Melbourne's Most Loved Dog Kennel - Blog

The Siberian Husky

11/4/2018

Originating from North-Eastern Siberia around 3,000 years ago, is the Siberian Husky. They were bred from the Chukchi people whose nomadic culture relied on them to pull sleds. In 1908 they were brought to Nome-Alaska for Sled-dog racing.
The Siberian husky is a medium-large breed dog, that has triangular shaped ears that prick up, a long muzzle and have eyes the colour of blue, brown or one of each. Their coat is most commonly seen in black and white, then following is copper-red and white, pure white and even sable. Their coat has a thick double layer which is medium to long in length and allows them to withstand temperatures as low as -50 to -60 degrees.
Today most Siberian Huskies are family pets that thrive off companionship, are known to be gentle with children and good with other dogs. They do however have a high activity level which requires 1-2 hours of exercise daily and are not suited to an apartment or home without a large backyard. They must have high secure fencing as they are prone to find a way out if left to become bored and lonely.
Siberian huskies require grooming at least 1-2 times weekly because of their thick soft outer coat and dense undercoat. This also means they can struggle in the heat as they were bred to stand cold weather conditions. During the warmer months access to cool shaded areas indoors or out and water is always needed.

Interesting facts about the Siberian Husky

While they are not known to excessively bark, they like to throw their head back and let out a big howl along with vocal sounds.
Look very similar to a wolf
They are fantastic diggers- They will dig out a whole in the snow to create shelter from harsh conditions.
Are able to change their metabolism
They are pack orientated
During World War II, Siberian Huskies help the army by being search and rescue assistants.

Our March Dogs of the Month

2/4/2018

Happy Easter to everyone!
With another month comes another announcement of our lucky Dogs of the Month.
The winners are.....

Kico and Ivo!

These two bundles of fur and very gentle giants, who love nothing more then to lap up all the attention of the Doggy Doaters all day long.
Congratulations guys!

The Rhodesian Ridgeback

1/3/2018

The Rhodesian Ridgeback originates from South Africa where originally bred to hunt and be the protector of the household. Many years ago the ridgeback was known as the African Lion dog/ hound or Van Rooyen's lion dog, for its ability to keep a lion at bay while waiting for its master’s command or arrival to kill.

The appearance of a Rhodesian Ridgeback is lean with a muscular body that has a distinctive ridge of hair that runs down the back in the opposite direction from the rest of the coat which is what represents their name. They stand around 64-69cm tall for males and weighing around 40kg, Females stand around 61-66cm tall and weigh around 32kg. The coat of a Ridgeback is short, shiny and appears in a light wheaten to red wheaten colour.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a very loyal and intelligent dog, though can come off aloof to strangers. They are very strong willed and do enjoy getting up to mischief which means they are a breed who require vigorous daily activity and stimulation. Ridgebacks are very loving to their owners and respond best to positive reward based training, socialisation consistency in their life.

Facts about Rhodesian Ridgebacks

The most common nickname for a Ridgeback is “Ridgie
They have no off switch when it comes to food meaning they are never full!
Ridgebacks rank highest for being affectionate and good with children.
Many purebred Ridgebacks don’t possess the physical trait the “Ridge” of hair that runs down their spine

March Dog of the Month

28/2/2018

Congratulations to our new March Dog of the Month...

Nahko the Ridgeback

Nahko and is full of beans and always keeps the Doggy Doaters entertained. We have been lucky enough to watch this cheeky boy grow up in the big giant teddy bear that he is today!
Congratulations Nahko!

Basset Hounds

5/2/2018

The Basset Hound originates from France in the 1500’s where they were originally bred to hunt hare. Basset hounds have a low set appearance and great sense of smell which is second the Bloodhound.
Today the Basset Hound is more commonly seen as a family member in the household, as they are outgoing, friendly and tolerable of children. The Basset hound is large but short and stocky with long ears that drape to the ground and a tail that curves over their back. Basset Hounds as an adult weighs around 20-35kg and stand about 33-38cm tall, their colouring can vary from Tri colour, to red & white and also Lemon and white which is lighter than the red.
Basset Hounds do require frequent cleaning of their ears to prevent infections as they are so long and droopy and do not allow air to circulate, unlike many other breeds where the ears prick up. A Basset Hound requires weekly brushing to maintain their short coat and a run and play in the yard or 15-20 minute walks daily as they can be prone to weight problems.
Fun Facts about Basset Hounds

Their name refers to their size, as Bas means Low in French
Basset Hounds struggle to swim due to their stocky bodies and short legs, so they prefer to hang out on the shoreline of water rather than risk falling in.
Basset Hounds long ears drag along the ground as they sniff which helps to bring scents directly to their face.
Basset Hounds are common characters for both live and animated movies or TV Shows

Our February Dogs of the Month

28/1/2018

Crazy to believe we have already made it through the festive season and are welcoming February already. With a new month comes a new announcement for our lucky Dogs of the Month. Wearing the February crown for 2018 is....

Copper & Bruce

The Basset Hounds! The Basset Hound is often an entertaining breed and these two are no exception. With their adorable floppy ears and big sloppy kisses - how could you not love a Basset?!

The German Shepherd.

14/1/2018

Also known as the Alsatian or GSD, the German Shepherd is a well-proportioned, very strong (both mentally and physically) dog. They are very sturdy with a muscular frame, they have an elongated body and light, yet solid bone structure.
There are 3 varieties of the GSD, double coat, plush coat and long haired coat. The coat comes in black with tan, all black or sable but can also come in white, blue and liver – though these colours are considered a fault to most standards. The White Shepherd is recognised as its own breed, being known as the American White Shepherd.

The German Shepherd originated in Karlsruhe, Germany from Captain Max von Stephanitz and other dedicated breeders who produced an obedient and handsome dog. They did this by mixing longhaired, shorthaired and wire haired herding and farm dogs locally from Wurtemberg, Thurginia and Bavaria.
They were first presented in 1889 in Hanover with the shorthaired variety first seen in Berlin in the same year. In April 1899, von Stephanitz registered a dog named Horan, the first Deutsche Schäferhunde, which in English translates to ‘German Shepherd Dog.’ Until 1915, both the wire haired and longhaired varieties were shown. The first GSD to be shown in American wasn’t until 1907.

Today, the German Shepherd makes a great family companion but are also ideal working dogs. They are very courageous and fear nothing, they will put their own life on the line for the family. They are a keen, alert and very smart dog, making training simple for the right owner. As all dogs, they require a strong and firm pack leader otherwise can be a destructive pet. They need a stable environment and consistent training. They simply will not listen if they feel at any point that they are stronger and have the upper hand. They are one of the smartest and most trainable breeds and need to be well understood.
Their natural protective instinct makes them great for families and ideal for the line of work as Police Dogs. They bond very close to their family and can be wary of strangers. They will only bark when they feel necessary and require good socialization from a young age. Any behavioural issues are a clear indication of poor handling and training.
They require a high level of mental and physical daily stimulation and should not be left on their own for long periods of time. They are not a breed they will enjoy being locked in the back yard or laze around the house all day. Their mind needs to be kept busy and complete ‘jobs’ that are set for them.
They do excellent in tracking and obedience as well as agility work.

Sadly, bad breeding is common today and hereditary problems such as hip and elbow dysplasia are being seen more. Being a large dog they are prone to bloat and for this reason, feeding should be well monitored. Breeders should be thoroughly researched prior to the purchase of a pup.
They are generally a large size dog, with males growing up to 65cms and females to 60cm. Their coat requires some upkeep as they are heavy shedders. Daily brushing is ideal and bathing only when necessary.

The GSD makes a great pet and work mate but needs to be well understood before being considered. They need an owner who is able to put in the time and effort and in the end, be rewarded with a best mate for life.

January 2018 Dog the Month

30/12/2017

Happy New Year and welcome to our first blog of 2018!
Our lucky Dog of the Month to welcome in the New Year is....

Max
The German Shepherd

Congratulations Max, we can't wait to read your blogs!

Frankie's Christmas Tip #1

7/12/2017

Keeping your 4 legged kids safe this festive season!

Christmas time can become stressful around the house for us, so imagine what it must be like for our pet! Things around being moved around the house, bright flashing trees are going up and lots of visitors are coming and going. This can all be very exciting for our dogs can also a little intimidating at the same time. Here's some tips to help keep Fido comfortable and enjoy the festive season.

Keep your dogs routine as regular as possible, if you are planning on having guests around try and exercise your dog as much as possibly. The more energy he burns before hand, the less he is going to use when the guests arrive.
When preparing food remember that this all smells very lovely and tasty to our pets so even once the rubbish has been thrown out make sure it is secure so even the sneakiest pet can shove their nose in and help themselves. Something as small as the mesh netting around meat can get caught up in the intestines and possibly lead to fatal bloat, so you can never be too safe.
If your pooch is an inside doggy, be mindful of this when decorating your tree. If there is a particular spot in the window that he likes to sit in or through place the tree elsewhere as you could find it coming down after him. Placing decorations higher on the tree and leaving the lower branches bare will also help to minimise the risk of someone helping themselves to the shiny pretty objects.
If you have a live Christmas Tree be sure to regularly change the water and have barriers to prevent your from getting the tree's base as the water can contain Pine Tar which is poisonous to dogs.
Be mindful of any gifts already wrapped under the tree, especially if they contain food. Dogs have an excellent sense of smell and will most likely eat all the packaging plus the food inside.
Keep your guests aware that Fido is hanging around as well. Something simple as an alcoholic drink placed down or a dropped cigarette but can cause internal issues for your dog and needs to be avoided.

With a little bit of caution and plenty of attention, you and your furry family members can enjoy a safe and yappy Christmas together!

Frankie's Christmas Tip #2

7/12/2017

1. Be especially patient with your humans during this time. They may appear to be more stressed-out than usual and they will appreciate long comforting dog leans.

2. They may come home with large bags of things they call gifts. Do not assume that all the gifts are yours.

3. Be tolerant if your humans put decorations on you. They seem to get some special kind of pleasure out of seeing how you look with fake antlers.

4. They may bring a large tree into the house and set it up in a prominent place and cover it with lights and decorations. Bizarre as this may seem to you, it is an important ritual for your humans, so there are some things you need to know: - Don't pee on the tree - Don't drink water in the container that holds the tree - Mind your tail when you are near the tree - If there are packages under the tree, even ones that smell interesting or that have your name on them, don't rip them open - Don't chew on the cord that runs from the funny-looking hole in the wall to the tree

5. Your humans may occasionally invite lots of strangers to come visit during this season. These parties can be lots of fun, but they also call for some discretion on your part: - Not all strangers appreciate kisses and leans - Don't eat off the buffet table - Beg for goodies subtly - Be pleasant, even if unknowing strangers sit on your sofa - Don't drink out of glasses that are left within your reach

6. Likewise, your humans may take you visiting. Here your manners will also be important: - Observe all the rules in #4 for trees that may be in other people's houses. (4a is particularly important) - Respect the territory of other animals that may live in the house - Tolerate children - Turn on your charm big time

7. A big man with a white beard and a very loud laugh may emerge from your fireplace in the middle of the night. DON'T BITE HIM!!