17th November

2 Days to go until our Stafford Walk!   Our advert will be in Surrey Advertiser 'Whats On,' magazine again tomorrow. Nothing left to do except pray it doesn't rain!  Knowing what Staffords are like in the rain they will be going nowhere!



Saffy in the new exercise area

 Have spent another frustrating day running out of daylight. I ended up turning ponies out in the dark and Sapphire Jade and Angel having their evening run in the dark! Though cannot complain about the weather, another pleasant, surprisingly warm day.


The oak tree showing the Ivy and lower branch removal

 The tree surgeons were back in my neighbours garden finishing off the clearing. I am still thrilled with my new exercise area which we are continuing to clear. I bring you some exclusive pictures. This area is about 1/4 of my garden and was very dark from the overgrowth of next doors trees but now has been opened up, making a lovely area for the dogs to play in. I wish I had some 'before' pictures but I do not.


Looking down the garden

 (Danger reality check)...

I am sure you will be pleased to hear that the dog poo pit is still working with hardly any smell. I add the bio chemical about once a week and also sluice with water. It is a far more eco friendly way of disposing of the waste than using bags.

16th November

3 days to go to our Stafford Walk  Sunday 20th November  11am start  from Pets At Home Godalming

Please join us and show how good our breed can be with a responsible owner.  Let's walk our Staffords with Pride!

Follow this link to see one MP's support for National SBT Weekend.   http://www.epolitix.com/1832-blog/blog-post/newsarticle/guess-the-dog-loving-mp-2/

Congratulations to Jenny and Simon owners of Boris on the arrival of their daughter Rosa Mary on 18th October. Jenny writes  

 ' Boris has adapted really well to the new addition in the family.  We are so proud of him.  He licks her feet in the morning to say hello and is very gentle around her.  When the Tesco delivery man comes he sits beside her cot protecting her!  He has not shown any agressive behaviour and has settled into his routine again since we bought her home from the hospital.'

I have put out a request on the website ( as not everyone reads the blog!) for homes and donations for the many dogs we have in, or are supporting at the moment as we are under considerable pressure in all areas and running dangerously low on funds.

15th November

4 Days until our Stafford Walk    Sunday 20th November   11am Start from Pets At Home Godalming


John laker, myself and Boycie at Discover Dogs


Sorry about the problem with the blog yesterday, we have tried to rectify it but to no avail, we hope you all realised you just needed to click on 'read more.'

We are getting excited now about our walk on Sunday. Please remember the purpose is to promote the breed in a positive light and dogs will need to remain on the lead throughout the walk and keep a safe distance from the dog in front. We would also like to dissuade you from letting your dog meet nose to nose with another dog.
Also the route is very wet so remember your wellies.



Sally and Boycie

 We walked Angel and Chance together today and Angel did not react to him AT ALL unbelievable for her. She must find him very non threatening.

14th November

Sorry Alison,

I was so tired after Discover Dogs that I fell asleep and ended up with Domino's Pizza, then promptly fell off to sleep again!!!!!
Admission for dogs and handlers this year was via a side door, apprehension creeps in as you join the queue, hoping that the dogs are going to be good. Phew! No need to worry. It was busy with dogs coming from all angles but everything was fine. We arrived at the stand to see Alison deep in conversation with a lady, Sally with Boycie on her lap in the pen and Simon intently looking on. John and Gwen were talking to people and Sandy at the ready with her camera. There was a lady (sorry cannot remember her name) who works at John and Gwen's kennels handing out leaflets to all those who passed and Marsha with her daughter, she had re homed three rescue staffies two of which were from John. It is at events like this that you meet people that are of like minds all pulling together for our special breed.
As it was change over we do not get the chance to catch up so with a brief hello it was time for Alison and co to leave but Sandy who against my standard of photography is a marvel took some photos. Thank you Sandi.
Daisy and Honey settled quickly, Stuart stood with Daisy outside the pen and I had Honey inside the pen sitting on my lap doing her meerkat impressions, which never fails to draw the crowds especially children which Honey adores.
This year the vibes were very much pro Stafford's, parents were not rushing their children pass but took the time to stop and stroke the dogs.

One lady had happily spent £70 on treats and a new bed that is off of the ground to help prevent her dog from smelling for her staffie x. Many owned staffies producing their mobile phones with photos of their dog. One lady had recently lost her staffie and was looking for another one but wanted to re home from a rescue close to where she lived. The consensus was, as we all know it's not the dog it is what is hold the other end of the lead!
One couple who own 3 gun dogs but also would love to have a staffie talked about the problem with staffords, they live in South Norwood, London. I happen to know this area as Blaze who is now happily re homed with Luci came from there. It transpires that dog fighting in South Norwood Country Park is rife.
An American lady who now lives in England, owned and bred Pit Bulls when she lived in Manhattan said that they are lovely dogs but again it is down to the owners. She did remark looking at Daisy and Honey, Staffords are far smaller than Pit Bulls, so buyers beware of those remarks 'long legged'.

It was a rewarding and worthwhile day and if you had time to wander there was everything you could imagine to buy your canine friend and come home with an empty wallet or purse. Or better still the chance to re home that special dog!!!!!!

13th November

We have done Discover Dogs! One down three to go!
Next Sunday 20th November is our Stafford Walk 11am from Pets at Home Godalming.
Sunday 27th November Living With Wolves is holding a Dog Behaviour and Training Clinic 10am-3pm
(Pets at Home, Godalming) Donations to Pets at Home 'Support adoption Scheme' and Guildford SBT Rescue.
contact david on 07971627146 to book your place


Boycie

 and on Sunday 4th November we will be at Bull terrier Rescues Christmas Fund Raiser at Milford Village Hall, Nr Godalming from 10 am

We had a good day at Discover Dogs. I picked Sandi up slightly late this morning but as we texted Sally to say we were running late we received a text from her to say the same thing. We made good time arriving before I had even finished telling Sandi the uncensored version of the latest ups and downs in rescue.
The last bit to the car park is always tricky as the sat nav takes us to Earls Court. I made a sudden detour when I thought I recognised a greengrocers, incurring the wrath of the London drivers expressed in the usual way!
But we made it and as we turned into the car park I remarked 'Ooh there's a nice Staffie,' only to realise it was Boycie with Sally and Simon, great timing.

 Boycie was an absolute star! Calmly taking the stroking and patting from young and old, large and small and generally ignoring the other dogs, looking stunning in his red harness. The only time he wasn't happy was when Sally and Simon left him with me whilst they looked around the show. He became very subdued eventually lying down on a chair with his back to everyone. We thought he was getting tired but once they returned he was back to himself again!

Val and Stuart arrived with Daisy and Honey at lunchtime immediately stopping the crowds, and Boycie and the first shift were able to go for a well earned rest.
I didn't quite make it back to hear Dave play the Last Post at the war memorial, having walked ALL the dogs for me earlier, but it was great to get back to the dogs and get them out briefly before dark.
(Val may add her report of the afternoon later.)

11th November

This is officially NATIONAL STAFFORD WEEKEND with events taking place up and down the country

We will be on the SBT Welfare stand at Discover Dogs on Sunday

Guildford & District SBT Rescue wishes GOOD LUCK to everyone at their events.

That dog Lexus has not had a mention lately but it is not because he has been behaving.
Even with the garden cleared he still manages to source a windfall apple each morning, consuming it with relish and then choking on it when he tries to bark to encourage a speedy arrival of his breakfast, resulting in disgusting noises.
His tongue sticks out from the toothless gap in his mouth more often than not these days, but always when he is sleeping on the sofa.

Smudge is getting on well with the cats so far. Her education has been extended to another twenty dogs of various shapes and sizes and two cows.
Not that it has all been straightforward as David has been subject to Staffie predudice, when a Westie ran up to Smudge and she stiffened because she was unsure only for the Westie owner to shout,'Get that Staffie away from my dog!' David was incredulous and asked her if she was joking. Welcome to our world David! Glad to know it happens to experts too!
He has produced an advert for her which we are going to display in vets.

Poor Tara has developed an ear infection in kennels and is feeling sorry for herself. We really need a foster home for her.

My horse osteopath, Morag, also a Staffie owner has produced some fantstic stickers for the Stafford Walk.
It is also advertised in the Whats On magazine in the Surrey Advertiser.

Good luck to the Stafford Agility Team at Discover Dogs tomorrow.
Sam please introduce yourself to Kerry and give her our love.

10th November

I thought I should clarify our reasons for not offering rescue back up for the 10 month old male one of our blog followers had offered to foster.
The first is that we have not seen the dog and he was described as long legged, we never take a dog in without seeing it first.
The second was we have no space at all to put him in if something should go wrong with the foster home and especially if he did not get on with the fosterers dog, which leads into the third that from the description this dog was not good with other dogs and needed to be the only dog in the home with a very experienced handler who could spend time training him and also the dog sounded as if he would not find a home easily leaving us with another 'sticker.'
When I share these dire situations with you I know it gives you a sense of helplessness but I want you to be aware of the gravity of the situation with SBT's, it is not just this one dog,there are hundreds more in the same predicament. Gone are the days when you could rescue a difficult Stafford and save its life because the reality is you will be stuck with it because no-one else will want it, and there will be another hundred dogs exactly the same out there.

While we are in a sombre frame of mind can I draw your attention to the fact that in a few days time we will have had Sandy for a year.
Do you remember the big appeal and excitement when she finally arrived? This was how the blog started as well.
BUT a year on and we have not homed her.
And unlike some of the other long stayers, she is not happy and for sometime has been stressed by life here.
We are far better than a kennel environment but we are not her home.
This has been bothering me for sometime and I have to ask, should we have taken her in?
Also if she is unhappy and we cannot find a suitable home, what should  we do?
Gone are the days when you could save a difficult Staffy and guarantee a happy ever after........