Cairns top dog breeders and what they have for offer
Jill Lennox, Karen Wells and Nicole Doyle are just a few of the top dog breeders Cairns has to offer, so when it comes to finding a new pup pal sometimes they may be closer than they seem. Here are Cairns top dog breeders.
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Far North dog breeders have reported a dramatic drop in pup prices after Covid-19 restrictions forced people to stay at home, triggering a massive demand for furry friends.
And while the previously sky-high prices might have deterred people from purchasing a new pooch, finding a new pup pal might be easier than it seems.
Cairns has adoption shelters like RACQ, North Queensland Animal Rescue and Cairns Animal Rescue, but buying a K9 bestie from a breeder is just as common.
Labrador breeder Jill Lennox is a passionate dog breeder who emphasised the importance of ethical breeding in the Far North.
“There are breeders who really plan and care about the pups their getting. Often, pedigree breeders will do exactly that,” she said.
“There are always accidental breeders and owners who don’t take care of them as well as they should. I take so much pride in my pups.”
When Mrs Lennox refers to the word “pedigree,” she refers to a dog where it’s owners are of the same breed and are registered with the Cairns Kennel Club.
Their DNA is analysed to ensure it truly is pure-bred.
Here’s a list of the region’s top dog breeders and what they have on offer.
DOGBREED: Pure Bred Labrador (both black and golden)
BREEDER: Jill Lennox
PRICE: Approximately $3000
NEXT LITTER: February 2023
SUBURB: Trinity Beach
SUMMARY:
Jill Lennox breeds pure bred labradors with pedigree charts. She has a new litter due in February and has been a dedicated breeder for six years.
Ms Lennox said her dogs are “Australian champions” and has bred dogs that have been successful in the show rings.
“I usually expect 4-6 pups,” she said.
“I’m so passionate about what I do … I can’t wait for the little ones to be born.”
DOG BREED: Pure Bred Shar-Pei
BREEDER: Karen Wells
PRICE: $2500 to $3500
NEXT LITTER: Currently two 12-week puppies for sale
SUBURB: Bungalow
SUMMARY:
Shar-pei breeder Karen Wells has been a dog breeder for over 12 years, having recently moved her business to Bungalow from Victoria two years ago. The recent litter gave seven small pups with five of them already sold.
Ms Wells said her shar-pei’s are overly loving and are protective of their owners.
“They are just so temperate and beautiful,” she said.
“They’re such a sort-out-after breed because of their loyality and love to owners.
“They need to be socialised, because they can be quite stand-offish at first. So they need lots of love and attention.”
DOGBREED: Maltese X Shitzu
OWNER: Les Smith
PRICE: between $2000 and $2500
NEXT LITTER: undecided
SUBURB: Tolga
SUMMARY:
Les Smith is a soon-to-be breeder with his pup Billy looking for a female of the same breed.
Mr Smith said he is a loving, loyal and bossy character.
“He offers plenty of cuddles,” he said.
“I aim to breed maltese x shitzu’s with Billy and am actively looking for a mate for him.”
DOGBREED: Pure Bred Short Hair Border Collie
BREEDERS: Jed Darragh and Anastasia Theochari
PRICE: $1000
NEXT LITTER: 10 available now
SUBURB: Malanda
SUMMARY:
Jed Darragh is a breeder who has been around border collies for most of his life. He and his partner Anastasia Theochari have 10 new five-week-old pups that they are selling for $1000 each.
Mr Darragh said the puppies are “little bundles of joy.”
“They are just so full of life and so loving, they’re also such great working dogs.”
DOGBREED: Arab X
PRICE: $500 each
NEXT LITTER: 8 puppies available now
SUBURB: Gordonvale
SUMMARY:
These 10-week-old puppies are full of life and ready for a new owner.
The owner has been a breeder for two years and is passionate about her puppies and making sure there is no over-breeding.
She said they are slightly naughty but full of energy.
“They are little ankle biters,” she said.
“They’re so full of life it’ll be great to see them off to a loving home.”
The puppies are up to date with their vaccines and are friendly around children.
DOGBREED: Pure Bred Labradors (chocolate and black left)
BREEDERS: Nicole and Tony Doyle
PRICE: $1800
NEXT LITTER: 6 available now
SUBURB: Clifton Beach
SUMMARY:
Nicole and Tony Doyle have been dog breeders for years with the newest litter only arriving eight weeks ago. The litter held 10 golden, chocolate and black puppies, with the golden ones already finding a new home.
Ms Doyle said this litter is more timid than normal, but still just as playful.
“They’re such intelligent dogs,” she said.
“Labradors need a lot of training but they’re easy to train … especially with food.”
The pups are selling for $1800 each.
As off 2021, the total number of registered dogs in the Cairns LGA was 25,562.
Of that, the most popular dog breed is the staff bull terrier, with the cattle dog and kelpie coming in second and third.
Most popular Cairns dog breeds for 2021:
1. Staff bull terrier – 1745
2. Cattle dog– 1472
3. Kelpie – 1398
4. Maltese – 1326
5. Border Collie – 1305
6. Bull Arab – 1083
7. Jack Russell – 1070
8. Labrador – 1000
9. American Staffy – 785
10. Chihuahua – 710
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Originally published as Cairns top dog breeders and what they have for offer
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