Greetings from Cardiff Gate

[hwlffordd]

Hello

I'm living in Cardiff gate, originally from Pembrokeshire a town called Hwlffordd (Haverfordwest) no less! Grew up surrounded by animals (we had the only pet shop in the town back then) and absolutely love dogs of all shapes and sizes!

I'm a huge huge huge fan of positive operant conditioning for dogs and wrote a paper on conditioning which included a dog section and clicker training to rehabilitate dogs needing rehoming.

Have a rescued dog from Cardiff Dogs home who came to live here last December and is a work in progress!

I cycle a lot and I've been a biker (motor) since I was 15 and have owned and ridden motorbikes since then.

Not sure what I'd be good for but I'm very calm with dogs and a dab hand at training! Currently looking to do an advanced diploma in Canine Behaviour and then register with the UKRCB www.ukrcb.org/

OK enough for now! Hope to meet some of you folks soon!

[angelad]

Hi, nice to see you here and one of our objectives is to spread the word about positive reward based training.

But we need photos of your dog - or please tell us a bit about them -
I'm trying to guess what sort you have ;D

[hwlffordd]

Well Max is a Staffadale (What's a Staffadale? It's a Staff Bull terrier crossed with a Patterdale) And I say his name is Max but actually he's really called "The Dufe" as he's more of a Dufus than anything else.

He's just had an operation performed on his rear left knee as it was cruciated so basically they opened his knee up, drilled holes in the bones and tied it together with fishing line! As you can imagine he's supposed to be resting it...... (yeah right)

OK some pictures!!(and videos)

This was Max the day he came home!! (click video)


Out Walking with his Kong


Practising the basics (click for video)


Chiiling after his walk


His leg a day or two after his op


So that's The Dufe!!

[adamrees1]

Awww! The dufe is lush!

[shelleybest]

Love the Dufe

[hwlffordd]

Thanks for the kind words, he's well loved here! Still has some "issues" with other dogs going for him and the lovely owners assuring me it's "your dog's fault - he's a staff" but with dogs that tend to be calm and under control we enjoy some lovely walks.

I have no idea what his original owners "did" with him but I suspect he was a "status" dog though he is an absolute dream to live with, never chews anything, loves his kong, is easy to teach new things to. On the down side getting him to drop a toy to throw it again when out results in him crying like a banshee where people would think he was being murdered slowly and painfully:)

[Rhi]

Hi welcome and Max is adorable x

[hwlffordd]

Time for a little update since that last picture. Took three months of intensive therapy (walking him slowly and doing physiotherapy on his back legs) BUT I'm overjoyed to say that leg is now working wonderfully!

HOWEVER the other leg has now "gone" so he's in for another cruciate on his right leg this time on feb 7th! So another three months of work ahead to get him hopefully "sorted properly"

Other than that I have to say he is the sweetest best behaved and balanced dog I have had the pleasure of owning