​Origin:
One of the oldest spaniels known, the English Cocker Spaniel was originally known as the general spaniel and the only one recorded as being imported into England many centuries ago. They were then separated into 7 different individual spaniel breeds. These were;
- English Springer
- Cocker Spaniel
- Clumber Spaniel
- Sussex Spaniel
- Welsh Springer Spaniel
- Field Spaniel
- Irish Water Spaniel
All of which are still well-known and kept breeds todays. It was not until 1946 that the Cocker Spaniel was first recognised as two separate breeds, being the American and English Cocker Spaniel.
Their name comes from the bird the Woodcock, a bird that the breed was fantastic at flushing out, leading them to be named the ‘Cocker’ Spaniel.

Purpose:
The Cocker Spaniel was breed for a working dog. They were used as hunting gun dogs and were able to travel easily through wet and dry land and harsh environments. Their key talent is to flush out and retrieve game very gently and without damage. Along with hunting and retrieving, the Cocker is also great at agility and obedience work as well as making a brave watchdog.

Coat care:
The Cocker Spaniel can be kept in full coat, breed cut or trimmed all over.
When kept in full or breed coat, they will require daily brushing, sometimes twice daily, to avoid matting especially around their pants and underbelly. Being low to the ground they can pick up burrs and twigs very easily. They can also matt very easily on their feet and between their toes so special focus should be made on these areas too.
Their long ears can also pick up grass seeds easily so should be checked after being out in any areas of long grass. They can also hold a lot of moisture so should also be checked often for signs of infection.
They should be bathed only as needed.

Health & Temperament:
Don’t let their small side fool you, the Cocker Spaniel is a strong, sturdy and very smart little dog. Being bred as a working dog, they love to run and play and need a decent daily walk at a minimum. They can be very gentle with their family and love to play, making them great with children. When well socialised from a young age, they make for a very confident dog who enjoys being around other people, dogs and cats. They thrive on plenty of physical and mental stimulation as well as having rules and boundaries in place, to avoid any dominance issues.
They are a breed who can gain weight easily, so diet and exercise need to be well managed. They are often prone to ear infections so any Cocker owner needs to be confident in checking ears regularly and knowing the signs of an infection beginning. The breed has no serious hereditary issues and on average they live for 12 – 15 years. 

Along with all the other amazing groups and organizations who provide dogs around to Australia to those requiring support, the team at Smart Pups offer a life changing addition to any child with special needs. 

Smart Pups provide specially trained service dogs to children with special needs, with the goal to have these amazing dogs assist these children every day to help improve their quality of life.
These incredible Labradors and Golden Retrievers are selected at 8 weeks old and begin training within their foster family. They are exposed to all different daily experiences and household routines.
Between the ages of 6 – 8 months old they enter the Smart Pups program of General Training Modules before entering the Advanced Training Program. At this stage of training they learn task specific modules, this way, when they time comes and they are matched with their child to assist, they will meet the exact needs of that child. How amazing is that?!|

The amazing team at Smart Pups train their dogs in 5 areas of assistance.
- Autism Assistance
- Diabetic and Medical Alert
- Seizure Response
- Mobility Assistance
- Vision Assistance 

Read below, from Cody's Mum, how Smart Pup Lulu changed Cody's life from the day she joined his family! ​

We all know the most talked about items around our homes that our dog's can't have, the chemical cabinet it ALWAYS out of bounds, no chocolate, no alcohol. But did you know there are a lot more common foods that you probably have in your kitchen right now that are also very toxic to our dogs? In this blog series we will highlight  some other foods that you may not know need to be kept out of Fido's reach too! 

Origin:
The exact origin of the Chihuahua is somewhat unknown, with a number of theories floating around. Some believe they originated from China, others believe they were brought from the islands of Malta and then brought to Mexico. Another theory, and given their name this is the most popular, is that they originated in the town of Chihuahua in Mexico. They are recorded as the smallest breed in the world as well as the oldest breed on the American continent. The breed was considered sacred to Pre-Columbian Indian nations and were considered a sign of wealth or status for the upper class.

Purpose:
The Chihuahua was bred as a companion dog and a status symbol for the wealthy. Their level of devotion and protection of their owners led for them to have a level of spiritual significance for the Aztec’s, who believed a Chihuahua could guide souls through the afterlife with protection.

Coat care:
The Chihuahua comes in two coat options, short or long hair. The short haired coat offers easy maintenance that can be brushed every so often or as needed and wiped over with a baby wipe or damp cloth as required.
The long coat will require daily brushing, focusing under the arms and around the ears to avoid small knots. They can also be wiped over as needed to remove any mess from the coat. The Chihuahua requires bathing only when extremely dirty. They can be prone to ear infections so water should be avoided around the ears.

Health & Temperament:
Don’t let their tiny frame fool you, the Chihuahua is full of personality and energy.
They are active little dogs who require daily walks and will also enjoy playtimes with their family.
The Chihuahua is a breed that immediately from a young age require boundaries and good socialisation, to avoid neurotic issues, aggression, anxiety issues and small dog syndrome. They are a fantastic companion dog who is fiercely protective and loyal. Although this can be cute, it can lead to a dog that will bite, so needs to be managed from a young age.
A well socialised and confident Chihuahua is happy to play and interact with other dogs. They have a poor reputation with children and can be known for being snappy, however this is only because of the way they are raised. Chihuahuas, along with other toy breeds of dogs, are often treated more as babies instead of dogs and this leads to serious behavioural issues. If raised with boundaries and treated like a dog that is a member of the family, not a human, a Chihuahua can be a very well behaved, loving pet.
Unfortunately, as the Chihuahua is prized for it’s tiny size and over the years has been bred, interbred and cross bred to create a teeny tiny dog, the Chihuahuas of today can sadly have an array of health issues. This includes eye issues, central nervous system issues, gum problems as well as knee, joint and muscle issues.
It’s essential to do your research into breeders and view their breeding dog’s health history prior to purchasing a puppy. All Chihuahua owners should be well educated in the health issues that can occur with breed, so they can be aware of signs and begin treatment as it’s needed, for a happy and healthy dog.

Whilst we all prepare to eat our way through the silly season, it's important our doggies get to enjoy a festive treat too!

After my long stay in hospital, after my accident, I wondered what could be out there to get me through my days where I wouldn’t be bored or have nothing to do. I soon caught the eye of a peer support worker who had an assistance dog!!
I was soon introduced to Barnaby, and we clicked very soon on. It started with him coming out with Ann for some home visits and getting him used to me, then a couple of park visits where we could throw a ball and Barnaby would come back to me and bench on the side of my chair to return the ball. Barnaby helps me by assisting with pushing doors closed or tugs them open with some rope we have placed on the handles. Also when I drop things off my lap he’s first on the scene to retrieve them for me. Barnaby can assist in tugging off of clothes such as my jumper – that’s really handy as I’m always getting stuck.
Since receiving Barnaby we have been shopping together, a couple of restaurants, other outings. We are going camping on the long weekend down the south coast to Lake Conjola and that we are looking forward to.
My famous quote “I would be very wealthy if I received a dollar for every time we are out and someone comments on how beautiful Barnaby is.”
Daniel ​

Christmas time is stressful enough for all of us, so imagine how our 4 legged family members feel when everything in the house changes suddenly, more people are coming and going and their routine can be turned upside down.
Here are some tips on how you can make the silly season a little more comfortable for your pooch. 

Do your best to keep your dog's routine the same. 
If every other day of the year you walk your dog at the same time, feed them at the same time or have a set routine, do your best to keep this the same. Dogs thrive on routine and this sense of normality will help to keep them calm.

Take into consideration your dogs level of interest and their area of reach when decorating.
Some dogs are very curious and like to explore with their nose and mouths (Labradors am I right?!) Keep this in mind when hanging decorations around the house and on the Christmas tree. Ornaments and decorations are not created to be pet friendly and the last thing you want is your dog trying to eat one or knocking something down that could break and cause a wound. 

Set up your tree in a space your dog cannot reach.
Fake and real Christmas trees can be easily knocked over by an excited dog running past too fast. A small pen/fence around the tree or placed in a room your dog cannot access is the safest option. 
If your dog and Christmas tree need to share the same space, be sure to not put your dog out by placing the tree in a place that your dog regularly uses. For example, if your dog loves to snooze by the window in the sunshine, don't upset their routine by putting the Christmas tree in this spot.

Live Christmas Trees can be poisonous to dogs and cats. 
If you are keeping a real, live Christmas tree in the house, ensure that the water base is not accessible by your pets. Pine tar that leaks from the base of the tree into the water is poisonous to pets. The water should be changed often as a precaution. If you believe your pet has gotten to this water, a vet check up is advised. 

Think of your dogs when you are cooking.
For some of us, the festive season brings out our inner Jamie Oliver and we love to get cooking. This can fill the house with delicious smells, which can invite our dogs to come and help themselves. Be conscious of what your dog can reach in the kitchen area and also what might get dropped on the floor. As more guests come into the home, younger guests may not be as careful while they are eating and lots of festive foods are dangerous to our dogs. 

We've come across this fantastic article written by the great, Cesar Millan, on humanizing our pets and how unhealthy some behaviours actually are;

One of the most important things I want to get across is that dogs are dogs — not humans!

• Find a canine solution. Often, the solution we would use for a human is totally wrong for solving a dog’s issues. For example, when a human sees a scared or nervous dog, s/he will first offer comfort and consolation. This would never happen in the animal world and can make the problem worse instead of better, because it reinforces unstable behavior.
  
  
• Speak the animal language. When dogs come into our homes, they meet emotional energy for the first time. We shower them with affection and babble at them in high-pitched baby-talk, so they see us as excited energy. This is why many dogs don’t listen to their human caretakers. Their mothers never acted this way; where did that calm-assertive leadership go?
  
  
• Treat your dog like a dog. We often develop a different agenda for our dogs. We want to make puppies our babies. From day one, many humans forget to fulfill and understand their dog's needs and instead project their own needs and desires on the animal.
  
  
• Be the pack leader! In the absence of a clear leader, a dog, even a submissive one, will seek to fill what they see as the vacant leadership role. The dog will ignore the owner, act out, and can lead to serious behavior issues.

  Projecting the wrong energy to our dogs can leave them confused and disoriented. But their confusion and disorientation manifest in bad behavior such as tearing up the couch or incessant barking. If we don’t fulfill them as a species, our dogs won’t live a balanced, centered life.

Understanding and projecting a pack leader’s calm-assertive energy will create a positive and lasting connection with your dog.

Throughout Australia, there are many wonderful groups that work tirelessly to train and raise dog's to assist those in need.
A fantastic group we are excited to share with you is 'Australian Lions Hearing Dogs' who are also branching into raising, training and pairing Medical Alert Dogs too for people living with complex and chronic illnesses. 

​Airlie is the first Interstate Diabetic Alert Dog to be placed in their home by ALHD. Her new home is now in Melbourne where she has settled in straight away.
Airlie does amazing work, she is trained detect naturally occurring low and high blood glucose level events in her human. She is scent and saliva trained on her human too. How incredible is that?!
Airlie is also trained to retrieve a medical kit to help treat a low or high blood glucose event, get assistance from another member in the household if needed or pressing an emergency button to alert emergency contacts in case her human falls when home alone and becomes unresponsive.
Along with the other amazing medical alert dogs, Airlie could not only save the life of her owner but will also drastically improve their quality of life. 

Want to learn more? Visit the Australian Lions Hearing Dogs website HERE for more information?

How can you help? The training and placement cost of ALHD  is just under $40,000. There is no cost to their human for this, so donations are greatly appreciated. All donations of $2.00 or more are tax-deductible and will receive a receipt in return for your donation. Click here if you would like to make a life changing donation.