 Origin:
Originating in England in the mid 1800’s, the Jack Russell Terrier was named after Reverend John Russell. John was better known as ‘Jack’ and was an avid fox hunter. Over time, the ‘breed standard’ for the Jack Russell Terrier became very broad, allowing varying body types and sizes. In 2003, the Jack Russell Association of America tightened the reigns and this when the ‘Parsons Russell Terrier’ was created. This separated the ‘working’ line of Jack Russell Terrier to remain known as the Jack Russell and the show lines from then onward known as the Parsons Russell. Purpose: The Jack Russell was a small game hunting dog, trained especially for hunting fox and having the ability to get them out of their dens. Over time they have also been used in tracking, agility and trick performing. Coat care: The Jack Russell’s short coat is easy to maintain. It comes in two style, smooth or rough. Brushing a handful of times a week will help to remove any dead coat and they only require to be bathed if they become extremely dirty. Rough coats will require to be stripped out twice yearly. Health & Temperament: The Jack Russell is a sturdy, confident and merry little dog. They are devoted and loving and make a great companion dog. Their obedient personality makes them easy to train and they thrive on boundaries and being put to work. They have plenty of energy to burn so require at minimum, one long daily walk. Aside from this, they will happily play games and be entertained with adults and children alike. As with all dogs, exposure and socialisation from a young age is essential to ensure a confident, kind and well-balanced dog. With this socialisation, they can be great with children and other house hold pets. A nervous or anxious Jack Russell or one that thinks they are the boss can lead to behavioural issues such as snappy, separation anxiety, barking or resource guarding. The breed is well known for being a good jumper/climber so a secure yard is essential. Some Jack Russell’s can suffer from luxating patella’s (dislocation of the knee cap) eye diseases, deafness and a disease by the name of Legg Perthes, where blood flow to the hip joint can be disrupted. They are also prone to mast cell tumours, so health reports of breeding parents should always been requested as well as regular vet checks yearly, especially as Jack Russell’s age. Most health issues for a Jack Russell don’t arise until later in life and the breed has an average life span of 15 years +.
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Ingredients.Carrots - 3 x medium size and shredded, should make approx 1 1/2 cups worth Sugar Free Apple Sauce - 1 cup Eggs - 2 Milk - 1/2 cup Whole Wheat Flour - 1 1/2 cups Cinnamon - 1 teaspoon Method.1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees and line mini-muffin pans with paper liners. 2. In a medium bowl mix shredded carrots, apple sauce, eggs and milk then set aside. 3. In a large bowl mix whole wheat flour and cinnamon. 4. Once well combined add the wet carrot mixture to the flour mixture and stir until combined. 5. Spoon cupcake batter into paper liners until 1/2 to 2/3 full. 6. Bake for 10 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle come out clean. 7. Cool 5 minutes in pans then remove and place on wire racks to cool completely. You can top the cooled muffins with greek yogurt as an extra yummy treat too!  Have you ever wondered what an assistance dog does when they are off duty? Solo is happy to fill you in! As we arrive home and walk in the door, Solo follows me into my office to take off his uniform. He heels, we take off his harness and then collar is removed—oh sweet bliss after a big day at work! Now, ‘dog mode’ kicks in: firstly, food. Thirty seconds later, now it’s playtime as he races around and says g’day to my wife and son with a trusty Kong stick in his mouth. Later, it’s cuddle time. As I recline in my chair, he curls up between my legs for some good one-on-one time before bed. Solo’s favourite thing to do when I’m not working is to simply snuggle, he’s such a softy and I love that about him so much. Weekends and daytime at home, he loves to play and follow people around—he’s such a sticky beak, always needing to know what everyone’s up to! But he always makes sure to keep a watchful eye on me. So much more than a Guide Dog or mobility tool, Solo is a true family member.” – Tony, Guide Dog Handler  We all know the amazing work that the team at Guide Dogs Australia do. Want to know more or how you can help? Support for groups such as Guide Dogs Australia is not just limited to donations. You can be involved in being a puppy raiser or even volunteer your time. You can find out more ways you can get involved HERE!  It's important to be aware of the dangers surrounding our pets as we welcome in the bunny and chocolate season for Easter. 
If at any time you are concerned that your dog has digested something they shouldn't have or they are showing any signs of being unwell, it's best to have them checked by your vet. Early intervention is the best chance of recovery that they have. Along with your regular vet, you should always have the details of your closest emergency 24/7 vet on hand should you ever need them after hours or on a public holiday, such as over the Easter long weekend.
 Meet Jade, an Australia Support Dog who has been a companion for Sheree for over 6 years. Jade shares her story below. Editor: Jade, you must be a great help for Sheree. What sorts of things do you do for her? Jade: I do heaps; I’m very clever you know! I open and shut the doors, drawers and the fridge, I put things away and retrieve things, I take Mum’s jackets and shoes off, pick things up that she drops, put the toilet seat up and down, open and close the blinds, turn lights and the water fountain on and off, take the phone to Mum… Editor: Wow! You are clever. What about house work, do you help with that? Jade: Oh yes, I forgot that. I take the washing off the airer, put Mum’s things away where she tells me, tidy my toys up, pick up my old bones in the backyard, put things in the bin, take my dinner bowl to the sink… Editor: And when you go out? Jade: Yep, I’m helpful everywhere. I help with doors, I take the queue ticket out of the machine at the bank, I pass Mum things from shop shelves and pass Mum’s credit card from the counter back to her… Editor: Which job do you think is the most important to Sheree? Jade: Mum says that when I pick things up that she drops like the door key or mobile phone it makes her feel safe. Editor: That’s fantastic. You must get a bit tired of working sometimes though. Jade: Are you kidding? I’m given a treat every time I help out. I could work all day; in fact if you have a dog biscuit I could help you now. Would you like your jacket taken off? No, what about your shoes? Perhaps you’d like me to put your mobile phone on the table…? Editor: Ah… I’m okay for now. Did you have to learn anything new after you moved in with Sheree? Jade: Yes, funny you should ask that, I thought I had passed graduation! Mum needed a few things that weren’t on the curriculum yet. It wasn’t a problem for a special dog like me, though. I quickly learned and passed the blinds, toilet seat and ticket machine tests. Editor: How do you know when Sheree needs your help? Jade: She either tells me with a known cue, points to something like a drawer handle or positions herself in a familiar spot like next to the fridge door. Editor: Can you tell me about where you and Sheree go in an average week? Jade: Well, we go to work five days a week to the office and two hospitals. On the weekends we have lunch with Mum’s friends and go to the lake, the beach and different parks. The lake is my favourite place; I loooove swimming. We also go shopping every week or so. Mum lets me pick a new toy sometimes. I only buy the ones that squeak, they’re the most fun! Editor: What a busy week. What happens on a typical workday? Jade: After breakfast we have a run and a sniff in the park. I don’t have my jacket on then so I get to play with my friends. I like Baxter, Lilly and Monty the best because they’re big like me. I get dressed in my jacket and we catch a taxi to work. I sleep on my bed next to Mum’s desk or go out to the lawn if I need a break and then we go for a run at lunchtime. Another taxi takes us to the hospital sometimes so Mum can see some clients or attend a meeting and we go home at about 5 p.m. Our friend Paul drives the taxi home and he plays with me after I get changed out of my jacket. Editor: What jobs are you required to do at work? Jade: I retrieve printed pages from the photocopier, fetch the air conditioner remote from the wall bracket, put things in the bin, open and shut doors, pick up anything that Mum drops, take her jacket off if she gets hot. Occasionally I have to demonstrate my skills for Mum’s clients who have a spinal cord injury. They say I’m more intelligent than their children sometimes! Editor: You’re so busy! Are you given plenty of play times? Jade: Play times are cool! I only wear my jacket when I’m in a public place where pet dogs wouldn’t be allowed to go. Every day I get to run free in off leash areas and play, sniff, swim… it’s a great life you know! Editor: It Certainly sounds like It! Who looks after your feeding, brushing and washing? Jade: Mum gets my food ready and I gently take the bowl off her lap. I get brushed by Mum with the special brush that she straps to her hand. And washing… aghhh… Mum’s carer washes me in the shower. They think I run around excitedly after a shower because I feel fresh. What a myth; I’m just so ecstatic that the chore is finally over! Editor: Where do you sleep at home? Jade: My white leather chaise is near Mum’s bed. I sleep on my back with my head on my cushion and snuggle against my cosy purple blanket. Mum’s friends laugh and they’ve all taken photos of me. I don’t know why. Editor: Laugh? How odd! Have you ever been on holidays? Jade: That’s when you don’t come home at night time, right? Well, er… I don’t like to boast but I have frequent flyer points you know. I’ve been on planes to the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Bundaberg Adelaide, Coffs Harbour and Melbourne. I get to ride in the plane with Mum; I sit on the floor next to her. Every couple of months Mum and I catch the train to the Blue Mountains and spend the weekend at Nanna and Grandad’s place. That’s the best fun. They live on a big bush property and I get to run and swim in the dams to my heart’s delight! Editor: You are well travelled. Have you been everywhere with Sheree? Jade: No, I had to stay at home once when Mum and her niece went to the zoo. It’s a designated quarantine area and no animals are allowed to go there, not even Guide Dogs and Assistance Dogs. It’s okay though because I got to chew a huge bone at home. Editor: It must be hard to do the right thing all the time. Have you ever done anything wrong? Jade: Ha ha ha… listen to this. I ate a whole sponge cake once… as quick as I could… at Nanna’s house! Everybody laughed at how silly they were for putting it on the footstool and then racing out onto the back deck when something caught their attention. Phew!! Editor: What are your favourite things? Jade: Umm… breakfast, working for food, dinner, bones, swimming, my friends, rolling on my back, exploring, did I say food?, Nanna and Grandad, playing, taxi rides, carers, running and just going out anywhere. Oh did I say food, because I think that’s my very favourite thing. Editor: I know how you feel! Finally, do you think Sheree realises just how special you are? Jade: Oh definitely, she tells me how beautiful and clever I am all the time.  Want to know how you can help support the amazing work that Australian Support Dogs do? Donations are not the only way you can support, find out more about how you can volunteer and help out HERE!
 Origin:
Although the Labradoodle is not recognised as a purebred, the first recorded, intentionally bred Labradoodle is believed to have been created here in Australia, by Guide Dog trainer, Wally Conron in 1989. Purpose: Mr Conron confirmed that the breeding of a Labrador with a Standard Poodle was done for a blind woman in Hawaii, who needed a guide dog but her husband was allergic to dogs. He spent 3 years and tested 33 Standard Poodles in their care, being that the Poodle does not shed hair, however none were suitable as Guide Dogs. This led him to cross breed his boss’s Poodle Harley with his own Labrador, Brandy. Little did he know what this creation would unleash, with this successful breeding and successful Guide Dog that did not bother anyone’s allergies, began the world-wide phenomenon of Poodle mixed breeding. Sadly, Mr Conron has said this cross breeding is one of his life regrets, given the ‘Frankenstein’ monster that has been created with some cross breeding that has been created since. His only hope was to help those who needed a support dog but could not because of any allergies within the home, not a designer dog disaster around the world. Coat care: Coat care for the Labradoodle can vary, as depending on how they are cross bred can depend on them having more of a Labrador or more of a Poodle style coat. Each Labradoodle will need different coat care, some will require regular clipping and others may need it more often than that. Daily brushing will help to avoid matting especially around the face and underarms. They should be bathed only as needed and may need their ears plucked from time to time. Health & Temperament: With cross breeds, it can be hard to give an exact direction that each dog’s temperament and health will go in, as it all depends on what generation of breeding they are and the health of their parents, however it is common that the Labradoodle is a happy, fun loving pooch. Both the Labrador and Poodle are intelligent breeds of dog, easy to train (especially if they have the Labrador food drive) and willing to please their owners. Providing there is a good amount of Poodle still in the blood lines, they will shed little to no hair so are ideal for those with allergies or dog hair sensitives. They are an ideal companion dog and for this reason do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. They enjoy plenty of exercise and are very social dogs, so daily walks at a minimum are needed to keep their mind, body and social levels met. The breed can be prone to hip and elbow dysplasia. Breeding parents’ health records and joint scores should always be requested when looking into a breeder to avoid any health issues later in life. A great way to keep our doggies cool and entertained at the same time is making yummy frozen treats for them to enjoy. We have some great ideas below that we know will be a tail wagging winner! Yoghurt PopsMix together Greek yoghurt and peanut butter. Use some chicken broth to add liquid to the mixture and help it to freeze better. Add in a handful of blueberries and pour mixture into ice trays or freezer moulds that are a suitable size for your dog. Serve once frozen. Chicken DelightFor this one you will need a suitable, stuff able toy (ie: Kong.) Boil up some chicken breast. Set cooking liquid aside and shred the chicken. Place shredded chicken with some cooking liquid into the food toy and freeze. Be sure to include this amount of food in your dogs daily intake. Feeding of large food serves as treats and feeding normal meal sizes can lead to unwanted weight gain. Watermelon Dream BitesBlend together equal parts of watermelon, pineapple and peach. Freeze in ice trays or or freezer moulds that are a suitable size for your dog. Serve once frozen. Be sure to offer this one only as a treat every so often as peaches high in sugar, however do offer great antioxidants for our dogs.  Origin:
The Cavi is named after King Charles II and is a descendent of the original King Charles Spaniel. In the 1600’s, it was a goal to create a smaller dog then the King Charles Spaniel that had a flatter nose, rounder head, protruding eyes and upturned face, so the King Charles Spaniel was bred with Pugs, creating a dog that’s face looked similar to the Pekingese we know of today. In the 1920’s, Roswell Eldrige, an American, offered up prize money when in London to anyone who could bring him a King Charles Spaniel with a long nose, the same as shown in Van Dyck’s painting of King Charles II surrounded by his Spaniels. Thankfully, through American breeders, Eldrige’s hope of bringing back the original King Charles Spaniel, prior to the Pug being bred in, lived on and although the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel we know today is slightly different to that of the original they are still the true royal spaniels of King Charles. Due to the differentiation between the King Charles Spaniel and the modern breed we know today, the prefix of Cavalier was added to the breed name in the 1940’s, as they are classified as two separate breeds. Purpose: The original King Charles Spaniel was bred to hunt and kill weasels, lynx and bobcats however as the breed gained popularity and a level of status after being owned by King Charles II they quickly moved to trophy dogs, being ideal to snuggle on the laps of the wealthy when in their drafty castles or when travelling on carriage rides. Coat care: Daily brushing is required for the Cavi, focusing around the long fur between their pads, (unless this is clipped) their chest, underarms, ears, and feathers. The inside of their ears should be checked daily and cleaned as required. Cavi’s with particularly protruding eyes will need extra attention too. They should be bathed only as needed and ensure that they are thoroughly dry. Health & Temperament: The Cavalier is a gentle, loving, affectionate and happy little dog. Their sweet nature should not distract you from the fact they are also a fearless little dog that can often behave bigger than they actually are. Their willingness to please and love for their owner and food makes them easy to train. Their love is not restricted to just their humans, Cavis love all other animals, including dogs, cats and other small pets. They enjoy being an active part of a family so are not suited for outdoor only living. They do well in apartments or living without a yard providing daily exercise is provided. Being a social dog, they enjoy getting out and about to explore and meet everyone that is willing to give them a pat. They are a breed that is prone to weight gain so regular exercise is essential for their health. Due to their breeding in the past, they are prone to eye issues, luxating patella (dislocating kneecaps) ear infections, spinal troubles, and early onset of deafness. Their average life expectancy is broad as breeding standards play a huge role in the health of the breed; they can live anywhere from 9 – 14 years.  We share with you another beautiful story that we know will bring a smile to your face of the amazing impact an Assistance Dog makes to the life of the family they join. Luis and Piper....Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Assistance Dogs are sometimes referred to as Psychiatric Assistance Dogs. Luis has come a long way. He is an ex-policeman and was diagnosed with PTSD in 2017. He was medically retired from policing a year later. With the life-saving help of Piper, the PTSD Assistance Dog, Luis can look back on his journey and be proud of how far he has progressed. At Luis’ lowest point, there would be days where his wife, Paige, was not able to go to work. She was too worried about leaving him alone for the whole day, fearing the worst. PTSD took control of Luis’ life, especially in quiet night-time moments. Luis said, “I used to have really graphic and horrible night terrors 3-4 times a week. I would sweat through my sheets and wake up choking and struggling to breathe.” Luis tried for so long to feel better. He did the PTSD therapy and treatments the doctors and specialists told him to do. But he needed something extraordinary to have the breakthrough he desperately needed. In July 2019, Luis received his highly-trained PTSD Assistance Dog, a loveable chocolate Labrador named Piper. The main skill Piper does is “Visit”, which is where Piper lays her head in Luis’ lap and releases the weight of her head, which helps ground and relax Luis when he becomes overwhelmed. Luis said, “I use ‘Visit’ a lot, both at home and in public, as it helps me to relax and feel more secure because I can focus on Piper and not get overwhelmed by all of the thoughts that start swirling around in my head when I get stressed or anxious.” Having Piper by his side has been a huge help to Luis when his PTSD has caused him to feel extremely distressed when he is out in public. Luis said, “Sometimes when I run errands in town I can get really panicky all of a sudden out in the open. I focus on Piper and pet her and look at her for five minutes and then I don’t have to go home straight away and can usually finish my errands.” At the end of the day, it is Piper’s unconditional love that has been a life-saver so many times for Luis, he said. Luis calls Piper his “offsider”, which is what police call the officer who backs up another. She has brought so much joy and peace to their lives, and enabled Luis to feel safer, less anxious and much happier on a daily basis. With Piper in their lives, Luis and his wife Paige can get their lives back on track and feel better about the present – and future. Want to know how you can support Assistance Dogs Australia? There are more options then just giving a donation. Check our their website HERE for the many ways you help support the amazing work that they do. You never know how much of a difference you could be making in someone's life!
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