Guess Who?

It seems last week's photo was a little too easy, let's try this one!

E = mc ??



Sweat like a pig?

Ever wondered why your pooch can run for ages but not even break a sweat?

The only sweat glands that a dog has are between their paw pads!

Gemma & Frodo - back to work!

It may still be school holidays but when you are in charge of a big operation, like we are at Dogs Country Club & Kennel Resort, there's no time stop until the job is done!

Today's top priority is to relax in our Luxury Penthouse Retreat and make sure all of our new couches and lounge chairs are at the comfort standard that our guests require! We also must make sure the air conditioning is working throughout all rooms at the correct temperature and that we get a clear picture on all the flat screen T.V's. Once we are satisfied that our Penthouse rooms will meet the needs of our guests it's time to venture off and check all the pools for our guests. With everyone having their own pool in their play yards we need to make sure the temperature is just right to help everyone cool down on the warmer days.

Then it's off to bed for us after a very busy day of hard work - make ourselves fresh & ready to do it all over again tomorrow!

Have a great weekend!

Gemma & Frodo.  

 Checking the cricket scores - T.V's pass the check!

 Arm chair passes Frodo's check of approval.

 I'm sure if this lounge chair is right...

 .. no it's perfect! Thanks Gemma!

Tess - Dog of the Month.

Our January Dog of the Month Tess would love to fill you in a little more about her breed and background so you can get to know this beautiufl giant a little better!

The Saint Bernard is a large, strong, muscular dog who is considered a gentle giant. The breed was founded by St. Bernard de Menthon back in 980 AD and was bred by the monks. Originally only the short coat was bred as the longer coat seemed to collect icicles in the colder climates. They were used to travel through the dangerous Alpine pass between Switzerland and Italy and quickly became popular as rescue dogs to save people from avalanches due to their excellent sense of smell. The Saint Bernard was able to smell a person under many, many feet of snow and when they found the person would lay onto of them and lick them to keep their bodies warm.

They are an extremely loyal breed who are eager and willing to please. They are very tolerant with children and their gentle nature makes them a great family pet. They are a highly intelligent breed so training and socialisation with other animals and people must begin at a young age. You need to teach them that you are the pack leader from the start while they are at a manageable age. A disobedient, uncontrollable Saint Bernard is not a fun pet, as they can grow in excess of 90kgs! They make a fantastic watchdog, their size and deep bark is a great deterrent. They do drool, especially after drinking or eating! As a pup not too much exercise is advised until their bones are well formed and strong enough to support their solid frame, though as an adult as long daily walk is a must to keep them mentally and physically stimulated. They do suit well to apartment life as long as they are exercised regularly, they are able to live outside though prefer to be in with the family. They must be closely monitored in the warmer weather as their body is built for the cold.

Being a large dog, Saint Bernard’s are prone to bloat, this is when their stomach twists and if not treated quick enough will result in death. Like all broad chest and large breeds it’s best to feed them a number of small meals throughout the day instead of one large one. Grooming of both the long and short coat is an easy task, combing and brushing daily and only bathing when necessary. Their coat produces water resistant oil and regular bathing can strip this oil away. They only shed twice yearly. 

Thanks for reading - Tess.

If you are deeply troubled...

World's most patient cat?

Some things are just too cute for words!

An Irish Giant.

The Irish Wolfhound is a giant size dog and one of the tallest breeds in the world, generally reaching the size of a small pony. The Wolfhound is an ancient breed with Roman records indicating their existence dating back as far as 391 AD. Their name comes from their use, as wolf hunters and not from their appearance as some may believe. Along with wolf hunting they were used throughout the wars for guarding herds and property and also hunting deer and elk. They were a very popular breed with battles being fought over them; they were also often giving as royal presents. Over time the boar and wolf population became extinct throughout Ireland and from this the Irish Wolfhound population declined. An Officer of the British Army, Captain George Graham, bred them during the second half of the 19^th Century and was able to restore them by the introduction of the Great Dane and Deerhound blood.

The Irish Wolfhound is a sweet tempered, kind, patient and very intelligent breed. They are very trustworthy and excellent with children and are unconditionally loyal to their family. They get along well with other dogs and most other pets. They are keen to greet everyone so aren’t ideal as a watchdog, although sometimes their appearance can be enough. They are considered a clumsy breed and are slow to mature both mentally and physically. It’s not until they are about 2 years of age that they are fully grown, but being they grow so rapidly do require a high quality diet. They are an easy breed to train, they are very willing and eager to please and obedience should start at a young age. Though some things can be cute as a pup you must remember when this breed is fully grown, their strength will grow too and can cause a lot of issues if not picked up at a young stage. Boosting this dog’s self confidence is a must and you need to consistent with this, helping your dog to grow into a confident large dog.

Due to their large, the Irish Wolfhound is prone to bloat so feeding should be monitored and adjusted as required. Hip dysplasia is also a common health issue. They require a lot of space to run but strangely enough do not need much more exercise then a small breed. Though daily walks are ideal, whilst this pup is going through the growing stage it’s best not push them through too much exercise as it can cause damage to their growing body. This will help keep their mind stimulated as prevent boredom.
Apartment life if not ideal for this breed, although inactive indoors they do require a large yard just to be able to wonder around. They are really family pets and loved to be involved, being locked in the backyard to long periods of time is not the right lifestyle for this dog.
The Wolfhound’s coat is medium in length and requires regular and thorough grooming with a brush and comb. Twice a year it will need to be plucked to remove excess dead coat.

As they are a large breed their lifespan is obviously shorter than smaller breeds and on average live from 6-8 years.

The stunning, and very large, Watson - a Wolfhound mix.