By Craig Butt and Alex Crowe
Is there anything more Victorian than a dog that loves watching the footy?
Matthew Bruno with his six-month-old Staffy puppy Kira.Credit: Jason South
In Manor Lakes, in Melbourne’s outer west, six-month-old Staffordshire bull terrier Kira has waddled her way into the living room – and heart – of Matthew Bruno’s family, where she enjoys relaxing on her own couch watching the footy when she isn’t nibbling chairs.
“She’ll sit there and watch the football with me, which is very mind-boggling,” said Bruno, a Collingwood supporter. “I’ve gotten her a little football jumper, she likes that.”
New data reveals that staffies are the top dog in the state, with almost 139,000 registered, thanks in part to their popularity in growth suburbs such as Werribee, Tarneit, Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury.
Incidentally, staffies are the most popular dog in Collingwood, although the data cannot shed any light on how many there are Pies supporters.
The loyal breed is known as the nanny dog because of how protective it is of young family members, according to dog trainer Trish Cavarra.
“Staffies can make a great pet,” she said. “And can be a good choice for most families.”
Their small-to-medium size means they’re suitable for smaller backyards and family holidays, she added. But, on the downside, Cavarra warns the breed is also prone to separation anxiety.
Case in point: Bruno said that when his daughters Evie, 5, and Lilly, 10, are out, Kira waits for them by their bedroom doors.
Trish Cavarra, the owner of Four Paws K9 Training, with her dog Raine.
“She’s very protective of the family,” he said. “She seems vicious. But she’s wagging
her tail. She wants to play.”
Getting a dog had changed the family’s lifestyle, Bruno said, which has meant staying in over going out and spending more time going on walks.
Data from Central Animal Records, a national microchip database for pets, showed that Jack Russells were hot on the staffies’ heels, clocking in at 137,831. Maltese dogs were the state’s third-favourite canine – and the four-legged pooch of choice in Essendon, Epping, Templestowe, Cheltenham and Dandenong.
Rounding out the top 10 list of the most popular breeds in Victoria are Labradors, kelpies, border collies, German shepherds, poodles, golden retrievers and cavoodles (a poodle-King Charles Cavalier cross).
The data also shows the most popular breed can vary wildly depending on where you live.
In wealthy suburbs like Brighton, Camberwell, Caulfield, Hawthorn and South Yarra, there are oodles of cavoodles.
Central Animal Records managing partner Varun Uthappa said the database included about 75 per cent of all cats and dogs microchipped in Victoria, and that it was the largest of its kind in Australia, having recently surpassed 5 million animals registered across the country.
The database does not include strays or dogs that have not been microchipped or registered.
Uthappa said pet owners were reminded each year to check their pet’s details on the registry, which ensures the information remains up-to-date.
“It is important for people to get their pets microchipped and registered as it provides a reliable and permanent form of identification for the animals,” he said.
“Microchipping helps us reunite lost pets with their owners, increasing the chances of pets returning home. Our national registry listing also ensures that owners can be contacted even if their pet is found across state borders.”
Lulu the cavoodle joined the Mazzotta household in Carlton just ahead of COVID lockdowns. David Mazzotta said his 16-year-old son Samuel was promised a dog if he won an academic award, but it was his wife Wai who ended up taking a shine to Lulu.
David Mazzotta and Wai Nan Khin San with daughter Zoe and Lulu the cavoodle.Credit: Wayne Taylor
“Now that Lulu has arrived Wai does everything [for her],” he said. “She is absolutely Wai’s baby and Lulu will do anything Wai wants her to do. She thinks the rest of us are just her mates.”
The cavoodle appealed to the Mazzottas because they don’t shed hair, they don’t mind chilling out at home and they’re usually very social. “She loves people. She’s super excited when people come to the front door.”
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