The Dachshund, pronounced “dak -sund” also known as the Sausage Dog or Weiner Dog, is a small dog, with short legs and a long body. The name Dachshund is of German orient and means “Badger Dog”.
Dachshunds originated in Germany and were used to hunt badgers and other burrowing animals like rabbits. Their short legs, long snouts and deep chests enabled them to run fast, and have plenty of stamina whilst hunting. Dachshunds also have quite loose skin, to ensure that they didn’t tear their skin whilst tunneling in constricted burrows.
Dachshunds come in three different sizes, standard, miniature and rabbit, however the “rabbit” size is not recognised in some countries. They have three different types of coats, the shorthaired, longhaired or wirehaired. The Dachshunds coats come in many different colours, 15 to be exact! Some of them are Red, Black & Tan, Chocolate, Dapple, Sable and Fawn to name a few.
The first sign of a Dachshund traces all the way back to ancient Egypt where there have been etchings found of short legged hunting dogs, and up until recently when this was just a myth, there have now been mummified Dachshund like dogs found in burial urns.
Dachshunds are a traditionally viewed as the symbol of Germany, and were frequently used in propaganda during WWI and WWII, causing their popularity to drop dramatically. In 1972 at the Munich Games, the Dachshund became the first ever Olympic Mascot, his name was Waldi, and the route for the marathon event was even designed to resemble Waldi.
Health wise, the Dachshund are prone to back injuries due to their long spine and short rib cage. Dachshunds should not jump on and off furniture and their weight should be well maintained to ensure that these injuries are less likely to occur.
Dachshunds are lovely, loyal dogs, they are playful but can at times be known to be stubborn, and can be known to be aggressive towards strangers. Despite their small stature they are very courageous and will take on animals that are much bigger than they are! A Dachshund owner needs to be firm and persistent when it comes to their training.
Dachshunds are recommended for families with older children, who can assist in the training and keeping the “pack mentality” going. With the correct leadership they will get along well with children and other pets.
If you think a Dachshund would make the perfect pet for you and your family, you will not regret it, they are truly wonderful companions.

The Tamaruke is a selectively bred dog, created over 30 years to provide a non-shedding companion pet. Their coat and size can be compared to that seen in an ‘Oodle’ type dog however the Tamaruke is not a designer breed of dog and stands as their own breed.
The Tamaruke has been bred only for the reason of a suitable family pet, not as a show dog and is described by it’s breeders as a loyal, easily trainable and naturally intelligent breed of dog with the big positive of being a non-shedding, hypoallergenic dog that produces no ‘doggy odour’ even when wet.

The Cavoodle is a small, purpose bred “Designer Breed” that is cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Miniature Poodle. Whilst they are not a new breed, they have certainly become very popular over the past 10 or so years.
Cavoodles are affectionate, playful and energetic. However, if you have a smaller backyard, they find themselves quite content! (Of course, still needing walks and exercise).
The Cavoodle, being cross bred with a Poodle means that their coat is hypoallergenic and they do not malt. This does mean however that they require regular grooming, every 6 – 8 weeks and regular brushing to keep their coat neat and tidy.
Their coat comes in a variety of colours such as red, white, black, gold, tri-colour and blenheim just to name a few!
Cavoodles are very gentle and loving and actually prefer the company of humans over other dogs! As they are generally quite small, they are suitable companions for small children and other small pets, and have been known to become very strongly attached to specific people in their human family! They can be known to have a short attention span as puppies, but with constant and consistent training they will quickly learn the house rules!
They are wonderful family members. Their inquisitive nature will keep everybody entertained and would make a great addition to any family looking for some four-legged love!

Standard Poodles have been around for hundreds of years though the Toy Poodle is a more recent variation mainly bred for companionship in England around the 19th century.
Poodles come in three size varieties: Standards should be more than 15 inches tall at the shoulder; Miniatures are 15 inches or under; Toys stand no more than 10 inches.
They are prone to developing small dog syndrome and can become very snappy, stubborn and bark a lot if they feel they are the pack leader. A calm and assertive owner is recommended for this particular breed.
Litter sizes for Toy poodles are generally 3-4 pups and the average life span is 12-15 years. Though they are small they do still require a daily walk and enjoy playtimes.
Toy Poodles can vary in colours and can be black, white, silver, grey, apricot or red. They have a short curly coat that does not shed. Grooming is required approximately every 6 weeks along with regular brushing to avoid any mats, which will maintain their coat to look neat and tidy.

The Dachshund also known as the sausage dog, Wiener Dog, little hot dog,  Kaninchen  & Dackel -  just to name a few! A sweet little long dog with a variety of hairstyle, the shorthaired, the wirehaired, and the longhaired.
Colour scheme can be bold Solid colours or a combination of two, brindle, or even piebald,  piebalds can be tricoloured or tricoloured ! You can also find them in merle. 
The Dachshund is curious, clever, lively, affectionate, proud, brave and amusing. Devoted to its family, it can be slightly difficult to train and housebreak, but not impossible. They like to set a challenge for their pack leader but a strong, confident leader will always have success with their dogs.
Although they are small with their adorable little paws, those paws like to walk so they will need daily exercise and their stamina may surprise you.  Not only is it important to keep your dog stimulated with exercise it will also help keep them nice and trim which is very important for their spine as an overweight sausage could end up having a lot of back problems.  Which isn’t fun for anyone .  When buying a sausage it’s very important to get as much information from the breeder or your vet about how to protect their spine from injury.
The Dachshund were bred to hunt small game such as badger and rabbit and originated in in the early 1600s in Germany, their small long size made them perfect to chase small animals into their burrows. Over time they have developed into ideal little pets for small families or people with smaller living arrangements.
Be warned if you own a Dachshund - be prepared to be stopped on the street as everyone loves Sausage Dog!

The Poodle come in three breed recognised sizes, these sizes are determined by their height and not weight.

The Toy Poodle is 10 inches or under at the highest point of the shoulders.

The Miniature Poodle must be over 10 inches and 15 inches or less at the highest point of the shoulders.

The Standard Poodle is over 15 inches at the highest point of the shoulders

The Poodle breed has been very popular and dates back to Western Europe over 400 years ago. It appears the exact origin of the breed is unknown and a bit of a controversial subject depending on who you ask. Known by a lot of people as the ‘French Poodle’, France has taken claim as the originating country for the breed although the American Kennel Club recognises Germany as the country of Origin for the Poodle. It is believed this is also how their name originated, as Poodle in German means ‘one who plays in water.’
The famous ‘Poodle Clip’ that we all know is not just for show, originally their coats were clipped in this way to assist the dogs when moving through water, leaving hair on their leg joints to keep them warm and protected.
They were used as working dogs to retrieve waterfowl and are great for sniffing out truffles for farmers. The Poodle is a very intelligent which made them perfect to be used as performers in the circus.
With their high intelligence and keen ability to impress make the Poodle a perfect family pet today. With their varying sizes they are suitable for apartment living as well as loving the space of a larger property. They thrive on having rules and boundaries and learn very quickly. Being so smart though means they need plenty of mental stimulation, to avoid any bad behaviours developing.
The Poodle is a number one pick for any allergy sufferers, as they shed little to no hair and have a woollen coat. Extensive grooming is needed for this breed, with a full body clip being needed every 6 to 8 weeks. When in full coat, daily brushing is required, especially after spending time in the garden or long grass. There is a range of ‘Poodle Clips’ they help to keep their temperature regulated all year round.

The Spoodle is a hybrid breed of dog, created by mixing a Cocker Spaniel with a Toy or Miniature Poodle. The crossing of these two breeds was first started in Germany and over the last decade their popularity has just continued to grow.
 They are considered a small breed dog that make great family pets and are ideal for those with allergies or sensitivities to dog fur or dander. Depending on what percentage of Poodle is in each Spoodle, will determine how little shedding their coat will have, the more Poodle, the less shedding.
As with most ‘Oodles’ the Spoodle is a friendly, confident dog who loves to be with everyone (humans and dogs alike) They are very much an ‘energizer bunny’ breed of dog, who are on the go all day long. They have plenty of energy to burn and just love to play, which makes them perfect for a family with children or an active house hold.
With the combination of a Poodle and Spaniel coat the grooming requirements are high for the Spoodle, needing daily brushing (unless clipped) and professional grooming and clipping every 6 weeks. They can be prone to ear and eye issues so these should be checked and cleaned regularly as needed.
The Spoodle coat can grow into a long beautiful length but does need to be brushed daily and after any playtimes in grass as they can easily pick up burrs and sticks. A damp, dirty coat can quickly lead to hotspots which is very uncomfortable for the dogs. Their coat can come in a variety of colours including golden, black, brown or blonde and can be with or without white markings.  
The Spoodle is suitable for most living arrangements, from large farm land to small apartment living, providing they get plenty of exercise and stimulation and the chance to get out and meet and greet everyone!

​The Siberian Husky is a strong (physically and mentally) hard working sled dog that, as their name would suggest, originated in Siberia. They were used for centuries along the eastern Siberian peninsula as working dogs, for sled pulling, herding and guard dogs.
Their thick coat and solid build makes their body ideal to weather the harsh winters and their strong endurance allowed them to work long, hard days. Their ability and stamina to move so quickly through the snow made them ideal for sled dogs, being able to transport people and their goods and also be used in artic races.
Their breed was essential during the diphtheria epidemic in 1925 when they were used to transport much needed medicine to people all over the country. Since then, they have been fundamental working dogs all across the world, including serving in the Army’s Artic Search and Rescue Unti during World War II.
Today, they are still used for sled work, guard dogs and hunting.
They Husky is medium to large breed dog, with males reaching up to 60cms in height.
Being a working dog, they require plenty of mental and physical stimulation to avoid any naughty behaviour. A bored Husky can be a very destructive Husky and they are also well known for their escape artist abilities, especially if there is something exciting to chase on the other side of the fence.
Their heavy, thick coat requires daily brushing and sheds heavily twice a year. This warm covering over their body makes them ideal for colder climates and being able to withstand temperatures as low as -50° to -60° C. Being bred to withstand such cold weather does mean they need assistance if living in tropical or hot areas and are not recommended for hot climate living.  Their coat colours vary from solid black and pure white to red and white, brown, gray, silver, wold gray, sable and more.
The Husky is often known to have bi-eyes (two different coloured eyes) which is very common for the breed. They can also have parti-eyes which is when one eye has two half colours, these will be either blue or brown.
The Husky is a perfect addition to any active family with plenty of room to move. They can be accommodated in smaller apartment type arrangements providing they are given plenty of mental and physical stimulation daily. If well socialised from a young age, a Husky will enjoy living with other animals in their home, being pack working animals they love being with other dogs and thrive on structure and having a job to do.

​The sturdy, confident Jack Russell is a breed everyone knows. They date back to as early as the mid 1800’s where they were used as a hunting dog for small game, ideal for foxes as they were able to dig into their dens. Their name originates from a minister, name Rev. John Russell.
As they became so popular as working dogs, the Jack Russell Terrier Association of America, in 2003, changed their name to the Parsons Russell Terrier Association of America, from this time onward the working line of Terriers was known as the Jack Russell whilst the American show Terriers were known as the Parsons Russell Terrier (longer legged Jack Russell)
Today, they are great little family pets who always provide plenty of entertainment. They come in a smooth or rough coat in varying colours, breed standard states white should be the predominate colour with at least 51% of the coat being white with a mixture of either black or brown markings and in some rare cases brindle markings have been recorded. Both the smooth and rough coats are easy to groom and maintain with regular brushing and bathing only when needed.
From their past blood lines, the Jack Russell Terriers of today are a fearless breed. As with all dogs, if raised correctly around young children and other dogs they are great within the family. Being a strong-minded breed, they require a pack leader from day one to avoid any small dog syndrome issues. Training and boundaries need to be set and followed from a young age to avoid destructive and aggressive behaviours – which are a known trait of unruly Jack Russell’s. Daily exercise is a must, to help burn their physical and mental energy. They are known to be great jumpers so if their needs aren’t met, they may just take themselves off on their own adventure to explore and keep themselves busy.
Although a great little dog, the Jack Russell is not just for everyone and thrive in a balanced environment where they are part of the family but not the boss of the family.

The Chinese Crested was originally  from Africa and known as the ‘African Hairless Terrier’ it wasn’t until they were taken about the Chinese trading ships, that would stop along the African shore lines, and used as vermin hunters that they were renamed the Chinese Crested and the name has remained ever since. They were also known to be used by the Aztecs as bed warmers and later used for a meat source too.
Today there are two very different varieties of Chinese Crested:
Hairless (see Odin) can have a small amount of hair on their feet, head and tail but will remain hairless everywhere else on their body
Powerderpuffs will have fur all over in a long, soft coat.
Although very different in appearance, these are both the same breed of dog and are both now equally recognised by kennel clubs all around the world. The Hairless and Powderpuff can be born in the same litter and each Hairless dog carries one gene for Hairless and one for hair. Two hairless genes are fatal They are a rare breed and not too many are seen as pets in Australia.
Between both varieties, their can be many colours of both skin and coat. These can include solid colours, mixed and spotted.
As a breed, the Chinese Crested is a very loving, alert and agile dog. Their appearance, for the hairless especially, is always guaranteed to draw attention and they are always happy to take it, loving any affection. It is important to socialise them from a young age, to help build confidence and to ensure not to baby them as small dog syndrome can develop quickly. They are a breed that enjoys companionship so do not do well being left home alone for long periods of time. They enjoy the company of other dogs or humans as much as they can.
Despite their lack of fur, the  Hairless Chinese Crested is a very clean dog, omitting no doggie odour. They should be bathed as little as possible with their skin to be maintained with cream or oil as needed. They shed very little hair (as they don’t have too much to shed to begin with!) and are an ideal pet for allergy sufferers.
Due to their long coat, the Powderpuff requires daily brushing and extra grooming during shedding times. Their undercoat can matt quickly if unattended to.
They are a breed that can gain weight easily, so it’s important to control their diet. For the Hairless Chinese Crested, throughout the sunny months it’s important to protect their skin as they can get sunburnt. A good dog sunscreen should be used and also a thin material type dog shirt to cover most of their body.