‘Trixie will chew anything and loves being scratched with a back scratcher’

Pet’s name: Trixie

Age: Three

Breed: German shepherd

Owners: Sam and Andrew Smith, from Clydach Vale.

Owner’s story: Sam said: “We got Trixie just over a year ago now.

“She was very nervous and would follow us around the house.

“Her confidence has grown around family and she is still wary around strangers and barks and growls at dogs.

“We have four cats. The oldest is 19 and the youngest is just a year old. Trixie loves to play with Lottie the kitten but chases Rodney our male cat. We often have my sisters dog Dobbie to stay often and Trixie adores him.

“She will chew anything and loves being scratched with a back scratcher.

“We have a stair gate as our elderly cat gets fed upstairs. Trixie has learned to open the gate with her nose and can undo whatever we use to tie it closed. She always looks really proud of herself when she arrives upstairs.

“One of the best things about Trixie is that she is very loving towards family.

“However, she is extremely strong and, due to her being a rescue dog, can demonstrate aggression to other dogs.

“She is so loveable and loves cuddles and having her belly scratched. Her favourite thing is running through long grass and water.

“Due to Trixie’s start in life, as a rescue dog, we can’t be certain as to what she has experienced.

“I used to take my previous dog practically everywhere I went, day festivals, camping, shopping etc. Things have changed a lot in terms of places we can visit.

“We tend to take any holidays outside of the main school holidays so that places we visit are generally quieter.

“She is a lovely girl and will love you forever when she knows you. I guess you could say she’s misunderstood.”