Puppy Love!

We all love puppies! Cute and full of fun? Staffordshire Bull Terrier Rescue have recently taken in 5 pups who are about 5 weeks old and are just adorable as you can see.

Sadly they were rescued after they were found in a house, neglected. Their mum had to be put to sleep as she was so emancipated - she'd obviously fought to keep her pups alive and as healthy as she could. Such a sad story but with a happy ending as the pups are now safe and being very much loved and looked after at www.sbtrescue.co.uk.

Even the adult rescue Staffies are lending a paw! As you can see the gorgeous Missy (pictured in the bed with the pups), herself waiting for her forever home is helping Chris at the rescue with vital puppy lessons!

Amy on the other hand is helping them learn how to get on the sofa! A vital lesson for a spoilt pooch. Amy is also waiting for her forever home after she came into the rescue almost bald with mange, as you can see she is doing great now with the love and care she is receiving!

So how can you help?

Please consider helping www.sbtrescue.co.uk with vital funds to help make sure these pups and every other Staffie in need receives the love and care they need, when they need it most! With your help many more can be saved and rehabilitated!

If you would like to make a difference please go to www.sbtrescue.co.uk and click on donate.

If you are thinking of getting a dog, please rescue! There are many dogs looking for wonderful homes - please apply through the website! And once they are old enough these little pups will also be available for rehoming.

A friend from downunder

I love the fact we get hits on the blog from all over the world, including Australia. Here's a little post from a gorgeous dog in Australia called Floyd who has to deal with some rather different backyard visitors to the neighbours cat!

It’s me “The Handsome Debonair” Floyd here. I’m popping in to tell of my adventure that happened on the week end.

I was just minding my own business in “my” backyard, just having a good ole scratch & roll on the grass when something caught my eye. The “thing” was greyish, scaley & it was invading my property !!!!!!!!!!!.

It was about 20” long & sunning itself on the path. Well I just couldn’t stand around & watch it, I had to do my “brave” duty, well it does say in my breed standard that my breed is “Bold & Fearless” so I just had to live up to that didn’t I....

I flexed every muscle I have & charged like a raging bull over to the thing & barked at it, the thing was brave also, it just laid there hissing & poking it’s tongue out at me.

Mum came running outside to see what I was barking at. Mum was telling me to get away & to go back inside the house because the “thing” is not my dinner nor toy thing etc . Ok I was being good & listened to Mum & I followed her back in the house.

Mum got her camera thingy & went back outside with me in tow to take some pics of the “thing”. The poor thing was now being harassed by those stupid Indian Minor birds, Mum was nudging the “thing” along the path towards the pool garden so it could hide safely under the palm trees & out of sight from the birds.

While Mum was taking pics I just had to be nosy & keep a watchful eye on the “thing”, needless to say I was not impressed about sharing my backyard & gardens with another!!!!!!!!!!!.

Mum did ask me not to chase, go near or harm the "thing" or other critters look nearly the same as the "thing", just in case they was aggressive, poisonous & deadly
So now I will be watched like a hawk for my own safety when ever i'm in the backyard. Mum doesn't want to risk me being bitten by a deadly snake......


PS.. this next little text is from Mum...... We live on the east coast of OZ & there a numerous deadly snakes throughout OZ, certain variety of snakes only inhabit certain regions of OZ...

Our neighbor has found a live very aggressive deadly & toxic "Eastern Brown Snake" & a "Red Belly Black Snake" in he's back yard/ gardens, one bite from either of those snake can easily kill a 60 kilo dog or child within 30-60 mins. We live in rural suburbs & don't often come across snakes in our gardens that much.. but often see them sun baking on the roads or just passing through our yards etc..

And here is the gorgeous man himself - G'Day Floyd!

My Story by Cracker Lewis

Today is Crackers 14th gotcha day, in celebration here is his story written by him (with a little help from his Mum). Staffies make the most wonderful friends and companions, if you are thinking of adopting a staffie please contact www.sbtrescue.co.uk.

Well I started my life in London and I wasn't treated very well there, so I was taken in a van by a kind lady to somewhere called the country. We drove for a long time and I was then handed over to someone else who owned something called a farm?

There were lots of other dogs there but they were all nervous and worried about where they were going next. I didn't care as it was nicer than my old place.

One day I heard a loud motorbike engine and I was introduced to two people called Justin and Heather. I was told I could adopt them if they liked me! Huh! The cheek, I'm the one doing the adopting, they can either like me or not, I'm not making a special effort for them. I did like Justin though as he liked to wrestle and play tug 'o' war, which I love. He was my kinda man. Well then they just said goodbye and left me which was a bit sad but I thought Oh! well, there are lots of people so I'm sure I'll find someone to adopt.

Then the next day they came back, I was really happy to see them but no motorbike, shame as I would have liked a ride on that!.

They were dressed normally and they had another human with them, I was told I could adopt them after all, which made me really happy.

This other human drove the car and I got in the back with Justin, he put his arm round me which was really nice, as between you and me I was a bit nervous as I didn't know where I was going.
Heather looked a bit nervous as well and I could tell she really needed winning over. Well that didn't take long!

I could tell she was a bit scared of going out and some people made some horrible comments about her face. Well I don't care what she looks like, she treats me well, feeds me and gives me lots of cuddles, which I love!

Not long after I started my new life I was left on my own in the flat. Well I'm sorry but I was only young and I hadn't settled in completely. Justin and Heather were my life and I thought they had gone forever. I totally freaked out and dug at anything to help me get back to them. I'm not proud of myself and I would never do anything like that now but at the time I was so scared I'd never see them again.

I felt so stupid when they came home, I hid in the wardrobe.

Well after that they bought me a crate, that was my new home and when they went out they shut the door so I felt nice and secure. It was lovely my first proper home, I used to just go in there for a quick nap during the day if I felt like it.

That year was great I finally found my place, then one evening they both went out and came back with a little thing called a puppy. I guess she was kind of cute but she loved to chew me and she had needle sharp teeth. I'd tolerate it as they seemed to want me to. For some reason they think I actually listen to what this puppy thing has to say. They even called her Boss! Well she's not mine, I do what I want, I just let her think she's in control! Well you've gotta keep the ladies happy! I am actually really quite fond of her and I had another female to look after and that made me happy.

I then met Heather's Mum who I could tell also needed winning over, one night Heather was really upset and talking about her Mum having leukemia, I saw my opportunity so the next time I saw her mum she looked very tired. I knew she liked walking so I'd take her out and pull her when she got tired or going up hills etc. She was soon won over, talk about easy!

Then I met Justin's Mum, she loved me from the start and gave me chocolates! Wow what a bit of heaven that is! Then I heard them talk about her not being well so I took Heather and Boss up to her home in North Wales to look after her.

I loved it in North Wales, I had ladies to look after and a fantastic beach where I could run around as much as I liked.

I missed Justin but he would come up at the weekends and we would wrestle, play tug 'o' war and other men's games. Don't get me wrong I love the ladies but sometimes you just need a mans company.

Well anyway life so far has been good, most of the time. I get on great with Heather but sometimes when we are out in my park and I can tell another dog has been on my patch, I need to stop and sniff the signs. She keeps calling me but I haven't finished my business. I can tell by her voice that she is getting annoyed with me, but she doesn't understand that sometimes a dogs gotta do what a dogs gotta do.

I've moved them to a different house now nearer Justin's work so he doesn't have to travel so far. Heather has learnt to drive so we go on our own little adventures on Dartmoor and we can go to the beach whenever we want.. She keeps going into hospital to have surgery on her face and now people hardly ever say anything nasty to her. I must admit I don't like it when she goes away and then she comes back smelling strange, like the vet.

I'm glad I met Justin and Heather and they allowed me to adopt them. There is only one thing I'd change and that would be a lot more cheese and chocolate, and access to the fridge. Cor! some good things come out of there!

There is only one other thing bugging me at the momment, she seems to be spending a lot of time on the computer. Something called the www.thenannydog.co.uk. She should really be giving me cuddles, but there is one good thing to come out of it, she now gives me chicken wings which I love!

Lots of love Cracker

Happy Gotcha Day Gorgeous Boy xx

Why you should never OWN a dog

'He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog.

You are his life, his love, his leader.

He will be yours, faithful and true, until the last beat of his heart.

You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion'.

This quote inspires me every time I read it, the author is unknown but it is a well known quote. It captures the energy of what i believe is at the heart of living with animals - mutual respect and partnership.

We all need a sense of belonging, its what helps us create stability and be ourselves. The freedom to be who we are not what someone else wants us to be allows us to be our best, confident selves. This is just as true for dogs.

It astounds me that most people see this wonderful relationship as ownership ... you own a dog - ok legally that might be true but ownership for me also means that you can dispose of a belonging. I can take a old handbag to the charity shop, sell it on ebay or even get rid of it ... why does society accept that it is ok to do the same with a loving, living creature - well simply it is not acceptable.

When I work with people and their dogs, I focus on deepening the relationship. What makes me different to other behaviourists is that I am a qualified coach - I help people get more from their lives and when I am working as part of Bright Paws I am doing exactly that. I help them put in place structure and environments that allow the dog and owners to really benefit from each others love, where the dog can be itself and be settled and where they can have fun together.

I don't believe in ownership, I certainly don't believe in pack leader theory and I 100% believe that having a dog is the most wonderful gift, that when you have children don't look at it as 'what if', know that your child will grow up with the most wonderful teacher, companion and friend.

My dream for 2011 is to write a book, I've started that journey and I hope to publish it this year.

I work with people and their dogs on a 121 basis in the North East, I also offer telephone consultations worldwide.

If you want to experience a new way of looking at your relationship with your pet please contact me rebecca.armstrong@brightpaws.co.uk