Interview with Deca and mum Julie Hi, my name is Julie and I live in Coventry, West Midlands. I have got three children, Hannah 16, Kaylee 14, and Deca 13 months. Hannah and Kaylee have two legs and Deca has four legs! Deca is my second Staff. My first called Spud, came to me from a shelter (he was six years old at the time). I had five and a half wonderful years with him until sadly he died last year.
I decided almost straight away that I wanted another Staff and so four months later along came Deca at the tender age of 7 weeks. Since then my life has been taken over by a very boisterious, humourous and very loving dog. 
His name is the abbreviation of Deca Nandrolone which is an anabolic steroid that athletes (especially weight trainers) use to reduce body fat and build muscle mass. Being a Staff, I thought it was the best name I could give him. Weighing in at 24 kgs at only 13 months old with very little body fat, I think he has already lived up to his title!
Deca has learned a great deal already but he is away on a residential training course at the moment to reinforce the basic obedience that I have already taught him and to deal with his over excitement expressed by jumping up and 'mouthing' people when he first meets them. This behaviour was unacceptable to me (not everyone want a 24 kg Staff, soon to be fully grown) jumping all over them and despite many different methods of trying prevent this, nothing I did seemed to work. Deca comes home shortly and I will let you know about his progress and whether or not I would recommend residential training.
Deca's diet comprises of fresh, natural food only. I strongly believe that a staple diet of chicken, beef, rice, vegetables, yoghurt, liver etc is the best you can give your dog. If only you knew what went into your own food (let alone so called 'scientific', 'naturally balanced' and 'complete' dog food) you'd never eat half of the stuff you do! There are lots of informative web sites and books that advocate natural food. If anyone is interested, please feel free to contact me. 
I really do enjoy going along to shows and Fun Days but I don't think I would ever want to have shown Deca even if he were a 'Standard' dog. To start with, Deca has the curliest tail you will ever see on a Staff. Although he is KC Registered and has an excellent pedigree, I like to think that because Deca was one of eight pups (who all survived), that his tail got squashed in his Mom's tummy :0)
Also, you will notice from the photographs, Deca only has one eye. He detached his retina at some point after his birth and became blind in one eye at seven months old. His eye was intact but unfortunately ten days later an infection set in so he had to have it removed. Deca has proved to me that he is a 'typical' Staff by showing his braveness, resilience and ability to overcome his disability with resounding courage.
I hope you enjoy the photographs.
Julie xxxxxx
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