Blog Archives - Melbourne's Most Loved Dog Kennel

Lagotto.

30/9/2013

The Lagotto is an ancient breed noted back as far back as the 16th Century and was used for water retrieving throughout Italy. Over the centuries they have been used for searching truffles over the open land of Romagna.

With their great sense of smell and high ability to concentrate they were ideal for this line of work and are the only breed ever recognized for this. The Lagotto is a small to medium size muscle built dog. It is in their nature to search and is a great working dog. They are very determined and once their mind is set to something they are not usually distracted. They are very loyal and will become extremely attached to their owner.
They are an affectionate dog that gets along well with other pets. They make an excellent family pet but being that they are quite intelligent they need a lot of stimulation. Regular exercise and something to keep their mind working is a must. Tracking games or searching for things is in their natural instinct so they will always be keen. Agility is also a favorite with this dog, they are great at obedience and learning anything new.

As the same with all breeds, the Lagotto needs to be reminded that they are not the boss. They do require a pack leader and a strong minded owner.
Another plus for the Lagotto is their coat, similar to that of a poodle it doesn’t shed and is allergy friendly. It will require regular brushing as it is quite dense but grooming isn’t high maintenance. Be prepared to bath every so often as they love to get dirty! They are well known for getting into mud and other gooey stuff and making quite a mess of themselves.
The Lagotto, although not a commonly known breed, are an excellent addition to any family with the time and energy. They are not an ideal breed to be left on their for long periods of time and will bond extremely closely with their owner.

You don't own a dog!

29/9/2013

'I guess you don't really own a dog, you rent them, and you have to thankful that you had a long lease.'
- Joe Garagiola.

Dog treat recipes!

28/9/2013

We've come across some great, easy to make, recipe's for dog treats that we're going to share with you over the next few weeks. These are sure to be a winner with any dog and are a great idea for the warmer months of the year!

Frozen Peanut Butter Yogurt Dog Treats

Ingredients

900 grams vanilla yogurt
1 cup peanut butter

Directions

Melt the peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl
Combine the yogurt and melted peanut butter
Pour the mixture into cupcake papers
Place in the freezer

Read more at Cesar's website!

Max 'Gibbo' - Dog of the Month.

26/9/2013

Well it seems it's time for me to hang up the crown and end my celebrations as September's Dog of the Month.
Keep an eye out over the next week as I know the Doggy Doaters are busy voting, trying to choose October's lucky pooch... or pooches!

I hope I've kept everyone as entertained as I keep myself and maybe I'll spend some time with your pooch when their next at the Resort for the holiday... I like to be everyone's friend you see!

Have a great weekend,

Gibbo!

RSPCA Gala Ball.

25/9/2013

The RSPCA Gala Ball is an event, held by the RSPCA to raise funds to help the thousands of animals that come through their doors every year!

This year, they are celebrating their 10th World Animal Day Gala Ball which will be held at the Grand Hyatt in Melbourne.

For more information on the event, to join or find out how you can help support the RSPCA visit their website here.

We all know what great work the RSPCA does and we’re very lucky at Dogs Country Club to meet many great fur kids that have been given a second change and adopted through the RSCPA. One of our special friends who was one of these lucky pooches is Boo.
Boo found his forever home with Wendy who shared her special story with us.

My previous dog, Chloe, was a large Lab? X from the Keysborough pound and lived with me for 12 1/2 years.
It was nearly a year after her passing before I decided I needed to find another 'baby' to adopt.
Boo, was described as a consistent run-away, 18 month old Maltese X, by the Pearcedale RSPCA. He grabbed my heart when I saw him shaved completely nude and lying quivering in his bed, 3 years ago. I had decided to find a small, short haired, quiet, non-barker -- ironic, since Boo needs clipping 3 times a year and is quite a hyperactive, loud, guard dog.
I introduced my 2 year old grand-daughter to him the day after I first saw him, and since he seemed happy to be literally loved and squished by her, I chose him as suitable to be around my (now 6) grandkids and a new companion for me. She named him after the little girl in the Monsters Inc. movie.
As for me - he sleeps on the end of the bed, knows when his feet are wet I will put him in the laundry (not his favourite place) although baths are fun as he runs around the house like a lunatic when half dry. His happiest place, apart from my bed in the sunshine, is squeezing in next to me on my recliner watching the TV.
I chose him at the time when my mother and mother-in-law were both in Aged Care. He accompanied me each time I visited them and was a hit with all the oldies and the resident cats. Very therapeutic the staff told me and you could see how the little dog brought smiles to all their faces. He even hoovered up the floor after their meals.
Boo is a real character, with brains and an uncanny knowledge of my habits. ie when I use lipstick, don shoes, or grab my handbag, and he's still indoors, he watches me lock the back door and goes berserk, knowing he is coming with me, waiting at the front door while barking with excitement. He adores other dogs and wouldn't hesitate to 'go home' with anyone when I walk him 'off leash' at the park, often running out of sight, but always coming back when he sees me waving in my red jacket (my favourite colour).
His separation anxiety is evident when I leave him in the car to duck into any shop and people often comment on the squealing. I once took him away with me but found it too stressful for him if I was out of sight, so never again, always back to the Dog Country Club for their devoted attention.
Now 4 1/2 and a devoted companion, Boo knows I am a soft touch and will beg or twist in circles near the fridge when it's dinnertime, or for a treat when he knows I am about to put him outside before I go out without him. Outside the house Boo prefers to jump up via a chair to sit on top of the outdoor table to wait for my return, despite having 2 beds to choose from. He is a healthy boy and very trusting of me when I cut his feet and facial hair in between 'proper' trims, and never growls or snarls if I have to rescue something from his mouth or clean out his ears.
I know I waffle on - but that is me, and Boo just loves a chat understanding inflections in my voice and certain words.

Wendy and Boo.

Boo

There are many great shelters and re homing groups out there and the RSPCA is certainty one of the biggest. If you’re looking for a new member to add the family why not have a look at your local shelters and see if you give the forever, loving home to someone that needs it most. It sure was the best decision for Wendy and we know Boo is forever grateful.

Can your dog do these tricks?

23/9/2013

We've shown off some of Nana's skills previously but this video is just amazing, what a talented dog!

Correctly walking on lead.

22/9/2013

More excellent tips on becoming a great Pack Leader; A Pack Leader doesn’t show any emotional or nervous energy, they are calm and assertive in their manner to influence the dogs around them. Teach your dog to earn his rewards. This way he will see he must obey to your command in order to get what he wants – not that he will just get it because he wants it. In the wild a pack leader will eat first, the adults and puppies must wait their turn. In a dog’s mind, waiting is a form of work. When feeding, or rewarding your dog with a treat, make them sit and wait before giving it to them. If feeding their meal in a bowl, place it in front of them and teach them to wait for your command to eat it. If you find your dog is very high energy and has difficulty focusing during these tasks, take them for their walks before this time. This will help you to achieve the result you are wanting. Never reward your dog, whether it is with food or affection, until they have obeyed your command and are in a calm and submissive state.
Remeber, a dog that knows it's place in the pack will live a happier life then a dog who believes they are in control!

Gemma & Frodo - do you eat fast?

20/9/2013

Does your pooch get a little too excited at meal times… like us?! Does it seem they ‘inhale’ their food without even chewing and gag once they finish?

We have the answer for you…
THE SCOFF STOPPER!

Not only can it unpleasant to watch your pooch ‘scoff’ their food in 5 seconds flat but it can actually cause serious health problems and prevent them from getting all the nutrience they require fromt their meal. Broader chested, larger dogs are prone to bloat and fast eating could be a cause of this and allows the dog to intake a lot more air than normal whilst eating. Although the true causes of bloat are still unknown, it is believed fast eating can be a factor. For more information on Bloat visit our health blog.

The Scoff Stopper bowl is a fantastic idea with a lot of research put into design. The bowl is created to force your dog to slow down whilst eating and move their mouth throughout the bowl in order to reach their food. To find out more information on the Scoff Stopper visit their website!

If you have any questions or are concerned with your dog’s eating habits don’t hesitate to contact the office on 5971 1127. The Doggy Doaters are always here to help. We also sell Scoff Stopper in the office at the Resort. The Scoff Stopper helps us when we get too excited about breakfast and dinner!

Have a great weekend and enjoy the School Holidays!

Gemma & Frodo!

Max the Labradoodle - Dog of the Month

19/9/2013

Hello Dog Lovers!
I thought I would take the time to share with you some information on my breed as there is still a lot unknown about us.

There are three different ‘types’ of Labradoodle that are known to be currently being bred.

·         The Australian Labradoodle, bred here in Australia

·         The Australian Labradoodle bred in the USA

·         And the American Labradoodle.

The Australian Labradoodle bred in Australia is recognized by both the Labradoodle Association of Australia and the International Australian Labradoodle Association Inc. These dogs are being bred with the hope of creating a purebred standard. The American Labradoodle is a hybrid breed and is created by crossing a Poodle with a Labrador Retriever.

The problem you can run into with ‘hybrid’ breeds is that there is currently no breed standard and not all dogs are crossed purely 50%, meaning sometimes you may get a Labrador crossed with a Standard poodle, or you may get a Labradoodle crossed with Labrador resulting, possibly, in a more ‘Labrador’ looking dog. Until a breed standard is developed these dog’s will not be recognised as a ‘pure breed’.
Planned cross breeding was first created in Australia in the 1980’s. The goal was to create a ‘new’ breed of dog with the best attributes of the original breeds they were crossed with. The hope was to produce assistance dogs that didn’t shed hair. The two perfect candidates, the Labrador and Standard Poodle. Today, the Labradoodle has been bred and used as assistance dogs throughout Australia and Hawaii though they are yet to have the non-shedding characteristic fixed in all the cross breeds.
In 1997 the very first Australian Labradoodle Breed Standard was written with the goal of having the breed recoganised as a pure breed. . The Australian Labradoodle currently consists of 6 different breeds in its origin. The confirmed and approved parent breeds of the Australian Labradoodle are the Poodle (Standard, Miniature, Toy, Labrador Retriever, Irish Water Spaniel, Curly Coat Retriever, American and English Cocker Spaniel.)
The breed standard is still being worked towards.

There a number of different breeds coming out considered as ‘hybrid’ dogs. A lot of these dogs are crossed with the Poodle, as their coat is great for any allergy suffers and they’re also a very intelligent breed. Some of these breeds you may have heard of;

·         The Cavoodle – Cavalier cross Poodle

·         Spoodle – Spaniel cross Poodle

·         Groodle – Golden Retriever cross Poodle

If you are looking into purchasing a cross breed dog you should always do your research as if they are a pure bred. Look into the history of both parents and research information on the breed. Make sure you’re finding the right temperamental dog for your family.

Interesting stuff!
Have a great weekend!

Gibbo!

Bernese Mountain Dog

16/9/2013

Rex

The Bernese mountain dog is a strong, large breed of dog. Their body is slightly longer than it is tall and very sturdy in build. They come only in tri colour with symmetrical markings, their base colour is black with a while blaze on the chest and white on the head, tips of tail and toes. The rust colouring appears on their cheeks, over each eye and on each side of the chest, all 4 legs and underneath the tail.
The breed originated in the Swiss mountains a very long time ago. Dog’s that looks like the Bernese appear in many 18th century paintings. They were used as working dogs, pulling carts to market, drive cattle and as companions for the farmers and were named for the Canton of Bern in Switzerland. By the end of the 19th century many other breeds of working dog were being imported into Switzerland, this brought the number of Bernese working dogs down as other began to use the other breeds. A group of people came together in an effort to save the breed, they tried to find the remaining Bernese that were around in the hope they could stabilize numbers and luckily they did. Today the Bernese mountain dog makes a fantastic companion animal who will still work their heart out for their owner.

The Bernese had a beautiful temperament and is a very intelligent breed, making training easy with the right owner. As with all breeds, they require a strong, calm pack leader who can display this position clearly to the dog. Once you have this under control, everything becomes very easy and gives the dog a happy place in the family. They are a cheerful breed of dog and are great with children, generally good with other pets and quite friendly with strangers. They are very much a people dog and need to be with the family as much as possible. They are not the breed of dog that is happy to live in the backyard, walked daily and then returned the back yard. They do require a long, daily walk (as they are prone to weight gain easily) but love nothing more than being inside with the family.
They do fantastic as working dogs and being bred for draft work they are naturally great in this field.

The Bernese mountain dog isn’t ideal for small house living, although fairly inactive they still require a large yard and area to move around in. They do grow to a large size, generally wider then taller. Males can reach up to 71cms and weight around the 40 – 50kg mark, with females reaching around 69cms and 35 – 48kgs. If you’re considering a Bernese mountain dog as your next pet you need to do your research and make sure you can meet the breed’s needs. Grooming is a requirement, daily brushing will help maintain a healthy coat and extra attention is required during shedding as they are heavy, seasonal shedders. Bloat is a concern as they are a larger chested dog and they are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia.

Saxon and Colin