Everything my Staffy has done for me in 2014

Just wanted to say that there have been times in the last year when I really don't know what I would have done without my furry friend. Here is my top list. Do add yours.

Ruperty-Rupes:
- Changed my mood from bad/average/depressed to good every morning as he dragged me headlong to the park every morning for a walk
- Showed me how to do nothing all day and not feel guilty about it
- Showed me the importance of lots of SLEEP
- Made me feel safe on dark walks or dodgy evenings, just by being there
- Made me proud for getting on so well and sharing his home with foster dogs
- Made me laugh more than any other creature on earth could possibly do
- Turned me into a dog bore
- Made me feel safe when things weren't going well.
- Introduced me - inadvertently - to all my neighbours and the guys who run the coffee shop around the corner who like to feed him leftover bacon and eggs
- Made me think more about how much meat and what kind of meat I was eating. Going to the butcher to buy him food has made me think about my own nutrition
- Made me love all weather, particularly the kind of weather that clears parks of other people
- Forced me into buying some waterproof gear that actually works
- Vetted my friends & relations (and I agree with his opinions)
- Got me addicted to the special hoover attachment that removes dog hairs from upholstery
- Got me into gardening somehow
- Gained me entry into the secret underworld of dog owners
- Made me horrible prejudiced against owners of most small dogs and all designer dogs
- Toughened me up in a good way - owning a Staffy means, in the end, that you really don't care what other people think of you because there's always going to be someone shooting you dirty looks. I think I used to be much too sensitive about this kind of thing
- Turned me into an evangelical rescue dog fanatic
- Made me really appreciate the very simple pleasures in life: eating, sleeping, pee-ing, defecating, snuggling, having a warm home to come back to, the outdoors, sticks.
- Allowed me to explore parts of Britain it would have been too weird or lonely for me to have walked around without a dog by my side
- Amazed me by his brain and adaptability. And his sense of humour.
- Made everything much more relaxed when the children in my life were over. Rupert is calm around children and they love hanging out with him for hours: the forget tv or being bored. He is a great leveler.
- Allowed me to hang out with significant others without necessarily talking.
- Turned me against squirrels.
- Enhanced my life as a whole by at least 100 per cent.

How lovely

Amazing love it

Think you have explained every thing us staffie lovers have gone through amazing write up

Well done that Rupert.

Beautiful

Amazing what they give and ask nothing in return (except maybe biscuits lol!) for me it's like having a child i didn't realise I could love something so much! Axl has gotten me through so many very tough times I have no idea what I would do without him. I even miss him when I'm at work.... I think I have separation anxiety lol

There a family member they deserve the love we give them and more we could not live with out our princess we love her so much

Very eloquently put and I totally agree. Keiko taught me the  meaning of unconditional love...and how little space I actually needed on the bed or couch

I read your list and thought hmmm think I'll copy n paste it and add my comments beside yours.. But.. You've written it so well it would be a shame to spoil it with my own ramblings.

I wholeheartedly agree with all you've written. The Squirrel bit made me laugh and I wasn't sure weather it was you or Rupert that appreciated the "simple" things

As for the visiting places that you never would without a dog, yup, totally agree & there have been some amazing places too. The secret society of dog walkers is great isn't it

So true! I wish I had written it lol

aw loved reading this and agreed i think having a staffy is the best thing anyone can do , tbh im bbiased but i wouldnt have any other breed of dog mia is indeed my baby with four legs and a tail.

So many kind comments! I just wanted to write down how grateful I am but I really want to hear other people's experiences too. It's so hard to put into words, or even list the changes they make to your world.

I had a really bad two weeks last year - my dog was the most enormous comfort and helped me work through what happened.

Totaly see where you are comming from. Ive had a right mare of a time with life but the last year or so i got into working the dogs at bikejor. its now become my life as an enjoyable experiance and the dogs love it. have met lots of nice people (because of the dogs) and had a ball of a time. withought them i think i would be a basket case right now, but because of them im having the best time ever

Same here last year would be a strong contender to the worst year of my life competition unless I got my bobbs I'm just not allowed being sad
Around her .impossible

very nicely stated

Do you find you eat your food faster at all? No reason.

Fantastic, thats awesome. I would add being patient when trying to get to sleep to the dulcet tones of a snoring Staffy.

Haizum74 wrote:Fantastic, thats awesome. I would add being patient when trying to get to  sleep to the dulcet tones of a snoring Staffy.

... Yup, I have no idea how anyone can sleep with a star fished, snoring Staffy. Fortunately my Flo loves the sofa all to herself

My Staffy has also taught me Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover (although I still sometimes struggle with this), not only because I got him by accident and initially thought he looked ugly/terrifying (now I love the way he looks) but I have yet to meet a dog owner who turns out to be the kind of person I expect them to be, based on their appearance/my prejudice/mood.