1. What is the most distinctive feature of the Newfoundland breed of dog?

1. Their thick, curly fur
2. Their ability to swim long distances
3. Their tendency to drool excessively
4. Their calm and gentle temperament

2. Why was Rocky feeling sad and not eating well when the family first met him?

1. He had been abused by his previous owners
2. He was missing his previous companion dog
3. He was adjusting to his new surroundings
4. He was unwell and needed medical attention

3. What did the family plan to do to help Rocky regain his appetite?

1. Give him a special diet
2. Take him on long walks
3. Introduce him to another dog
4. Offer him his favourite treats

4. How did the family members, especially Danny, initially react to Rocky’s large size?

1. They were intimidated and wary of him
2. They were excited and eager to interact with him
3. They were indifferent and uninterested
4. They were cautious but quickly warmed up to him

5. What does the video suggest about Rocky’s personality and behaviour?

1. He is high-energy and needs a lot of exercise
2. He is aloof and prefers to be left alone
3. He is affectionate and enjoys cuddles and attention
4. He is easily startled and requires a lot of training

6. What special feature of Newfoundland dogs is mentioned in the video?

1. Their ability to rescue people from water
2. Their tendency to shed a lot of fur
3. Their preference for cooler climates
4. Their intelligence and trainability

7. How did the family seem to feel about welcoming Rocky into their home?

1. They were hesitant and unsure about the decision
2. They were overwhelmed and had second thoughts
3. They were thrilled and excited to have him join their family
4. They were mainly concerned about the cost of caring for him

correct answers:

1d, 2b, 3d, 4d, 5c, 6a, 7c

Transcript: 

Very placid and relaxed, sweet, laid-back nature. They need that, don’t they? They want something that’s going to really help Danny sort of calm him down and… He’s a big teddy bear, isn’t he? Likes a big bear hug. Yeah! Oh, wow. He’s a shepherd across Newfoundlands. And Alfie’s training to be a lifeguard. Yeah, yeah. They obviously love the water. And he wants a dog that he can take out in the water with him. One dog really stood out to us that just seemed to tick a lot of the boxes. He’s called Rocky, but it’s not a small dog. Yes. Can it cycle? It’s a medium, isn’t it? Um… Keep going. Oh, my goodness. Have you ever heard of a Newfoundland? Yeah. Oh, my word.

THEY LAUGH

How big’s a Newfoundland? It’s not small. Yes. They are a water rescue dog. So, in terms of what you wanted a dog for, they’re bred to go in the water and rescue people. He’s crossed with a German shepherd. Oh, my!

THEY LAUGH

He loves his cuddles. He loves his snuggles on the sofa. He will sit in your lap. He thinks he’s a lap dog. We’re going to have to buy you a bigger car. So, would you like to meet him? Yes. Yes. Great. I’m really excited for you. Rocky! You’re all right, mate. How’s it going, boy? Let’s go, buddy. Seven-year-old Rocky was dropped off a few weeks ago when his previous owners found they couldn’t juggle his care with building their new home. Hi. This is Rocky. One thing Newfoundland is going to have to be prepared for is the slobber. Especially when they shake as well and it flies on the ceiling, it flies on the walls. It’s a bit of a pain in the neck. It flies on the ceiling, it flies on the walls. Nice little chin rub. Oh, nice. Nice little chin rub. Is that good? Rocky had always lived with another dog. Now he’s on his own. He’s been quite sad, not really eating that well and he’s losing a bit of weight. So we’re trying to do everything we can to make him feel better and get his appetite back and find a new family and kind of get him back to full physical and mental health. I don’t know how Dan sees the world. And I’ve kind of always said he’s a bit different. As he gets older, you kind of notice things more. It’s probably going to come there. It’s going to be, like, this height of, like… You’ll be able to see it in the windows. I am scared. Deep breaths, everyone, deep breaths.

The Coxen family are waiting to greet gentle Giant. Rocky. Let’s go and meet some people. I’ve got butterflies. This way. Come on in. Here he comes, I think.

HE GASPS

Come on, come. Oh, my! Hey, guys. This is the very handsome Rocky. That’s the coolest thing ever. At the moment, he’s, like, a little bit sad, so he might not act how he will when he’s fully settled in the home, but he is an absolutely lovely dog. I have got some hot dogs for him. He probably isn’t going to eat them. He’s just not feeling himself. But I thought I’d leave them there for you guys anyway to see if he’ll take a couple of treats. And if he doesn’t eat them, I’m starving. Feel free. They’re still warm. Has he got some steak in his bag? Hello. I’ve just been for a sniff and I’ve come to say hello. Where’s he gone, Rocky? He’s amazing. Come down to him, Dan. Russell, stop hogging. I’m not, look. I know, I know. He’s come to me. He’s come round everyone. Oh, Dan, he’s a little bit nervous. He was a bit tentative, wasn’t he? He is a little bit overwhelmed, I think. Come on, go give him a fuss. Come on. He’s a bit nervous. Just go fuss his ears. He is a chilled dog, isn’t he? Hey, Rocky. Nice knowing Alfie. Let’s see if he likes me later. Don’t worry if he gets any slobber on you. He’s off his food a little bit, isn’t he? Keep trying, aren’t I? Go on, Rocky. Come on, Rocky. A dog that won’t eat for weeks or months is very, very rare. That dog is depressed. And just like with people, it is a real emotion. Nobody can understand that dog’s issue quite like somebody that’s going through exactly the same thing. Rocky!

MUSIC CONTINUES

Massive. Isn’t it? It’s going to be really good for Dan. Yeah, I feel calm when I, like, stroke a dog. It’s just, like, relaxing and keeps him calm. Oh, maybe you are. He’s going to eat you, Dan! Oh, Rocky, what are you doing? You’re pinning me down. You’re pinning him down. Good boy, Rocky. Yeah. He does like you, Danny. You all right, Dan? You all right? Come here. Come on in, you man. I’m going to keep your hand flat. There we go. Yes! Thrilled now. He’s ate all of it. He’s ate it all. That’s good. Good how he’s eating, though. Well done, Danny. She’s getting so much from just seeing how happy they are. Right, Dan, are you going to go for a weight? When we saw Rocky come through, the second they saw him, they just knew that was their dog.

WHISTLES

Rocky, come on. Good boy. Come on, I know. Come on. To have your own bear in your house is pretty amazing. He really likes this. When you give him a fuss, there’s room for all four of you to fuss him at the same time because he’s so big. Rocky’s a horse. Is that his new name? Yeah. Rocky! Rocky is eating like the king. We have got the leftovers. Surely he wants some bacon. The butcher gave us, like, some lamb bones, and that’s probably, like, his second or tied first favourite food. Want to go for a walk to the beach? Come on, Rocky. Good boy.

Gone to the dogs … and having fun! Although the English saying “go to the dogs” means “to become worse in quality or character,” this is not true of Idaho’s Dog Bark Park Inn. Husband and wife Dennis Sullivan and Frances Conklin built their dog-shaped inn in 1997 and have been visited by dog-lovers from all over the country.

The couple are definitely dog-lovers themselves: they have been carving and selling wooden dogs for two decades, recreating over 60 breeds and poses of dogs. While it seems to be quite a feat to carve small folk-art style statues with a chainsaw, Dennis and Frances manage very well with dogs as small as 12.5 cm tall. Their most famous creations, however, are the two giant beagles. They were inspired by the roadside architecture popular in the early days of automobile vacation travel when travellers would often buy petrol, eat meals or stay overnight in a building that didn’t look like a building at all: the coffee pot or teacup gas stations, milk bottle shaped restaurants and the shoe and duck houses were joined by two canines.

Frances and Dennis have made sure to pick a friendly dog breed: beagles are small to medium-sized dogs, even-tempered, gentle and amiable. With the world’s most famous beagle, Snoopy in mind, it’s hard to imagine that this breed is a scent hound, developed in the 1830s in Great Britain for tracking hare, rabbit and deer. These intelligent dogs are often employed as detection dogs due to their great sense of smell and tracking instinct.

Toby is a 3.65 m tall statue, while Sweet Willy houses the Dog Bark Park Inn: the cosy bed-and-breakfast run by the family sleeps four, with a queen bed in the main section and two twin futons in the head, all decorated with canine-inspired furnishings. Open from April 1 to October 31, the entrance to the guesthouse opens from a private second story deck, and guests are treated to dog-shaped biscuits left on their pillows.

According to the owners, being in the doghouse is a good thing at Dog Bark Park Inn Bed & Breakfast. Besides being a charming escape from the ordinary, it also offers all the comforts of home, along with relaxing prairie views and starry nights from the second story deck. Idaho, a mountainous state in the north-western region of the USA, offers plenty of outdoor activities and the creators of the giant beagles are happy to help their guests pick something really memorable. Dog Bark Park has complimentary area travel literature and maps and taking a jet boat tour into nearby Hell’s Canyon or visiting a wolf centre are highly recommended. Staying at this B&B also provides the opportunity to learn about the Nez Perce Indian history and culture during a visit to the Nez Perce National Historical Park.

to carve – faragni
decade – évtized
breed – (kutya)faj
feat – tett
folk-art – népművészet
chainsaw – láncfűrész
roadside architecture – útmenti
canine – kutya
even-tempered – kiegyensúlyozott
amiable – szeretetreméltó
scent hound – kopó
tracking instinct – nyomkövető ösztön
to house – otthont adni
cosy – lakályos
queen bed – kisebb méretű franciaágy
futon – matracágy
second story deck – második szinten lévő erkély
to be in the doghouse – rossz helyzetben, bajban lenni
memorable – emklékezetes
complimentary – ajándékba adott
jet boat     – vízsugaras motorcsónak
to recommend – ajánlani
opportunity to – lehetőség, alkalom valamire