Elsdon's story - this is a long post

Elsdon our Staffie Cross

Where do I start? At the beginning is usual, but then this is not your usual dog.

I decided that although we love Ruby Doo to bits we should be doing our bit for staffies everywhere by adopting a dog that was in need of a good home.

I’m not new to re-homing staffies, my Elli Belle came from a home in Bolton in 1998 because their children were suddenly “allergic” to her. It was pure coincidence that they were going on holiday to Turkey the next day.

She and I had a wonderful 10 years together and I still have bad days when I miss her so badly it physically hurts.

But back to Elsdon, love of my life now.

I saw his picture on another forum that I used to be a member of and unfortunately I don’t have a copy of it so I can’t share with you what drew me to him.

He was sat in a chair on a blanket and the only words I can use to describe his eyes then is “devilish”, full of mischief but at the same time asking for someone to give him a new home.

He was being looked after by Rescue Remedies and I think he was in kennels at the time as his previous “new” owners couldn’t cope with him. They were two policewomen who had saved him from being pounded after a raid into a squalid one bedroom flat by taking him into their home and as they had a staffie of their own thought that he would keep their elderly staffie company. How wrong they were, he was constantly wanting to play and play rough! This 9 month old Elsdon had never been properly socialised either with dogs or people so he was rather a wild child who was house trained but nothing else trained!

First of all I filled in the rehoming questionnaire for Rescue Remedies about my circumstances and where we lived and then posted a reply on the forum asking whether or not they would rehome him in Yorkshire. I didn’t think for one minute they would, so I was so excited when they phoned me and said yes. Oh lord I thought, what have I done? It’s ok to want to be a good Samaritan but putting that into practice is a different thing altogether.

The next part would be the hardest, convincing Glynn that we needed to drive down to Gatwick to pick him up and also get permission from our lovely landlady Margaret to have another dog. She had stipulated that once Elli had gone there was to be no other dogs and we had already talked her round into letting us have Ruby. We made the phone call to her, explained the situation, promised that the house would not suffer and that we had insurance if anything did happen. She’s a cat lady herself and rescues unwanted kittens so understood what we were trying to do and agreed wholeheartedly. Phew! This was on Friday so on the next day we could drive down to Gatwick and pick him up.

Next step was to drive down there and get him. Lynn from Rescue Remedies very very kindly agreed to meet us three quarters of the way down so that we didn’t have so far to travel in one day. It was one of the wettest windiest Saturdays I have ever known and Glynn had some jobs on in the morning so I fretted and did shopping and smoked a lot waiting for him to come home so we could go and get Elsdon.

The drive down there was scary, it rained that hard at one point that we could hardly see where we were going. However we got to the services that Lynn had said she would meet us at and I opened the car door. Bang! The wind took the door out of my hand and it smashed the wing mirror of the car next to us. What a start to our meeting! The rain started lashing down again and so we grabbed Ruby and followed Lynn into the service station.



My mouth dropped open when I first saw Elsdon, he was absolutely gorgeous in the flesh but much, much bigger than I expected. I thought the picture I saw on the forum was a close up, but no, he really was that big. We quickly signed and exchanged the adoption papers, thanked Lynn profusely for her help that day and then set off back to Yorkshire.

The rest of the night is a blur really, we got home, fed them, walked them and had a glass of wine to see us off to bed. We crated them separately and hoped that Elsdon wouldn’t be too frightened in his new home that night.

The next day I took Elsdon out on the playing fields on his own. He walked ok but kept jumping up at me and nipping my stomach, he seemed over the top with excitement and I knew then that we would have quite a lot of training to do with him. Over the next three months as his confidence grew so did his doggy bad manners and walking him on the lead proved a nightmare. So we decided to take him to Gargrave on a Wednesday evening and get some training done.

We started at Bronze and passed that to my amazement, Silver came next and that seemed a breeze, then came mine and Elsdon’s moment of glory – we passed Gold straight away! After Gold you are invited to join FIFI class (find it, fetch it) which is an hour and a half training, starting with ten minutes on the agility and then some serious obedience training – off lead. I am proud to tell you that Elsdon can sniff out my hanky on the floor from five others, wait patiently whilst I throw a toy to the other end of the room and then go and get it, and down stay for at least 2 minutes whilst I am out of the room. We have been at this class for the last eight weeks and apart from getting giddy in the agility session Elsdon is a model dog.

Elsdon, Ruby, Glynn and I have learnt so much from one another in the last eighteen months. Ruby has to take credit for teaching him some good doggy manners, Glynn and I can take credit for having the patience to take him training and most of all, a huge amount of credit to Elsdon, he has turned into a most loving dog who is still mischievous but also a good solid dog who has no aggression for other dogs – despite his background.

So to all of you who are thinking of adopting a staffie, I just have one thing to say.

Would I do it all again? You bet!

what a fantastic story Jan
you have done the boy proud and he's a credit to you and so is the lovely Ruby
he is lovely with a naughty streak, your right on the button with devilish, but he's so full of character my sort of dog
but there again so is Ruby when im in a quiet cant be bothered mood

Brilliant story Jan. Totally loved reading it, beautifully written too. Thank you for sharing it with us.

I've always thought Elsdon is such a fantastic example of a rescue dog given a second chance.

His whole story and how you've both ( & Ruby bless her ) spent all the time required and given him all the patience he needed to bring him to his best, is heartwarming.

Elsdon you are a star and gorgeous with it

Wow Jan and Glynn what a fantastic story and so well written, I was there in the windy, rainy car park with you then.

You have done an amazing job in not only deciding on rescuing Elsdon, but to do it straight away not knowing anything much about him.

For him to pass all his tests is outstanding and it is down to both of you that he has turned out the way he has, yes he is intelligent, but it still takes time and patience on your part to transfer that into something brilliant.

Thank you for sharing your story and I hope it gives encouragement to anyone thinking about rescuing now or in the future.

Well done Jan, Glynn, Elsdon and not forgetting the lovely Ruby Doo xxx

:ta all so much, it was written from the heart which is where Elsdon will always be. Sometimes you just have to follow that hunch that says - yes go for it

Great story Jan

Well done for rescuing him in the first place, and you have all achieved so much with him since.

He wouldn't be the dog he is now without all your time and patience x

Thank you all for your kind comments, they are much appreciated

Brilliant story. Elsdon is a lucky boy to have found you, and visa versa.

Thats is such a well written story Jan xx
Hes such a lucky boy to have found you x

Beautiful story Jan, he was well worth all that searching you did.

Elsdon has come on fantastically and it is all down the time and effort you have all put into him. He is a credit to you

I hope we get to see him again some time this year. We must arrange a meet x

I know Jo, I'm well aware we haven't been on a meet recently, must get mine and Glynn's backside into gear. Will also have to bring Bryon and Alison, Elli has also come on so well recently too.

I did say I would try and organise one at Hebden Bridge, maybe we could go for a meet there in July sometime

Awwww Jan & Glynn - you are the sweetest people - Elsdon Story really touched my heart and after reading that I would now consider a rescue xx

Its amazing how a pooch can bring bring so much joy into our home and now you have 2 amazing staffords

You should be proud x

What a lovely story. Well done for all you have done.

I hope in the future I will be in a position to rescue like you have.

Hebden Bridge is a nice place Jo, but I really like the Hollingworth Lake w.alk so if you are all thinking of going there sometime soon, I'd love to join in. I'd gladly wait until then

Thank you Selena, that's such a nice thing to say

And you too Suzie, it's hard work, I won't say otherwise but so worth it when it all comes together and you have some settled pooches.

This story I know well and I must say it still brings a tear to my eye, its a pleasure to know you two as you have done so much for Elsdon, not forgetting Ruby, the matriarch!
Very well written and I enjoyed reading it.
Hope you feel better soon!

Aw thanks Alison, you and Bryon should have had a mention as you helped us out so much in the beginning.

Time for a I think.

Yes I'm feeling much better thanks, the horrible headache has gone.

A great story, just a little time and effort into training them goes a long way, they just want to please.

Thank you, his training is still "ongoing" but we've come so far and he is such a different dog, until he goes to Linda and Keith's and smells their rabbit

We love him to bits and wouldn't change him now.

Just had to revisit this post and say that we've had Elsdon for two years now and I can't believe how time flies, needless to say I love him to bits.

Elsdon, Ruby, Jan and Glynn have had some really fun times over the last couple of years and are looking forward to have lots and lots more

Gosh how time flies, looking forward to sharing the fun times with you x

Thanks Jo

This is Elsdon's story