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 +.
 

​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.   
 

​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. 

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.

​Origin:
Their name is a bit of a giveaway – the PWD originated in Portugal.
The breed was created from mixing a number of working dogs from the Iberian Peninsula, to create the perfect dog companion for fisherman.
 
Purpose:
The PWD was used as a working dog for fisherman and were capable of many different tasks including herding and catching fish, transporting messages between ships as well as retrieving items from the water.
 

Coat care:
When in full coat, the PWD requires a good brush every few days. A distinct clip the PWD are known for is the ‘lion clip.’
Originally this was used to help them move through water and dry quickly, with fur only kept around their vital organs to avoid them suffering in the cold water.
They are a great option for allergy sufferers as they as considered a hypo-allergenic dog. Their coat is slow growing and does not require frequent clipping.  

Health & Temperament:
The PWD is a great family pet. They are a fun loving dog who is loyal to their pack. They have plenty of energy to burn and can be very playful but also very relaxed and calm natured when their needs are met.
As their name is history suggests, they love water! Water play and exercise included in their routine will keep them very happy and pleased. They are very intelligent and easy to train, responding best to calm pack leader.
The breed isn’t prone to many health issues although hip dysplasia can occur.
Their average life span is between 10 – 14 years.    

Mickey, an adorable young Cavoodle holds the crown for July 2022. One look into Mickey's eyes say it all, he melts hearts! Mickey LOVES everyone and everything, his tail is always wagging and he is always smiling!
Congratulations Mickey!

As we roll into another month it's time to announce our next Dog of the Month. Our March Dog of the Month for 2022 is......

This beautiful old gentleman is Fizo, an absolute sweetheart who loves his cuddles and snuggling into his bed.
He is the perfect poster boy for this month. Congratulations Fizo!

As we welcome in 2022 it's time to announce our first Dog of the month for year.
Our January Dog of the Month for 2022 is......

Beautiful Steve the Aussie Shepherd is recovering from a foot injury and has been the best little patient and most well behaved boy!
We are so proud of his progress which makes him very fitting to be our Dog of the Month.
Steve's favourite part of the day is being with the Doggy Doaters, enjoying his back and neck scratches and then snoozing on his bed with the TV on.
Congratulations Steve - you are so close to the end of your recovery now, almost there!

Congratulations to our last Dog of the Month for 2021. Brodie the beautiful Cavalier. Typical to the breed, Brodie is a big sweet heart. He adores cuddles... and treats! We are very excited that he gets to wear the crown to ring out 2021!