reading With Rocky" session.  Don't you just love it?  I do!!  Did you notice that the Therapy Dog in the picture is a German Shepherd?  Just like me!!  I love my job!

Memorial Day 2012

Memorial Day -- A great day for a therapy dog visit at the NH Veteran's Home.  The staff love having me stop by as much as the residents do.  And I love seeing them because they give me treats!  I would have looked at the camera but I wanted you to see my camo scarf -- do you like it?  I wore it in honor of all the soldiers -- two and four-legged who gave their lives in combat so that we have our freedom.

Finally Snow!

Howdy Folks!
Yippee!  Finally some snow to play in!  I may be from North Carolina, but I've gotten so I like to play in this white stuff!  Steffi loves it, too!  Check us out....



OW!!!  That's my elbow you're biting!!!

You're gonna pay for that, sista!!

Reading With Rocky

Howdy Friends!
What a great way to start out the New Year -- a new Reading with Rocky program at the Meredith Public Library!  Mom and I are so glad that Jenny Stevens, the children's librarian, invited us to her library!  We had so much fun!  Okay, so I may have dozed off a couple of times, but you know how it is when someone reads you a story -- it relaxes you and sometimes you can't help drifting off a bit.  But I woke up just in time to hear my favorite part -- 10 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed!

Me and Mom with some new friends we read with this morning!

Hope my new friends and more people join me again on Tuesday, February 7th, at the Meredith Public Library.  Until then, keep reading kids and don't forget, it's okay to fall asleep!  Woof!  Rocky

Happy New Year!

Howdy Friends!

Well it's that time to say good-bye to 2011 and welcome in 2012!  I will be kicking off the new year with a new Reading with Rocky program that mom and I are very excited about.  I can't wait to meet the kids who have signed up to read with me next week.  It's going to be soooo much fun!!!  Here's to a very Happy & Healthy New Year to all my friends.  Stay safe ~ woof!  Rocky

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Hi, it's me, Rocky!  I know, I haven't been plugged in for awhile but that is about to change!  It's good to be back!  Mom has told me we will be able to keep this up to date now that she isn't so busy. 

Check out my new Christmas present!

My new bed!

I love my new bed.  It's very long just like me and it's very soft and fluffy.  It also has this cool pillow that I like to rest my head on -- can you tell?  I also got a new Nylabone.

In case you haven't heard, next week I start a new Reading with Rocky session at the Meredith Public Library.  I'm very excited to go and can't wait to tell you all about it.  In the meantime, hope you all had a Merry Christmas and have a Happy and Safe New Year!  Woof!  Rocky

Happy 4th of July!

Howdy Friends ~

I love summer and 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays.  I get to do all the things I love -- lay in the hot sun on the deck (reminds me of those North Carolina days), visit with friends (hope mom has a pool party!), and best of all visit my friends at the NH Veteran's Home in my special 4th of July "attire."  Hope ya'll have a safe and fun 4th of July weekend -- I'm hoping I do!  Rocky



Mouth Full of Toothpicks?!?

Howdy Friends!  I sure am glad last week is over!!  All I wanted to do was say hi to this little black critter that I found in my yard Thursday night at 11:00 p.m.  I wasn't going to hurt it, afterall I'm a therapy dog.  I give kisses, I don't bite!  Well, this little visitor didn't give kisses, no he wacked me with a tail full of quills and, yep, you guessed it, I had a snout full of quills!   Those things stick like velcro!  No one ever told me about porcupines.  Down in North Carolina where I come from, they don't have porcupines.  Sure wish someone had warned me about these nasty critters. 

Real pretty, huh?  Well, mom and dad took me to -- Concord Area Veterinary Emergency Services -- known as CAVES around here, and about 3 hours and $300 later, I was sleeping like a baby on my way home.  Dad carried me up to my bed and I slept until about noon the next day.  Whatever they give ya down at that place really zonks you out.  Guess that's a good thing because these things smarted going in, and I can only imagine how they would have felt going out.  Glad I was out!!  Do you like my "pierced" ear?  Well, take it from me, if you see a porcupine, don't try to get up close and personal!  Rocky

Cats Need Therapy Dogs, too!

Hi ~ this is me and Chloe, one of my feline sisters. I'm giving her some therapy dog care because she has a bad boo-boo under her arm. Mom calls it an abcess and she can't look at it, or she'll get sick. We don't know how Chloe got it unless it was a cat fight, which knowing how mean my other feline sister and brothers can be to Chloe, that's probably how she got it. Dad and I took Chloe to Meadow Pond Animal Hospital today to have it checked again. Dr. Keenan said it hasn't changed since Monday, so they changed her antibiotics. If it doesn't get better by Tuesday, Dr. Keenan might need to do surgery. I sure hope it gets better because surgery is no fun. Stay tuned. Rocky

No More Snow! Do Ya Hear Me, Mr. Weatherman?

Another Nor'easter headed our way on Friday -- and they say it is no April Fool's joke! Now ya'll know I'm a Sou'easter and I've had it with all this snow! Although I do have to admit, Steffi and I have had some good times in the snow. Like we did during the last Nor'easter -- check us out! I'm the one making all the noise. Geez, and to think the snow is almost gone from my front yard right now -- so easy to find a spot to do you know what!! Grrrr, Mr. Weatherman -- maybe I can scare the storm away! I sound pretty scarey in this video, don't you think?

Happy St. Patrick's Day & Happy Birthday to Mom!

A birthday kiss for my mom. We've been having a great day. Went to the NHVH and saw all my friends while Steffi stayed home and played in the sunshine. Hope you all have a great St. Patrick's Day. Love, Rocky -- and Irish Shepherd for day.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Saying goodbye is never easy -- love you, Foster Bob!

Three years ago today I began my new life with my new family in NH. It was a long ride, but once I got used to my new mom and dad, I enjoyed it. It's been a great three years and I can't wait to see what the next three bring! I celebrated my "birthday" by having 2 Munchkins -- my favorite snack!

When "Irish" Eyes are Smiling

Getting in the mood! Mom's taking her birthday off next week and I just know we're going to have fun!!!

I Feel Like a Star!

Well, here's Mom and me at our photo shoot. What do ya think??? Do I look like a star? I think I have Rin Tin Tin beat. Bullet, too! Just a little sample from the many photos Mary Boudreau took. Can't wait to get the prints we ordered! Thanks again, Mary. Check out Mary's site at http://alpllc.daportfolio.com.

Snow, Snow and More Snow!

This is way too much snow for a southern dog like me! Where's a dog supposed to do you know what?!?

Okay, okay, I know it has been a while since I've posted. I could tell ya that the cat got my tongue, but you know that wouldn't be true. No, no -- I'm blaming it on my mom -- Busy with work, busy with selling Usborne Books, busy with visiting gram at the nursing home, busy, busy, busy. But we're back on line now! And I've got a lot to say!

This weekend was so cool -- I had my own professional photo shoot by Ambient Light Photography of Sanbornton, NH, at the Lakeside Animal Hospital to benefit NH Foundation for Companion Animal Care. (http://alpllc.daportfolio.com) I felt like a model! I even posed nude!! Yes -- no collar, no nothing!! Then I posed with my red therapy dog coat on and I felt so proud -- I think it showed! I can't wait to show off my new photos.

And tonight I visited my friends at the NH Veteran's Home. That was so much fun. Roger was happy to see me. Bud scratched my ears. And I met some new veterans that I hadn't seen before. I love being a therapy dog!! Well, that's it for now. Hope ya'll had as great a weekend as I did. Rocky

See Rocky at the Pet Fair

Hey, a busy guy like me needs to rest up once in a while -- even if it is in my Dad's favorite chair! Don't Miss Me This Saturday --4/24, I'll be with my mom at the first-ever Cause for Paws Pet Fair at the Opechee Conference Center in Laconia. In between selling Usborne Books at her booth, mom and I will be doing a Therapy Dog presentation at 12:30 to 1:00 p.m. Sure hope you can drop on by! Until then....sweet dreams! Rocky

Remember Me? Therapy Dog In Action!

Howdy Friends -- Remember me?

Finally, a new post! I hope ya'll haven't forgotten me just because my mom has been too busy to catch up on my blog. Well, here's a quick rundown on what we've been up to along with some special Therapy Dog in Action photos!

This is mom's favorite Therapy Dog in Action photo....

Bet ya didn't know I had a little Irish in me! Well, mom says that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day and she should know because that's her birthday and she's Irish, too. We had a great St. Patrick's Day Birthday -- Mom took the day off and we did therapy dog work! Yeah! We had lunch with my grammy at the NHVH and then we joined into the parade they had and then sat and listened to nice music with my grammy and friends.

This is me and Steffi playing in what little snow we got this year. All my friends in NC got lots of snow, hope they enjoyed it. Steffi may be fast, but I'm the one with the power! We love chasing each other in the snow. Hope we get lots of snow next year!

Here are some more special photos taken in January at the NH Veteran's Home. All of these Therapy Dog in Action photos are courtesy of Jackie Bonafide, NHVH Public Information Officer. Mom wrote a story about therapy dog work for a newspaper called "Aging Issues" and these are some of the photos from my "photo shoot." You can read the article and see more photos if you'd like at this link. Click on "Aging Issues, Spring 2010" then go to page 4. (I hope it works -- if it doesn't, cut & paste it into your browser.): http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/BEAS/LIBRARY/Newsletter/aging-issues.htm

Oh, I just love it when they rub my ears!

This man is always so happy to see me and always remembers my name.

I met a new friend that day -- Pinto, a seeing eye dog. Pinto and his mom visit the NHVH on a regular basis. I had a good time visiting with them. I think Pinto was a little leery of me at first because I'm quite a bit bigger than Pinto. But we quickly became friends!

This is my friend, Dave. He's President of the Resident's Council.

This is me and my grammy during my Christmas visit. The reindeer antlers were okay but I didn't like the little bells so close to my ears!

Well, that's it for now. Hope you enjoyed my update! Stay tuned for more updates as we've got lots of things happening. I'm currently in an advanced dog obedience class as a "refresher" and I'm going to be in the Cause for Paws Pet Fair on April 24th in Laconia! Take care, Rocky

I Wear a 10 Gallon Hat!

Howdy Friends! --We're back in action, just in time for Halloween!Here we are dressed as cowgirls to go visit the Veteran's Home on Halloween afternoon. What do you think of my braids?? I'm Annie Oakley! You knew that, right?

This is Steffi -- she wanted to pay tribute to the veteran's with a bit of a military flair for her costume -- she's Combat Cutie!

This is earlier in the day -- Look! No cast! Mom is showing off her first day with both feet in sneakers -- first time in 6 weeks!

Steffie -- being a little ham! She has the longest tongue!

Steffie loves running in the leaves! Sure hope she doesn't bite that tongue!

She just never stops running!!

I'm so happy my mom can walk on her foot again! Can you tell? This means I can get back to work!! Yippee! Hope you all had a great Halloween and got lots of yummy treats. I had a great day doing what I do best -- making people smile!

Happy Birthday, Steffi!

Howdy Folks! You only turn one once, so I'm letting Steffi get all the attention in this post. (Actually not much else to report with Mom still being out of commission -- boring!) Sunday was Steffi's first birthday and Mom has a tradition around here: You must wear the Clifford, the Red Dog, birthday hat on your birthday. (Come to think of it, I think I escaped it last year -- I never told anyone when my birthday was!) As you can see, though, Steffi is a fashion-hound, loves to be the center of attention, and is looking very proud and, should I say, chic? in the birthday hat.

As usual, though, she couldn't wait to get back to chewing on a toy. She loves toys! Especially squeaky ones. I hardly have eardrums left after the one she found Sunday night! She's turning out to be a pretty good littl' sis. We play hard and run fast! She's a bit scared of the coyotes, though, when she hears them off in the woods at night. During the day, she thinks she's supposed to catch every falling leaf before it hits the ground! Anything to burn up energy! I sure wish I had her metabolism then I'd be able to eat treats all day long and Dr. Keenan would never be able to tell! Take care ya'll -- Rocky...and Steffi