Mapped: The most popular dog breeds in every Gold Coast suburb
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Frenchies, Pugs and Sausage Dogs may dominate our Instagram feeds, but the humble Maltese is top dog on the coast.
Latest registration data from City of Gold Coast reveals the council area is home to 4519 Maltese and related cross breeds, such as the ever-popular Maltese-Shih Tzu.
The Labrador Retriever is a close second (4238), followed by the Staffordshire Bull Terrier (3980), Border Collie (3150), Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (2814), Toy Poodle (2368), Australian Kelpie (2167), Jack Russell Terrier (2143), Shih Tzu (1902) and Australian Cattle Dog (1613).
Although there are 235 breeds represented on the coast, these 10 alone make up half of our furry family members.
Still, the number one choice of pooch varies across the region.
Dog owners are most likely to be cuddling Kelpies in Alberton, Austinville, Cedar Creek, Currumbin Valley, Luscombe, Norwell and Tallebudgera Valley.
While homes are stocked with Staffies in Arundel, Currumbin Waters, Highland Park, Hollywell, Jacobs Well, Nerang, Oxenford, Upper Coomera and Worongary.
City of Gold Coast lifestyle and community chair councillor Hermann Vorster urged people to register their dogs to ensure they are reunited if they become separated.
“Anything less is a gamble with the life of your fur baby,” he said.
“Keeping registration up to date helps all dog owners too – supporting the construction of new off-leash dog areas, dog waste bag dispensers, etc.”
Cr Vorster said it was hard to imagine life without his family’s fourteen-year-old Miniature Fox Terrier, Ruby.
“She is our guard dog, hot water bottle and supplier of unlimited cuddles,” he said.
Animal Emergency Service director and senior veterinarian Dr Alex Hynes was not surprised that Maltese, Labradors and Staffies were among the most popular breeds on the coast.
The Queensland-based star of Bondi Vet: Coast to Coast said “oodle” crossbreeds were also incredibly popular – particularly Cavoodles (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel x Poodle).
“It’s because Poodles are very smart dogs, very trainable and don’t shed hair,” she said.
“(Cavoodles) then add the friendly personality of a Cavalier.”
When choosing the right dog breed for your household, Dr Hynes recommended five key considerations.
1 How much space do you have?
“If you are in an apartment, don’t get a Great Dane,” she said.
2 Do you have time for walks and exercise?
“The Australian Kelpie is a beautiful breed but needs lots of exercise so busy working people might be better with an older dog that can handle being alone during the day,” she said.
3 Do you want to go for runs with your dog?
“French Bulldogs are hugely popular but due to their pushed-in faces and not a great ability to breathe, they aren’t suited to going for a long run and in fact it can be dangerous for them,” she said.
4 Do you have children?
“Some little dog breeds are not good being around small children so picking something like a Labrador might be more suitable,” she said.
“Sometimes little terrier breeds can be a bit snappy and they are at that level where kids are crawling around the ground.”
5 Do you have time to socialise and train a puppy?
“There are lots of older dogs that may need a home,” she said.
“With my Samoyed, Yoshi, I adopted him as an adult and that was fantastic because I didn’t have the time to put into the intensive needs of a puppy.
“Yoshi is a therapy dog at the Mater Hospital (in Brisbane) so he has a job and goes to work so he is kept busy.”
THE MALTESE FACTOR
Elanora resident Sally Fox says her Moodle, Billy Joel and Cavoodle, Brandy “make their house feel like a home”.
Ms Fox got Billy, a Maltese cross Poodle, in 2011 as her household’s first family pet.
“After doing some research we understood Moodles were hypo-allergenic and my son is allergic to dogs so it was perfect,” she said.
“We found a breeder in Coombabah and got our little joy, Billy, who was the last and littlest one left.”
She said Billy had a sensitive, fun and sometimes crazy personality, a trait of the Maltese breed.
“He has his quiet, sensitive and cuddly times but he can also act silly and excited, especially when we come home,” she said.
“My mother always had Maltese dogs from when I was a teenager and they have always been very loyal to their people.
“They definitely love their walks and treats.”
Ms Fox got Brandy, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel cross Poodle, two years after Billy.
“They are so loving and have made our house a home,” she said.
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