By Liz O'ConnellShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe internet has been brought to tears after a pet parent shared a precious memory of how her senior dog used to wait for her to return home.
Christina Desrochers said her final goodbyes to her dog, Rocky, about four years ago, but she still feels his presence daily. Her mini Old English sheepdog and Wheaten terrier mix lived to be 17 years. During their time together, Rocky's vision and hearing began to go, but he still held onto one habit: waiting for Desrochers to return home whenever she left.
In the November 18 video posted to her Instagram account @christina_ttd, a throwback to when Rocky was 15, Desrochers came home to find Rocky once again waiting for her. This time, the dog fell asleep on the couch right next to the window, snoring the day away. Unable to hear or see, he slept straight through—until her scent reached him and gently woke him.
"Every time I leave, he would wait for me," she told Newsweek via Instagram. "Sometimes he would be asleep when I got home, or as you can see in my other video, sometimes he would be crying at the door."
...Careful not to startle him, Desrochers reaches her hand down to his nose, allowing him to wake slowly to her smell—a method recommended by the American Kennel Club (AKC). The AKC notes that deaf dogs may nip when frightened, making it important to desensitize them by teaching that unexpected touches can lead to rewards.
Owners can begin the desensitization training by gently touching their deaf dog—always in the same spot—then rewarding them. Repeat the process while out of sight, then progress to practicing while the dog is sleeping. This positive association will teach them to anticipate and look forward to your gentle touches.
As soon as Rocky woke up, his tail began wagging furiously, and his entire body wiggled with excitement. His whole world finally returned.
"I’m a stay-at-home mom, so I didn’t leave him very often, especially when he got older and couldn’t see or hear anything," she said.
Viewer Reactions
She began posting more throwback clips of Rocky when followers begged to see more of him after this video quickly became an instant hit. As of Tuesday, the Instagram video has reached over 296,000 views, 37,200 likes and 577 comments. People flooded the comment section with condolences and praise for Rocky's unwavering devotion.
"You saw how he jumped down and wagged his tail. He’s a happy boy because you are in his life," wrote a viewer.
A second person said: "He is so adorable!! You must miss him so much. Sending love."
Another added: "So sweet….. beautiful that you still appreciate him & his love."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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