My Rocky started out on an uncertain note because he was so small. He was also very timid. I was talked in to giving him another chance and try him the next day and agreed. After that day I never looked back.
Small he was but what a heart and mind. With in a three month period he was taking me to the mail box and after a year I could say find anything and if it was possible he would find it. We expanded that and one of his commands was find the stairs. There are two stairways from the upper level to the lower level of the shopping center near my home. One of the stairways was covered with broken glass most of the times and so I would tell him other stairs and he would take me to them. I never had a moments hesitation one I would give him a command because he would follow it and complete it quickly.
I received Rocky on July 6th, 1992 and retired him on November 15 2000. He lived another three years but he had a challenge of not being able to see. Not a very good thank you for a dog who gave his all for eight years of being a working Pilot Dog.
One time when we were visiting my sister in rural Skagit County I had let Rocky off leash and he spotted a rabbit. In a flash he was off on a dead run! I called him back by calling Rocky, stop! To my amazement he turned around and came back to hang his head against my knee and I praised him allot. Then I put his leash back on. I was most pleased with my rocky dog.Two months after returning with him from the school I was able to walk to the mail box with Rocky off leash and back to the house with him heeling all the way. I had never had a dog that minded so well. Each time I would call him he was there before I got the full command out. He was and will always be my BEST dog.
My love is being given to my Miss Gem now but she is allot of work compared to Rocky.