Gordon

Hounds on the Heath, taken by Pet Pride Photography.

On Sunday morning, Mookie and I were awoken with a bath, which could only mean one thing: we were heading somewhere special!

Hounds on the Heath was on our agenda for the day. The annual dog-travagant event (previously called Hyde Bark) is run by The Mayhew Animal Home, the wonderful charity that took me in and cared for me after I was abandoned on the streets of London. The event promised dog treats and games galore - and The Mayhew never disappoint.

Hampstead Heath is a doggy delight, with 320 hectares of lush green space to frolic and roam in; Mookie went springing through the meadows like a bunny rabbit! As we walked down the hill, we glimpsed The Mayhew's iconic blue marquees, heard joyful barking, and knew that was where all the action was.

The first thing we did was browse the many stalls for toys, accessories and food. We hadn't seen Richard for hours as he'd been working a night shift, and we got the best surprise ever when we spotted him at one of the stalls buying treats for us - we attempted to knock him and the stall over in excitement!

Hounds on the Heath: Our Top Picks

The Dog Show

Without a doubt, the celebrity-judged Dog Show was the main event, and I only went and won the 'Sweetest Staffie' title!

Celebrating my 'Sweetest Staffie' win.

Of course, with so many lovely staffordshire bull terriers in the ring (proving every negative stereotype wrong!), it couldn't have been an easy decision for Kiss FM presenter and 'Sweetest Staffie' judge Pandora Christie. For winning 1st place, I received a fantastic goodie bag filled with treats that I'll share with Mookie, but she can't share my winner's rosette - that's all mine!

The other categories included Best Veteran, Best Rescue Story, Gorgeous Girl, Best Looking Boy, Dead Ringers, Pooch and Pal, and then the winner from each category took to the ring one final time for Best In Show, which was awarded to the deserving rescue dog Tyi.

Agility Course

The agility course was so much fun! Provided by Friendly Creatures, Mookie and I were jumping through hoops and over hurdles, testing our balancing skills on beams and seesaws, and running through tunnels. Bar my stopping for a wee halfway around, Mookie and I both completed the agility course like pros, and were awarded a bag of tasty treats each.

Making fur-iends on Hampstead Heath, photographed by Jo Moolenschot.

Temptation Alley

Can you believe the humans actually doubted us on this one?! The aim of the game was to pass through temptation alley without stopping to munch on the many bowls of food along the way, and being the well-behaved dogs that we are, we totally nailed it.

Happily Rehomed Parade

Our absolute highlight was the Happily Rehomed Parade, as it's simply a beautiful thing to see all of the ex-Mayhew doggies strutting their stuff with their new forever families. I took Richard up for my moment in the spotlight, and we did all of our best tricks to show the crowd how far I've come since my days in the kennel.

Over £5,500 Raised!

Hounds on the Heath 2016 raised more than £5,500 for The Mayhew Animal Home, all of which will go back into helping more animals in need. If you get a chance to attend one of their events and support this fantastic charity, we highly recommend doing so. We can't wait for the next one, but until then, we're gonna catch some much-needed z's!

After our big weekend, we are two tired pups!

Commuter.

I've never really revealed my daredevil side to Josanne and Richard before but I thought this was a perfect opportunity to let it all come out; I leapt up ladders, slid down slides, and even attempted to gallop across some moving stepping stones!

I’m a deaf dog.

It’s likely I was born deaf, as many white dogs are due to underdeveloped pigmentation within our ears. However, any dog can become deaf due to illness, accidents, and old age.

This article highlights some useful tips for living with a deaf dog.

We understand sign language. 

Deaf dogs learn in the same way that hearing dogs do: when a behaviour is rewarded, we’ll do it more often. All we need is for our humans to decide on a set of clear hand signals, stock up on treats, and dedicate some time to reward-based training.

Some of the tricks I know so far include:

• Sit 
• Lay 
• Stay 
• Stop 
• Walk to Heel 
• Recall 
• Shake Hands 
• High Five 
• Speak on Command
• Weave (figure eights around objects) 
• Go to Bed 
• Sit on the Sofa 
• Touch (a target) 
• Spin Around (both directions) 
• Dance 

Let’s be honest, that’s more than plenty of hearing dogs know!

Use a long line for added peace of mind. 

A long line is an extra-lengthy lead, usually measuring 10 metres or more. You don’t need to hold the lead by a handle; simply attach it to your dog’s collar or harness and it will drag behind them as they explore the park, then when you need them to stop, you can just step on the lead.

Long lines are beneficial to many dog owners, especially those in the process of teaching recall to their dogs (or for dogs who don’t respond well to their name!), as it can prevent your dog from running over to strangers, other animals, or even out of an open gate.

If you’re walking a deaf dog who can’t hear their name being called, a long line provides reassurance, as you can ensure your dog gets the exercise she/he needs without being put in danger.

Vibration collars are excellent for recall. 

A vibration collar is a normal dog collar that comes with a remote control and the capacity to vibrate. You can see me wearing mine in the picture above.

I’ve been trained to look at Josanne and Richard whenever they press the vibration button. Once they have my attention, they can then give me a hand signal so I know what to do, whether it’s sit, stay, or return to them.

We don’t use this at home but it’s extremely valuable outdoors or in new places, as it enables us to check-in with each other regularly.

We won’t upset the postman! 

As I can’t hear the doorbell, I can quite happily sleep through a delivery, which can avoid a lot of fuss and barking. Likewise, Firework Night is a breeze!

However, that doesn’t mean you won’t get a warm greeting when you come in. Using my brilliant sense of smell, I always know when Josanne and Richard are home, and I give them an enthusiastic welcome every time.

Do you live with a deaf dog? Post your best tips below.

Photo Credit: Mina Milanovic Photography.

I had such a fun Christmas with my furry friends from dog training school when we all gathered for a festive day of games, competitions, and prizes galore!

The event was put on by Rachel Worley and her team from Pet Dog Behaviour, with about 30 of us dogs in attendance.

We started out with pictures around the Christmas tree before moving on to the Fancy Dress Competition. Fellow lovely staffie Blue won the prize with his homemade mistletoe jacket, but it was a close call, as so many of the dogs had dressed for the occasion. I had my tartan bow tie on and many people noted that I looked quite the gent!

Everyone said I looked like a real gentleman in my bow tie.

Next up was an epic game of Musical Chairs! All of the chairs were set up in a long line and everyone made a dog/human combo, with Richard and I teaming up. Whilst the music played, we had to walk anti-clockwise around the chairs, and our human had to take a seat as soon as the music stopped. The rules were that the dogs had to want to play (so all of the dogs that dug their claws into the ground were out!) and the humans had to find a seat in front of them (so no sneaky reversals to nab a seat!). The last dog standing/sitting was Lola, my Ridgeback friend!

The Egg and Spoon Race followed. I had to walk to heel whilst Josanne looped my lead around her wrist - in the same hand the egg and spoon were in! I'm excellent at walking to heel so we were nailing it...until I noticed Richard standing at the finish line, made a dart for him, and watched the egg go SPLAT! 

We then all took a seat for the Annual Award Giving, and guess what?! Rachel called me up to receive a very special award: The Greatest Achievement Award.

Rachel told everyone how I deserved the Greatest Achievement Award because of how quickly I'm soaring through the training classes and tests, despite being the only deaf dog in the school, and how dedicated Josanne and Richard are to keeping up my training.

To finish, we all got to show off our skills for the Best Trick Competition.

Richard and I had been practicing all week for ours: barking on command. He dedicated a lot of time to teaching me this trick, and it's not easy considering I can't actually hear myself bark! Well, all of the hard work paid off, as I won 1st Prize!

Mina Milanovic, the photographer for the event, made a very special announcement at the end of the party too. She awarded me a photo session! So, expect to see my best model poses soon!

Photo Credit: Mina Milanovic Photography.

From the shelter to the red carpet...watch me on London Live TV.

JANUARY 2015

This first video was filmed back in January 2015 when I had been in kennels for two months. You can see me learning doggy sign language with Eric and meet some of the other special animals taken in by The Mayhew Animal Home, including a cat whose ear had to be amputated, a dog with one kidney, and another cat with only three legs.




DECEMBER 2015

And here I am almost a year later on the red carpet at Tinsel & Tails 2015, brushing shoulders with Neil Morrissey! Don't you just love a happy ending!?



If you'd like to know more about my story, you can read it here »

I've just returned from my first holiday - a four-day break in the Cotswolds.

We stayed in the medieval guesthouse at Polesworth Abbey, called The Porter's Lodge. Built in 1340, and retaining many of its original features, the property is incredibly atmospheric - and so dog-friendly!

DAY ONE

On the first day of our holiday, we stayed local, taking a walk around Pooley Country Park before spending the evening curled up in front of our log fire.

DAY TWO

We took a trip to Stratford-upon-Avon on the second day where I learned all about Shakespeare on the Stratford Town Walk - everyone said I must be best educated dog in the town!


For lunch, we ate at the cosy Old Thatch Tavern, which is the oldest pub in Stratford. It's in a Grade II listed building and is the only place in the town that still has a thatched roof. All of the staff and customers at The Old Thatch Tavern welcomed me in with cuddles and commented on how well-behaved I am.

After lunch, I realised that it's not only in London where I've acquired a reputation for myself, as many people stopped to have a chat with me whilst we walked around the shops here too. The ladies in the Blue Cross even wrote about me on their Facebook page!

At sunset, I went for a long run along Avon River - it was so much fun!

DAY THREE

Day Three was Josanne's birthday and we visited Ilam in the Staffordshire Peak District.

Ilam is very picturesque, centering around the neo-gothic Ilam Hall, and surrounded by Swiss-chalet style houses throughout the rest of the village.

We took a five-mile walk, exploring Ilam, Dovedale, and Thorpe. The scenery was stunning but it was sad to see so many beautiful animals tagged, marked, and confined to farms.

DAY FOUR

On Day Four, we said goodbye to the The Porter's Lodge and I went on one final countryside walk before heading home.

I loved my first holiday, and I can't wait for the next one!


TIPS FOR HOLIDAYING WITH YOUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIEND IN THE UK:

• A Google search will help you find pet-friendly accommodation - just make sure you read the fine print, as there may be additional charges or restrictions on which rooms they can use.
• If you're driving, use a crate or a dog seat belt to secure your dog in the event of a crash.
• Never leave your dog in the car alone; cars can reach oven temperature much quicker than you'd think, putting us at risk of death.
• Never tie your dog up outside a shop alone - we could get stolen.
• Always bring a large bottle of water and a bowl on your day trips, stopping regularly to give your dog a drink.

Every rescue animal has their own story to tell, and mine is rather remarkable.

It starts in November 2014 when I was found abandoned on the streets of London, terrified and confused. I was just two years old.

I was taken to a council pound and given seven days to be reclaimed but nobody came for me. Most dogs are put to sleep once their seven days are up, but thankfully, The Mayhew Animal Home stepped in to offer me shelter.

Here, I was microchipped, neutered, and put up for adoption. However, the kennel staff at The Mayhew quickly noticed that I wasn't like the other dogs waiting to be rehomed. In the mornings, they would come into my kennel, calling my name, but I wouldn't wake up - even when they had my breakfast in tow!

I was sent to The Mayhew's in-house veterinary clinic where I took part in a number of hearing tests. Then, the vets confirmed the news that nobody wanted to hear: I am deaf.

The Adoption Officers knew this would be catastrophic for me. Staffies struggle to find homes because we're unfairly tarnished with a bad reputation, and being deaf was only going to make my chances at finding a new family harder.

Most dogs are given a second chance within weeks - I waited nine months.

I'd get so excited every time a family entered the The Mayhew; I'd spring up to the kennel door, tail wagging...but then I'd realise they were going to see another dog and my tail would stop as I flopped down into my bed.

My skin was itchy and sore, and my coat was bare in parts. This was partly due to stress, but the vets suspected it was more than that, so they sent me off for allergy testing. The list of allergens that came back was extensive, including trees, grass, and a long list of foods. Once again, the Adoption Officers had to watch as my chances of being rehomed became bleaker and bleaker.

That's when the kennel staff and volunteers taught me sign language.

I loved it! Finally, I could make sense of the world I had always felt so lost in. It enabled me to build relationships with people, and as many staffie parents will know, human affection is our favourite thing ever.

The marketing team at The Mayhew secured me with national press coverage and built major social media campaigns around me, but still, I couldn't find a home.

Then, one day in August, a couple came to visit me!

I was asleep when Josanne and Richard first came to see me, and of course, I didn't hear them come in. I was sharing a kennel with a staffie puppy called Nugget at the time, and she actually nudged me awake to tell me I had visitors!

I was so excited! I ran over to them and we went to spend some time in the sensory garden together where they gave me lots of back scratches and I gave them lots of hugs and kisses.

They loved me instantly but there was one potential setback: they lived with a house rabbit called Munch.

The next step was for me to meet Munch. So several days later, Lisa Guiney, the Dog Adoption Officer at The Mayhew, took me on a trip to their house. Everyone was worried that a dog and a rabbit couldn't get along, but of course we did, I get on with everybody! Plus Munch is super cool and confident as he's lived his whole life around staffies.

And that's when my story really begins.

Me on the day I was adopted with Richard and Mayhew kennel staff Eric, Josh, and Janet. They're all giving me the Thumbs Up sign, which means 'good boy' in Doggy Sign Language!

On the 4th of August 2015, Josanne and Richard adopted me. I'm so comfortable and happy here; we spend long days in the park, cosy nights cuddled up on the sofa, and we've already made so many incredible memories together.

My deafness and allergies never hold me back. I live like any other dog. So please, next time you adopt, do consider the needier animals desperately waiting for their forever home.

Photo Credit: Bonnie Baker at Bonnie Baker Rescue and Pet Photography.