29th April

Royal Wedding Day

Well the day didn't quite go as planned, but still it has been a lovely day.

The dogs didn't appreciate the sense of occasion whilst we were watching the wedding and Steven walked in (ready to go on the Friday walk) just as they were taking their vows, this means the dogs all go crazy, so I am afraid I was rather rude and need to apologise!

Then the children began to appear with scornful teenage comments.

By then dogs needed walking and I felt it was best to hold off on the champagne until afterwards, then I needed to go back to the ponies so the champagne still had to wait. We then accepted an invite from neighbours to pop in where we dined on cucumber sandwiches and delicious cup cakes with a glass or two of Pimms. By the time we were home it hardly seemed worth tucking into the feast I had prepared and opening the Champagne but hey! It isn't everyday you have a royal wedding.



Staffords, a true British breed.



On a more mundane note, we have been asked by Pets at Home to attend their Support Adoption week which which runs from 6th-16th May. Normally we are offered four days and we will be given £100 for each day we attend. In the past we have included a Sunday and had a get together with all Guildford Staffords and their owners who can make it. This year I was not going to include a Sunday but thought I would throw it open to you. Do let me know if you would like to do Sunday and would come along or if it makes no difference.

You are all welcome to come on the weekdays if you can make it.

28th April



Charlie

 There is no way this is going out on 28th and it will now be on that very important date but this is the blog for Thursday 28th April.

My day changed course around 10 am when I answered the phone to a girl needing to rehome a dog she had taken from a man who was crating it for days at a time. She had had the dog neutered but could no longer cope as she had an English Bull Terrier bitch of her own. The dog was 10 months old and supposed to be a Staffie x Mastiff but she said he was small.I asked her where she was and she replied Godalming near the college. Well as I was about to take my daughter there I said I would have a look although I explained I couldn't help with a cross.

When I got there the dog was a cross but quite small and certainly not menacing. It was also obvious the girl was not coping as the dogs were bouncing off each other and it was chaos.

I was about to leave promising I would contact other rescues when I decided to try Glenn there and then.

Glenn offered to take him, only problem I had no space in the car as I had brought three dogs with me!

I nipped into Godalming to get my bunting then quickly to the ponies, no chance to ride as planned but quickly home to drop off a dog then back to pick up daughter and back to collect the little dog,  "Charlie" and take him to Glenn.

Once home time to walk Sandy then off to my son's parents evening.........a mad evening followed eventually feeding everyone around 9.30pm

So a little dog is taken out and given the chance of a new home but I have nothing to show for it at all, nobody would even know if I had not shared it with you, yet it took all day and all my other plans went by the way.

Worse was to follow on receiving an email about one of our dogs who has now been in a home for over two years but whom they now want to rehome due to her behaviour. This was one of our successes, at least we thought......this rescue lark is a thankless task indeed.

27th April

For all Lexus fans out there here are some snippets of his latest exploits.

Often he has sneezing fits consisting of huge uncontrollable sneezes. This is bad news when your head is so big and your legs so short! Even worse if it happens when you are standing up to your tum in the river! Apparently his whole face disappeared under the water!

On Sunday we had family visiting, not easy with so many dogs. Lexus refused to be shut away and climbed up onto peoples laps while they sat on the sofa, winding people as he did so. He then lay lapping up the fuss as guests stroked his surprisingly soft fur. Instead of settling he insisted in getting off and padding into the kitchen for a drink only to return a few moments later and repeat the clambering, elbowing process so his poor victim winced only to assure us it was "Fine once he was in place!" He then lay there accepting the attention he was born for and......dribbling through his toothless gap all over his hapless admirer!

Nan accompanied Dave on Khan and Lex's walk. She wanted to take a closer look at something so they moved off the path. Lexus was busy eating his Ground Elder and thought he had been left behind. He scurried back up the path but did not see where they were standing shooting straight past oblivious to Dave's calls and whistles. He carried straight on right back onto the main path where they eventually found him checking out another group of walkers. He was so pleased to find them again he had obviously been in a real panic and was trembling. He showed his relief in typical Lexus style by bringing up the Ground Elder at Nan's feet!

I think that must be the first time we have lost sight of him on a walk since he has been with us, hopefully the last.

26th April

We have received a FANTASTIC  £300  donation from Staffiezone !!!!!!
A HUGE  THANK YOU to you all and for your encouraging comment on 22nd April blog.

It was good to have some encouragement when it was back to the usual routine today and time just disappeared, usual for a day or two anyway before we have another little break!

Can I draw your attention to Syd.

Syd has now been on our website for several weeks and has so far had no enquiries.

Syd is an eight year KC registered dog.He is neutered,vaccinated and chipped.
He sadly needs rehoming due to a relationship break up, he is local to me and is a very handsome chap.
He has never lived with another dog but this does not mean that he couldn't, after all we know nothing about the strays we take in.
He is currently living with a relative of his previous owner but due the resident cat Syd cannot be part of family life having to be kept separate which is not ideal and has now gone on far longer than anyone hoped.

He is a lovely boy, only middle aged with lots of love to give.

Help us to find that special home of his own that Syd deserves.

Easter Monday

The day began taking Lexus and Spryte down the garden, we were not rudely awakened as they seem to have adjusted to our moderate "lie in." Dave took Khan for a walk to the river as he needs a walk to do all he should, a legacy from his early life which he has never outgrown.

We go back inside for breakfast, Lexus does his usual performance of launching himself across the kitchen and barking, he seems to be getting worse not better and now makes his extraordinary noises even when you stand in front of him and tell him to sit!

Khan and Dave return and khan is fed. Our three dogs then retire to the lounge with Dave and his breakfast.

Next I take Cleo, still on the lead but only another week until she can go off in the garden and another three weeks and she can go back to Paul. I take her up the footpath to exercise her leg and observe with joy her using her bad leg and trotting normally.Once indoors she has her breakfast and then rests.

Next is Sandy, she grabs a ball but then drops it, she needs no distractions, even without the ball she does not run to the bottom of the garden as she used to, I call her and she then goes to the bottom of the garden and begins to run in circles. I can picture her in the flat as a puppy, no routine instilled, at the mercy of her body, not really knowing when to toilet but being unable to stop. I wonder if they started out training her when she was tiny and if it all became too much, or if she was never taught. The mad circling is puppy behaviour. When she "goes" she does both together. I praise her and clear it up and let her play with the ball for a while. It is Bank Holiday, no need to rush, tomorrow will be another story.

She has her breakfast, she is always keener to eat in the morning I wonder if that is something to do with her past too.

Next is Sapphire, she scoops up the ball left by Sandy, she is another I have learnt needs no distractions until she has done all she should, but I need not to have worried. I hurry her back in,she will come with me to the stables shortly.

Last is Jade, we always keep to the same routine. Jade is the most straightforward not even needing a lead. I pause for a while in the garden. The morning is dazzling, perfect yet again. I can see, with my own and my neighbours, four different shades of Lilac. I breathe in the scent, then back indoors for breakfast for Jade and myself!

Let the day begin.....

22nd April

BREAKING NEWS>>>>>>WE HAVE REACHED OUR TARGET FOR MONEY RAISED FOR CLEO'S OP!!!!!!!

IN FACT WE HAVE EXCEEDED OUR TARGET WITH A FANTASTIC  £681 !!!!!!!

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has supported us in this and especially to all who donated we are very,very grateful, thank you.

The reason we have suddenly shot past our target is due to Kerry Crick and her friends from her Agility club.

Kerry owns Rhea who was one of our puppies from the summer of 2009

Rhea has been placed in each of her first three Agility competitions, getting third place last weekend.

Congratulations to Kerry and Rhea on their success, but it doesn't end there.

One of Kerry's fellow competitors Colin Teager who normally runs a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel at grade 1 asked Kerry if he could have a run with Neighla, Kerry's older Stafford. she agreed  with the conditions that he wear fancy dress and be sponsored with the money going towards Cleo's op.

He agreed and the run was completed with Colin wearing high heels and fishnets, among other things (we hope to get some photos)

The result was a fantastic £230 !!!!

Thank you so much Kerry, Colin and all who donated.

We will put £100 of the money into Reuben's Fund for any dog needing emergency treatment in the future.

You can make a donation into this fund at anytime, just let us know you want it to go to Reuben's Fund.



Cleo and Tumble! Not quite Carol!



Cleo continues to improve coping well with her longer walks.

19th April

I now know why we are having this spell of fine dry weather. It is not global warming or climate change, it is not because we had a wet winter or to do with earthquakes, neither is it because we deserve it, although I think we do, no, it is because the Reverend David Oakden, my husband, needed to re-felt the shed roof. Despite not having a job as such, commitments and tasks prevented him doing it......until today!

Yes, in near perfect conditions an early start was made and with some assistance from his daughter it was completed. So now you had better watch out! It may not stay fine much longer....

This afternoon Carol, who lives in the next village and who owns Tumble (formerly Bella) who she adopted from us several years ago, came to meet Cleo as Tumble has had a similiar operation on her knee and Carol has been very helpful and supportive to me in regards to Cleo's rehab.

We walked the girls together and as you can see they are very alike and looked like sisters! They were both very well behaved and Carol thought Cleo very sweet.

Tumble's op was more serious than Cleo's but she has made a remarkable recovery so that now it is impossible to tell which leg it was. She has also won a prize for obedience in her local training group.



Cleo and Scat (Sam's Guinea Pig)



Cleo coped well with a longer walk.

18th April

Cleo went for her follow up appointment with Anderson Abercrombie. It is Ralph Abercrombie who we see.

He watched her walk outside and then we went into the consulting room where he examined her leg, she did not need to be muzzled. He was very pleased with her and we worked out a plan for the next few weeks.

She is to have two weeks of lead walking increasing the time to 20 mins/ half an hour.

After that she can be allowed off the lead in the garden and generally build up the exercise then after another two weeks she can go back to Paul!

Paul is also coming over a couple of times just to see how I have been walking her.
She did not need an xray.
I remembered this time to thank Mr Abercrombie for giving us so much discount to which he replied, "Aw, we just like to help fawks out." ( Scottish accent.)
What a kind man! They really have done us proud.
There was no charge for todays consultation.

I am delighted she has done so well and the end is in sight.

Also more good news which I will elaborate on tomorrow night, we have another donation of £230 organised by Kerry who owns Rhea..

17th April

This is the post for Sunday 17th but I realise it is going to go out after midnight.

Another glorious day and I understand it is set to continue. I am just soaking it up, remind me when it is pouring with rain again and the dogs are muddy.

I have had another beautifully relaxed day, although things have not really improved in the morning and the dogs woke us, but then Khan was desperate, maybe better a rude awakening than an unpleasant surprise when you come downstairs!

When it came to Sandy's walk, Spryte chose to stay with my daughters who were sunbathing having been walked earlier, I really didn't want to go. It takes so long to get up to the field where she can run and it was so busy with everyone out and about. However, once in the field we were alone greeted by a mass of bright yellow and the air heavy with scent. I took my time whist she ran down the tracks between the now head high Oil Seed Rape. Near the bottom of the field she ran off, obviously following something by the track she took, so I stopped, taking the chance to study a Peacock butterfly sunning it's wings, pink petals blew over me like confetti from a tree I couldn't even see,the effort of walking up there was rewarded.

Soon Sandy was back, her mouth wide in that Staffie grin. I was transported back to what is probably my first memory of a Stafford. I was four and we went on a Saturday afternoon to visit the builder of our new house, a Mr Sace. It was a warm day and his house had a vast expanse of neat lawn and bowling round it was a dog and several children. My father told me it was a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and I remember it charging round with that ungaily Staffie gait and huge grin followed by the children some of whom were quite small. The harmony of relationship between dog and children was obvious, I think I was quite shocked they were not worried by the solid, cannoning body and huge mouth! What a great introduction to our beloved breed.

Cleo xray tomorrow, early start, better get to bed.......

16th April

How did your day begin?

I had a much quieter start with the dogs not waking me and then I was down the garden standing beneath this cherry tree!

Surely it doesn't get any better than this?

It doesn't seem that long ago we were knee deep in snow, then i noticed shoots on the wild rosebush I stand next to whilst waiting for the dogs  to do their business, at first it was barely light in the mornings ,now this, I can think of no better way to start the day.

Due to Lush cancelling us I have had a much easier Saturday than normal. I managed some gardening and gave each of the dogs plenty of unhurried attention.

Here is a picture of Cleo enjoying the sunshine after one of her physio walks.

On Monday it will be six weeks since she had her operation and she is going back to AndersonAbercrombie for an xray to see how her leg is healing and hopefully find out how we proceed from now on.

We are still £49 short of our target for money towards her operation.

15th April

My neighbour remarked how quiet it was everywhere and she is right! I think lots of people have gone away this week. It has been an easier week for me as there is no college run so we don't have to leave the house at 8.15 am each morning. This also means we could have a bit longer in bed but our dogs have other ideas!

Our three dogs sleep in the room below our bedroom, Lexus is crated at night else he raids the kitchen bin! They must hear us stir, ever so slightly, as lately Khan and Spryte get up which starts Lexus making his silly noises, sounds like a goat, which makes Sandy start up a loud persistent bark. All this at 7am! It is not fair on anyone, not on us, not on the rest of the family or the neighbours. Yesterday I decided I had had enough. I took my un drunk glass of water from beside the bed and gave everyone a face full. They were much better this morning so hopefully it has worked.

Sandy is often slow clearing her food so I put her bowl in her crate so she can finish it. Last night I did this and then opened the door to the lounge and started preparing dinner. Lexus proceeded to pad through and to clear up any spare food Sandy had dropped outside her crate. She then finished what was in her bowl. I was amazed how patient she was with him as he continued snuffling and scratching around, their noses almost touching, it was him who snapped, she was as good as gold.

Thanks to Sandi for bringing us some salmon pouches of Fish For Dogs food. They absolutely love it, great for disguising medicine, all have been wormed today.

Some photos of that retrobate enjoying a dip in the river.

13th April

Well I was all set to give you details of our visit to Lush on Saturday, but they have cancelled us!

We had an email from their Charitable Giving Manager saying the Guildford branch had recently had a change of manager and the team were not prepared for Saturday so they would have to postpone!

They have sent an application form so that we can be on their charity pots, this means you can buy a pot of hand and body lotion with our logo on it and the money will all come to us. So we may still benefit from this.




 

Cleo is booked for an appointment at 9am on Monday (18th) with AndersonAbercrombie when she will have an xray to see how her leg is healing.

Sandy and Spryte running in the big field, which we now think is Oil Seed Rape not Kale, it is twice as high and out in flower this evening although this photo was only taken a week ago!

Sandy has a new write up on the website with new pictures.

11th April

Bullseye and his new friend Hannibal

Well, it's all happening today.

Bullseye is doing well in his new home and we have some lovely photos of him with his new friends (if I can overcome some technical hitches) Thanks to Melissa and Patrick for giving him the chance of a wonderful new home and a really BIG thank you to Sally and Simon who loved him and "Let him go," which is no easy thing. Sally and Simon fostered him for a good six months and we are very, very grateful to them for doing such a wonderful job.

Also heard from Paul who adopted the very popular Monty. Monty has settled really well with their other dog, a rescue female. He is enjoying his walks on and off lead and this weekend they are all off on holiday to the seaside. Paul says he cannot wait to see Monty in the sea and he will send us some pictures.

Cleo's owner, another Paul, has also been in touch. It is five weeks since Cleo had her op, she is still on 5/10 minute walks several times a day and I need to make another appointment with AndersonAbercrombie for next week to see where we go next. I am really pleased with her as she is using her leg more and more. She was very good when she met Sam's Guinea Pig Scat, today. Scat goes in his run in the garden, we are pretty sure he is blind, Cleo sniffed at him and they touched whiskers through the wire, very sweet.

Also two genuine, local dogs needing rehoming so I hope to see them tomorrow.

So no time to get bored.

8th April

Below are two newspaper cuttings my mother found in a drawer. We cannot remember when they originally appeared or saving them but they are probably pretty old judging by the thieves get away car!

My parents live in Warwickshire and I think both cuttings are from the Birmingham Post, hence the locations.

Interesting that Sam is described as a Bull terrier though obviously a Stafford, no-one used the term Staffy then!

The other tells of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier called Bess who received an award for pulling a two year old to safety through smoke, heat and flying debris when their Walsall home caught fire.

7th April



Sandy in the field



See, I told you not to be too hasty with discarding your coat, you needed it first thing this morning didn't you?

Though maybe not by lunchtime! Another hot walk for Sandy and Spryte. They found a puddle in the field to cool down in but neither attempted drinking it, I am pleased to say. I am sure my observations  of Sandy yesterday are correct and she is not used to getting hot, after her run in the field today she kept looking to me for something, I think she wanted a drink and knew I could supply it but was not sure how, as, of course  I needed to take her home or to the river for it and could not just produce it out of my pocket.

As for eating fruit and veg, we were given a pineapple recently and several of the dogs have enjoyed eating the skin, including Sandy who ate the bottom of it! I am sure Staffords eat more fruit and veg than other breeds, they love it!



Sandy and Spryte running



Do think of Sally and Simon tomorrow afternoon as they take Bullseye to meet  potential new owners Melissa and Patrick. We do hope all the dogs like each other and Bullseye can have the loving home he deserves.

Cooling off

6th April

And today it was quiet!

Yesterday was crazy with phone calls and emails and today nothing!

We have not had one call to our land line today which is remarkable as we usually have well into double figures, including the people who ring, listen to the message and hang up then immediately ring again only to do the same thing often several times without ever leaving a message! My mobile was quiet too and so was Sainsbury's, so everyone must have been enjoying the glorious weather.....

And so were we, though it was almost too warm for me I always get a little nervous when you finally have to really take your coat off! It creates all sorts of problems about loss of pockets and things, it always takes me a little while to adjust.

Then of course it gets hot for the dogs on their walks. Sandy and Spryte had a good run in the big field and we stopped off at the Tillingbourne for a drink and cool down afterwards. Sandy went into the river and also drank from it which is the first time for her. It also occurred to me that she wouldn't know what it was like to run on a hot day and pant and need to cool off by drinking or lying in the shade for her it is all new experiences.

Spryte, however, did not join us in the river but instead rolled in fox in the meadow! So she cooled down with a bath when we got home!

Dogs! Who would have them!

P.S. The photo of Saffy and Bullseye on yesterdays blog shows a different Saffy to the one still looking for a home, who is really Sapphire, sometimes referred to as Saffy.

Saffy 1 is happily rehomed with Sally and Simon who also foster Bullseye for us.

Apologies for any confusion caused.

5th April

Thanks to Nathalie Griffiths and family for donating a fantastic £50  to Cleo's operation appeal

Making our total raised so far £451      left to raise an easy peasy measily  £49   the finishing line is in sight!

Thanks to all who have given money so far.

It has been a very busy day for the rescue today. I have answered four email requests to rehome dogs, and as many phone calls!
Thankfully another phone call was an adoption enquiry.
We always have lots of requests for dogs needing to be rehomed on the run up to holidays, e.g. Christmas,Easter and of course the summer.


Saffy and Bullseye

 Falling asleep so will end now.

4th April

  I received this email today. Yes I do remember what a big strong girl she was and thinking,"How are we ever going to home her?" And then being so grateful to David and Pat for taking her on. What a credit to them that she is doing so well.

It's 3 yrs to the day when we picked up Jess so as this is her Official Birthday we thought you might like an update on her progress.  She continues to be a good girl with the exception of aggression to some dogs, the small yappie ones in particular.  Weighing in at 56 lbs some people think she is a bit fat, when asked to show us where there reaction, after investigation, is "bloody hell - it's all muscle" you will remember how strong she was.  Food wise she is excellent - eats whatever including greens and fruit, we can't eat an apple or banana without her having a share and loves finishing the yogurt pots.  She does not steal and always waits to be told.  Behaviour in the car is exceptional, she'll sit on the back seat and does not cry when left for short periods and no jumping up at the windows.  Still 100% clean with no fouling and doesn't object to having her feet wiped. Not a great one to socialise with other dogs apart from Sam (the Lab) she always wins games with his old footballs and finishes up with both of them every time.  Her other favourite game is chasing wood pigeons, it's the only time she barks.  So that is Jess, another one of your successes, and to think we were apprehensive at the beginning.  Must close now as she want to climb on my lap.  She sends her love as do we.

David and Pat Bennett 

---

3rd April

Still felt unwell yesterday (Saturday) so took myself off to bed early. Managed a lie in, but not the hoped for mother's day cup of tea in bed, but in all had ten hours sleep. So it was I arrived blinking in the sunshine in the garden with the first dogs this morning, amazed, yet again, by nature's ability to renew herself, and the miracle that is spring. Even my garden has flowers and buds and is bursting with new life.



Trina



One of the most obvious signs is the grass growing and all the dogs are seeking it out and "grazing."

I know some owners stop their dogs from eating grass but I believe the dogs know what is good for them. As well as grass they eat Cleavers(Goose Grass) which I know is good for horses, Lexus eats Ground Elder, favouring the flower heads, rather than the leaves. They all seem to react differently too, some immediately bring it back up, some, annoyingly, wait till they get home.Some let it pass through, and Sapphire, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't believe it, passes it straight through her in minutes, an instant clear out!

I am feeling rather negative about things at the moment so I am going to do a "Pollyanna" list of positives we have going on.

1. Sandy is now used to the car and is no longer sick.

2.Cleo's leg is improving, she is settled and well and looking after her for her rehab is something we can do easily and well.

3.The offer from Lush to hold a presentation in their store, even if it is, as someone said, not a natural synergy, between Staffords and soap!

4. We have almost reached our target for Cleo's op.

5. My dog poo pit is  working.

1st April

Cleo Operation Appeal      Target £500            Left to Raise Just   £99    

If  10 people gave  £5.00 each   and another  10  gave £4.90     we would reach our target!

Go on even YOU can spare £4.90  this spring weekend!



Harry and Trixie



Still struggling with this "man-flu," have to intersperse my day with little lie downs, what with that and the hour change I have only just finished the days tasks. Still I must be feeling better if I am badgering you for money again. Bob Geldof has nothing on me!

The SBT Forum set up between Battersea/Breed Clubs/Rescue are organising their next meeting. I am unable to attend this time as it is too far away, I don't know if Valerie is going. They are discussing microchipping and changes that can be made to make it more efficient and promote responsible ownership, which I welcome. As it stands people chip their dog then abandon it or give it away anyway and it just makes our job even harder and costs us money to change it over.



Harry and Trixie on the ferry



Lush the store in Guildford have confirmed our invite to do a presentation on 16th April. I will let you know times when I hear but everyone is welcome to support us. Any well behaved Guildford Staffords are welcome too but they do need to be "bombproof."