Melbourne's Most Loved Dog Kennel - Blog

The Kerry Blue Terrier

13/1/2020

The Kerry Blue Terrier originated in the 1700s, named after the Irish county of Kerry, and “blue” due the colour of their coat. The Kerry Blue is thought to be a combination of the Portuguese Water Dog, Soft coated Wheaten Terrier and possibly Irish Wolfhound. A historical writing on Irish dogs discovered from over a century ago also mentions a breed, the “Harlequin Terrier” which sounds quite similar to the Kerry Blue.

Today, the Kerry Blue is used as an all-round hard working terrier, utilised for everything from small game hunting through to retrieving, farm herding, companionship and police work. They are an extremely playful and affectionate dog and are well known for making people laugh. As a breed, Kerry Blues enjoy being close with their owners and make great watch dogs, although will not attack unless they are provoked. They are very switched on, alert and enjoy playing rough. The Kerry Blue is a very friendly breed and will get along with strangers and other pets if introduced properly. However, they are very strong-minded and are a breed that requires a strong pack leader. Firm training will ensure no aggressive behaviour. If the Kerry Blue is allowed to have the upper hand they will test and learn what they can get away with, and push the limits. They are very protective in their nature and will need regular socialization from a young age. With a high intelligence comes pros and cons, they are very easy to train and can be taught to perform tricks. They also enjoy agility but can become bored very easily, and if games or sports become routine the enjoyment will soon burn out. They need regular and constantly changing stimulation. This includes daily walks, to keep their body and mind fit.

Grooming is a regular requirement for the Kerry Blue, and they should be professionally groomed every 6 weeks. As with most long-haired breeds, the Kerry Blue is prone to ear infections. To prevent this, the ear hair needs to be cleaned and groomed, as it can cause wax and dirt build up. On top of this they need to be brushed and bathed once a week at home (unlike most other breeds, regular bathing will not dry out the skin). Without this, food and dirt will build up in their beard and become extremely smelly. The rest of their coat is practically odorless, even when wet, and is great for allergy sufferers as they shed very little hair.

Our January 2020 Dog of the Month

2/1/2020

Our first Dogs of the Month for 2020 are...

The Kerry Blue Terriers! Keep an eye out for upcoming blogs throughout the month of January to learn more about this uncommon breed.

Fun Facts about the Whippet

20/12/2019

They can reach speeds of up to 35 miles per hour, that is around 56 kilometres per hour!
The strongest dog in the world is a Whippet called Wendy. Wendy is a Bully Whippet, which is where the two Myostatin genes that usually create the lean Whippet actually mutate and in cause the dog to appear to be unnaturally buff.
Whippets love the couch just as much as they do a race track! Whilst they are very fast and love to exercise, they love to recuperate just as much!
Their running style is called “Double Suspension Gallop”.
Whippet’s were given the nickname “Poor man’s Greyhound”, and were mainly owned by British miller workers, coal miners and tenant farmers in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Learn more about Whippets

16/12/2019

Whippets are a medium size breed which resemble the Greyhound.

Originating in England in the late 18th and early 19th Centuries, they were bred to hunt by sight, however historical artefacts do show that small “Greyhound like” dogs have appeared in ancient Egypt’s palaces and are thought to be ancestors of today’s Whippets.

It is believed that the first known Whippets were known to be English Greyhounds too small for stag hunting in England’s forests however were great at open space hunting for rats, rabbits and hares. It wasn’t until the mid-19th century that Whippets began being bred to race.
Classified as “Hound Dogs”, they are a lean but muscular and athletic dog with a short, smooth coat that comes in many variations of colours, including white, black, fawn, brindle, blue, and variations of these colours.

Whippets are known to be very intelligent dogs however are slow to learn, so we need to be patient and gentle with them. Whippets can be trained in agility and obedience. In agility training you will train your Whippet to do obstacles such as jumps, ramps, see-saws, hoop jumping and tunnels.

They are gentle, affectionate and tolerant dogs, however when racing they are competitive!
Whippets are quite healthy dogs, that are not prone to issues such as skin allergies, ear infections or food sensitivities, however they are known to suffer from Heart Arrythmia. But with proper nutrition, exercise and regular vet checks, Whippets can live up to 12 – 15 years.
Whippets are a great addition to any house, whether you are a young family, a couple or someone living on their own, they will love you, and they make great watch dogs, announcing the arrival of company before you even know they have arrived!

Thinking of welcoming a Whippet into your world? You won’t regret it!

Our December Dog(s) of the Month!

2/12/2019

Our new December Dogs of the Month for 2019 are....

Ollie and Evie the Whippets! Be sure to keep an eye out for their upcoming blogs to learn more about this wonderful breed!

Our November Dog of the Month!

29/10/2019

How crazy to think there are only two more chances for new Dogs of the Month before we finish up for 2019!
A big congratulations to our November 2019 Dog of the Month......

Buka

The beautiful big Black Russian Terrier. Stay tuned to learn more about this amazing gentle giant!

The Black Russian Terrier

29/10/2019

The Black Russian Terrier, also known as the Chornyi Terrier is a breed created back in the late 1940’s -1950’s to be used by the military. This breed, whilst not a true Terrier, was developed by the USSR and it is believed that up to 17 different breeds were used to create the BRT, some of which are believed to be the Airedale, Rottweiler, Newfoundland and Giant Schnauzer.
Black Russian Terriers were bred solely by the Red Star Kennel in Moscow until 1957 when some puppies were sold to civilian breeders. It wasn’t until 1996 that the Black Russian Terrier was introduced to the UK as a breed, and were finally added to the Kennel Club’s Import Register in 1998.
Black Russian Terriers are tall, the males standing at up to 76cm and the females up to around 72cm. The males weigh between 50 – 60kgs and the females between 45 – 50kgs. They have a beautiful double coat, with a course outer coat protecting their soft undercoat. Their coats are black and sometimes have flecks of grey.
The Black Russian Terriers are generally a healthy dog with a lifespan of approximately 10 – 14 years, however they are prone to some hereditary diseases such as, Hip & Elbow Dysplasia, Hyperuricosuria, Laryngeal Paralysis and Polyneuropathy.
The Black Russian Terrier has a beautiful temperament, they are very calm and confident. They are very intelligent which enables them to be trained easily. They are protective therefore do not like strangers in their personal space, but they are deeply loyal to their family and are very determined and somewhat fearless.
As they are bred as working dogs, the Black Russian Terrier needs to be kept busy with lots of regular exercise and training from an early age. The BRT does great in activities such as Obedience Competitions and Agility, and if they don’t get the stimulation that they need, can become destructive.
All in all, the BRT is a loyal dog who loves their human companion and is great with children, with plenty of exercise and training make a great family member!

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

18/10/2019

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small, happy and easy-to-please dog. The breed originated in the late 1600’s as a result of the King Charles Spaniel being crossed with the Pug, making them a smaller dog with flatter noses, upturned faces and rounder heads. It wasn’t until the 40’s that they were classified as their own breed and therefore given the prefix Cavalier, to differentiate them from the King Charles Spaniel.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel makes an excellent addition to any family, as an affectionate and happy dog. Always eager to please, they are fearless and respond well to gentle obedience training. Cavaliers are said to be naturally well behaved and get along well with other dogs, pets and children alike. They love people and need constant companionship and shouldn’t be left alone all day. It’s best to socialize Cavalier King Charles Spaniels well from a young age to avoid them being reserved with strangers, as they can be a very pleasant companion dog. They are well-suited to apartment life and are moderately active indoors so are happy enough with a small yard. They do have some common health issues to keep an eye on, such as eye disease, back trouble and dislocating patella (knee caps). Ear infections can be common and they do gain weight easily so they are not a breed to over feed.

As a breed, Cavaliers don’t tend to cope well in warmer weather and need to be monitored in these times. It’s best to check the medical history of the previous generation if possible. Playtimes will take care of most of their exercise requirements although a daily walk is appreciated. Their coat is easily maintained with regular brushing and only bathing when necessary. The long hair between their pads needs to be trimmed and their ears are prone to tangling and matting so need to be brushed daily. Cleaning inside of the ears regularly will also help to prevent ear infections.

FUN FACTS:

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels come in four different colours, Tri-colour, Black & Tan, Ruby and Blenheim (Chestnut and White)
Cavvies are amongst the most popular breeds of dog in Australia after Labradors, Staffies and Border Collies
Despite this, they were only recognised by the AKC as an official breed in 1996

The Greyhound

11/10/2019

The Greyhound is a tall and slender breed of dog, well known for their quick speed, keen eyesight and laid-back attitude. Thought to have originated in ancient Egypt, carvings of Greyhound have been found dating back as far as 2900 BC. Their keen eyesight paired with their lightning speed made them the perfect working dog, as they were able to hunt, chase and catch their pray without needing to rest for extended periods. Over time, Greyhounds were gradually bred as competition racing dogs and are still utilised in racing, agility and hunting.

Today, Greyhounds make a perfect pet, and thanks to the great efforts of rescue groups you can adopt a retired racing greyhound as a family pet. They are an extremely devoted and brave breed of dog and, even though they are such a fast dog, they are also very laid back and even ‘lazy’ at times, and are more than happy to spend an afternoon relaxing on the couch. Greyhounds are somewhat reserved in their behaviour, and are extremely loyal to their owners. They have a natural instinct to chase anything that moves and even though retired Greyhounds go through an extensive process before being rehomed, they shouldn’t be left alone or trusted with smaller pets (cats, rabbits etc.)
If well socialised, Greyhound are very friendly towards other dogs. Greyhounds are best suited to a firm yet even tempered owner who is able to establish they are the pack leader and clearly and consistently communicate the rules of the house. Greyhounds love regular routine and should be given daily, long walks as well as a nice large, safe area to free roam in.

Grooming is very simple when it comes to this breed, as their short coat simply requires a brush out every so often and bathing only when needed. Being a larger size dog with such a large chest they are highly prone to bloat and this should be well understood by any owner before bringing a Greyhound into the family. Meals should be spread out throughout the day and exercise times should be well monitored and given rest periods around meal times.

FUN FACTS

Greyhounds have been named the fastest dog in the world, able to reach speeds of up to 65kmph!
It is a common belief that Greyhounds cannot sit. They can in fact sit; however, their muscle structure makes it difficult for them to appear comfortable
Greyhounds have been adored by royalty throughout history, with notable owners including King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I

Our October Dog of the Month

1/10/2019

A big congratulations to our October Dog(s) of the Month, Humphrey the Cavalier Spaniel and Middy the Greyhound!

One of our favourite pairs at Dogs Country Club. Despite the odds, Humphrey and Middy make the perfect family!