Alfie Staffie DOB 05.09.04 - 13.03.18

In loving memory of dogs that have passed
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Re: Alfie Staffie DOB 05.09.04 Orpington

Post by Rescue Remedies_3 »

Posted: 05 Feb 2013 by Hoonercat

I love reading Alfie's updates but this has to be the best yet, lovely to see him doing so well.
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Re: Alfie Staffie DOB 05.09.04 Orpington

Post by Rescue Remedies_3 »

Posted: 05 Feb 2013 by ziggy

.....
the only concern is that he appears to be eyeing up another dog and licking his lips!

.... Good Post
Wonderful photo's and update
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Re: Alfie Staffie DOB 05.09.04 Orpington

Post by Rescue Remedies_3 »

Posted: 06 Feb 2013 by Sam007


Great update on Alfie. Love the photos of him; and he is looking in very fine condition. A real credit to you.

Concur with Duncan.
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Re: Alfie Staffie DOB 05.09.04 Orpington

Post by Rescue Remedies_3 »

Posted: 06 Feb 2013 by Nina

Yep, agree with everyone else, he looking fantastic and I love the update, thank you so much x
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Re: Alfie Staffie DOB 05.09.04 Orpington

Post by Rescue Remedies_3 »

Posted: 08 Feb 2013 by Paul&Annie

Hi! I hope you don't mind us putting in our two penny worth about Alfie. Our RR dog goes to the same dog training group and Alfie really is a pleasure to have in class. He is a lovely, well trained dog. This training has proved to be a good foundation for his agility, which is after all just high speed obedience, and his playful nature shows in this.
Alfie seems to spend the whole class gazing adoringly at Colin, yet he is confident enough to work at distance from Colin too. You can really see that Alfie's whole family must put a lot of time and effort into giving Alfie an active, secure, and loving environment.
As the dogs in our class are quite advanced Alfie get the chance to mingle with well socialised dogs that aren't overly excited and this seems to be giving Alfie an opportunity to progress his social skills in a fairly controlled environment and he seems to be increasingly relaxed during the off lead group walks.
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Re: Alfie Staffie DOB 05.09.04 Orpington

Post by Rescue Remedies_3 »

Posted: 12 Feb 2013 by lonewolf7

Courtesy of Paul & Annie, and Paul's amazing photography I have another update following on quickly from last week.

Because of Alfie's history with other dogs I have always had him on a long training line during the agility sessions. Other dogs can be running around on the course in reasonably close proximity and I was concerned that without his muzzle Alfie may charge over, or another dog might run over to him. The focus on the agility is not just letting your dog charge around, but to maintain his obedience on the course. This week I decided to unclip the training line and let Alfie go for it, but keeping him close to me whilst doing it.

You can see the results below. Alfie stayed under control the whole time and thoroughly enjoyed himself. His only look in the direction of another dog was when a mastiff puppy was playing tug-of-war with his owner and started growling, but I told him to focus on me and he was fine.

We started with a quick briefing and he's a very attentive pupil!
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Final instructions.....
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Exiting the tunnel and looking for the next obstacle:
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A small long-jump to get warmed up:
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He still needs some work on the weave poles but a treat is teaching him the way!
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Now we're getting into the swing of it.....
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Kauto Star eat your heart out......
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A magnificent leap to finish and is that a smile for the camera? Okay you're just showing off now......
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Re: Alfie Staffie DOB 05.09.04 Orpington

Post by Rescue Remedies_3 »

Posted: 12 Feb 2013 by Nina

All are brilliant, but that last photo Kiss of love.gif
Amazing progress with a dog that was a huge worry when he first came to us. Makes me very happy.
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Re: Alfie Staffie DOB 05.09.04 Orpington

Post by Rescue Remedies_3 »

Posted: 12 Feb 2013 by anne

WOWSER!
Way to go Alfie. I love that last photo. It is the look of a happy dog with a happy secure home who is now very content in his own skin.
What a credit he is to you
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Re: Alfie Staffie DOB 05.09.04 Orpington

Post by Rescue Remedies_3 »

Posted: 15 Apr 2013 by lonewolf7

A quick update and a few pictures of Alfie. He's continuing to be a great little dog and enjoying himself as much as he can.

I've recently switched Alfie on to a raw food diet after reading that it can be good for skin conditions. Alfie has a very mild skin condition and I'm pretty sure the new diet has had a positive effect. His skin feels much less "sticky" in the areas where he has traditionally had a problem i.e. his armpits (not that he has arms but I don't know how else to describe them!) and stomach. The new diet isn't overly popular with other members of the family who tend to think the food I'm offering him is "disgusting", but one thing is for certain....picking up when he has been to the loo is a much easier experience. His stools are smaller and firmer. The theory is that with raw food the dog uses all the goodness and doesn't expel the kibble "filler" that they can't digest. I like to think that Alfie would let us know if the new diet wasn't a success so the way he clears the bowl leads me to believe that he is more than happy....especially with the pure green tripe!

Last Saturday was a bit of a watershed moment at Alfie's training class. Before the class began the trainer told me to bring Alfie into the exercise pen without a muzzle on and to drop the lead with his dog in there. Although the trainer's dog is obviously impeccably behaved and very calm I must admit I was a little nervous! To see Alfie socialising and sniffing another dog without a muzzle on was quite something. I'm still under no illusions about Alfie's history, but there is a possibility he will make enough progress to do our training class group walks without a muzzle. As for the class last weekend after going in the pen we put his muzzle back on for the actual group walk. The class was livened up by a very playful and large labrador puppy and Alfie was generally very tolerant, actually played, and had a good run around. He blotted his copy book a bit at the end though when he was ambushed by a couple of playful cocker spaniels and his old habits resurfaced! He is still work in progress but he's doing very well. The previous week he decided to pick a fight with a greyhound and the greyhound told him off in no uncertain terms and Alfie backed down! He also responds to correction if he starts to behave badly so there is still hope for him in terms of his fear and insecurity.

His performance in the close proximity lead walking is also increasing. The trainer told me that next week he wants me to do it with the lead tucked in my belt ratrher than being held onto. This time I was also able to put Alfie into the down position and walk away from him whilst other dogs were walking past him. I am sure that he will soon be able to go off-lead in the walking aspects of class.

His agility is coming on in leaps and bounds too and I'll try and get someone to take some video footage for me next time to post on here.

Knole Park is still a favourite retreat at weekends and I've attached a few pictures from his last visit.

Posing by a tree as a group of noisy children come closer:
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A chance to lay down now that the weather has warmed up a bit!
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"So....this raw food diet.....how far do you want me to take it?"
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Although it looks like I got him to pose here I didn't. There were some deer about 25 yards away over the ridge behind him and he could smell them on the breeze!
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Re: Alfie Staffie DOB 05.09.04 Orpington

Post by Rescue Remedies_3 »

Posted: 15 Apr 2013 by Hoonercat

He's looking really good Colin, bet you took a few backward steps the first time you got a whiff of that green tripe
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