Melbourne's Most Loved Dog Kennel - Blog

The Mini Schnazuer

4/6/2017

The schnauzers come in three different sizes; standard, giant and Miniature. The miniature schnauzer also known as dwarf schnauzers came from breeding small standard schnauzers with Affenpinschers and possible poodles too. The mini’s only grow to roughly 30-36cm tall and weigh between 7-10kg but their personalities aren’t small at all!

The Mini Schnauzers are full or character. They are generally very playful and energetic and get along with everyone. They are great pets for families and they are known to get along well with children and other dogs. They are very loving and affectionate making them a great companion dog. These intelligent dogs can be stubborn at times so make sure to train them early on. It’s important the Mini Schnauzer knows who the pack leader is otherwise they may develop small dog syndrome where they believe they are the boss. It’s important to keep this excitable little breed physically and mentally stimulated to help with health and behavioral issues.

A long walk or jog a day will keep this breed happy as well as some playtime with human or dog friends. It is also good to brush these dogs daily to prevent knots or matting. They have a long wiry coat that typically needs to be clipped twice a year. The usual clipping style for a Mini Schnauzer is for the upper body to be cut short and left slightly longer around the legs, head and underparts. Around the face will require regular trimming and grooming to keep any knots or matting from around the eyes, mouth and chin. It might take a bit of care with their coat however this breed sheds little to no hair and are great pets for allergy sufferers.

The Schnauzers originated from Germany getting their name from the German word ‘Schnauze’ meaning ‘Muzzle’. They were bred for ‘Ratting’ where they chase, catch and kill vermin. The Mini Schnauzer is now used for many different things such as hunting, tracking and competitive obedience as well as companion dogs.

Our June Dogs of the Month

31/5/2017

Congratulations to our new Dog's of the Month....

Sasha and Layla
A pair of Schnauzers who we have been lucky enough to watch grow into such adorable girls.

Did you know... the Labradoodle?

15/5/2017

Did you know....?

The Labradoodle breed came about in Australia in 1988 when a breeder wanted to create a guide dog for the blind that would also be suitable for those with allergies to dog dander and fur.

Alas - the cross breeding of the Labrador Retriever and the Standard Poodle was successful and this began the popularity of the breed throughout many countries including America.

The popularity of the breed can be proven with the fact the word 'Labradoodle' is now an accepted word placement in the game of Scrabble. The game of Monopoly also highlights the breed in their 'Here and Now' version of the game, replacing the famous Scottish Terrier.
As there can be varying mixes and generations of the Labradoodle, their coat texture and colours can vary. Most Labradoodles have an odorless, minimal to non shedding coats.
There are 3 recognized sizes of Labradoodle, the Standard, Medium and Miniature.
The size of the Labradoodle depends on the size of Poodle that they are bred with.

The Labradoodle

8/5/2017

It’s not always easy to decide on a breed of dog and choosing a cross breed can be even harder. Mum always said “Life is like a box of chocolates; never know what you’re gunna get”. Although in this case with a Labradoodle you can be assured of a fun loving personality, being a mix of Labrador Retriever and a Poodle. They are not your usual dog as they can come in 3 sizes: miniature, medium and standard.
They need a good walk or active playtime each day, and, if you’re interested (and the dog's overall health is good enough), they are athletic enough to participate in such dog sports as agility, flyball, obedience, and rally. They can also be excellent therapy dogs.
They are friendly and loving dogs (especially of their food), which, combined with their intelligence, contributes to them being easily trained. Poodles in particular are regarded as one of the most intelligent of dog breeds. Although known to become a tad if over-pampered, this trait can be tempered with the more calm nature of the Labrador, making the Labradoodle an intelligent dog.
There are mainly three different coat types in a labradoodle: fleece, wool, and hair. The fleece coat is usually curlier and long and has a silky soft feel to it. The wool coat is similar to that of a sheep's or poodles, and has tight curls and feels like a wool jumper. The hair coat is straight or slightly and has a wispy look to it. This type of coat is not as allergy friendly, but most people with allergies will be able to tolerate it.

May Dog of the Month

27/4/2017

Our lucky May Dog of the Month....

Chelsea!

A beautiful Labradoodle!
Chelsea is a regular guest at Dogs Country Club and loves her Doggy Daycare visits!
Congratulation on winning the crown for this month Chelsea.

The Rottweiler

6/4/2017

Gypsy and Felix show off how quick they can be in the paddocks

The Rottweiler, or Rottie, is an unmistakable breed, with their massive, powerful build and solid, broad head you will never walk past one without knowing.
There are believed to be two separate types of Rottweiler, the German and the American. The German Rottweiler is said to be shorter, more solid in appearance with a blockier head while the American is taller with a longer head instead of a broader head. Others claim that a Rottie is a Rottie and there is no such thing as a German and American breed. Regardless of the truth, some breeders breed for the stockier, solid look whilst others breed for the tall, leaner look.
The Rottweiler is a descendant of the Italian Mastiff, also known as the Cane de Corso, who were used by the Romans to protect their hers as they invaded Europe. They continued to be bred in the German town of Rottweiler, hence their name. In the 1800’s they were almost extinct but they became popular again in the 20th century with many breeders bringing the breed back to life. The German Rottweiler club was established in 1907 which over time developed into the International Rottweiler Club. From this time onwards the breeds popularity has grown around the world and they are used as guard dogs, herding, watch dogs, police work, competitive obedience as well as family pets.
Coming from a working blood line the Rottweiler needs a lot of exercise, they thrive on completing a job and amaze people at their herding talents.
Daily walks or runs will always leave them happy and they often enjoying chasing toys too!
They are a breed that are prone to issues such a ACL damage and hip dysplasia so monitoring their high impact exercise is crucial especially as they grow older. Without the right amount of exercise the Rottie is a breed that can gain weight easily which can lead to hip and knee issues also.

Our April Dogs of the Month...

31/3/2017

Another month gone, time to announce our April Dogs of the Month.....

Felix and Gypsy,
A father and daughter pair of Rottweilers!
Congratulations two these two beautiful big teddy bears!

The very talented Aussie Shepherd...

19/3/2017

Shep knows how beautiful his breed is but wants to show off how smart and agile the Aussie Shepherd is too!
Check out Cohen below, he might teach you a thing or two as well!

The Australian Shepherd.

5/3/2017

The Aussie Shepherd is a medium size breed of dog that is full of personality. They are often confused with the Border Collie as they are very similar looking, although the Aussie is easy to spot with their bob tail, which is usually natural but some are born with full tails.
Their name is deceiving as they are not in fact an Australian dog. They are likely to have been breed between France and Spain being used to protect herds of sheep that were exported to Australia and American and then developed overtime to be working dogs in the United States. As the moved to the US it is believed they were crossed with Collie’s and have developed through different stages over the years. Over this time they have been known by many different names including the Spanish Shepherd, Bob-Tail, New Mexican Shepherd and California Shepherd. It is unconfirmed on how the name ‘Australian Shepherd’ came about and why it has stuck!
To this day the Aussie Shepherd is a great working dog and family pet, they thrive on pleasing and having a job to do so they are an ideal farm dog and great for an agility or obedience partner. They are very happy, easy going dog who remains puppy like even as they enter their adult years. They are great with children and are perfect for an active house hold. Being working breed they need plenty of mental and physical stimulation and demand a strong, confident pack leader. Training is easy with the correct leadership.
The Aussie Shepherd has a variety of coat colours including red merle, blue merle, red (with or without white markings) tri colour and black and white.
Their coat is easy to maintain if brushed regularly and are average shedders.

Be sure to research the breed well and your preferred breeder before adding an Aussie Shepherd to your family as there can be a number of health issue that can develop from their breeding.

March Dog of the Month.

26/2/2017

Congratulations to....

SHEP the Australian Shepherd puppy!

We have been lucky enough to watch this beautiful boy grow from a tiny ball of fluff to a bigger ball of fluff!
Be sure to read his upcoming blogs and get to learn more about this stunning breed.