Origin:
The West Highland White Terrier, affectionately knowns as 'The Westie' originates from Scotland. They are in fact, simply a white Cairn Terrier, that came about when a Scottish breeder had some white pups within his Cairn Terrier litters. He continued to breed these white pups and created the Westie. 
 
Purpose:
The Westie was used as a working dog to control vermin issues as well as foxes, badgers and otters. 

Coat care:
The Westie is equip with a double coat however they shed very little hair. The breed requires a clip every 4 or so months and brushing every other day. Their coat is good at repelling dirt and mess and only requires bathing when needed. 

Health & Temperament:
The boldness from their original ancestors has not escaped the Westies we know of today. They are a confident, sturdy and determined little dog. It's important they have rules and boundaries set in place from a young age to avoid little dog syndrome. In general, they are great with kids and robust enough to keep up with them for some playtime. Without balanced training and good socialisation, they can become destructive.  They enjoy companionship and are an easy breed to train.
The breed can be prone to liver issues, hip issues and diabetes. They are often sensitive to certain foods which can cause skin issues too. 

It has been a little while since we gave you an update on Abi and her therapy dog Frankie.  Lots of exciting things have happened since our last report so we felt it was time to give you all an update.

As many of you know Frankie, a beautiful female golden retriever, was provided to Abi and her family after her training with Assistance Dogs Australia. 
Since joining the family, Frankie has been not only a wonderful and calming support to Abi but has also provided no end of benefits (and unconditional love) to all of Abi’s family. 

Her parents, Sarah and Michael, and her siblings, Finn, Sage and Lachlan all have a really special relationship with Frankie.
We have shared some images with you so you can see some of the things that Abi and Frankie get up to together.  Frankie goes with Abi to her therapy sessions.  Abi practices her dog handling skills walking Frankie daily and when it comes to bed times, Frankie is there it help settle Abi.  And just a couple of months ago, Frankie was best dog at Sarah and Michael’s wedding.  She was a important part of the wedding party and was a very good girl at the wedding.  Such an event was very exciting and stimulating for Abi and for her to have Frankie there to help her regulate her emotions before, during and after the ceremony was just one of the many valuable reasons why dogs like Frankie are so very important to young people like Abi (and their families).

Again thanks to all those people who helped us to provide the funds for Assistance Dogs Australia to train and place Frankie with Abi and her family.  It truly is a gift that gives every single day. 

The same as humans, dogs can be diabetics. In almost every case, a diabetic dog is a Type 1 Diabetic, that cannot be controlled or managed with diet or oral medication alone. They will require insulin injections on a regular basis, in most cases every 12 hours but every case is different.

 Diabetes in people and dogs occurs when the pancreas no longer produces insulin for the body, meaning it needs to be added to by body a different way - via an injection. 
The causes of diabetes in dogs can vary and can be one or a combination of the following issues.  

• Obesity 
• Pre disposed genetically 
• Infection
• Pancreatic issues
  

Signs of a diabetic dog before being diagnosed can include:

• Increase water consumption
• Increased urination
• Increase in hunger
• Fast weight loss
• Cataracts 

It can take some time to get a dog's diabetic condition under control once first diagnosed. Once a stable insulin amount and safe, low fat diet is established, a diabetic dog can continue to live their life reasonably normal, compared to how it was before.
Meals and insulin injections must be kept to a strict schedule and snacks and treats throughout the day will need to stop as well as ensuring they are kept at a healthy weight. 
With the advancements in modern medicine, there are now many tools on the market that can help manage and maintain a dog's diabetes, including blood glucose monitors and insulin pets, that hold and draw down the exact amount of insulin needed for each injection. 

With a team of trained Doggy Doaters available to our guests 24/7 - day and night we can attend to diabetic needs. For more information on our special medical needs care, contact us or visit accommodation options page HERE!