Helen 1 Year Old

Helen as at the 16th of April is now 1 year old. 32Kg and moderatly well disciplined. Training for obedience ongoing but well advanced.

Inquistive

Pensive

Helens new collar

Bone time

 Birthday party

 Mums meatballs

Yum

Helen 9 months

9 months old on the 16th of January

30+ Kg happy and healthy.
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Helen Obedience Class

Helen is 8 months old and about 28 Kilos. American Staffodshires generally are adult at around 20 months old so she has some maturing and growing to do yet.

She (we) have now completed the Older Puppy Obedience Class.

After struggling for the first few weeks we have come through in the end and she can sit, stay, recall on and off lead etc. The stages we will work through over the next year or so are obedience for:

Puppy,

Advance Puppy,

Beginners,

Class 1 and

General training for classes 2 to 5 

Skills we hope to aquare are advanced obedience, agility and hopefully tracking.

 

Two Extremes of Helen

Two Extremes of Helen

Sleeping after dinner

In her 'time out' play pen after a biting transgression.

Helen 11 Weeks and 8Kg

Helen 11 Weeks old and and 8Kg. 3.5 Kg gain in three weeks.

 

Our newest family member Helen.

After the passing of our beautiful English Staffordshire Terrier, Hermione last October we needed to fill the space she left. Hermione, in Greek mythology, is the only daughter of Helen of Troy. So Helen was the name chosen for our new blue and white American Staffordshire Terrier.

Helen, a pure bred American Staffordshire was born on the 16th of April and is currently 8 weeks old.

Here is a picture of her Mum.

History

In the nineteenth century in the English region of Staffordshire, crossing among the Bulldog and various terriers developed the muscular, active, combative Staffordshire Bullterrier.

Introduced to the United States, the English Staffordshire breed was developed by American breeders who increased its weight and gave it a more powerful head. Now recognised as a separate breed, the American Staffordshire is larger and heavier than his British cousin, the English Staffordshire Terrier.

The American Staffordshire Terrier is extremely strong for its size. They are agile, very muscular and stocky with a broad, powerful head. Dogs of this breed make good family pets and are loving with children.

This breed is recommended for an active owner who is firm, confident and consistent with their dogs training. This is a brave dog which is loyal to its family, tenacious, tough and will make a good watchdog. Ironically the dogs are usually a great big loveable sook.

Pizza Wine Dogs Breakfast and Eggs

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Happy 7th Birthday Hermione

Hermione is an English Staffordshire Bull Terrier. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed is stocky and very muscular, this breed is noted for the characteristics of intelligence, fearlessness and loyalty. This coupled with its affection for its friends, being protective of them and its territory, quietness and trustworthy stability, make it a great companion dog. Staffordshire Bull Terriers are friendly, enthusiastic and extremely affectionate towards humans and they express their affection through jumping up, nuzzling, licking and pawing.

Hermion's name comes from Greek mythology, Hermione was the only child of Helen to Troy. During the Trojan War Helens husband, Menelaus promised Hermione to Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles as a reward if he sacked Troy.

Hermione 7 years on the 22nd March 2013

Hermione at 10 weeks old

10 Weeks old

2 years old

 4 Years an adult

Red Dog

 Hermione decides its time for a sand bath 

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f2.8, 1/80 sec

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Rub it in a bit more

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f2.8, 1/100 sec

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More . . . 

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f2.8, 1/100 sec

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Shake it up a bit

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f2.8, 1/100 sec

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Red Dog

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f2.8, 1/100 sec

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Contemplating the sunset

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f2.8, 1/160 sec

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Sunset in the dunes

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f22, 1/15 sec

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Hermione's New Collar

Hermione got a new collar from the U.S. hand made by Kippy & Co. I found them on ETSY. Etsy is a quality handmade marketplace where very small businesses can make some money while making the world more fair, more sustainable, and more fun.

 Nikon D300, Nikkor 50mm f1.4D @ ISO 200, 50mm f1.4, 1/15 sec

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 Nikon D300, Nikkor 50mm f1.4D @ ISO 200, 50mm f1.4, 1/30 sec

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Focus Zoom

Cosy

Early morning 2 Degrees c and Hermione's all rugged up under her doona (duvet) looking at me on the Mac probably wondering why I'm up at all.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 50mm f1.4D @ ISO 800, 50mm f1.4, 1/60 sec

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Hermione - Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 @ ISO 400, 34mm f4.2, 1/60 sec

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Hermione had a specific post in April 2009 on this blog (here) but these pictures are more recent of her walks around the leash free dog park in Leichardt Sydney, the site of the famous Cafe Bones. Not that Hermione has a 'pupachino' (a stock based drink with froth on top and a sprinkle of herbs) we just walk.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, 35mm f2, 1/640 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, 35mm f5.6, 1/200 sec

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The Staffordshire Bull Terrier

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a medium sized, stocky, muscular dog with great athletic ability. They have a broad head, defined muscles, a relatively short face, a wide mouth with a clean bite.

They have small ears and cheek muscles that are very pronounced on a head that tapers down to a strong well muscled neck and shoulders placed on squarely spaced forelimbs.

They are coloured brindle, black, red, fawn, blue, white, or any mixture and the coat is smooth and clings tightly to the body giving the dog a streamlined appearance.

The dogs stand 36 to 41 cm tall and weigh 15 to 25 kg, the 'Staffordshire Bull Terrier' can suffer from health problems common to other dog breeds such as cataracts, hip dysplasia and breathing problems but are overall a very healthy breed.

The dominant temperament is its character of indomitable courage, high intelligence matched with a quietness and trustworthy stability. This, coupled with its affection for its family, children in particular, make it appear in the list for the top 10 breeds most suitable for families and children.

Spring colour

A mural on a wall of a boat hire place in Mordialloc, Melbourne Victoria.

Nikon D300, 70-200mm 2.8, ISO 200, 86mm, f 2.8 1/4000 sec

Spring flowers by the side of the highway, somewhere in southern NSW

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A flower at my Mums place in Bendigo Victoria

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My brothers dog 'Chester' watching me suspiciously

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Cacti, again at my Mums in Bendigo Victoria

Nikon D300, 70-200mm 2.8, ISO 800, 200mm, f 3.2 1/1250 sec