Hi there. I’ve been playing Hold‘em poker on and off for about 5 years now, and it’s only recently that I finally seem to be getting something of a handle on this infinitely confounding game. It’s a pastime that at turns frustrates, baffles and depresses but despite all this I find it as a game to be absolutely fascinating. I think poker has a lot of good life lessons for us in relation to power, discipline, strategy and opportunity and it’s no fluke that millions worldwide now play poker regularly on the innumerable websites that have sprung up over the last 15 years or so.
So, what makes poker special for so many? Well, games of chance can be addictive and exhilarating in any case, but in poker particularly the effective player must exercise an array of differing skills to succeed. A truly skilled player is field marshal, psychologist, businessman, intelligence officer and frontline warrior all rolled into one. What a rush!
Here’s a few tips for those starters to the game looking to get a foothold in Hold‘em, the traps to avoid and the times to cash in.
Are you winning?
Although poker is popularly famous for its bluffing, when players represent a huge hand when actually they have little or nothing, the truth is that in most instances people play their hands according to what they perceive their true value to be. Players that bluff a lot will quickly find themselves in deep trouble because of the simple fact that somewhere in a poker table of four or more people it’s probable there will be a good hand out there pitted against you. So, as a starter, learn what hands are the best and when it comes down to your hand and betting, cut your cloth according to sensible assumptions. Say you hit pocket 8s and are feeling pretty pleased with yourself preflop, only to see the flop itself come down something like Js, 4c, 9h. From feeling pretty good, you now have to realise that anybody with a 9 or jack has instantly made a higher pair than your previously coveted 8s. Watch the betting carefully either by placing a modest bet or checking. If you see signs of confidence from somewhere on the table it’s generally wise to assume you are not winning at this time. Review whether it will likely serve you to remain in the hand.
Play sparingly
Beginners find poker intoxicating - the idea of making quick money is a powerful drug and it’s funny just how many people have an overpowering belief that their somewhat mediocre hand will win the day against all comers. Just like the serial bluffers, these kinds of players quickly bite the dust. Believe it or not, more than winning, I believe learning when to lay down your hand is the biggest part of success in poker. Of course you need to win to succeed and get the chips in, but you only need to win a hand once every while to make good progress. Having to lay down your cards by contrast comes in the vast majority of hands and is something you need to get used to doing. It’s very easy to get carried away on false hopes, putting more and more into the pot when really you haven’t got a prayer.
Leave pride at the door
Another potential obstacle to success in poker is something we all have to varying extents, pride! Pride has been many the downfall of an otherwise good player. When I first started playing I always went out early, itching for action which always got me into deep waters. It took me a while to develop the presence of mind to realise a skilled player only goes for the jugular when he, literally, holds all the cards. Now, imagine the scenario: you are on a table with one of those poker bullies who consistently raises preflop and then looks to scare everyone off the hand by raising disproportionately. It gets boring. You start to resent him. He can’t have great cards every time, you think to yourself. You’ve had enough and decide to give him a taste of his own medicine with your pocket 7s or king-jack. Stop! As soon as you let emotion get the better of you in poker it only leads to bad things. Pride will cause you to make unreasonable calls, insane re-raises and take you to the point of bankruptcy just to prove a point. It will kill your God-given instincts and natural feel for your opponents and blind you to the possible hands which are likely ranged against you. Develop the ability to fold, let him have his small victory and wait and watch. Be cold-blooded. Sooner or later you’ll get a massive hand with which you can confidently take him down, or watch with satisfaction as someone does the work for you. Remember, to win you have to be the last man standing. Learn patience, hold fire and wait for your moment.
Recognise opportunity
There are times when your customary reserve and patience simply must be cast aside as with great ruthlessness you go single-mindedly for victory! This point relates closely to my first - learning to make sensible assumptions based on what you have in your hand, what the board says and how your opponents are behaving. There are times when you are delivered a powerful hand, perhaps a pocket pair where the three of a kind is made on the flop, a flush, straight or even a high pocket overpair on a relatively low flop. In situations such as these you can assume you are in a strong if not commanding position and are in a position to dictate play accordingly. Bet strongly either to make your hand pay off or to prevent drawing hands from taking you from behind.
Collect intelligence
How do you make a call when you have a reasonably strong hand, but face an intransigent opponent spoiling for a showdown? Sure, when you’ve got a monster hand fewer calculations need to be made as you push confidently for victory. But much more often you are literally in the dark as to what your opponents may have in terms of hands. The solution to this problem is imperfect and yet improves in reliability as you mature as a player: intelligence collecting. The old saying in poker instructs, “Don’t play the cards, play the man” and this gives you some idea of the principle involved. The way you get to know the man is observance and as a consequence it really is in your interest to make mental notes of how loose or tight a player may be, the kinds of hands he calls with and the kind of raises he makes in certain situations. All of this information is available for free…you just need to sit back and watch. That way when you are facing him and he makes a large re-raise you can hark back to how he has behaved in the past and better get a grip on the situation. This is not an easy skill to learn and must always be weighed up with a consideration of the hands that could beat you and a record of the player’s betting during this particular hand.
Good luck!
Saturday, 23 October 2010
Thursday, 21 October 2010
Promotional sample Flower People
About us page
Flower People takes pride and pleasure in supplying bespoke floral designs for you and your special occasion.
Your occasion…
Our unique crafted gifts are suitable for any special day: weddings, birthdays, commemorations, corporate, or flowers for that special person just because ...
Our service to you…
Based in London, the owner and his team of professional designers place special emphasis on making your particular wishes come true and are ready to provide bouquets here in the city or at locations across the country.
Our philosophy…
Here at Flower People we see flowers as an essential companion to a life well-lived, helping to bring nature’s beauty to our hearts. We think flowers help transform our thoughts into something unique for that special person.
At Flower People we recognise and love the fact that everyone has a unique personality. That’s why we create stylish, striking bouquets and arrangements that are just a little bit different...
Corporate & Business
Brighten up your office today with green plants, trees, orchids or cut flower arrangements from a top London florist.
Let our designers breathe beauty into your working area, lobby or reception, or provide an unforgettable gift for that important client.
We offer a faster, more convenient and personalised way of delivering the finest in custom floral arrangements, premium gift baskets and plants.
Pressed for time? We’ll even water and maintain your plants on a regular basis.
For something extra special, try our exclusive Gourmet Baskets which feature luxury combos of fruit, chocolates select wines and champagne.
Corporate Discount
We offer a number of plans enabling special rates for your employees on all their floral needs when they shop with the best florist in our area. Please call our friendly staff for details.
Environmentally Friendly
As a responsible company, we like to look after our environment.
We use recyclable paper shopping bags and bio-degradable cellophane wherever possible and we encourage recycling of our packaging.
For our deliveries we use LPG powered/Smart vehicles.
Wherever possible we use British flowers. This helps support our British growers and reduces the carbon footprint.
You can support Friends of the Earth by making a donation here, or at the checkout.
Delivery
Need it delivered? Just place your order and you can be assured of a friendly and efficient drop-off at a location of your choice.
Please call before 3pm for same day delivery.
Call our friendly staff for details.
Flower People takes pride and pleasure in supplying bespoke floral designs for you and your special occasion.
Your occasion…
Our unique crafted gifts are suitable for any special day: weddings, birthdays, commemorations, corporate, or flowers for that special person just because ...
Our service to you…
Based in London, the owner and his team of professional designers place special emphasis on making your particular wishes come true and are ready to provide bouquets here in the city or at locations across the country.
Our philosophy…
Here at Flower People we see flowers as an essential companion to a life well-lived, helping to bring nature’s beauty to our hearts. We think flowers help transform our thoughts into something unique for that special person.
At Flower People we recognise and love the fact that everyone has a unique personality. That’s why we create stylish, striking bouquets and arrangements that are just a little bit different...
Corporate & Business
Brighten up your office today with green plants, trees, orchids or cut flower arrangements from a top London florist.
Let our designers breathe beauty into your working area, lobby or reception, or provide an unforgettable gift for that important client.
We offer a faster, more convenient and personalised way of delivering the finest in custom floral arrangements, premium gift baskets and plants.
Pressed for time? We’ll even water and maintain your plants on a regular basis.
For something extra special, try our exclusive Gourmet Baskets which feature luxury combos of fruit, chocolates select wines and champagne.
Corporate Discount
We offer a number of plans enabling special rates for your employees on all their floral needs when they shop with the best florist in our area. Please call our friendly staff for details.
Environmentally Friendly
As a responsible company, we like to look after our environment.
We use recyclable paper shopping bags and bio-degradable cellophane wherever possible and we encourage recycling of our packaging.
For our deliveries we use LPG powered/Smart vehicles.
Wherever possible we use British flowers. This helps support our British growers and reduces the carbon footprint.
You can support Friends of the Earth by making a donation here, or at the checkout.
Delivery
Need it delivered? Just place your order and you can be assured of a friendly and efficient drop-off at a location of your choice.
Please call before 3pm for same day delivery.
Call our friendly staff for details.
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
10 steps to safer travel
There’s certainly an air of pessimism around at the moment with the recession biting and job prospects looking increasingly dim. So it’s no surprise many people, young and old are considering an extended trip away from it all, some even opting for a career break to do something completely different.
The biggest destinations for adventurous Brits include the perennially popular Australia, Canada and Europe, places where travellers can be reasonably sure of good infrastructure, reliable services and a culture not too dissimilar from their own. But for another large portion of budding explorers the safe option just won’t cut it, and they set sail for more challenging destinations in South East Asia, Africa or Latin America, places with vastly different standards of conduct and lower levels of development.
Needless to say, in these far flung places your average western traveller needs to be more aware of the potential risks while travelling. A lot of things you’ll encounter will be very different and at times in these countries things will go wrong. Here’s a list of ten brief steps designed at raising awareness for newby travellers, helping you towards a safer trip and a happier attitude.
1. Plan your travel buddies
Here’s the decision: do you go lonesome or take your mates or partner? It’s easy to see why many people set off with friends. A buddy on the road gives you steady companionship through thick and thin and a measure of safety as you watch each others’ backs. Room rates may be cheaper and your money will go further. However, travelling in the third world can be tough, draining and boring and there’ll be times when you want to strangle each other. At times one person will want to do one thing, the other person, another. Can your friendship take it? Soloists will avoid these kinds of issues but may in turn face greater isolation, loneliness and possibly danger, especially for the girls. But also funny things happen when you travel solo: people will approach you more and become friendly, you may be ‘adopted’ as a family member and get invited to places you wouldn’t normally go. The decisions are entirely yours and a lot of people get huge satisfaction from that.
2. Eat well
Food is so essential to your overall quality of experience that it cannot be overstated how important it is to eat well. You are what you eat and if you eat little, substandard or downright dangerously then you might as well just go home. It’s so easy on a shoestring budget and with a bus to catch to miss a meal here, not have the time there and before you know it you are losing your appetite and getting miserable. Of course the tucker will be different from anything you have encountered and you may not even like it, but make sure you find the best food possible and eat properly.
3. Do your best to stay healthy
Anybody travelling in a place like India for a while is likely to get the runs, it’s just a fact of life and sometimes no matter what you do, you’ll get sick. The most common traveller’s ailments include stomach troubles, sunburn and fungal skin infections. The main thing is to do what you can to stay out of their way, especially if your trip is just a short one. Drink bottled water, use sun cream, eat good quality stuff, use condoms and stay clean! Get yourself kitted out with a good first aid kit and a reliable book on travel health. Oh, and get insurance with worldwide cover.
4. Let the animal out!
Having a great time is what it is all about and the people that have the best time always get stuck into every experience with relish and abandon. Learn to leave your British reserve behind, forget about being shy and retiring, and get involved. Often in these countries people are more passionate and instinctive, which is great! Do as they do and you’ll find yourself fitting in and having fun like you never believed. Leave your negative stuff at the door. Sure the conditions on the bus may be cramped, the train is late, the food tastes of crap and its 32 degrees in the shade, but hey these people deal with this every day! Get out there and enjoy yourself.
5. Learn to laugh…a lot.
On the road you just have to learn to laugh at everything; take all the mishaps and ridiculousness seriously and you’re headed for certain meltdown. Try not to be one of those miserable people who criticises every little detail of the country they are in, always whingeing about some lacking service or etiquette difference from home. Accept that in these places things go wrong all the time. They don’t have the same levels of development, life is tough and some people are desperate. If you can develop thick skin and learn to laugh in the face of adversity you’ll do much better.
6. Don’t get bored
Boredom is a killer, they say, and in a strange place where you’re possibly on your own and far from friends, the saying rings true. Get bored and you’ll feel depressed, lonely and generally rubbish. You may have your reasons - the money is low, you don’t know anyone, you have a few days to kill - but always, always plan loads of stuff to do. Motivate yourself with exciting trips and push yourself into interactions with people. Give yourself projects, for example photography, writing, even buying souvenirs. Humans live best from diversity so always arrange activities to do and have a Plan B. No money? Volunteer in a local church or orphanage for a few days or weeks. Don’t be wistful and melancholy, be a man (or a woman) with a plan!
7. Money - don’t suffer!
Lack of budget is almost like a point of pride for some travellers, as they see how far they can go on ten dollars a day or some such rubbish. If this is you and you’re happy living an extreme lifestyle, then fine, go with that and get prepared for substandard sleeping, gut wrenching illnesses from bad food and encounters with the worst kind of people. Smart people realise what they are doing is the experience of a lifetime and that money is a means to an end, the medium through which we have the most fun possible, stay safe and get the most out of the trip. Don’t be a miser, be good to yourself and take that incredible trip. If you don’t, the chances are you’ll never be back here again in your life and will kick yourself you didn’t take the chance while you could. Money worries? Just borrow it or stick it on the credit card and work it all off when you get home, no regrets. Come on, you’re worth it!
8. Go softly
Always try to find out as much as you can about where you are going before you set off. You’ll appreciate the people and the places you are seeing so much more and develop an appreciation and respect for the place which will come across in your interactions with the locals and thus be reciprocated. Avoid comparing what they have to what you have at home, and go softly and respectfully through their land. Open your eyes to what’s around you, learn as much as possible of the local language and be open and friendly. You’ll be amazed where a good attitude will get you.
9. Don’t give a fool a chance
Most people you meet will be fine but along the way you will inevitably meet unsavoury characters or those not to be trusted. It’s not a nice feeling to have something taken from you and your positive vibe evaporated as you wonder which scum nicked your camera from your dorm room. The rule is to adopt security measures, guard yourself against theft and trouble, in short don’t give a fool a chance. There’s a plethora of stuff you can get to protect your luggage and documents these days but the most important steps are just being careful with your stuff. Don’t carry your camera about your neck in a dodgy area of the city. Don’t leave bunches of money in an open suitcase by your bed. If someone seems dodgy, get away. Trust your instincts, stay safe and stay smart.
10. Get home ok
Wow. The trip of a lifetime all done and home you are. Now get ready for the post travel blues. After such an amazing trip and one long high, it’s inevitable you’ll feel down in the dumps as you get back to nice safe home. It’s so quiet. So predictable. Where has the sun gone?! Try not to dwell on it, get your photos organised, your friends on Facebook and dive back into life with good memories that will be with you forever.
The biggest destinations for adventurous Brits include the perennially popular Australia, Canada and Europe, places where travellers can be reasonably sure of good infrastructure, reliable services and a culture not too dissimilar from their own. But for another large portion of budding explorers the safe option just won’t cut it, and they set sail for more challenging destinations in South East Asia, Africa or Latin America, places with vastly different standards of conduct and lower levels of development.
Needless to say, in these far flung places your average western traveller needs to be more aware of the potential risks while travelling. A lot of things you’ll encounter will be very different and at times in these countries things will go wrong. Here’s a list of ten brief steps designed at raising awareness for newby travellers, helping you towards a safer trip and a happier attitude.
1. Plan your travel buddies
Here’s the decision: do you go lonesome or take your mates or partner? It’s easy to see why many people set off with friends. A buddy on the road gives you steady companionship through thick and thin and a measure of safety as you watch each others’ backs. Room rates may be cheaper and your money will go further. However, travelling in the third world can be tough, draining and boring and there’ll be times when you want to strangle each other. At times one person will want to do one thing, the other person, another. Can your friendship take it? Soloists will avoid these kinds of issues but may in turn face greater isolation, loneliness and possibly danger, especially for the girls. But also funny things happen when you travel solo: people will approach you more and become friendly, you may be ‘adopted’ as a family member and get invited to places you wouldn’t normally go. The decisions are entirely yours and a lot of people get huge satisfaction from that.
2. Eat well
Food is so essential to your overall quality of experience that it cannot be overstated how important it is to eat well. You are what you eat and if you eat little, substandard or downright dangerously then you might as well just go home. It’s so easy on a shoestring budget and with a bus to catch to miss a meal here, not have the time there and before you know it you are losing your appetite and getting miserable. Of course the tucker will be different from anything you have encountered and you may not even like it, but make sure you find the best food possible and eat properly.
3. Do your best to stay healthy
Anybody travelling in a place like India for a while is likely to get the runs, it’s just a fact of life and sometimes no matter what you do, you’ll get sick. The most common traveller’s ailments include stomach troubles, sunburn and fungal skin infections. The main thing is to do what you can to stay out of their way, especially if your trip is just a short one. Drink bottled water, use sun cream, eat good quality stuff, use condoms and stay clean! Get yourself kitted out with a good first aid kit and a reliable book on travel health. Oh, and get insurance with worldwide cover.
4. Let the animal out!
Having a great time is what it is all about and the people that have the best time always get stuck into every experience with relish and abandon. Learn to leave your British reserve behind, forget about being shy and retiring, and get involved. Often in these countries people are more passionate and instinctive, which is great! Do as they do and you’ll find yourself fitting in and having fun like you never believed. Leave your negative stuff at the door. Sure the conditions on the bus may be cramped, the train is late, the food tastes of crap and its 32 degrees in the shade, but hey these people deal with this every day! Get out there and enjoy yourself.
5. Learn to laugh…a lot.
On the road you just have to learn to laugh at everything; take all the mishaps and ridiculousness seriously and you’re headed for certain meltdown. Try not to be one of those miserable people who criticises every little detail of the country they are in, always whingeing about some lacking service or etiquette difference from home. Accept that in these places things go wrong all the time. They don’t have the same levels of development, life is tough and some people are desperate. If you can develop thick skin and learn to laugh in the face of adversity you’ll do much better.
6. Don’t get bored
Boredom is a killer, they say, and in a strange place where you’re possibly on your own and far from friends, the saying rings true. Get bored and you’ll feel depressed, lonely and generally rubbish. You may have your reasons - the money is low, you don’t know anyone, you have a few days to kill - but always, always plan loads of stuff to do. Motivate yourself with exciting trips and push yourself into interactions with people. Give yourself projects, for example photography, writing, even buying souvenirs. Humans live best from diversity so always arrange activities to do and have a Plan B. No money? Volunteer in a local church or orphanage for a few days or weeks. Don’t be wistful and melancholy, be a man (or a woman) with a plan!
7. Money - don’t suffer!
Lack of budget is almost like a point of pride for some travellers, as they see how far they can go on ten dollars a day or some such rubbish. If this is you and you’re happy living an extreme lifestyle, then fine, go with that and get prepared for substandard sleeping, gut wrenching illnesses from bad food and encounters with the worst kind of people. Smart people realise what they are doing is the experience of a lifetime and that money is a means to an end, the medium through which we have the most fun possible, stay safe and get the most out of the trip. Don’t be a miser, be good to yourself and take that incredible trip. If you don’t, the chances are you’ll never be back here again in your life and will kick yourself you didn’t take the chance while you could. Money worries? Just borrow it or stick it on the credit card and work it all off when you get home, no regrets. Come on, you’re worth it!
8. Go softly
Always try to find out as much as you can about where you are going before you set off. You’ll appreciate the people and the places you are seeing so much more and develop an appreciation and respect for the place which will come across in your interactions with the locals and thus be reciprocated. Avoid comparing what they have to what you have at home, and go softly and respectfully through their land. Open your eyes to what’s around you, learn as much as possible of the local language and be open and friendly. You’ll be amazed where a good attitude will get you.
9. Don’t give a fool a chance
Most people you meet will be fine but along the way you will inevitably meet unsavoury characters or those not to be trusted. It’s not a nice feeling to have something taken from you and your positive vibe evaporated as you wonder which scum nicked your camera from your dorm room. The rule is to adopt security measures, guard yourself against theft and trouble, in short don’t give a fool a chance. There’s a plethora of stuff you can get to protect your luggage and documents these days but the most important steps are just being careful with your stuff. Don’t carry your camera about your neck in a dodgy area of the city. Don’t leave bunches of money in an open suitcase by your bed. If someone seems dodgy, get away. Trust your instincts, stay safe and stay smart.
10. Get home ok
Wow. The trip of a lifetime all done and home you are. Now get ready for the post travel blues. After such an amazing trip and one long high, it’s inevitable you’ll feel down in the dumps as you get back to nice safe home. It’s so quiet. So predictable. Where has the sun gone?! Try not to dwell on it, get your photos organised, your friends on Facebook and dive back into life with good memories that will be with you forever.
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Tyson
Oh God. As I write this I have on the sofa opposite me a pit bull-staffy cross called Tyson. He’s currently writhing around on his back, frantically yelping and barking, trying to scratch his neck while biting his tail at the same time. His paws have just kicked my landlady’s favourite (and most expensive) knitted throw violently to the ground. There are bits of chewed wood everywhere from the filthy mangy stick he has dragged in and eviscerated with his teeth. What a mess. Thank you, Tyson.
It’s just me on dog duty today as my housewife and co-husband are both out either painting windows or practicing gardening skills. He probably just needs some attention. In a while he pads over and starts methodically licking every bit of exposed skin on my forearms, his tail wagging wildly, ears back in aerodynamic mode, his brown eyes hopeful. I’ll take you out in an hour, Tyson. You can help me in the field pick sloes and damsens to make a home-brew vodka.
To be brutally honest I wasn’t the happiest camper when the idea of rehousing an unwanted dog of a breed notorious for savagery was first brought up in our house. Our nice clean house. So quiet. So clean. So respectful. A staffy-pit bull cross?! I toyed with the idea of moving out.
The thing is that people, such as they are, tend to remember bad experiences and in my case it had been Brig, a cracking little border terrier we had when I was 13 or 14. Like Tyson, he was a rescue case, but had been mistreated by his previous so-called owner. Meanly, the guy had kept him outside in a kennel and by all accounts beaten him around a lot. Brig was a fantastic dog despite his bad start in life, happy and playful with that coarse badger-like grey-blue coat typical of the Border. Sadly though he must have been hit one too many times as we could never get the upper hand at home or out and about. Poor Brig would escape at any given opportunity; walking in the field, between people’s legs out the front door or even Houdini-like from the heavily fortified fencing of the back garden. My parents eventually called time when he got out and somehow chewed his way into our neighbour’s guinea pig cages. His terrier retrieval instinct probably told him he was doing the right thing by savaging them to death and then dutifully bringing them back to our front lawn, laying the bodies out for us one by one. Oh dear.
Tyson’s first experience of us, and our first experience of him was equally traumatic. Oh, and very noisy. As we sat down last year to eat our Polish Christmas eve dinner he cried and wailed in despair, writhing and yelping and biting the bars of the tiny cage he had arrived in. I wondered however we would sleep with this demented beast now in the house. How would the neighbours survive this racket? How would he react to us when let out of the cage? All things considered, it was not the quietest and most serene Christmas ever.
Of course to your average non-dog loving Joe Public, staffys and pit bulls spell trouble. The media simply loves a good dangerous dog story and quick trawl through the internet confirms the stereotype we have been fed. “Girl, 8, requires 175 stitches in her face after being mauled in horrific dog attack” screams the Daily Mail. “Blind woman tells of horror as pitbull mauls her guide dog”, reports the London Evening Standard. One local news website even poses the question, “Too violent for society?” Recently the tabloids adopted the moniker “Devil Dogs” for certain breeds after another gruesome attack. It doesn’t inspire confidence in the public, particularly at a time when Battersea Dogs Home is turning away staffy crosses in their droves, unable to cope with the numbers of unwanted Tysons.
With a press like this it’s really no wonder the public have such a fear of the staffy and its various permutations, but what, you may ask about our very own Devil Dog? Well, as is typical of his breed, Tyson has shoulders and chest bound with muscle, a head built like a brick, a big mouth, masses of sharp teeth and incredibly strong jaws that close lightning quick exerting a viselike grip.
Sounds forbidding? You’d be right. But what you don’t hear much about from the tabloid hacks and prim newsreaders is the truth about the character of the breed. Dig deeper and you’ll learn about the Staffordshire’s loyalty, gentleness and affection for people. Of course like any dog they require plenty of exercise, human companionship and commitment but their temperament makes them recommended particularly as family dogs. Staffys also have a reputation as playful creatures, fooling around clownishly at home.
Our resident killer is no different. His favourite game is to grab the nearest object in his mouth, be it your trainer, sock or the door jam, guffaw cheekily and then make to run off. Life is a game for Tyson. He’s frighteningly fast when running about after sticks in the field but then collapses in a heap when we get home, puffing and wheezing like a heart attack victim. It seems bursts of energy are his thing over endurance.
In the morning he’s a yelping happy mass of snout and paws, his body bending under the pressure of wagging so hard, continuously racing around in search of play or attention. He’s incredibly clumsy, walking into people’s legs and falling over or power sliding headfirst into a kitchen unit while chasing a ball. Luckily he seems to be made of steel, almost indestructible. One time he careened down the stairs head first landing with a sickening thud only to pick himself up, shake himself down, wag, and plod off to his next play project.
Does Tyson display a potential killer instinct? Well, we have to be aware as owners of this breed that they do have it in their blood to show aggression to other dogs. We are careful to put him on the lead when strange dogs and small children are around. That said, I can happily say in 10 months of having him, and despite his name he has never shown any outward nastiness to anyone, person or animal. I’m happy to say that unlike my previous dog, Tyson seems well-adjusted, intelligent and quick to learn. He’s stubborn when told to get off the couch, still jumps up on people who arrive at the house and is a needier than a small baby for love and attention. However he does respond to our commands at home and when out in the field and is amazingly loving, loyal and funny.
He’s just jumped up on the sofa and started licking me again. There’s another dirty paw mark on my jeans now. Thank you, Tyson.
It’s just me on dog duty today as my housewife and co-husband are both out either painting windows or practicing gardening skills. He probably just needs some attention. In a while he pads over and starts methodically licking every bit of exposed skin on my forearms, his tail wagging wildly, ears back in aerodynamic mode, his brown eyes hopeful. I’ll take you out in an hour, Tyson. You can help me in the field pick sloes and damsens to make a home-brew vodka.
To be brutally honest I wasn’t the happiest camper when the idea of rehousing an unwanted dog of a breed notorious for savagery was first brought up in our house. Our nice clean house. So quiet. So clean. So respectful. A staffy-pit bull cross?! I toyed with the idea of moving out.
The thing is that people, such as they are, tend to remember bad experiences and in my case it had been Brig, a cracking little border terrier we had when I was 13 or 14. Like Tyson, he was a rescue case, but had been mistreated by his previous so-called owner. Meanly, the guy had kept him outside in a kennel and by all accounts beaten him around a lot. Brig was a fantastic dog despite his bad start in life, happy and playful with that coarse badger-like grey-blue coat typical of the Border. Sadly though he must have been hit one too many times as we could never get the upper hand at home or out and about. Poor Brig would escape at any given opportunity; walking in the field, between people’s legs out the front door or even Houdini-like from the heavily fortified fencing of the back garden. My parents eventually called time when he got out and somehow chewed his way into our neighbour’s guinea pig cages. His terrier retrieval instinct probably told him he was doing the right thing by savaging them to death and then dutifully bringing them back to our front lawn, laying the bodies out for us one by one. Oh dear.
Tyson’s first experience of us, and our first experience of him was equally traumatic. Oh, and very noisy. As we sat down last year to eat our Polish Christmas eve dinner he cried and wailed in despair, writhing and yelping and biting the bars of the tiny cage he had arrived in. I wondered however we would sleep with this demented beast now in the house. How would the neighbours survive this racket? How would he react to us when let out of the cage? All things considered, it was not the quietest and most serene Christmas ever.
Of course to your average non-dog loving Joe Public, staffys and pit bulls spell trouble. The media simply loves a good dangerous dog story and quick trawl through the internet confirms the stereotype we have been fed. “Girl, 8, requires 175 stitches in her face after being mauled in horrific dog attack” screams the Daily Mail. “Blind woman tells of horror as pitbull mauls her guide dog”, reports the London Evening Standard. One local news website even poses the question, “Too violent for society?” Recently the tabloids adopted the moniker “Devil Dogs” for certain breeds after another gruesome attack. It doesn’t inspire confidence in the public, particularly at a time when Battersea Dogs Home is turning away staffy crosses in their droves, unable to cope with the numbers of unwanted Tysons.
With a press like this it’s really no wonder the public have such a fear of the staffy and its various permutations, but what, you may ask about our very own Devil Dog? Well, as is typical of his breed, Tyson has shoulders and chest bound with muscle, a head built like a brick, a big mouth, masses of sharp teeth and incredibly strong jaws that close lightning quick exerting a viselike grip.
Sounds forbidding? You’d be right. But what you don’t hear much about from the tabloid hacks and prim newsreaders is the truth about the character of the breed. Dig deeper and you’ll learn about the Staffordshire’s loyalty, gentleness and affection for people. Of course like any dog they require plenty of exercise, human companionship and commitment but their temperament makes them recommended particularly as family dogs. Staffys also have a reputation as playful creatures, fooling around clownishly at home.
Our resident killer is no different. His favourite game is to grab the nearest object in his mouth, be it your trainer, sock or the door jam, guffaw cheekily and then make to run off. Life is a game for Tyson. He’s frighteningly fast when running about after sticks in the field but then collapses in a heap when we get home, puffing and wheezing like a heart attack victim. It seems bursts of energy are his thing over endurance.
In the morning he’s a yelping happy mass of snout and paws, his body bending under the pressure of wagging so hard, continuously racing around in search of play or attention. He’s incredibly clumsy, walking into people’s legs and falling over or power sliding headfirst into a kitchen unit while chasing a ball. Luckily he seems to be made of steel, almost indestructible. One time he careened down the stairs head first landing with a sickening thud only to pick himself up, shake himself down, wag, and plod off to his next play project.
Does Tyson display a potential killer instinct? Well, we have to be aware as owners of this breed that they do have it in their blood to show aggression to other dogs. We are careful to put him on the lead when strange dogs and small children are around. That said, I can happily say in 10 months of having him, and despite his name he has never shown any outward nastiness to anyone, person or animal. I’m happy to say that unlike my previous dog, Tyson seems well-adjusted, intelligent and quick to learn. He’s stubborn when told to get off the couch, still jumps up on people who arrive at the house and is a needier than a small baby for love and attention. However he does respond to our commands at home and when out in the field and is amazingly loving, loyal and funny.
He’s just jumped up on the sofa and started licking me again. There’s another dirty paw mark on my jeans now. Thank you, Tyson.
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