Gem - Staffie, Bitch - 2 Years

Gem has been at the kennels for nine months now and nobody can understand why! She came to us from the pound and was due to be put to sleep because of her breed, but this hasn't dampened her spirits! Gem is a very friendly girl who loves a fuss and enjoys being handled.

Despite a lack of consitent handling, Gem is a very obedient girl and will sit, wait and give a paw. She walks well on the lead, but further training would help strengthen the bond between her and her new owners. She loves ball games and travels well in the car, as she has been taken out by some of the volunteers to the forest to stretch her legs.

Gem is looking for an active family with sensible children, where she will be the only dog. She isn't aggressive, but does need careful introductions as she has been living in a very stressful environment for the majority of her short life. She is fine when being walked past other dogs on the lead, and a well run training class will benefit Gem greatly, in terms of socialisation and confidence around other dogs.

A small very pretty little girl who has obviously had a harrowing time lately, just a smiley, waggly little Gem full of love. Thank goodness she has been saved from being PTS as she is going to make someone or a family a beautiful dog who they will be proud of.
PS if you could come & see her soon that would be good because she has cried so much she is looseing her voice.

Gem is a real star, playful, but she selected the toys, loves treats but again she selected the ones she wanted. If she selects you then you should be honoured, this little girl deserves the best.

Hope this little girl has some much deserved good luck & she will b snatched up.Sure she will shine.

Gem took me to the playpen and showed me her new tricks, she has now mastered the two ball play, I hardly moved, she chased one brought it back to my feet while I threw the 2nd ball and off she went again. I started with the countdown when the cue began outside the pen and I think she can count, we went down from 5 and when we got to the last one, she sat down and waited for her lead to be put back on! She amazed me, someones been working with her me thinks! Even with everything going on today and there sure was a lot, people viewing, (great), volunteers mowing, strimming, taking photos, prospective owners being viewed by the behavourist, people donating treats, bedding, you name it, it happened today, but Gem, lay under the bench taking it all in. Then her turn for her new mug shot, well the cheese worked wonders, she sat still and smiled lovely, really hope it works for you it sure is your time to shine. -x-

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.138217676266546.36851.100002349431880&l=f33fa1d5b2&type=1

Gem is a very happy little staffie willing to learn and so far i have tought her to sit and high five.

all Gem wants is time spent with her because she loves her attention also loves to play ball ,

i do hope that this little girl finds a good forever home.

Brett I love Gems new tricks she tries so hard for you, I know she looks forward to you walks together & can't wait to see what you teach her next, I too hope someone realises how lovely she is & how she will blossom in a loving home of her own

I'm pretty sure if he could, Brett would swoop in and take this little beauty while none of us was watching Brett is one of many who know how truly special our little Gem is.

Last night Gem was my last walk. It was getting slightly dark and Kim had the idea that Gem needed a bit of socialising, so we took her around to the tea and coffee area. Missy was there with Ria, and it took some cuddles and fuss,but she eventually calmed down and took no notice of little Missy. She was more focused on getting fuss and attention from everyone else!

Dorothy then bought Murray out for a walk, and Gem got her back up a little. Who was this stranger?! But after some assurance, firm words and cuddles, she was fine and returned to demanding attention!

Gem is such a little sweetie with so much energy! She is well behaved in the playpen, and has come on leaps and bounds with tricks ever since Brett has been taking her.

Anyone would be lucky to have Gem, and she has so much love to give, especially since the little girl believes she's a lap dog!

Gem does need very careful introductions with other dogs, and should not be allowed to approach them unrestricted. Unfortunately, her handler at the dog show yesterday was not vigilant or controlling enough, and this resulted in an injury to another dog's nose. The other dog was not threatening in any way, so this was unprovoked.

Even though the weather was against us Gem was sunshine itself. I enjoyed our walk and play ball in the playpen, where Gem approved of the only ball left and was like a speeding misile. I collected her, walked her, played with her, gave her treats and returned her to her kennell giving her a good rub down with a lovely fluffy towell after, all without any trouble and with a lot of pleasure. Thank you Kim for allowing all this I know it must be more work for you.......especially with all the extra washing, but I really loved it and I know Gem did too -x-

I walked with young Gem last Sunday, this was our first meeting so we went along slowly so we could get to know each other better, after a short while, it was like we had been pals from since I don't know when!

She did take interest in other dogs walking at a distance but I'm used to this with my own dog and i'm sure given time, Gem will learn to walk more calmly along with others, she is young and we don't know what this little girl has endured previously, patience and plenty of TLC will get her there x (and with Brett by her side!)

I haven't walked Gem for a while and I had forgotten just what fun she is. Sadly and although we tried twice we were unable to make it into the playpen but undeterred she found a ball (bit squashed) and played with it untill she was bored, just amused herself with it, didn't need me at all! Respect to you Gem -x-

chris walked gem today for the first time,thou she took him for a walk he found that if you shout biscuit she stops ,sits ,and waits for her treat but she was a joy to walk

Gem is an absolute pleasure to fuss. She has very soft fur for a dog. You just don't want to stop stroking her.....

She is great fun in the playpen. She fetches and drops a ball, no trouble at all. She actually likes to get a head start. She starts running long before you throw the ball, and is always halfway there as you release the it.

She is inclined to pull a bit on a lead. She probably could do with some checking as she is being walked. But otherwise she is very well behaved and obeys simple commands (sit, wait, paw, up, off) for a treat or two.

Written by Ruby's friend's friend Steve
hahaha....

Gem is a little honey.

I am amazed she is still in the kennels and no-one has said anything about her for ages,
it seems she is being quite overlooked.

When I have walked her I found her manners impecable and her desire to play ball a joy, she
is even great on recall. In fact, very good on commands in general with the right handling.

I met her again this Sunday in her kennel and gave her a little bit of attention and she loves the fuss and gives it back.

She deserves more attention and someone fighting her corner to get her re-homed. I think she would make the perfect dog for someone who can give her one-2-one attention and reap the rewards back.

Come on give Gem a chance.

http://youtu.be/foIPeVf7yz4

and here she is....Little Gem... and her ball!!! she is a little star, loads of energy and plenty of love to give to that very special family. Once she was in the playpen it was hard to get her close enough to the camara to show her gorgeous face, but I'm sure the wonderful pictures on her forum will be more than ample to show just how gorgeous she really is. Gem has been very patient waiting for her new family to find her, so for her sake, lets hope their journey to the kennels isn't too far away now.x

Gem went on her first forest walk today and she loved it. She travelled really well in the car sitting very close to me on the back seat with one leg on my lap. We walked Gem on an extended lead and she was a little unsure at first staying close by but gained confidence and was soon using the full length of the lead but not pulling. Gem was very well behaved but did get a little excited when she saw a horse.

http://youtu.be/kZndF2ziLcQ

Such a cute and playful girl, would keep any family happy x

Oh Gem, what can I say about you that hasn't already been said?

Put bluntly: I love this dog. I want her, I want her, I want her... And it kills me that I can't have her. I just hope she goes to a good home. Because that's what she deserves, this girl - seven months in kennels is far too long.

Another great play with little Gem today. She's so eager to please it's almost painful to see. Sits on command, gives you her paw, lets you take her collar on and off with no fuss, there really isn't anything bad I can say about her. And as for the good stuff...I'd be here all day.

As soon as Gem is out of the car in the forest she can not wait to be off. She is so different when she is away from the kennels no pulling on her lead just a happy confident little girl enjoying her walk. She must walk twice as far as us as she is constantly running back and forth exploring, one of her favourite things she likes to do is climbing up the steep banks at the side of the path and then running down and doing a little jump at the bottom. Gem passes other dogs on leads with no problem. When we stopped at the Visitor Centre last week for her sausage it was very busy as it was half term but Gem behaved herself perfectly. Gem is a sweet adorable well behaved little dog and it is a pleasure to be able to take her on her walks. Gem has been overlooked for far to long now waiting patiently in her kennel for someone to to take her home.