As you will see we are now living in Spain and enjoying the climate, the people, the lifestyle and everything else here. There are not a lot of Staffords here in Spain (2 more with ours!!) but they seem to have some quite nice dogs here. The Stafford owners here are a dedicated lot who really love the breed and are also really friendly people who are eager to meet us and see the dogs. The language barrier doesn't seem to stop us communicating, we get along with our bit of Spanish and their English !! (although some Stafford people here speak very good English).
We have been to quite a few shows as spectators, these were general champ shows which are held in Valencia (only 75km from us), Alicante, Guadalajara, Murcia etc. these were a totally different experience from any shows in the UK. There were breeds there that are not shown (or even seen) in the UK such as Am Staffs, Dogo Canario, Cane Corso, Fila Brasileiro etc. which I think are all banned as dangerous breeds in the UK. The shows here remind me of a large canine society open show in the UK having about 12 rings and not too many dogs, saying that though there is usually quite a good entry of Staffords being shown. The judge usually places 1st. and 2nd. and often after having a *huddle* type discussion with the ring stewards, but gives each entrant a written report about their dog.
Another thing here is the *attracting of exhibits from outside the ring* with people whistling, squeaking toys and shouting " Gatos .. gatos !!" (cats .. cats!!), just try that at Crufts!! Javier, then the President of the SBT club of Spain, told me this is normal and the Boxer owners were the worst for this even with one case of someone holding up a live rabbit to make an exhibit perk up !!
I have recognized Spanish SBT people here that I have seen at Crufts and National Terrier ... that's how much into the breed they are ... how many people from the UK would travel to Spain or Italy say just to watch a show !!
The SBT Club of Spain is a fairly new club and their website can be seen at www.staffordspain.com
Their President at that time, Javier Muñoz, made a special stop-off to meet us on his return journey to Barcelona from his summer holidays which we thought was very good of him.
Our dogs seem to be enjoying it here and have not been affected by the heat, although it has been too hot to take them out during the day. It is quite different from the UK when it comes to walking them as the road we are on is very narrow and winds down to the Old Town making it very dangerous as there is no footpath, also when you are out as you walk past villas, their *guard dogs* rush to the fence or gates and bark like mad which winds our dogs up and makes the whole walking thing non enjoyable for both us and the dogs. We have recently been watching a program on TV called "The Dog Whisperer" and are trying to train our pack to behave like the dogs he trains on TV. They seem to get plenty of exercise just running around the land here, it is all fenced in and safe for them. Oliver used to spend many a happy hour chasing passing motor scooters from behind his fence, while Lulu spent most of her time *nut hunting* (looking for fallen dates from a large palm tree we have here) then eating them .. they didn't seem to do her any harm so we didn't stop her ... also our present dogs all eat them too.
The Spanish didn't know what to make of our dogs, they thought they were small Am Staffs or something as a lot of people have Am Staffs to guard their property, most Villas have some type of guard dog (usually 2). As you will probably know there is BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) here in Spain which, like most of the other Spanish laws I don't think is enforced at all. Although there are plenty of large Pitbulls / Am Staffs around, I haven't seen many muzzled dogs here at all.
Lulu was stung on the nose by a bee once ... it was mostly her fault as she will go and interview insects and such like, within 20 minutes her face swelled up to about twice it's size and she finished up looking like a little boxer dog then she started coming up in lumps on her sides and back. We were quite worried about her but after about 5 or 6 hours she was nearly back to normal. The thing is that she still used to do exactly the same, I caught her messing with a big green bug only the next morning .. some dogs never learn. Another thing here is there are lots of ticks and things like that, after we were here only about a week we kept finding these black, bug like things on both the dogs ... mainly in their ears. We bought them both tick collars which they wore all the time and that sorted out this particular problem, although I'm sure there will be more things to learn over here.
We are getting settled here in Spain .. the town we live in (well just outside) is Oliva which is around 75km south of Valencia and in the heart of the orange growing region. You can take a look at our town by clicking this link
Life here is quite different from the UK everything is *mañana*, you go and order something like wall tiles (which are only made about 100km from here) and you are told "about a week ... or so." We waited nearly 3 weeks for some floor tiles and when they came the girl had ordered the wrong colour .. cream instead of dark blue. You just learn to be patient with about everything. As not speaking fluent Spanish it can be hard when ordering things to make it clear exactly what you want ... it's OK in bars and restaurants etc. but just try asking for a soldered joint from 1inch steel pipe to 15mm copper making sure which bit is male or female ... not as easy as it sounds ... but we're learning, that's the main thing !!
Driving here is fun, the Spanish have little or no road sense .. they think nothing of driving the wrong way down a one way street .. park wherever they wish (middle of the road, on a crossing, on the pavement). They haven't really discovered indicators yet either. On the autopista I drive merrily at about 140 km/h but get passed by cars of all shapes and sizes and all I seem to pass are wagons, no cars. I'm sure the average speed must be in excess of 160 km/h. Roundabouts are pretty new here and the Spanish use the right hand lane for all directions which is pretty disconcerting when you are in the left hand lane to go straight on and a car on the inside of you decides to go right across you to turn left. The only time I have seen Spanish in the left hand lane is when they want to turn right !! They sometimes stop on roundabouts too. It's an adventure here alright.
The Spanish are very pleasant and polite (apart from when driving) they will smile and say Hola or Buenas días etc. when they pass you in the street. If someone said "hello good afternoon" to people walking past in the UK, they would think him some kind of *weirdo* ... that's the difference.
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