Finn is three quarters Staffordshire Bull Terrier and one quarter Bullmastiff. He’s stopped growing (upwards) at about 65cm tall – measured at the shoulder. His last weigh in with the vet was at 37kg.
He can be a very nervous and anxious dog – and his breed mix also makes him excitable and inclined to rough behaviour. His first response to fear is not to run away. It’s worth pointing out that I’ve never seen him show outright aggression – any fight response is as a result of being scared or being hassled by another dog. But life with Finn is… interesting.
A few years ago, while I was having trouble getting his behaviour into “normal” parameters, he was described to me as having a neurochemical imbalance which means he doesn’t produce much seratonin (relaxing chemical) without a careful diet. While this might not be scientifically accurate (I have no idea), the diet certainly doesn’t do him any harm. I’m never certain whether the calming down is age (because dogs do calm down with age), the being neutered (actually done too early for Finn as an individual, because I was ignorant), or the diet. However, he definitely is a lot calmer than he was. He’ll just never be “normal” or “calm”.
A Photo Gallery
Finn at about 2 or 3 months old. Now you see why I brought him home…
Who Me?
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This picture was taken back in December 2006, but sleeping still remains one of his favourite activities. When he’s not tearing around like a mad dog, of course.
Lie In
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This photo was taken on Finn’s first birthday, 23rd September 2007. In response to the “dog and birthday candle” questions:
- He tried to eat the candle.
- While it was still lit.
I is wun today
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This picture was taken in September 2008. That’s the bed he’d had since he was four months old.
New Bed, Please!
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Only dogs of “big kid” owners get to celebrate their birthdays. For Finn’s third birthday (2009), we all got dressed up as musketeers (muskehound, in his case). Notice I don’t publish incriminating photos of myself.
Our Dashing Hero
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For Finn’s 4th birthday (2010), we did fairies. As you can see, Finn was desperate to get out of the all girl party. There is photographic evidence somewhere out there of me in a dress and fairy wings but ignore it.
Fairy Finn
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2011 was a dress-down party with Finn’s birthday suit being a fetching white fur one-piece. Jen (my niece) sang “Happy Birthday” and he somehow managed to blow his own candle out, resulting in this all-action shot taken by my sister.
Finn's Birthday Cake
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2012 was another dress-down party with just the Pack. Basically, it came down to “eat my cake before my horrible, attention seeking pack-sister steals it”. I doubt he even realised the muffin had blueberries in it!
Quick! Eat!
