2nd January

Our 7^th Dog of Christmas is Tara

Tara has been looking for a home of her own since November 2011. She was in Spangleberry kennels for a short while before going to Alison’s. Tara was handed into rescue as the children were haranguing her and she had growled at them. Who knows what happened to her as this is not  usual behaviour for  a Stafford.

Stuart, introducing Tara and Daisy

 Tara came to us for a week whilst Alison, Dave and family went on their well deserved summer holiday.  Airing on the side of caution Tara was kept separate from Daisy, Honey, Oscar and Nugget as Alison had been told that she was not good with bitches. We decided to foster Tara on a long term basis providing that she accepted our dogs and vice versa. We walked Tara individually with each dog for her and ours to get used to one another, all went well and Tara integrated with them. There where one or two moments where it became apparent that she does not like another dog going up to her face, being a trigger point where she will growl. This no longer happens and harmony now reigns. She has  shown no aggression to dogs she has met on the common and will play with them. 

 Sadly Tara is not good with children and we cannot allow her near them or children near her. This is a problem that has to be taken into consideration when re homing her, it has to be a no children home. Whenever our grandchildren visit Tara is put into the bedroom with no problems. 

Tara at work

Tara enjoying a windfall apple.

 Tara also has separation anxiety and cannot be left for to long but she happily travels well in a car or van and most days comes to work with me and will let me know when she wants to get back in the van for a sleep.

Tara is a joy to have in the home undemanding happy and content to enjoy home comforts and a cuddle.

Chill out time after a days work

Tara's 5 months with us

August

 We took Tara, Daisy Honey and Nugget to The Friends of Streatham Common dog show and entered them collectively in the oldies category where they won 3^rd place. The judges praised Stafford’s and said how maligned they were, on leaving the show ring they were cheered and clapped. 

September

We  all attended Pets in Practice dog show, Reading, meeting up with Ali, and Andrea.


October and holiday time

Stuart,Daisy, Honey, Oscar, Nugget and Tara

Exhausted having a lie in!!!!

Tara enjoying stretching her legs with Daisy, Honey, Oscar and Nugget on 7 miles of beach.

December

And so it was Christmas...........Tara enjoying a lay in, she is always the last to get up unless I am going to work!








Whilst we have Tara, sadly we are unable to foster or help out should an emergency situation arise as we are up to our maximum of dogs. Tara is still up for re homing just in case the right home comes along for her, ideally it would be with an older person or couple with no children and where she would not be left for long periods.
Why you may ask when she has fitted in with us? Alison and I have always said that if a suitable home comes along that can give more to a dog than we can it as to be better for them. I feel that ideally Tara would be best suited as an only dog where she can have all the love and affection for herself......... Until that happens if ever she will remain with us.



Author:- Valerie