My dog won't come when I call him

... Scott seems to think it's because I have to many nick-names for him. But with a name like ROCKY, how can you just call him 'Rocky'? Here's what I mean: Rock Star, Rocket, Bottle Rocket, Rocky Road, Ricky, Racket ... and after that they just become embarrassing like Orville Rockin Bocker and Rockillalia.

He is getting bigger- Look below how little he used to be! He can't even stretch fully in his crate anymore.

He did the funniest thing today. Our teacher came to our house for class and we decided to put Rocky away because dogs make her uncomfortable. I heard some racket coming from the bedroom where his crate is.... and the next thing I know, Rocky is trotting back into the living room oh so proudly. He has figured out how to open the crate!!!!!!!! aaaahhhh!

He can also jump on the sofa... which I wish I hadn't encouraged, because this morning when I let him out of his crate to play in the living room (while tied to a short leash) he had managed to jump up on the sofa and was hanging out, chewing away on a throw pillow.

Here you can see how he's grown....

Look at that baby face!

Caught eating a roll of tapeSo dignified and poised! No more puppy face! :-( He is the sweetest dog. He has made friends with all the animals in our alley way. The newest little puppy in the alley we've named Rowdy; he was terrified of us at first, and in one of his efforts to flee, he got wedged between two buildings. I pulled him free, and held him close so he wouldn't feel afraid and he at once began licking our faces and wagging his tail! Every time we see him, he runs up to Scott and lays on his back to get a belly rub!