Origin:
The Golden Retriever was developed in the late 1800s in the Scottish Highlands. The breed is the result of crossbreeding a yellow Flat-Coated Retriever, Bloodhound, Irish Setter, and the now-extinct Tweed Water Spaniel. It was originally developed by Lord Tweedmouth and was first known as the Golden Flat-Coat. The name was changed to Golden Retriever in 1920.
Purpose:
The Golden Retriever was originally bred as a gun and water retrieving dog to assist hunters in retrieving waterfowl.
Today, they are widely used as exceptional assistance dogs in many areas to support humans. They are also highly effective working dogs, particularly in tracking and narcotics detection.
Coat Care:
The stunning double coat of the Golden Retriever requires daily brushing to prevent matting and to remove any sticks or debris. Their dense undercoat benefits from a firm brush, especially during shedding seasons. Particular attention should be paid to the ears and the backs of the legs to avoid tangles.
They only need to be bathed when necessary. As a water-loving breed, they will seize any opportunity to swim, so it's important to ensure their coat is thoroughly dried after water play to prevent hotspots.
Health & Temperament:
The Golden Retriever is one of the most popular companion breeds in the world—and for good reason! This lovable and cheerful breed is hard not to adore. When well socialised and raised with consistent boundaries, Golden Retrievers are affectionate with everyone—from adults and children to other dogs, cats, and small household pets.
They thrive on being part of the family and enjoy daily walks. Without sufficient mental and physical stimulation, they can become bored and potentially destructive. They also love to play fetch endlessly!
Golden Retrievers are prone to weight gain, so their diet and exercise routines must be managed carefully.
​Though incredibly loving, they also make excellent watchdogs and will alert their families to any perceived threats.
Unfortunately, the breed is prone to certain health issues, especially cancer—most notably mast cell tumours. It’s essential to research the health history of breeding parents before purchasing a puppy. Regular veterinary check-ups are crucial for early detection of health concerns. Other conditions to be aware of include hip dysplasia, heart problems, eye defects, and skin allergies.
The average lifespan of a Golden Retriever is 10–12 years.

​Origin:
The Bernese Mountain Dog originates from the Swiss Mountains and is an ancient breed, with 18th century paintings showing dogs that appear very similar to the BMD. They are named after the area in Switzerland, the canton of Bern.
 
Purpose:
The BMD was bred as a working and companion dog for farmers. Their lines of work included pulling carts as well as driving cattle. The breed excels in herding, guarding and search and rescue work.

Coat care:
The thick double coat of the BMD requires daily brushing, with extra work needed during shedding. The breed is a seasonal shedder however during this time will drop a lot of fur. Being bred to work in the Swiss Mountain, they are very much equipped for the cold weather, with a longer outer coat and woolly warm undercoat.


Health & Temperament:
These beautiful giants are a perfect companion and family dog. The BMD is a loving and happy dog that are very intelligent and easy to train. They are confident and alert and get along well with other animals is well socialised from a young age.
Despite their size, they are a very active breed, requiring a decent daily walk. They enjoy a large outdoor space for daily access to get out and run. With the right physical and mental stimulation, they are also happy to lounge around inside, lapping up plenty of cuddles and attention and being close with their family.
Sadly, the average life span has decreased for the breed over the last 10 years, with poor breeding practices included in some of the claims for this. Currently, the average lifespan of the BMD is only 6 -8 with cancer being a very large cause of death within the breed. This is something that many BMD groups have been studying and looking into to reduce this. They are certainly a breed that requires thorough health checks of their parents breeding blood lines. 

Origin:
The Greyhound is an ancient breed with carvings of them depicted in Egyptian tombs dating back as far as 2900 BC.
It is believed that the breed has descended from the Arabian Sloughi and over time has been traded and moved around the world from England to America and even used by Spanish explorers. They were officially recognised in America in 1885.   
The origin of their name remains unknown however it is believed it comes from the Old English words of ‘grei’ and ‘hundr’ which mean ‘dog’ and ‘hunter’.  
 
Purpose:
The Greyhound was bred for hunting. Being the fastest breed in the world, catching prey was never a challenge for them. Over history they have been used for hunting all types of animals from rabbits and hare to fox, deer and wild boar. Along with their speed, they also have fantastic eye sight, making them the perfect hunter.
As of today, Greyhounds are most popular for racing dogs. There are now two accepted line of breeding amount the breed, show line and racing line. The show lines meet the breeding standard and are suitable for entering the show ring with the racing line be bred purely to be the fastest on the track.

Coat care:
Grooming for this shorthaired breed is almost non-existent. They can be brushed as needed especially during times of shedding and really don’t require to be bathed. It is better for their skin to avoid bathing as much as possible to avoid dry skin and allow their natural oils to protect their skin and coat.


Health & Temperament:
Contrary to everything we know about the Greyhound, pet Greyhounds are very much a relaxed and easy going dog. They enjoy a daily walk and should only ever be let off leash in a safe and very secure space. Chasing small animals is in their blood so caution should always be taken around smaller animals. Aside from this, they are, in general, a very easy breed to keep.
Once their exercise needs are met, the Greyhound will happily lounge around the house (on the couch is preferred) and make great companions for the elderly. Sadly, many Greyhounds from the racing industry, when no longer winning races, are destroyed. Thankfully there are a number of Greyhound Rescue and Rehoming groups that help to rehome these dogs. Even if they have been raised as racing dogs, they still make amazing family pets and adjust well and easily to a home lifestyle with time and love. They enjoy the company of others dogs and will love a good play with other breeds.
They are a breed that is prone to bloat so it’s important all Greyhound owners are well educated on this and take appropriate precautions around meal and exercise times. You can read more on bloat HERE.  They live anywhere between 10 – 12 years on average. 

Origin:
The Labrador Retriever originated in Newfoundland (now known and Newfoundland & Labrador) which can be the giveaway for how their name came about (also, the name for the Newfoundland too!) They were cross bred over the years to create the ideal hunter and retriever with other setters and spaniels to create the breed we know today, being one of the most popular breeds of dogs in both Australia and America. In the 1800’s, the breed began to be transported to England from Labrador, where the name has stuck with the breed every since.

Purpose:
The Labrador was breed and developed over the years to become an ideal companion for fisherman, catching any fish that would come loose from the lines. They would also jump into waters, sometimes freezing cold, to assist in pulling fish nets into the boats. They were also fantastic guard dogs.

Coat care:
The smooth, short, double coat of the Labrador is very easy to maintain and groom, needing a brush every other day and more often when shedding. Not over bathing them will allow their skins natural oils to repel dirt and smells and keep them shiny and clean.

Health & Temperament:
Today, the Labrador is one of the most popular choices for companion and family pets. They are well loved around the world and have made their mark as highly intelligent working dogs too, thriving in areas of police work, hunting, sniffer detection, guide and assistance dogs and many many more.
The Labrador loves to love and loves to work. When well socialised and trained from a young age they are fantastic with all other animals and children. They are highly trainable and with this intelligence comes the need for plenty of mental and physical stimulation. They are prone to weight gain very easily so a good diet managed to match their exercise levels is essential.
They thrive having a job to do so competitive obedience and scent tracking can be a great way to keep them busy. They so well with rules and boundaries which is why they make such fantastic assistance dogs.
The breed is unfortunately prone to serious health issues, including hip and elbow dysplasia, mast cell tumours, eye disorders and Progressive Retinal Atrophy, a group of inherited eye disorders that affect the retina, leading to gradual vision loss and eventual blindness in dogs. Research into the health of breeding parents should always be undertaken when looking to purchase a Labrador puppy.

​Origin:
The Rottweiler, or Rottie, was bred in the German town of Rottweiler and are listed as existing as far back as the 2nd century. The first Rottweiler club was listed in Germany in 1907.
They are believed to have descended from the Italian Mastiff that were brought over by the Romans when they invaded Europe.  The breed almost died out when work dried up in the mid 1800’s, however breeding improved in the 1900’s when they were used as working, guard and protect dogs. Since then, their popularity has continued to grow.
 
Purpose:
Originally used as guard dogs for livestock and money, over the years the Rottie has been used as police and working dogs, watchdogs, search and rescue, guide dogs and herding. They are one talented pooch!

Coat care:
The Rottie is an average shedder with a generally easy to maintain coat. Their short, smooth coat only requires brushing with a bristle brush every other day and only need bathing when needed, their natural oils from their skin will help to repel dirt, smell and keep their coat beautiful and shiny.

Health & Temperament:
The Rottie is a devoted, loving and loyal dog. They are powerful and protective of their pack/family. When their needs are met (mental and physical exercise) they are a calm, laid back pet who settles well into any family dynamic.
They are a dog that loves exercise, they need plenty of physical exercise daily. After this, they can become a very lazy, laid-back couch potato who will happily lay around the house. They enjoy walks, runs, jogs, swimming and fetch. Being a work dog, they like their mind to be kept busy too. Activities such as fetching and seeking, competitive obedience and tracking are a great way to keep them entertained. They are a highly intelligent breed of dog who can bore without stimulation, this can lead to destructive behaviour. If socialised well from a young age, they can live with other pets in the home.
The breed is unfortunately prone to ACL injuries and hip dysplasia. Health checks of breeding parents are essential when looking for a puppy. They can also gain weight easily so a well balance diet and plenty of exercise are essential. On average, they live for 10 – 12 years. 

​Origin:
There are two types of Corgi, the Cardigan Welsh and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, both of which originated in Wales.
The Cardigan Corgi is the oldest of the two types with it being used to create the Pembroke Corgi.
It is believed that they both descend from breeds such as the Pomeranian, Keeshond, Schipperkes and Swedish Vallhund.
 
Purpose:
Original Corgis were used as working dogs on farms and were great helpers in moving cattle as well as hunting rodents. Unlike the herding dogs we know of today, the Corgi’s would nip at the heels of the cattle to direct them. Due to their short legs they were often able to avoid being kicked when doing this.  

Coat care:
Grooming for a Corgi is low maintenance. Their water proof coat helps to repel smells and they only require bathing when needed. A good brush every few days will help to remove anything caught in their coat, especially as they are so low to the ground.

Health & Temperament:
Their size should not confuse you, the Corgi is not a lap dog! They are very active and very smart, they love to work and have a job to do. They enjoy pleasing their owner and can be protective of their family. They are good with children providing they know their place in their pack. As it was bred into them, they can nip at the heels of those they are playing with and this behaviour should be addressed from an early age.
They are unfortunately prone to weight gain, so their diet and exercise needs to be closely watched to avoid them becoming overweight, which leads to a long list of issues for their short legs and long back.  

The German Shorthaired Pointer is a fast, quirky and happy breed of dog.
Their name comes from the belief that the breed was purposely created, using different types of German hunting, tracking and scent dogs, to create the perfect hunting companion. This is believed to include the Foxhound and also the English Pointer, in the hope to have a hunting dog that excelled in all areas; speed, endurance, scent tracking and of course, pointing.

When used in hunting, a pointing dog will ‘point’ their owner in the direction of something that gains their attention and that should be explored with the owner. Although historically linked with hunting dogs, many breeds today will point, by freezing on the spot, pointing their nose in a particular direction and often raising a front paw.

Along with their short, smooth coat (perfect to dry quickly and allow fast movement) this created the name, the German Shorthaired Pointer. The breed would later go on to be crossbred with more breeds, including the Poodle and Griffon to create the German Wirehaired Pointer.

The German Shorthaired Pointer, or GSP as it’s lovingly known as, that we know today is not too far removed from the GSP’s originally bred back many years ago. They are always ‘on’ and attentive, full of energy and could run all day. They are a smart dog and willing to please. They thrive best in an active family with plenty of mental and physical stimulation, to wear out both their active mind and body.

The GSP is a breed that without structure, rules and boundaries can quickly develop poor behavior including separation anxiety, poor social skills and become destructive.  They are not the breed for someone who lacks confident with dogs or knowledge in being a calm pack leader.  Without rules to follow (to keep their mind working) and plenty of exercise, the GSP can become very difficult. However, with these correct routines in their life, the GSP is a wonderful family pet and can easily be socialized with other dogs and cats.

Although considered a generally healthy breed of dog, with an average life expectancy of 12 – 15 years, they are a breed prone to mast cell tumors. Due to their build, being a larger breed with a deep chest, they also fall into the higher risk category of Bloat (GDV) so appropriate precautions should always be taken around and food and exercise times. It’s important any GSP owner’s are well educated on Bloat and aware of the signs, to improve chances of survival. 

How crazy to think we have already arrived at April for 2021. We are excited to announce our lucky Dog of the Month for 2021 is....

Beautiful Gus is a Springer Spaniel who we adore being able to care for. A worthy winner of this Month's crown! Congratulations Gus!

As we welcome in March it's time to announce our next lucky dogs of the month.
A big congratulations to Coco and Charley! These two bundles of energy always have a great time on holidays and always keep the Doggy Doaters entertained.
Congratulations!

Beautiful Miss Olive has quickly won the hearts of the Doggy Doaters as well as easily winning our Dog of the Month for February 2021. Congratulations Olive - you are stunning!