As we prepare to celebrate the holiday season, it's important to remember how much of a change this time of year can be for our dogs - especially if you enjoy decorating your home, both inside and out. The tips below are a great reminder of how to keep your furry friend safe and happy before Santa’s arrival! Toxic Foods to Watch Out For 🍫🍬🍇 While some foods are available year-round, the holiday season often brings an increase in baking, cooking, and gift preparation and creates more opportunities for your dog to accidentally consume something harmful. Common Christmas foods that are toxic to dogs include:
 Presents Under the Christmas Tree 🎁🎄 Dogs have an incredible sense of smell, which can lead them straight to food-based gifts under the tree. Even if wrapped tightly, your dog can still sniff them out. This can lead to them not only ingestion toxic foods and destroying someone's gift but also risks them digesting wrapping and packing material which can cause blockages. Consider placing food gifts out of reach of your dogs and away from the Christmas tree to avoid upset all round.  Real Christmas Trees and Pets 🌲🐶 The beautiful smell of a real Christmas Tree is one of the special aspects of Christmas, but they also present hazards for our pets. Two key dangers for dogs include:
 Christmas Decorations and Lights 🎀🎇 Decorating your home is one of the joys of the festive season, but many decorations can be dangerous for pets. Watch out for:
 Festive Plants That Are Toxic to Dogs 🌿🌺 Many beautiful holiday plants are toxic to dogs. Two common examples include:
 The holiday season should be a time of joy for the whole family and this includes our pets. By taking a few simple precautions, you can ensure your home is both festive and safe for your dog. Looking for more tips on pet safety during the holidays? Stay tuned to our blog for more seasonal advice, or speak to your vet about how best to prepare your home. If you believe your dog has ingested anything toxic or anything mentioned in our blog above, you should always seek the advise of your vet as soon as possible!
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Dogs are loved all around the world, but which breeds are the most popular right now? Let’s take a look at the top 10 dog breeds for 2025 worldwide. Did your furry friend make the list? 🐶🌍
 As we now know, assistance dogs provide support beyond just helping those who are hearing or vision impaired. One remarkable area where assistance dogs make a difference is in Diabetic Alert. But how exactly does a dog assist someone with diabetes? We will let Owen and Airlie answer that for you! Meet Owen & his dog Airlie! Airlie is Owen's Diabetic Alert Dog who Owen received from Lions Assistance Dogs in 2024. Airlie marked a significant milestone for the Diabetic Alert Dog program, as she was the first dog delivered interstate and their sixth dog overall delivered to a type 1 diabetic. So let's find out what a difference Airlie makes to the life of Owen and his family! 'Airlie quickly blended in very nicely with Owen’s family and is the perfect fit as Owen’s Assistance Dog. Airlie also made friends with the family cats and loves to snuggle with them on cold winter nights. Now that Owen has Airlie, he is going on more walks which helps keep his blood glucose levels lower and also helps keep them both fit. Airlie provides an extra level of comfort, especially when Owen is home alone. Knowing that Airlie can perform the ‘Emergency Button’ task and alert his Mum is a huge sense of relief for Owen and makes him feel safe. Since receiving Airlie, there was one situation where Owen’s Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) was ‘out’ and he was hesitant to give himself extra insulin as he didn’t have his Blood Glucose Level Meter with him. Knowing that his Blood Glucose Levels were high from Airlie's alert, he was able to make necessary adjustments via his sugar sources. Airlie is very funny, entertaining as well as high energy which is great for Owen's lifestyle. Her intelligence has given Owen and his family a great sense of security as well as a perfect addition to their family.'
Want to find out more about the amazing work Lions Assistance Dogs do? Click here! To see how you can support the work that the Lions Assistance Dogs team does, click here! If you have your own Assistance Dog story that you want to share with us, be sure to reach out to us on our socials!  Darcy The Tibetan Terrier is a medium-sized, loving, and brave little dog who, despite the name, is in fact, not a terrier at all. 🏔️ Origin The Tibetan Terrier breed originated over 2,000 years ago in Tibet. This breed wasn't created through crossbreeding of modern dogs, but instead developed naturally over time by Tibetan monks in monasteries. They are believed to be descendants of ancient dog breeds that no longer exist today. Originally named the ‘Tsang Apso’, their Tibetan name translates to ‘Shaggy’ or ‘Bearded Dog.’ They were later known as Lhasa Terriers, and when the breed was introduced and recognized in America, the name Tibetan Terrier became their new title. The word “Terrier” was added to their name by European travellers in the 1920s because of the dog’s size and appearance, which resembled other terrier breeds. However, Tibetan Terriers are not terriers by function or temperament and Kennel Clubs today list them in the ‘Non Sporting’ group as they do not meet the criteria of a Terrier. 🎁 Purpose Tibetan Terriers were bred and raised by Tibetan monks and were highly treasured. They were believed to bring good luck and were only given as gifts, never sold. Even the Dalai Lama gave them as presents. One of these occasions was when a British doctor working in the Women’s Medical Service of India received one as a gift and later used that dog to establish the breed in England, where its popularity steadily grew. The Tibetan Terrier also played a role in the development of other well-known Tibetan breeds, including the Lhasa Apso, Shih Tzu, and Tibetan Spaniel. 🧼 Coat Care The Tibetan Terrier has a thick double coat that requires considerable grooming. Daily brushing is essential to prevent knots that can quickly become mats. The coat should always be lightly dampened before brushing to prevent breakage and discomfort. Regular baths, ideally every two weeks, are also recommended. Many owners opt to keep the coat clipped short, especially in summer or if the dog isn’t being shown. When well-maintained, the breed can be suitable for allergy sufferers, as they are low-shedding. However, they are not a low-maintenance breed and require consistent coat care and professional grooming appointments. 🎨 Appearance Tibetan Terriers come in a wide variety of colours, including both solid and mixed patterns:
🧠 Temperament The Tibetan Terrier is a smart, affectionate, and energetic breed that makes a great addition to most households. They are known for being gentle yet brave, full of life, and playful. Despite their size, they make excellent watchdogs, offering a bark that’s much louder than you would expect for their size. However, excessive barking can be an issue without proper training. They require daily walks and plenty of exercise, and a large space to run and play in is ideal. Without sufficient activity, they can become bored and destructive. With proper socialisation and leadership, they are generally good with children, strangers, and other pets. A well-balanced Tibetan Terrier enjoys being a part of the family, playful during the day and cuddly at night. They also excel in agility, obedience, and other dog sports. 🩺 Health With an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years, Tibetan Terriers are a generally healthy breed. However, like all breeds, they can be prone to certain genetic conditions, including:
Are you lucky enough to have a Tibetan Terrier in your life? Or maybe one of the other Tibetan breeds that were created using the Tibetan Terrier? We love dogs and we love seeing your dogs! Be sure to share them with us at our socials! |
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