Diesel is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and you guessed it, a restricted breed here in Ireland which I find so hard to understand and it appears I’m not alone.
“Staffies have had a terrible press, but this is not of their own making–in fact they’re wonderful dogs. If people think that Staffies have problems, they’re looking at the wrong end of the dog lead! When well cared for and properly trained they can make brilliant companions. Our experience suggests that problems occur when bad owners exploit the Staffie’s desire to please by training them to show aggression.” RSPCA chief vet Mark Evan.
4 years old Diesel walked into my studio and my heart nearly melted, he greeted me with kisses and that big Staffie smile all not long before stumbling into his own reflection – did I mention that Diesel is not just a handsome devil but incredibly clumsy? I would love to put a go-pro on this boy and watch him navigate his way through the day.
Diesel clearly has a lot of human fans; I was joined in the studio by four of Diesel’s family and was blown away by the love they had for their gorgeous boy. They were all so excited to get their boy shown in the positive light he deserves. Diesel (like many Staffs) is a family dog and has clearly had a truly positive impact on his family. Diesel was around children from day one and had nothing but love to give. In his four years, he has provided them with lot of laughs, affection, snuggles, kisses and a shoulder to cry on. It was evident in the studio just how much Diesel loved every single member of his family and how he had a special relationship with each person there. Each photo posted above represents the moment he was looking towards each one of his four family members and nothing quite compare to the look of love in this boys eyes.
The aim of The Restricted Project is to highlight the misconceptions people have of the restricted breeds out there and to show these beautiful dogs for the individuals that they are. This is Diesel, an incredibly affectionate yet clumsy boy who almost plays the role of class clown, doing all he can to make you laugh and see you happy. So if you see Diesel out and about, or more likely, if he accidentally bumps into you, don’t be scared to say hello; this boy is a family dog and an amazing one at that!
I would just like to say a thank you to all of the interest from the Staffie owners out there. I was overwhelmed by the number of applicants who were eager to represent their breed in this project, unfortunately (however much I wanted to) I just couldn’t take them all. I really hope that the Staffs involved in this project do you all proud.
