HAVE you seen the advert on TV for a certain phone company where the cat vows to "be more dog"?
I enjoy watching it because the sentiment resonates with me – especially in the New Year when we all promise ourselves that this is the year we are going to change.
Be braver, be slimmer, be sportier, be a nicer person – in other words completely change our personality and try to be a different person.
And keeping on the canine theme – albeit slightly tenuous, I admit – it made me start thinking about dogs in general and how some breeds have become so maligned recently and how they suffer as a result.
Dogs such as staffies.
When I was a kid, which I admit was many years ago, Staffordshire bull terriers were affectionately called "nanny dogs". They were considered to be the perfect pet for families with kids because they were so good around children.
But now, sadly, rehoming centres are full of unwanted staffies and people are nervous about taking them on – because of the reputation they have somehow gained for being aggressive.
And that reputation is probably down to irresponsible owners who are attracted to them because of its misfortune to resemble breeds that can be aggressive, like the American pit bull.
All dogs, whatever the breed, can bite if they are with the wrong owner. They need firm training from the start and to be integrated into their new pack with a strong pack leader – their owner.
Sadly, some staffies' owners seem to only want the breed to enhance their own status as a hard man or just because they think it will be a good guard dog if trained to bite.
My friend has one and, when we've been out walking with him, we've seen people sidestep or cross the road to avoid walking past us.
It would be laughable if it wasn't so sad. People look at these dogs in horror as if they are the hounds from hell but, in reality, he is a big softie, incredibly affectionate and really gentle. The dog, that is, not my friend!
Last week, I went along to a rehoming centre. I'm looking at getting another dog and wanted to see what they had.
I already have one rescued dog. His name is Joe and he has the most wonderful temperament.
He came from an animal welfare centre, where he had been taken after the dog warden found him wandering the streets of Tamworth.
The vet reckons he is probably getting on for 12 or 13 now – he is certainly showing his age, almost as much I am, and with pretty well the same sorts of complaints.
He has arthritis and can be a bit stiff on his legs. He's also going deaf and a little bit short-sighted.
He can be a little bit cantankerous in the mornings and gets confused if his everyday routine is not followed. Like I said, pretty much the same as his owner.
So, as much as it breaks my heart to think about him not being around, I know it's probably going to happen some time this year.
And that means I will have to consider what type of dog to get next – and my instinct is to put my money where my mouth is and adopt a staffie.
I saw several when I went along to the rehoming centre. The manager was telling me that they often can't cope with the number of staffies that get dumped. She sees no end of them on social media sites being offered for sale and she worries that, eventually, they may become a banned breed.
She also said that part of the problem is thoroughbred Staffordshire bull terriers are being crossed with dogs that are banned – to try and create a more aggressive animal.
None of the dogs she had were microchipped and several had very sad stories about being found desperately underweight and uncared for.
So I think that's it, my mind is made up and, when it's Joe's time to go, I'm going to get one of her staffies and try to show friends that they really are still great family pets.
I just hope I'm doing the right thing!
