Meet Rufus

He is very chatty and likes to sing you the song of his people quite a lot! He also knows exactly what time it is and will let me know when it is getting close to his tea-time so I can start preparing his food.

Because of bad experiences with dogs and people in the past, Rufus can be quite suspicious of strangers and their dogs. Although he doesn't react aggressively, he will freeze and stare at passers-by. Rufus also has the incredible gift of selective hearing. This means that he can hear a crisp packet rustling from upstairs but will pretend not to hear a command even if you're right beside him.

Although they can be boisterous and energetic, they're also the most affectionate and cuddly dog that I've ever had the pleasure to own. Staffies get a bad reputation but when they are in the right home environment with the right care they make a wonderful family member.

How much confidence I would need as an owner of a rescue staffie. Rufus was very anxious and unsure of himself when we welcomed him into our home and he would often look to us for cues on how to behave and how he should feel about certain situations. This meant that I had to be mindful of how I was feeling so I could create an atmosphere of calm for him.