​The winter solstice marks the longest night and shortest day of the year. For us here in Australia, this occurs in June, while in the Northern Hemisphere, it takes place in December.
The winter solstice is a result of the Earth’s axial tilt and occurs when our part of the planet is furthest from the sun.

​Just like humans, dogs can be affected by changes in daylight hours. Shifts in our sleep patterns can disrupt our circadian rhythm, which in turn can impact energy levels and mood.
It’s important to keep your dog’s routine as consistent as possible during seasonal changes and to keep them active during daylight hours. It’s easy to slip into a slump as the mornings and nights become darker and colder, but physical activity is key to maintaining a positive mood—for both humans and dogs.
If your dog spends time outdoors, be sure to bring them inside earlier than you normally would, as the chilly night air sets in much sooner than it used to.

For more tips and ideas on how to keep your pooch warm this winter, check out our blog here!

​For those new to this space, Frankie is a very specially trained assistance dog that our business and amazing Doggy Doaters and Customers helped to bring into Abi’s life, to help her live her best life, almost 3 years ago.
Abi has a very rare condition called Auts2 and life can be a bit tricky for her.  Recently she has had to visit with a number of new doctors for the different medical challenges she faces.
We are excited to share with you how amazing these doctors have been to allow Frankie to attend these appointments.  One of the key roles for Frankie is to provide Abi with a calm and reassuring touch point when things in her life are different or difficult.
As you can imagine seeing new doctors, in unfamiliar surroundings, can be difficult for many, but especially for Abi.  With Frankie by her side Abi was able to attend these appointments and by all reports (thanks Sarah – Abi’s mum) was able to work with the doctors to get them what they needed.
For many years guide dogs have really been the only service dogs allowed in medical rooms.  It’s great that now the support these amazingly well trained dogs provide is being accepted by the wider medical community.

​Origin:
The original Poodle, the Standard Poodle, doesn’t have a confirmed origin. Named the ‘French Poodle’ for many years, they were thought to have originated there, however others believe they originated in Germany. Over time, the Standard Poodle was developed into smaller sizes, creating the Miniature, Toy and Teacup Poodle. These smaller breeds came about due to the popularity of the breed among Royal families, wanting a smaller lap dog. It’s believed to have been in the early 20th century that the Toy Poodle came about.
The name Poodle is believed to have derived from the German word ‘Pudel’ which means ‘one who plays in water’ relating to the Poodles love for the water.  

Purpose:
The Toy Poodle was bred as a companion dog but was also used in circus performing. Being a highly intelligent breed and also driven by a want to impress their owners, they were the perfect dog to train for tricks.

Coat care:
The poodle is popular for anyone with allergies and is the reason the breed has been cross bred with hundreds of other breeds in recent years. Grooming is high maintenance for a Poodle as their coat is actually considered hair and not fur. It continues to grow, as does human hair, and requires bathing and clipping at least every 6 – 8 weeks. They do not shed any hair and for this reason it must be clipped and brushed daily, to help remove dead skins cells and maintain a clean coat.
They are prone to wax build up in the ears so require the hair inside their ears to pulled when groomed. There are a number of clips suitable for the breed, with the well known Poodle clip very popular. This keeps hair around the ankles and bracelets and tail and hips. This clip was originally used for working Poodles, to keep their extremities warm and protected when in the water.
Trimming around the eyes and snout helps to keep eyes clean and avoid too much build up from eye discharge too.  

Health & Temperament:
The Poodle is a very intelligent, loving and sweet breed of dog. They are said to be one of the most trainable breeds of dog so can quickly adapt to a new household with good leadership and boundaries. They are very versatile and do great in small apartment living as well as with a large space and area to roam around in. They are very happy to snuggle up on the couch with you and laze around the house, providing they have received enough exercise, with a daily walk being suitable. When socialised well and from a young age, they get along well with other dogs and pets. They can be good with children but are best to be supervised with smaller children and most ideal for a house hold with older children.
Being small and adorable, the Toy Poodle can often be treated like a human baby, which leads to Little Dog Syndrome and serious behavioural issues. These behavioural issues are not natural traits of the Toy Poodle, however are brought on by poor leadership and guidance.
They are, in general, considered a very healthy breed of dog and have a life span of 14+ years.