Rockford
Sweet, smart sensitive boxer mix boy
male / y o / 44 lbs
male / y o / 44 lbs
Rocky and buddy Scout
Rockfords favorite perch!
a relaxed and content dog!
Getting to know and help Rockford has been a fun and interesting journey ... He is a very special dog who has come to full on enjoy his life at the farm. RF will always be learning.. its in his wiring.. he is organically extremely aware and observant.. He is always reading and interpreting..
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Rockford is highly attuned.. sensitive.. he watches and feels everything! His Eyes are often wide and alert until he settles and then he softens to a childlike gaze that's asks.. are we connected? Are you enjoying our walk as much as I am? He enjoys having a full on conversation on his solo walks with handler pals.. when with one or more dog pals RF becomes more of a hanging-with-my-friends-teenager! He continues to check in with his person because he's just t hat kinda guy! Always "reading the room"..
He likely was born with a keen awareness of his environment but we also feel certain his early life experience honed his acutely perceptive nature. What this means in Rockfords case is he will understand what your breath is saying! It's an incredible gift actually to be able to share communication with a dog like Rockford. This also makes the home type that would be suitable for Rockford very particular... he his highly reliant on calm, steady routine with people, places and things. While he enjoys variety, too much will offset his comfort level and cause him to become more on edge rather then his usual calm self. Weve learned a ton and so enjoyed helping this sweet chocolate brindle boy that not all the world is a scary wild and unpredictable place...watching him gain trust and actually become relaxed and content... so unlike the petrified puppy who arrived to us with burned skin, thin, wormy and sickly! Rockford has always come to life in the company of other dogs and we have used that to help him find HIS way to befriending people.. 
Silly boy loves his red chair
Rockford really needed a lot of socialization... a lot of time to repeatedly have opportunity to explore new stuff at his own speed.. in his own way.. and when the sky didn't fall and he was free to unleash his true curious nature! RF learned well by watching his dog pals do things and we let him make the decision about if & when he'd like to approach and share affection.. we didn't impose any schedule on him. Eventually Rockford started to nose for attention.. and now he comes and offers licks.. Each little baby step has been a HUGE reward to us.. we knew we would have to refrain from cheering ... just a soft calm... gooooood booooyyyyyy Rock did the trick.. he loved it and still does! Routine has been an important element in Rockfords "rehab" providing him with the ability to relax.. not having to worry about whats happening .. about to happen.. might happen has enabled RF to rest.. truly and completely let go and sleep deeply! AGAIN.. so precious!!
What Rockford LOVES..
DOGS, Playtime, hanging out in lounge mode with human and canine pals, walks with conversation, feedback, COMMUNICATION, predictable routine, food, cozy sleeping areas, water.. swimming, adventure within a safety bubble! While out walking RF is a dog who appreciates information.. he often turns and looks up at his person.. he drinks in praise and seems to take in every word spoken.. he is reassured by a soft calm voice guiding him along... he enjoys being in a calm and content safety bubble with his person.. while in that space Rockford keeps his attention and hyper alertness in check choosing instead to join & defer to his trusted companion! |
Rockford will continue to bloom, shed his worries and delight his people as long as he has a trustworthy connection with human(s) who are themselves at peace, can easily communicate with energy and body language and can provide an environment that is happy, calm and reasonably predictable!
- A little about Rockford from Handler Nick -
Rockford is a perfect example of how multi-faceted a dog’s personality can be. On his own, he is shy and sensitive. He can feel pressured in social situations, hoping that the attention stays off of him as much as possible - surely some of us have felt the same before. BUT, when Rocky gets around his fellow four-legged friends, he feels comfortable enough to be his true self. He bounds around with seemingly endless energy, begging his playmates to join in the fun. He’s goofy, wiggly, and may even flash you that adorable gargoyle grin as he zooms by. |
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