Trish! Another bull terrier!

AAAAWWWWWW!!! What a beauty!!! I think it captures the whole nature of Bullies just perfectly. Sadly, with all those confetti greys, I doubt it's one I'd ever stitch - but thanks for the smile, Linda! ;-D They are gorgeous dogs, aren't they?

Parker is in a class with Lara, an English bull terrior. Lara and Parker love to play together. Her owner - while living in England (her native country) used to show/handle dogs of champion owners. Her terrior is so very strong and muscular in comparison to my Cavalier, even though they're about the same size.

Dianne

They sure are strong, Dianne!

I once had a rescue Bully called 'Toffee' - she was only a half-grown pup, really, but late one night, she barrelled right through the wire in Dad's aviary and had killed two of his beloved galahs before I could get a proper hold of her. That's how I learned how tenacious the breed is. Once they've got a-hold of something, they don't let go in a hurry! I was forced to give Toffee back to the rescue people, as she simply couldn't get used to living peaceably with Dad's birds. It was a shame, as she was a very beautiful dog.

Our Alice likes to eat tennis balls and masonry. Each time she gets a new tennis ball she parks herself, legs akimbo, on the kitchen lino. For the next hour or so, you'll hear the loud as she crunches it in her jaws. Eventually, the ball will crack and stop popping, so Alice leaves it sadly alone and asks for another one. If she can get hold of a bit of masonry or mortar or housebrick, she'll sit happily and munch away on it (the sound is *awful* - worse than the sound of a cat eating a mouse!). In spite of this worrying habit, the vet reckons her teeth are in great nick.

!!!

DS is the only one limber and strong enough to keep up with Alice, even now that she's a senior cit. She takes him for a walk in her harness and many friends have smiled as they related seeing Matt being walked by Alice along the Minmi Road. What they don't often see is the return journey: DS is a great walker and loves to go for miles and miles. Usually, he gets to do the leading on the way back as Alice is exhausted by then.

Of course, being an extremely happy and people-loving dog, Alice loves to wag her tail madly when people come to visit. I'm sure she doesn't mean it, but the effect of being wagged against by her thumping tail is like being whacked with a bit of four-be-two! Owch!

Staffordshire Bull Terriers are all the rage at the moment here in Oz. While they're cute enough, I s'pose, they just don't have the honest appeal of the Bull Terrier. IMHO.

Your story made me smile and remember a dog we used to have - Judy, a beautiful springer spaniel.

One year, my dh took her with him to Idaho to go mountain climbing and camping. On the next to last day, the weather was turning so he decided to make it all the way out that day instead of in two. Judy, being a dog who thought with her nose, of course wandered from one side to another and up and down the trail, off here, off there, having a great time - for the first seven miles. Those were seven miles for Mark of course and probably 15 for Judy! The last three, she stuck close to dh. He found a motel that took dogs and stayed the night. Poor Judy was so worn out, she laid on the floor and wouldn't move. Had to be physically picked up and taken outside to go potty before bed - So worn out dh almost decided to find an emergency vet, but he decided to wait until morning. Fortunately, it was just exhaustion. The next morning, she bounded out, ready to go again!

Linda

Y'don't *have* to do all the confetti stitches, y'know! Just trying to help. :)

Joan

Isn't that what overdyes were invented for?

Lindaaa! You're getting as bad as Joan! =:-0

LOL! Poor Judy! She must have been dead beat! LOLOLOLOL!

I know what you mean about dogs who think with their noses. Our Head of College had a lovely Springer called Natasha. She spent her days lazing in a particular patch of sunlight in the College office (that would be the Springer, not the HOC...) One year, we had a bit of a rabbit plague in Armidale and Natasha went nuts, trying to get out and chase the rabbits. We thought she was channelling a greyhound, what with the speed at which she'd disappear into the distance! When Natasha passed on (at a fine old age, I might add), the HOC got a Gordon Setter named (duh!) Gordon. He was another gorgeous dog and equally fond of rabbit-coursing.

Sounding very Springer-ish! We really look forward to those days when Puckster gets to do a lot of activity. In the good weather, he goes roller-blading with DH. DH - who is a fine skater, and not a small guy - actually has Puckster wanting to run, pulling him, it's a hoot to watch as the 60# springer is running with his 200# dad behind. But, we've seen that "collapse should we call the vet" a few times, mostly at the old house when we had big parties and the dog was swimming, jumping in and out, and fetching all day. Then he'd just collapse - barely do his last out for the night, and sleep soundly - often involving snoring, and doggy dreams with paws shuffling, whuffling.

I think he's getting a play-date with his pal Lamma today (the husky mix) and his devoted girlfriend. So that will be good.

Ellice

My thinking precisely. And the perfect dyed fabric.

Ellice

Well, if I ever get down there with DD, we'll bring her rollerblades and they can romp

Cheryl