You were dead right about her age, Lou. I asked Madam T who has more details in head than me and seven is about right. She was from a rescue in the Fens; was going to be destroyed, not because she’s done anything bad, simply because she is a Staffie a, supposedly fearsome, face-eating monster that nobody will want. Couldn’t let that happen. She’s none of those things; simply a great, soppy, licky darling. Her tongue is the longest you’ll ever see – we call it “Tarquin” because we are convinced it is its own separate lifeform especially when trying to remove bits of food from my chef apron after cooking – Must get it a website!
Madam sounds a ringer for you; her Pa used to breed dogs, latterly English Bull Terriers – did the whole Crufts judging thing. She grew up with dogs and, I reckon, loves them better than humans. Seems fairly balanced to me, these days!