Duke - Diary of a Rescue AmBull

I hadn’t spotted that there was a dedicated section here for AmBull’s.

I recognise a lot of the user names on the postings here and I am sure many of you will know me from the Staffie section and my Staffie Teddy AKA The Tedster.

I help out at a small rescue down here in West Wales and at the moment I am dog walking every day and my personal project is an AmBull called Duke.

Duke is looking for a good home and an owner who could offer him the love he deserves. Anyone interested should contact Yvonne from the following website http://pembrokeshirestaffies.webs.com/dogs

So Duke, not very happy in rescue but he has a best friend in me and he looks forward to me showing up and going for a walk. He has changed so much in the time I have been his regular walker. It would be great if he would link both his brain cells together and use them at the same time but hey he is an AmBull so I suppose I shouldn’t expect too much.

This is not to say he isn’t clever because he is when the mood takes him. He knows “sit” and “down” and we are working on “sit & stay”. His recall is good and off lead he doesn’t wonder very far from me as long as he is not distracted by something to chase or run after. He is getting better at not trying to chase cars but I do have to hold him close and reassure him when they pass us on walks. He has been good with other dogs we have met and he loves meeting new people.

He loves water and as we are on the Pembrokeshire coast we knew he would just love to go to the beach. The stumbling block here was his reluctance to get in a car. I spent a few weeks working on this one with him. Just showing him the car and opening the doors every few days. He was initially happy to put front paws up and take a look but would not jump in. Then last week all on his own and without being lured by a treat he jumped on the back seat and I got in with him. He spotted his reflection in the driving mirror and was totally mesmerised. Next I closed the rear door and got in the driving seat and he remained calm so we went for a very short drive. He seemed to enjoy it and got massive praise from me for doing it. We tried it again the following day and he was happy to hop in. We did a trip to the beach at the weekend and it was like all his birthday’s and Christmas’s had come at once and I have never seen him so happy. He hasn’t got the hang of when the swell goes out another wave will be coming in but it was still huge amounts of fun as you will see from the pictures below.

I really do love this big gentle boy and would love to see him get the stable home he deserves.

What a stunner   

He is very handsome isn't he, I hope he gets used to tide coming in out very soon bless him.

What a stunner   

Oh wow, what gorgeous boy! Great pics

He is so gorgeous, really hope he finds a forever home soon, lucky he's got you in the meantime x

More Beach Madness

Beautifull morning down here in Pembrokeshire, shame to waste it on a walk when we could go to .....................THE BEACH!    

Happiness is water to chase and sand to dig big holes in. We had a very happy hour messing around mostly off lead and the tide was out so there was loads of space to run around in, tail in the air and ears flapping around in the wind. To see Duke this happy is a delight.

 

aww he's lovely what a gorgeous dog, hope he can find a loving home soon

This is really hard for me to write but I have to try.

Things are starting to look a bit bleak for Duke, he really needs a home and preferably someone who knows the breed.

Anyone who thinks they could help would need to talk to me and Yvonne.

Sorry but I had to try or I am going to feel like I have let this big daft boy down and I can't do that.

Simon

Oh no   

Please somebody help, I really wish I could but Oz is a one off who wont tolerate any other dog

Fantastic News.

Duke has a couple, Ashleigh & Simon who are coming to see him this weekend who want to foster/adopt him. They have passed a home check and I have had a long phone conversation with Asleigh and they sound great.

So these are my final couple of days with this big bouncy boy  

Out of all the dogs we have had through rescue this is one I will miss the most but it is good for him and what he needs and deserves, a good stable home.

I have some photo's which I have not posted yet into this page which I shall do over the weekend which is going to be busy as I am doing the handover/intro.

I am really hoping that Ashleigh will sign up here and keep up his diary page as he is going all the way to the other side of the UK - near Kings Lynn.

Duke who it has been an absolute pleasure to work with. This is for you, be a good boy in your new home  

Simon

Things I have learnt from The Ambull

If you have to fart, then you have to fart, let it go.

There are few things in life that cannot be cured by a good roll on your back followed by a shake.

I might be too big to sit on your lap, this is not going to stop me doing it.

The homan thinks he is The Boss – Wake up and smell the coffee.

If the Ambull decides the homan needs a wash then it is the Ambull’s job to carry out the task. It’s the least I can do, the homan gives me treats, great walks and plays with me, I can at least make sure he is clean. There are some further points to consider before washing the homan.

The homan will struggle and say NO a lot. Ignore him.

The more the homan struggles the more assertive the Ambull needs to be.

You’re an Ambull, you can easily overpower the homan.

Holding the homan down using at least two paws usually works.

Cars will stop if you lay down in the middle of the road and face them off.

It is OK for the Ambull to sneeze but if the homan does it then the Ambull should show concern followed by lots of face licks.

Lovely lovely really hope it all works out for just a gorgeous one

Ohh Simon I am so pleased to hear that Duke has his forever home, hope the handover is going well for you all.   

I am sure a lot of you are dying to know how the handover went and I make no apology that this post is picture heavy.

Fabulous! Due in no small way to the commitment shown by Ashleigh and Simon who drove from the East coast of the UK to just about as far West in the UK that you can go.

Yes I feel like someone has cut my left leg off but this is all for Duke and what he needs from his life and not about me.

We went penultimate walkies on Saturday afternoon and I took some photo’s so I have something to remember him by. Sorry about the lipstick in picture 5















My absolute favourite photo of Duke



Yvonne and myself went out with Ashleigh and Simon on Saturday night after they had met Duke. They stayed in a local B&B overnight and we had an early (For us 9am) start this morning as they have a long way to travel to get home.

Ashleigh and Simon are the right people for Duke I am sure of this and I know Yvonne will agree with me. Just the sheer commitment of coming all the way to us speaks volumes but they loved him from the off. He is one lucky dog who has fallen on his paws, all four of them. They have seen everything while they were here. The calm Duke which is his normal way. The bouncing off the walls Duke when I turn up to get him out and the happy Duke down on the beach.

We went walkies to his favourite place the beach on Sunday morning to prepare him for the long journey back to Norfolk.

Duke with Ashleigh and Simon



We said our goodbyes







He jumped in the back of their car like it was the most natural thing in the world. What a change from the dog who a few months ago would not get in a car. It's a long journey and we packed them off with a few essentials.

I am going to miss him terribly. Cleaning the runs after walking Maisie (Our other current rescue) and not having help from the AmBull getting us both soaked with the hose pipe was very wierd.

Ashleigh I am pretty sure will be along shortly to update us all on progress.

Duke. One of the best dogs I have ever worked with. A great friend. I shall miss that big slobery excited bundle of energy every morning. We had a blast and I will not forget him.

Simon

Wow Simon those people did travel a long way to see Duke, so glad it all went so well for them all. I've no doubt you will miss him for a long time to come.

Rocky also gets his lipstick out in the car for some bizarre reason   

Fantastic news, I'm so pleased for him xxx

Hello everyone! Ashleigh here...

I'm sorry I've not posted sooner! I've been pretty Duke'd for a couple of days! haha

So, we met lovely Duke on the Saturday evening after we'd checked in to our B & B, He'd just got back from a walk with Simon. He was happy to see us, but he wasn't too interested in what we had to say really! we knew it would take a bit of time for him to get used to us.

The next morning, we met Simon and Duke for a walk on the beach - hoping to tire him out for his long journey! It was also a good opportunity for him to get to know us a bit better too before whisking him off.

He enjoyed his walk on the beach and was a bit more interested in us by the end of it. He jumped in the car like he'd known it forever, sat down and we went on our way...

We didn't hear a peep out of him all the way home... he was panting quite a bit due to a combination of heat, stress and excitement! Previously, cars have only ever meant beach to him.. so I reckon after a few hours he was thinking ''where the bleeping heck is this beach then?!?!'' haha, poor boy. We stopped 4/5 times on the way home for wee's... he took to us straight away and it was like we'd had him for years!

When we got home, we were all knackered as you could imagine! We gave Duke some tea, he was panting and pacing around the house until bedtime... we decided to just turn the lights off, snuggle up and sleep. I kept an ear out for him, but he snuggled up near the bed and went to sleep himself.

In the morning, there were no accidents! we couldn't believe it! We all went out for a nice walk on the marshes which he enjoyed. Chilled out at home for the day and in the evening, we had another nice walk and a chase about on the field.

He's been left for about half an hour and has been a good boy!

He has however chewed his first shoe and destroyed a tea towel! He's so cheeky! He steals things so we chase and play with him!

I will keep you updated! We're all very happy! Ashleigh, Simon & Duke X

Just got back home after my morning out dog walking and got on the forum as I always do and saw "AshnSi" and thought "I know who that is"

I half read the post with my hands over my eyes thinking "Oh no what has he done"

Being good on the trip back I already knew about but wanted to let Ashleigh say it. It was a concern for all of us and I am so proud of him for just taking it in his stride as it was a very big day for him.

It is very quite around here without him.

I thought about it Ash and my dog Teddy used to steal shoes when I first homed him. He just grew out of it once he had a few things of his own to play with. I guess it's because they are yours and he knows that.

I have been taking Maisie on Dukes old walk down the beach and I have been stopped by a couple of people who have asked where the AmBull is.

One of Yvonne's friends wants me turn the story of Duke into a book. I am thinking about it because there is much more to his story than has been posted on here. If I did it I think I would split the proceeds between Shaman's Legacy who found Ashleigh and Simon for us and CARIAD the group down here Yvonne and Myself are involved with and maybe this Forum as well.

We do need pictures.

Well done my Big Bouncy Boy who i will never forget and   to Ashleigh and Simon for being complete superstars and giving Duke a chance.

Simon

Hi Ashleigh, so pleased to hear that Duke has settled in with you at this new home.

Please come and say hi, we would love to hear more about you:

https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/f7-new-member-introductions

Ashleigh took some video of Duke in his new home but she was having trouble uploading them to Photobucket.

So with Ashleigh's permission I have hosted them and here they are. Just look how happy he is. I am so proud of him.   

His mischievous side is coming out, look close in the first video and you will see the remains of a shoe and a tea towel

Duke Loving a Daffy Duck video

Duke Loves Daffy Duck video

Simon

Awww bless him, he has a lovely garden to explore in and a family that obviously adore him - who could ask for more than that ?   

Kathy wrote:Awww bless him, he has a lovely garden to explore in and a family that obviously adore him - who could ask for more than that ?   

I am so very proud of him, all the work involved and the time was worth every minute. Ashleigh & Simon are just total superstars for giving him the chance to prove what a great dog he is. I can tell from the video just how relaxed and happy he is.

Simon

Not sure how I missed this thread Simon. What a wonderful happy ending. I'm sure you must miss the big fella loads but how happy and content does he look in his new home.

I would love to know more about his story if you ever did do a book   

Hi & Welcome from Flo and me Ashleigh and Simon