Dog Lovers Book Club - April 2019

We're really looking forward to the cooler weather this year, hoping our dogs will finally let us stay in bed occasionally to read a good book! 

Here are our top picks of new book releases for dog lovers this month.

A DOG'S JOURNEY

by W. Bruce Cameron 

Buddy is a good dog.

After searching for his purpose through several eventful lives, he is sure that he has found and fulfilled it. Yet as he watches curious baby Clarity get into dangerous mischief, he is certain that this little girl is very much in need of a dog of her own.

When Buddy is reborn, he's overjoyed when he is adopted by Clarity, now a vibrant but troubled teenager. As Clarity navigates the ups and downs of adolescence, Buddy realises that he has a new destiny: to protect, cheer, rescue, and love her unconditionally. When they are suddenly separated, Buddy despairs - who will take care of his girl?

More than just another endearing dog tale, A Dog's Journey is a moving story of unwavering loyalty and a love that crosses all barriers, that asks the question: do we really take care of our pets, or do they take care of us?

Paperback, 336 pages
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia, 26th March 2019

RRP: $19.95 from www.booktopia.com.au

UNLEASHING YOUR DOG
Field Guide to Giving Your Canine Companion the Best Life Possible
by Marc Bekoff, Jessica Pierce

The phrase "it's a dog's life" connotes happy-go-lucky days of pleasure and ease. But our canine companions are in many ways our captives. No matter how cushy their captivity, we decide what and when they eat; where they sleep, poop, and play; when they can walk and when they must sit or stay. 

As the demand for dog trainers and veterinary behaviourists attests, dogs are not naturally adapted to living with and among modern humans. They give up a lot of freedom and instinctual pleasure, as well as their innate strategies for coping with stress and anxiety, in exchange for the comfort and care they get from humans. Bekoff and Pierce show that it is possible to let dogs be dogs without wreaking havoc on our own lives.

They begin by illuminating the true nature of dogs and helping us "walk in their paws." They reveal what smell, taste, touch, sight, and hearing mean to dogs and then guide readers through everyday ways of enhancing a dog's freedom and minimizing deprivations in safe, mutually happy ways. The rewards, they show, are great - for dog and human alike.

Paperback, 256 pages
Publisher: New World Library, 5th March 2019
RRP: $31.95 at www.booktopia.com.au

TELL YOUR DOG YOU'RE PREGNANT

by Dr Lewis Kirkham 

Do you have a much-loved dog? Your ‘fur kid’? Are you expecting or trying for a baby? Does your dog know? Do you want to learn how to prepare your dog for the new addition?

Tell Your Dog You’re Pregnant offers a practical, intuitive approach for creating a loving bond between your dog and your new baby. Dr Kirkham has packed this book full of information, helpful tips and the latest behavioural knowledge. It is a must read for any dog owning family who is expecting a baby – your dog’s and baby’s future relationship may just depend on it. 

A baby makes many different noises and your dog needs to be familiar with new sounds ranging from crying to giggling; sneezing to splashing in the bath; as well as all those noisy toys. Prepare your dog for these new sounds with this step-by-step guide and CD with 13 baby and toy noises. 

Paperback, 104 pages

Publisher: Little Creatures Publishing, 1st January 2012

RRP: $43.95 from Amazon AU.

DECODED DOG
by Dianne N Janczewski

A mysterious disease is claiming the lives of dogs, sending a wave of heartbreak across the country. No group of dogs is immune. From dog shows to animal shelters, pure bred to mutt, the epidemic is indiscriminate. Is the cause a new virus or bacteria? Is it contaminated dog food? Or is there a coordinated plot involving intentional poisoning? 

Research geneticist, Claire Winthrop, tells the story as she is drawn into the quest to find the answer to what's behind the deaths. Claire is torn between focusing on her funded research on canine Addison's disease and current events that draw her and her graduate students into following where the science takes them.

As a dog lover, a mother, a mentor, and a scientist, she struggles to prioritize her personal and professional lives, forcing her to make emotionally charged decisions that impact everyone around her. Turning to an old friend and colleague for support, she must come to terms with her love for two men - one from her past, one from her present.

As events unfold, conspiracy theorists, the Canine Crusaders, promote their own agenda, while pharmaceutical companies jockey for profit from any possible cure. Rife with dog-loving vignettes, Decoded Dog is a fictional story of intrigue, love, and scientific discovery.

Paperback, 304 pages
Publisher: Quo Vadis Publishing, 30th March 2019

Price: $18.75 at www.booktopia.com.au

 

YOUR ROBOT DOG WILL DIE 

by Arin Greenwood

A realistic young adult thriller with tragedy at its heart, set at an indeterminate point in the future …

Nano Miller has spent her entire life on Dog Island, a sanctuary for world's last surviving canines and the testing ground for their robotic replacements. Every year, Nano gets a new and improved model. Now that her friendship with Wolf--a boy she's known forever--has turned romantic, she's certain she never wants to leave.

But when Dog Island's biggest celebrity supporter, movie star Marky Barky, arrives for his annual visit, Nano discovers something that shouldn't exist: a real live puppy, tiny and magical. Unable part with it, Nano now finds herself on the run. She knows that the puppy could destroy her family, Wolf, and even the Island itself. 

Yet her harrowing fight for their survival sparks a belief that it might just save them all.


Paperpack, 192 pages
Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia, 19th March 2019
For Ages: 15 - 18 years old

RRP: $17.99 from www.booktopia.com.au

BOOK CLUB – KIDS’ CORNER

DINGO
by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Tannya Harricks

Poetic language and glorious illustrations follow a dingo from the comfort of her pack into the darkening landscape in search of food for her family.

Can you see her? There — deep in the stretching shadows — a dingo. Her pointed ears twitch. Her tawny eyes flash in the low-slung sun.

Dingo leaves her sleeping pups with her mate and lifts her head to smell the air. Dusk is a busy time — the time for hunting. Softly and fleetly she runs through the forest, past a possum, a wombat, and kangaroos in the gully below. Now she climbs to the highest point and sniffs again, locating the scent of rabbits in the wind.

Interspersed with text offering facts for curious readers, Dingo is a lyrical foray into the life of these fascinating wild dogs. 

Hardcover, 32 pages 

Publisher: Walker Books Australia, 1st April 2018
For Ages: 5-9 years old

RRP: $24.99 from www.booktopia.com.au

AQUA DOG
by Lisa Van Der Wielen, illustrated by Alison Mutton

Aqua the farm dog really loves to swim.

Sometimes the farmer gets angry at him.

Instead of herding sheep he loves to splash.

Diving under water in a flash.

When the rain falls and the water levels rise.

A lesson is learnt of immeasurable size.

When a flood puts his talents to the test.

Is swimming what Aqua Dog does best?

Hardcover, 28 pages
Publisher: Lisa Van Der Wielen, 5th March 2019
For Ages: 4 - 9 years old

RRP: $38.40 from www.booktopia.com.au

LET’S HAVE A DOG PARTY
by Mikela Prevost

A sparkling debut that celebrates friendship and encourages empathy, starring a lovable dog.

Kate and Frank are best friends. To celebrate Frank's birthday, Kate throws him a party with all her favorite things: lots of friends, dancing in circles, loud singing, and sparkly confetti everywhere. But best friends don't always have the same taste in parties. 

Frank prefers quiet, sun-drenched naps on his favorite rug. So he hides. Kate must find a way to bring Frank back to the party - on his own terms.

This tender debut picture book is a fresh take on the classic birthday party story, and one that encourages empathy and the art of listening.

Hardcover, 32 pages
Publisher: Viking / Penguin, 19th March 2019
For Ages: 4 - 6 years old 

RRP: $29.99 from www.booktopia.com.au 

Disclaimer: Australian Dog Lover is a participant in the Booktopia affiliate advertising program, designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to www.booktopia.com.au

New Doggy Play Park sets tails wagging!

Doggy Play Park officially launched in Melbourne this April ...

Melbourne’s newest and only private dog park of its kind has finally opened its gates in the south eastern suburbs. 

Positioned on a large, five-acre spacious land in Heatherton, Doggy Play Park has created an incredible environment which both your dogs and you will never want to leave!

The brainchild of Miranda Bailey - a third year student studying Occupational Therapy at Monash University - and her sister Shannon who recently started her own successful dog walking business, Paws at Play Dog Walking.

Given the constant issues arising in public dog parks, they wanted to provide the public with a place where the dog-friendly community can take their dogs, knowing they will stay safe, stimulated and can have a run around worry-free!

Doggy Play Park currently consists of two separate 1.5 acre areas. This is a secured environment where dogs of all breeds, sizes and personalities are welcomed.

How does Doggy Play Park work?

Doggy Play Park will be a member-only park, where owners will be able to sign up and create a ‘Doggy Profile’ on a membership website that is due to go live in a few weeks’ time. 

All dogs will undergo a screening process, where owners will be required to upload immunisation forms. This is to ensure all members feel peace of mind knowing all that their doggy play mates are safe and screened! 

Doggy Play Park’s members will have online access to the weekly schedule, where they will be able to book their dogs into the suitable time slots available each day, ranging from:

✔️ Small dogs
✔️ Medium and large dogs
✔️ Mixed sizes
✔️ Greyhounds
✔️ Private time sessions 

Consider the park your very own doggy gym! Membership options will include: 

• Social memberships: access to the weekly schedule and social time slots.
• Private memberships: access to private time slots each week (suitable for anxious or aggressive dogs) 
• Casual memberships: option to purchase 5 or 10 entries either socially or privately. 
• Group bookings: time slots are also available for large group bookings to hire out the park - perfect for breed groups, dog birthday parties, you name it! 

What can you expect at Doggy Play Park?

#1. The Agility Park 

This first park was designed to be vibrant, full of fun and features for your dogs to have a ball, literally!

Whether it be digging through the sandpit, flying into the ball pit, leaping over jumps or sprinting through tunnels, the owners have created an environment to stimulate all of your dog's senses.

#2. The Open Park 

This second park has been purposely left spacious, open and safe for those who enjoy gaining a bit more speed!

It is more suited to Greyhounds and the eager ball chasers, with a spacious, doggy proof area left free of equipment to cater for these breeds and speeds.

There are plans to expand and open a third park on the property in the future.

Visit www.doggyplaypark.com.au  or follow them on Instagram @doggyplaypark

Where & When:

Address: 217-227 Kingston Road, Heatherton, Victoria, 3202

Opening hours: 7:00 am – 8:00pm from October – April; 7:00am – 6pm from May – September.

Private group bookings for 5 dogs or more are now available.

For group bookings or if you have any questions regarding future membership options and prices, please contact Doggy Play Park at www.facebook.com/doggyplaypark/ 

New Canine Holistic Wellness Centre in Melbourne

Holistic wellness centre for man’s best friend opens in Melbourne  ... 

Dogs can now receive physiotherapy and hydrotherapy sessions at a dedicated centre for canine wellness located in Gardenvale.

There’s a light rumble from the pump as the machine starts. Glass and steel, slowly filling with lukewarm water, the familiar rubber surface under foot. Ruby is back for her fourth session in the hydrotherapy treadmill, but she still looks a little nervous. 

It’s five years since Ruby suffered two broken legs in a freak car accident on a quiet street in Parkdale when she was three months old. Three major surgeries were needed in the first year alone. “One resulted in her having like a scaffolding on her legs, with screws that had to be tightened,” says Steph Hopton, Ruby’s owner. “I had to twist these pins three times a day to help set the leg.” 

Ruby now receives treatment at The Dog Wellness Centre, in Gardenvale. Recently opened by physiotherapist Pearl Cazabon, the clinic is a holistic wellness and rehabilitation centre for canines, with a focus on post-operative rehabilitation and assistance for injured or ageing dogs. 

The fractures in Ruby’s left radius and ulna left her front leg slightly shorter. Concerned that Ruby would develop arthritis, Steph knew it was time to seek advice. “I started looking around for options, and that’s when a lovely lady at the dog park told me about Pearl.” 

Pearl grew up in Ireland and graduated with a masters degree in Canine and Equine Manipulation from the University of Wales in 2012. 

 She then moved to Australia and became an accomplished physiotherapist in the horse racing industry.  
“Because I grew up riding horses, I thought that I just wanted to be an equine physio, so I put all my time into building up a career in the racing industry,” she says. 

But things changed when Tonka came into her life. As a puppy, Tonka did not know his fate, much less his name. Nor could he have known the influence he would have on his soon to be owner, Pearl. She found the German Pinscher pup at a breeder's in Pakenham and knew straight away that the unsure looking puppy at the back of the litter was for her. 

“By going to all the dog parks, I was watching him move and I was thinking about all the training I’d done in the canine field,” says Pearl. “I hadn’t really practised it in a while and thought that I could really do some good here, in the canine side of things, so that’s when I stated treating dogs again.” 

At first Pearl offered home visits and despite her equine success, working on some of Australia’s leading racehorses, she quickly started to enjoy the change in environment. “I found the human pet bond fascinating”, she says. “Pets nowadays are really like additional family members, and I think that bond will intrigue me for the rest of my career. It’s a great feeling and a great sense of achievement to be able to help that bond.” 

It was a combination of getting a dog, needing a change at work, and thinking about her skills that gave Pearl the inspiration to open The Dog Wellness Centre. “I wanted to create somewhere that was fun, exciting and friendly”, she says. 

Bob, Border Collie loves using the canine conditioning equipment

The centre opened in September and provides a variety of canine treatments, in a colourful and aesthetically designed space.

It boasts a large gym, a welcoming layout and a wide variety of equipment. 

The design process was important for Pearl, and she knew what she wanted to achieve. “Somewhere that was nice for the dogs to come and feel comfortable, and where the owners would also like the feel to the place.” 



Ellen Hodson, an interior designer from design by GOLDEN in Windsor, was engaged to help turn Pearl’s ideas into a physical space. “Pearl’s brief was for the centre to be friendly, fun, playful and inviting. Somewhere calming for the dogs and their owners alike, that was distinct from a vet,” said Ellen. “We achieved these elements through the use of colour and materials and creating open space. A strong street presence was important as it is a new concept, so the open design encourages people to see behind the scenes.” 

Corking and pastel coloured vinyl are used on the floor and walls, offering a calm and playful mood, whilst being durable, cost effective and easy to clean. Details such as the tartan curtain and rope fixtures, resembling a dog’s lead, give the space context. 

Perhaps the centre’s most interesting component is the hydrotherapy treadmill. 

Shipped in from the UK, it allows Pearl to adjust variables such and water height and treadmill speed, to suit all dogs and their conditions. “We can modify the environment, so we can assist, but still challenge.”

The buoyancy that the hydrotherapy pool provides allows dogs to remember their normal gait and pattern of movement. “It’s really good for that motor control as well which is how the brain controls the body and you can’t really influence that on the ground with a dog,” says Pearl. 


After her session in the hydrotherapy pool, Ruby is wagging her tail. She is moving freely, she looks confident, and has enjoyed one or two treats. She usually favours her strong leg but is now standing on both. 

“She is building up the muscle, but also mentally she has trained herself to keep off her other leg”, says Steph. “This hydro seems to be really breaking down those mental barriers.” 

written by Jay Turko, March 2019 

Find The Dog Wellness Centre on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thedogwellnesscentre/ or Instagram at www.instagram.com/thedogwellnesscentre/ 

Dog Day Out Central Park Mall - April 6

Tail wagging fun for inner west locals and their four legged friends...

For the first time, Central Park Mall will activate the grass area known as Chippendale Green by inviting locals to enjoy a festival celebrating their beloved furry friends at Dog Day Out. 

Running on Saturday 6th April between 10am-1pm, the park area will be transformed into a playground for dogs and their owners with over a dozen market stalls and the chance to be crowned the Best Duo in the Fancy Dress Dog Show. 

Photo Credit (and lead image): Furry Munchkins Pet Photography 

Contestants in the Fancy Dress Dog Show will be able to show off their costumes in a tail wagging, dribble-worthy parade hosted by popular media personality and dog lover Shelly Horton and Social Diary’s Tiffany Farrington. 

Prizes up to the value of $1000 will be offered to the winners and can be enjoyed by both owners and their pups. 

Frasers Property Australia, General Manager, Assets, Felicity Armstrong, says, “Dog Day Out is about celebrating pet pride, health and well-being and our stall holders will help educate pet owners about the variety of services available to them in the local area to ensure a happy and healthy pooch.”

Over a dozen stall holders will be offering a range of products, services and information including but not limited to: 
* free vet checks
* animal adoption stalls
* pet massages and hydrotherapy treatment
* brushing and free chalk colouring with DOGUE Zetland
* healthy treat options
* pet photography
* dog day care options and more. 

Twelve Squares at the lower dining precinct, level to Chippendale Green will be running a pop-up gozleme stall and visitors can enjoy a variety of food options from Gami Chicken and Beer, Coco Cubano, Ribs n Burgers and more. 



When: Saturday 6th April 2019, between 10am-1pm. 

Where: Chippendale Green can be accessed via Central Park Mall, 28 Broadway Chippendale NSW 2008. 

Shelly Horton with Mr Barkley & Bellaby

Contestants will be able to enter the dog show on April 6 between 10-11:30am with a minimum $5 donation to Sydney Dogs and Cats Home, the official charity sponsor of Dog Day Out. 

All proceeds will go towards building a world class combined animal shelter and community facility servicing the Greater Sydney region in Kurnell. 

Visitors who do not wish to enter the dog show will have the opportunity to make a separate donation. All entrants (both owners and dogs) are encouraged to dress up for the Fancy Dress Dog Show. 

Stayed tuned at www.centralparksydney.com 



Follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/centralparkmallsydney or 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centralparkmall/

About Central Park Mall

Situated across the road from UTS on Broadway, Central Park Mall boasts a sun-drenched emporium, future-forward architecture, unique designs, free Wi-Fi and extended trading hours (open late nightly). It boasts a vibrant mix of cult eateries, provides convenience for your everyday shop and is a lifestyle hub unlike any other. 

About Sydney Dogs and Cats Home

Sydney Dogs and Cats Home has been located in Carlton, NSW since 1946 and is Sydney’s only charity pound and community facility. They have opened their doors to over 3000 pets each year and pride themselves on never placing a time limit on any animal awaiting adoption. They also deliver a range of successful mental health focused community programs, creating a lifeline to both the animals cared for and those in the community who need it most. The current site they have called Home for more than 72 years was slated for redevelopment. 

They are now embarking on an exciting journey to build what will be a world-class combined animal shelter and community facility servicing the Greater Sydney Area.They need to raise over $6.4 million to realise their vision in Kurnell. For information on how to help, visit sydneydogsandcatshome.org 

MEDIA RELEASE, 28th March 2019

Golfview Hotel Easter Dog Day 2019 - April 13

Go fetch! But this time, it's for doggie Easter bones and toys!

Pound Paws in partnership with Golfview Hotel will be celebrating Easter with our four- legged friends on Saturday the 13th of April! 

Come and join them for a paw-some day out as they host a variety of pet market stalls, live entertainment, delicious food (vegan options available) and overall good times, to help raise awareness about pet adoption.

A variety of dog rescue groups will be there on the day ranging from: Sydney Dogs & Cats Home and Pound Patrol, with a variety of rescue dogs available for adoption. 

The event's core focus is to raise awareness within the Western Sydney community about the importance of choosing to adopt instead of shop as well as educate people about responsible pet ownership and pet health.

Pawssum Vet to home services will be hosting a session at 3:45 pm talking about pet health, as well as providing free health checks on the day. Organisers want to ensure that all pet owners are aware of responsible pet ownership and pet health is a huge factor to consider in this.

The Golfview Hotel car park will be activated on the day, with live music, a fun doggie Easter egg hunt and many more paw-some activities.

“Pound Paws Dog Days are fun community events with a focus to raise awareness about pet adoption, as well as responsible pet ownership to different communities around Australia. We host these events as a way to assist rescue groups with re- homing their dogs available for adoption. We are looking forward to hosting our first event in Western in partnership with Golfview Hotel” said Brittany Bloomer, Founder of Pound Paws.

Pound Paws will host over a number of pet stall holders including: Barker & Bone - a range of premium quality pet accessories for stylish dogs, Louise's Doggie Charms – a jewellery and pendant market stall and UW Dogs, a boutique dog grooming product brand.

Attendees can be treated to live entertainment, ranging from an educational vet chat by Pawssum, a Doggie Easter Toy/Treat Hunt as well as a Rescue Dog Adoption Parade, where dogs available for adoption will strut their stuff on the cat walk.

VIP Judges on the day include: Claire Parker, Miss Universe Australia Finalist and @Fendi_Gomboc (doggie influencer).

Date: Saturday 13th April 2019, from 12pm to 4pm.

Where: Golfview Hotel, 150 Rawson Road, Guildford, NSW


About Pound Paws

Pound Paws is an Australian based charity which provides a modern online approach to the re-homing of pets in Australian pounds and rescue centres. They operate via an online search engine which allows users to search for their dream pet in pounds and rescue centres across Australia. They also actively assist rescue centres and pounds with PR / Marketing, event organisation and throughout the overall re-homing process. 

Boarding at Calabash Kennels and Cattery is a real pet holiday experience!

Exploring sensory gardens and magnificent odours, playing scent games and sprinkler pool games, taking nature walks and sweet, sweet naps!

There’s not much better for fun-loving dogs than sharing these experiences with four-legged friends at Calabash Kennels and Cattery, Sydney’s premier luxury canine (and feline) boarding facility nestled in the rolling hills and natural splendour of Arcadia.

Over the past two decades, the facility has developed substantially, particularly with the latest addition of The Retreat, a luxurious accommodation for the comfort of large dogs offering spacious rooms, a grand pool and sensory garden!

“I wanted to look after our four-legged pets in the best environment that I can provide with quality food and a high level of care and enjoyment for the dogs,” said Linda Meumann, owner of Calabash Kennels and Cattery.

Calabash Kennels was recommended to Carmel Burns by her vet and she quickly became aware that for peak times an early booking was necessary! “This meant that the kennel was doing a good job!” she said. “Being in high demand is a good indicator, as well as the cleanliness and the knowledge of staff caring for the animals. The dogs are well supervised and the careful matching of a kennel mate allows the dogs to settle in with a friend.”

“Calabash with its new renovations is beyond my expectations,” described Carmel about her Spoodle’s stay at the kennels. “I know Jack has the best holiday possible during the innumerable times, short and long stays, he’s had there.”

Four-year-old Jack is growing up to be a well-mannered, confident dog, she said. "I attribute this in part to the experience he’s had at Calabash. Linda has been able to rejoice with us in the lovely dog Jack is growing up to be. She also knows dogs so well and is able to offer valuable advice,” added Carmel. 

Sensory gardens for pet holiday-makers

Calabash also offers a unique canine sensory garden filled with pet-friendly plants, calming herbs, blankets smelling of cats and horses, and containers of sensory delights – horse manure, alpaca fleece and more! 

“I wanted to create an environment where the dogs enjoyed enrichment and gained from the experience of boarding with us,” said Linda. “K9 Nosetime (which runs K9 Nose Work™ classes around Australia) inspired me to start searching for ideas for the play areas with smells. The more I learned about environmental enrichment and what it will do for pets led me to create the gardens and walks that we have – finding that not only smells but different textures are also important.”

When creating the garden, Linda focused on incorporating different textures (with woodchips, pavers and stones), ground levels and of course, shade. 

She created various sight barriers with big stones and tunnels that allowed dogs to play in one area safely by encouraging them to do more than just look at each other in a flat yard.

When it comes to encouraging dogs to sniff and not dig, Linda uses tyres to keep the plants in and the dogs out! The gardens also have sandpits to direct dogs’ digging energy into. 


Sniffing is calming for pets so what better way to relax them than to create a sensory garden? 

The garden salad bar has many herbs and plants from parsley, mint, lavender, basil and rosemary to chamomile, feverfew, zebra grass, lemon balm, pineapple sage and more.

The canine guests also love a plunge in the pool (with a fabulous sprinkler system) and chase their new doggy friends through tunnels and over natural obstacles made of logs and rocks. 

Calabash also offers adventure walks on 25 acres of land, scent work games and behaviour training. 

“I love being able to provide our furry boarders with an environment that will enable them to be safe, happy and enjoy their time away from home, so they want to return to us,” said Linda. 

Raising pet boarding standards

Linda’s mission is not just to make pets happy during their stay, but to also lift standards in the pet boarding industry by redefining luxury and quality care. 

Offering a tranquil, rural retreat atmosphere and enticing smells, it’s no surprise Calabash has got a continuous high level of canine occupancy. 

Golden Retrievers Kelsey and Kobi, aged 14 and 13, have been going to Calabash about twice a year for the past 12 years – both never look back to say goodbye to their owners Robert and Jenny Johnson as they walk down to the kennels with their tails wagging. 

Kobi likes to dig and roll in the mud, whilst Kelsey prefers to walk and enjoy the aroma of the countryside, and get lots of cuddles from the staff, said Jenny. 
Sadly, the Johnsons had a bad experience with another boarding kennel when Kelsey ended up with a broken jaw. Calabash gave them all the confidence to board again. 

“They always come back from Calabash Kennels happy and healthy, and very tired so we know they had a good time. Kelsey and Kobi are more relaxed now especially when we go away,” said Jenny. 

Linda said many pets are shy when they arrive to the kennels and by allowing them time to work things out and not overwhelm them, they generally gain in confidence very quickly. 

“As I say to clients ‘dogs don’t google’ therefore they are only able to work out what happens in boarding by experience,” said Linda. “For worried dogs and owners, Calabash offers Day Care for dogs to get used to a kennel environment in a positive way. 

There are lots of different things to consider – smells, noises, different people.” 

Linda said that Calabash staff carefully monitor the playgroups so all the dogs enjoy the experience. “If we have to keep a group to only two until the dog is comfortable, then that is what we do. We don’t allow dogs to stay in a group if they are worried; we find a different one for them,” she said. 

And when owners want to check on their dog while they are away, they don’t have to wonder what’s happening. All the furry guests at Calabash make regular Facebook appearances and Instagram to let their pawrents know what they’ve been up to, and they certainly have got a lot to share! 

Jack the Spoodle gets excited even before he arrives at Calabash! “My husband says ‘we are going to Calabash’ and the tail starts wagging and he runs to the door. Makes me think that home is not so much fun,” said Carmel. 

Sensory Garden at The Canine Lodge

The Retreat compliments The Canine Lodge, which has indoor and outdoor areas built for making small to medium dogs comfortable in any type of weather. 

Both buildings feature exclusive rooms with their own outdoor areas, underfloor heating, air conditioning and room service with delicious, quality meals. 

“With the improvements over the years at Calabash, I am much happier leaving Ziggy there than in a standard kennel,” said Ziggy the toy poodle puppy’s owner, Rosemary Szwarcberg.

Before Rosemary got Ziggy, she had a rescue toy Poodle named Picollo who suffered from separation anxiety due to mistreatment. Picollo stayed at Calabash several times a year for 10 years until he passed away last year. He was a people loving dog who enjoyed the interaction with the staff and staying at The Lodge, she said.

For more details or to book, contact Calabash Kennels and Cattery on 02 9655 1624 or visit calabashkennels.com.au 

written by Caroline Zambrano, Pet Journalist, March 2019 for Australian Dog Lover (all rights reserved).

About Calabash Kennels & Cattery

Calabash Kennels & Cattery is located in Arcadia, NSW and is owned and managed by Linda Meumann and Bob Hickman. Calabash Kennels & Cattery was first opened in 1989 and purchased by the current owners in 1997, renaming it Calabash Kennels. Calabash Cattery was launched in 2004, the Canine Lodge in 2016 and the Retreat in 2018.

Calabash Kennels & Cattery’s philosophy is ‘Your pet should leave here in as good a condition, or better, than when your pet arrived’.

Photos (all) - Credit Calabash Kennels and Cattery