Blue Cross blog

Rescue dog Bailey had a troubled past but he’s been given a second chance in life. This week he ponders why it’s so hard for staffies to find love…

Hi friends (two and four-legged varieties),

Sorry I haven’t been in touch as much recently. With my poorly paw it was hard to type and then Nice Lady had trouble with this thing called the internet and I couldn’t send my words of doggy wisdom.

Anyway, my paw is now almost fully recovered, internet is working and life is pretty much back to normal.

Actually it is better than normal because Nice Lady is on holiday at the moment so we are able to spend every day together. I love it – great long walks, tummy rubs whenever needed and company for the day, every day, although it has taken me a while to get my level of fitness back to pre-injury levels.

For a while I was just completely exhausted after my walks. In fact, on one occasion walking back home from the vet I just lay down in the street, flat on my back and had a little rest – I think I heard it called a ‘catnap’ but I don’t know why because there were certainly no cats around at the time, strange what these human creatures come out with sometimes!

During my convalescence I read an article in one of the Sunday papers about why staffies should be loved.

There are a disproportionate number of staffies and staffy cross dogs waiting to be rehomed. Why? – We are lovely dogs and so affectionate.

Admittedly we do look quite tough with our large jaws, square set, leg on each corner, and oh so confident walking style.

But people forget that not so long ago we were known as ‘nanny dogs’ because we were so good with children.

As for that powerful mouth, I can only say that my food manners have been favourably commented on – I am very gentle and there is absolutely no need to count your fingers after giving me a treat!

Oh and the bigger the mouth, the bigger the smile … Nice Lady said that if she wins the lottery she will adopt all the staffies that no one else seems to want, the ones that have been in kennels for a long time.

On a purely personal note I’m not sure that I’m really ready to share my life with another dog yet, one day maybe but at the moment I may well have problems with my feelings of jealousy.

Sometimes when we are out walking I get anxious if Nice Lady shows too much attention to another dog just in case she forgets about me.

I just give a little woof to remind her I’m still there and that I can provide all the love and attention she needs as an owner.

But maybe one day I will feel more secure and will be able to show another dog that life can be good.

We are off tomorrow to a different part of the country, not for long but it will be nice to experience some different country smells. Also, I’m getting rather bored of rolling in fox, rabbit or horse poo so the chance of finding some nice fresh cow or sheep poo will be a real treat for me and Nice Lady.

Although to be fair I think that I enjoy it more than she does, but then she enjoys stopping for a coffee more than I do, so it evens out, life is full of give and take.

Enjoy your holidays!  All for now …

Licks and wags,
Bailey