Leadership Lessons from Rocky (the dog)
Rocky entered our lives in November 2020. Our family had lost our dog of 14 years that summer. We promised ourselves that we would wait a year before getting another pet. Mission failed. We quickly realized that a family pet nurtured our mental and physical health. Enter Rocky, a one-year-old Shepadoodle. His mother is an English Shepherd-Poodle mix, and his father is a Standard Poodle.
Rocky burst onto the scene with lots of caution and hesitancy. He came from a house where many other dogs and animals lived, so he wasn’t quite sure why he was getting all the attention from the humans in our house and no other animals. Four months later, Rocky is a totally different dog. He runs. He leaps. He hugs us. He is a generally happy animal.
However, our sweet Rocky still frustrates me. When we go on our daily walks, I am reminded of the personal growth that still awaits me if I am willing to look around and learn. Here are a few lessons from Rocky:
1. Rocky never stays on the path. We live in the NC Mountains, and our house backs up to some beautiful trails. Rocky loves the trails and the woods and everything in between. As I enjoy my morning coffee on the trail, Rocky leaves me pretty quickly. For a 20-minute walk, he roams for 19 minutes and 45 seconds of it. Occasionally, I see him sprint past me, but mostly I just hear him wandering in the woods. Rocky reminds me that while we may take different paths, we usually end up in the same place together.
2. Rocky doesn’t listen to me the first time. So, imagine me walking through the woods and calling Rocky every 2-3 minutes. I’m okay that he goes off the path; I just need to know that he’s not wondering too far off. We live near a busy road. Our neighbor keeps chickens. He could get into some trouble if he wanted to. So, I call him. And call him. And call him. He NEVER comes back the first time. It takes about 7-10 calls for him to show up. Rocky reminds me that some of us need multiple communications to fully understand the message.
3. Rocky is a playful being. Maybe it’s his age (16 months) or his breed (so much poodle). Whatever it is, Rocky needs lots of play time. He needs time to run around by himself and explore. He needs time to play ball with our teenagers. He needs time to roll around in his blanket and scratch his back. He’s just active, and we’ve had to adjust. So, he gets 2-3 long walks per day. Rocky reminds me that being outside in nature is just as important as working inside the house.
4. Routine is Rocky’s friend. While Rocky is playful, he also knows how to communicate his needs. When he’s ready to go outside, he starts hanging out around the front door. If you say the word “walk,” he’s following you everywhere around the house. If I put on my tennis shoes, he’s on the case. He knows that a walk is coming his way. If I haven’t walked him by 10am, he is all over me. Rocky reminds me that routine and predictability can be nice sometimes.
5. Rocky loves mornings. My partner is so gracious in that he takes our teenagers to school each morning because I don’t really function before 9am ET. As soon as they leave, Rocky is up on the bed and sniffing my face. He’s waking me up and wondering why I haven’t joined in the morning fun. If I sit up, he is pawing my face for love while I’m thinking about coffee. Rocky reminds me that we all have our own cycles of energy.
6. Rocky is part of the family now. After our last pet (Badin) died, we were just devastated. Badin had joined us when he was 3 months old, and I was pregnant with our youngest child. Badin went with us everywhere. Our family members asked about Badin just as much as they asked about the kids. His final years were difficult, but he still brought so much joy. I never thought we could love an animal like that again. Enter Rocky. All cuddles, full energy, and paws like a teddy bear. In a few short months, we have learned to love Rocky just as much as Badin. Rocky reminds me that new relationships can be just as fun as old ones.
We love our Rocky, and we are hopeful for many years together. Pets are wonderful companions and great teachers if we are open to their lessons. Sending you all the Rocky love today. If you are available, he needs a walk.