Hoping to increase his chances of being adopted, shelter staff helped a dog.
The dog is already obeying English commands. Now he knows them in Welsh.
Ever since Buddy, a one-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix, arrived at Dogs Trust Cardiff in the Welsh capital, no one has been interested in adopting him. However, this dog, described as “soft and sensitive”, has everything that is pleasant.
Dogs that go through this adoption structure find new families fairly quickly, and she sees them go and dreams of the same opportunity.
Lizzie Smith, who takes care of him at the orphanage, was looking for a way to help him. She began teaching him orders in Welsh, a Celtic language fluently spoken by half of the country’s population.
Buddy was already obeying English commands. Now it does the same for Welsh commands. For Lizzie Smith, this is also an opportunity to learn the language on her own.
“I spend a lot of time with Buddy, so I thought I could use my practice time to teach him new tricks. Or in this case, a new language! He is such a passionate and smart learner. I think he integrated the words faster than I”.
Kim Davis, assistant manager of Dogs Trust Cardiff, also hopes this extra skill will help change Staffie’s fortunes.
