With all the rain we’ve had lately, it’s time to share Rocko’s opinion of rain. A lot of people teach their dogs commands like sit and stay, with Rocko it is more of a conversation. When it’s cloudy and raining there’s only one thing to say – hate a rainy day.
Rocko can’t hear the thunder any more but he when he sees lightning he knows it is going to storm.
Rocko's safe spot
He has a safe spot downstairs in the corner of the bedroom. Don’t you just love the old torn up blanket? He does. I tried to replace it once and was met with quite a bit of resistance – that’s the blanket that goes in his safe spot and it will stay there forever.
The TV stays on for the day if I have to go to work and it is raining. Rocko prefers the home improvement channels. He does recognize when they interrupt programming for weather alerts and he wants to go downstairs so we don’t leave network channels on during the day.
Unfortunately the stairs to get down to the safe spot are very steep, that’s what you get with an old house. It really isn’t safe for him to go down by himself any more so we had to put up a gate.
Purchased at a neighbor’s yard sale a few years ago, it took some modification to make it fit, but I had the vision the minute I saw it. When it came time to start using it, my dad helped me trim down the sides to fit the narrow doorway. The other thing to consider is the cats – they need access to the whole house. We removed one post to make an opening big enough for them to get through. This gate is great because it has hinges and opens like a garden gate. I can leave it up all the time and open it when I need to go down , it is a lot more convenient than pulling the gate out and putting it back twenty times a day. **Note that the modifications we’ve made to the baby gate make it extremely unsafe for children so don’t try this if you have little ones around **
our gate - not safe for children!
The part we’ll never get a picture of is what happens when Rocko has to go out to go potty in the rain. I have a giant umbrella and yes, I go outside to hold it over him so he doesn’t get wet. Sounds like a good plan except when we get out in the yard I end up bending over, following him around the yard holding the umbrella over him, all the while getting soaking wet myself. But that’s what you do for someone you love.
When it’s raining, we have lots of hugs. I acknowledge his feelings by telling him “I know bubby, hate a rainy day”.