Congratulations to our Dog of the Month for April 2020... Dhamma the Standard Schnauzer!
Be sure to watch this space over April for more information about this energetic and charismatic breed!
 Originating in Germany, Miniature Pinschers (or “Min-Pins”) have ancestral ties to Dachshunds, Italian Greyhounds and German Pinschers. Originally developed as a rodent hunter, Miniature Pinschers are known to have a huge personality in a tiny package. Min-Pin’s love to play and explore, and a daily-walk is beneficial to help them exert their energy. They are full of spirit, extremely alert and courageous but can develop “Small Dog Syndrome” depending on their owner’s disposition and training style. Miniature Pinschers are notoriously hard to house-train, and will require constant positive reinforcement to form consistent toileting habits. They are also excellent tiny guard dogs, ever-vigilant in alerting their owners to potential intruders. However, they can be a little too quick to sound the alarm and barking can easily become a bad habit. As a breed, Min-Pins are well suited to apartment living as they are very active, even indoors, and need to be protected from outside weather. If living in a house with a yard, all efforts need to be made to escape-proof the perimeter, as their instinct to explore and investigate can lead to impressive escape attempts.
Miniature Pinschers require very minimal grooming, as their coat is smooth and very-short-haired. Despite this, they do still shed a little which can be helped by occasionally removing loose hair with a warm damp cloth. Min-Pins are bred in a variety of colours including Black and Tan, Chocolate and Rust and Red. Miniature Pinschers are known to live 15+ years!  A big congratulations to our Dog(s) of the Month for March 2020, Pedro and Javier the Miniature Pinschers!
The unique-looking Bedlington terrier originated in Northumberland in the mining town of Bedlington and were officially recognised by the AKC as a breed in the mid-1800s’. Despite their dainty appearance, the terriers were originally utilised as a working breed to hunt foxes, hares, badgers and vermin. Courageous, full of energy and spirit, Bedlington terriers are often referred to as a large dog in a small dog’s body. They are also a particularly happy and affectionate dog, making a great addition to family-life. However, Bedlington terriers are extremely fast when running and need to be taught strong recall from a young age. They are also prone to obsessively barking and love to dig, so require an assertive and confident owner who will consistently set down boundaries. As they are fairly active indoors, the Bedlington can be well-suited to apartment life so long as they are given a long daily walk.  Weighing in at between 8-10kg, the Bedlington terrier is a small-medium size breed. They are said to have the appearance of a lamb/sheep, due to their pear shaped head and pronounced fur around the top of the head and muzzle. The Bedlington’s woolly coat hardly sheds, but does require frequent brushing and a specialised clipping every six-eight weeks to retain its breed-specific shape. Although most Bedlingtons are white in appearance, the breed in recognised in many official colour variations including blue, sandy and liver.
Congratulations to our February 2020 Dog of the Month...  Hunter the Bedlington Terrier!
Stay tuned for our blog posts throughout February to find out more about this unique-looking breed!  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 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.
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