Designer dogs and adoption row: A tail of two worlds
We often joke that dogs look like their owners, but what does a dog say about your suburb? Today The Daily Telegraph gives you a comprehensive guide to dogs in the ‘burbs. SEE WHO’S TOP DOG IN YOUR SUBURB IN OUR INTERACTIVE
Statistics from the NSW Office of Local Government reveal a fascinating insight into dogs in the ‘burbs and the breeds currently in favour.
In Sydney’s Inner West, the Sutherland Shire and Northern Beaches, they’re head over heels for hypo-allergenic cavoodles, while in Liverpool, Penrith and Campbelltown, the stocky staffy is top dog.
Further north and it’s all about Labradors on the Central Coast while Newcastle is having a love affair Labradoodles. In Wollongong, the plucky jack russell is the pup of the moment.
Across the state, cavoodles, Australian kelpies, staffordshire bull terriers, labradors and border collies were the five most registered breeds for 2018-2019 financial year.
Cavoodles — a hybrid of a cavalier King Charles spaniel and a poodle — are so in demand, buyers are paying from $4000 up to $10,000 for a puppy at peak times like Christmas.
“They’re just like little teddy bears, people take them everywhere,” said Kelly Vella, of Sydney Cavoodles, a small breeder who has a six-month waiting list for her puppies.
“They’re really smart, they don’t shed so they’re good for people with allergies. I’ve even got a few that have been trained to wake up the kids when the alarm goes off.”
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Nowhere are cavoodles more popular in NSW than in the Sutherland LGA, where residents registered 117 in 2018 and 213 the year before.
Among them were Alexandra and Mark O’Keefe of Oyster Bay, who took home their $4000 eight-week old bundle of joy on June 5.
The O’Keefes spent a year searching for a cavoodle pup before buying Billie-Rose from Ms Vella’s May litter. Sons Finn, 8, and Connor, 6, are besotted.
“They just have a lovely nature, they don’t shed, they’re not too big, and with a busy family, it’s good not having to do hour-long walks every day,” Mrs O’Keefe said
While Ms Vella’s hypo-allergenic pups are snapped up in record time, not all dogs are as lucky. Last year, the RSPCA NSW cared for 9000 unwanted dogs, the most surrendered breeds the American staffordshire terrier crossbreeds, Australian kelpie crossbreeds, Australian cattle dog crossbreeds, mastiff crossbreeds and greyhounds.
Madison Smith brought home her seven month old English staffordshire bull terrier Toby in February this year and instantly fell in love. She said she has always been drawn to that breed of dog.
“They just have so much personality and are so empathetic, if you are upset they can see that and will do everything to cheer you up,” Ms Smith said.
“I think they are one of the best breeds and are just amazing dogs.”
The Bull Terrier is the most popular breed of dog in Penrith, but they can have a reputation for being an aggressive dog.
Madison says it all comes down to the owner and the dogs shouldn’t be to blame.
“Toby is actually a very calm and loving dog, he loves kisses and will always got to a human first even if there is another dog in the room.
“I think it is all about the owners, if you have a bad environment then you are always going to have a bad dog.”
Toby has fit into his new family perfectly and gets along like a house on fire with him canine sibling, a nine month old Japanese spitz cross maltese.
The Australian Kelpie was top dog in regional areas including Clarence Valley, Tamworth, Dubbo, Albury, Broken Hill, Wagga Wagga and the Greater Hume Shire.
Tamworth local Angela Jones and her family welcomed one-year-old Ash to their home.
“She’s a great little working dog on our farm and also a great play mate for our two boys,” Ms Jones said.
“She is a ball of energy but very smart. We love her.”
Sharon Andronicus, senior manager animal care services at RSPCA NSW, said dogs entered shelters for a range of reasons, from owners being overwhelmed by behavioural issues to deceased estates.
For bullys, overbreeding was a big contributor and highlighted the importance of desexing.
“Bully breeds are harder to place and they tend to be the ones people are less responsible with making sure they don’t breed,” Ms Andronicus said.
“There are so many waiting in shelters for homes, really, nobody should be breeding them unless they’re a registered breeder that’s doing all the right things.”
But plenty of “trendy” dogs also turn up at shelters, surrendered by disappointed owners unprepared for the responsibility, or for health issues they can’t afford.
The dark side of demand for designer breeds especially mixed breeds like cavoodles and Labradoodles, is that puppy mills are churning them out for profit in appalling conditions.
Usually sold online or in pet shops, dogs crossbred for profit in mass breeding situations were rarely socialised or veterinary-sound and could develop behavioural and medical issues.
In February, RSPCA NSW rescued 187 ‘oodles’ from a commercial breeding operation after the owner died. Most of the dogs had never been indoors or walked on a lead.
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Ms Vella said there were concerns among small breeders that intensive commercial operators — some with as many as 300 breeding females — were shipping puppies up from Victoria to cash in on demand in NSW following the ban on the sale of animals in Victorian pet shops.
“There’s a lot of odd looking things out there people are calling cavoodles,” Ms Vella said.
“I have seen ex-puppy farm dogs with their nipples dragging on the ground, they don’t see sunlight. It’s terrible.”
A small breeder, Ms Vella has been breeding cavoodles for eight years. There are no cages, plenty of vet supervision and buyers can visit newborns after their first vaccination.
Her dogs are all genetically tested, have no more than four litters and buyers are part of an active social media community that regularly meets up for playdates with litter mates.
Ms Vella has eight dogs at home and 10 live in “guardian homes”.
“They live with their forever homes straight up and they’re all with families with children with disabilities, because cavaliers are calming dogs but you’ve got to love a cavalier to have it in your home.”
The RSPCA’s smart guide to buying a puppy or dog
When buying puppies, especially online, Ms Andronicus said people should always visit the breeder, see the puppy’s parents and litter mates, check how the dogs are housed and socialised and request vet records, especially for dogs prone to genetic health conditions.
If in doubt, visit your local RSPCA shelter.
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