Dr. Dinesh, B.D.S(Cal Univ), PGDHHM, PGDMLS, PGDMC
There are trophies on shelves, certificates in files and memories in photographs. But my greatest reward every day is not a medal or an award, it is the sound of Rocky’s paws rushing to the gate when I return home.
Rocky seems to possess a sixth sense. He can recognise the sound of my car approaching from nearly 100 yards away. Even the slightest creak of the gate alerts him. Somehow, long before we reach home, he knows we are coming, perhaps sensing our familiar scent from afar. For Rocky, love needs no words; he hears it, smells it and waits for it.
Rocky is my very own alarm bell. Every morning, almost with the precision of a clock, he wakes me up at exactly 5:30 a.m. What amazes me is his accuracy, when I look at the clock after his first bark, the minute hand is almost always exactly where it should be. Rocky, faithfully announcing that a new day has begun.
My Labrador has won first prize twice and third prize twice in dog shows organised by the Veterinary Department, Srivijayapuram at ITF ground. He knows fourteen commands and responds with remarkable intelligence and discipline. Yet none of these achievements defines him as much as the way he greets me after a long, exhausting day.
A tired mind carries patients, responsibilities, deadlines, disappointments and silent worries. But the moment I open the gate and see Rocky’s uncontrollably wagging tail, something changes. Fatigue softens, tension melts away and sadness retreats. He never asks how successful the day was or how bad the day was. He simply celebrates my return. That is unconditional love in its purest form.
Rocky is officially my son’s dog, and he never forgets it. When my son is around, my wife and I are relegated to the background. Two staff members feed him daily, and during those few minutes he showers them with affection. Once the meal is over, his attention returns to his family. His affection, memory and judgment are far more nuanced than we imagine.
Living with Rocky has taught me that dogs have a language richer than words. I recognise his different sounds, the alert bark when a honey bee comes close, the warning when a centipede appears and the unmistakable seriousness when he senses a snake. It is almost a conversation between old friends.
He is also wonderfully jealous. If I caress someone else, he quietly inserts himself between us, demanding his share of affection. His bark changes when he wants food, while the sight of his leash sends him jumping with excitement. He insists on a daily massage, belly rub and waits for it like an appointment that cannot be missed.
Every year we celebrate his birthday as a family, complete with a healthy edible cake that disappears within minutes. Rocky is also a celebrity in our Dairy Farm neighbourhood. Schoolchildren call, “Rocky! Rocky!” and stop to caress his forehead. His generous licks make them laugh.
He loves water, splashing and running pipes, though he refuses water from a bowl. He adores walks, car rides and auto-rickshaw rides. He is friendly with strangers, recognises familiar faces and routines, and seems to understand silence better than many conversations.
There is also a quiet science behind this bond. Affectionate interaction with dogs can promote oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine while helping reduce cortisol, contributing to emotional well-being. Perhaps that is why a few minutes with Rocky after a difficult day feels therapeutic. He is our natural mood elevator.
In a stressful world, a dog can become a companion, therapist, guardian and teacher. Rocky reminds me that love can arrive as a wagging tail, trusting eyes, a joyful leap, a gentle lick or a patient waiting at the gate.
You may think you are bringing a dog into your home, but in truth, a dog quietly enters your heart. Rocky has won prizes in the show ring, but at home he has won something greater, the hearts of everyone who knows him. For our family, he is not merely a Labrador; he is a daily reminder that loyalty, joy, forgiveness and unconditional love still exist.
E-mail dineshdentalclinic@gmail.com
(The author is a Dog lover and freelance journalist. This piece is written on the facts purely for the pleasure of reading, offering readers a gentle diversion from the routine & often mundane stream of daily news)
