New national data uncovers Australia's most common escape-artist breeds and names—plus smart tech tips to ensure your best friend stays safe.

Ahead of International Dog Day on 26 August, new data has shed light on Australia’s ultimate canine escape artists—and the results offer a timely reminder for every pet owner who considers their dog part of the family.

Whether it is digging under a fence line, vaulting a back gate, or slipping through an open front door, almost every pet parent knows the heart-stopping panic of a dog going missing. 

To mark International Dog Day, family connection and safety platform Life360 analysed data from its Pet GPS network to pinpoint the exact breeds and names most frequently caught attempting a getaway across Australia.

Australia’s Top 'Houdini' Dog Breeds & Names

High-energy working dogs, inquisitive terriers, and intelligence-driven breeds lead the charge when it comes to Australian dogs making a break for it.

The 10 Breeds Most Likely to Do a Runner:

1. Blue Heeler / Australian Cattle Dog: Driven by endless stamina and working instincts.

2. Staffordshire Bull Terrier: Athletic jumpers with boundless enthusiasm.

3. Border Collie: Highly intelligent problem-solvers who easily figure out latches.

4. Collie: Driven by herding focus and curiosity.

5. Siberian Husky: Famous wanderlust coupled with incredible agility.

6. Jack Russell Terrier: Energetic burrowers driven by prey instincts.

7. Bull Terrier: Determined, strong-willed wanderers.

8. Dachshund: Small frame, huge curiosity, and a natural knack for tunnelling. (Valerie the Dachshund, Life360's Chief Escape Officer, looks like you're not alone! Check out Valerie's top tips for lost pet prevention.)

9. Cavapoo / Cavoodle: Friendly wanderers eager to greet passing neighbours.

10. German Shepherd: Vigilant guardians who like to patrol beyond boundary lines.

Australia's Top 'Houdini' Dog Names:

If your dog is named Luna or Bella, you might want to double-check your back gate! According to national tracking metrics, Luna and Bella top the leaderboards for registered escape attempts, closely followed by Ace, Bruno, Charlie, Harry, Hazel, Hunter, Milo, and Ollie.

Why Do Dogs Attempt an Escape?

Understanding why your dog attempts an escape is the vital first step toward preventing a sudden tragedy. Vets and animal behaviourists point to several primary triggers:

• Boredom & Energy Build-up: High-drive working breeds require intense physical outlets and mental stimulation. Without daily challenges, they build their own entertainment—often involving fence dismantling. (Read our 8 tips for living with high-energy dogs for practical ideas.)
• Separation Anxiety: Many dogs breach yard boundaries specifically to hunt down their owners after seeing them leave for work.
• Environmental Fears: Sudden severe weather, springtime thunderstorms, or distant fireworks can trigger a panic response, driving dogs over barriers they normally respect. (Learn how to manage this with our guide to overcoming storm phobia in dogs.)
• Social Curiosity & Drive: Undesexed pets have an instinctual urge to roam, while overly friendly dogs simply want to join children playing in the street.

Streamlining Care to Keep Pets Safe & Connected

Keeping a pet secure isn't just about high fences—it requires seamless family coordination. Busy households often suffer from miscommunicated routines, leading to skipped walks, accidental double-feedings, or gates left unlatched.

With over 8 million pets already integrated into the platform globally, Life360 has expanded its pet features to help families coordinate daily care effortlessly:

• Shared Care Logs: Set recurring family schedules to log daily walks, feedings, medication times, or litter box duties so everyone in the household stays accountable.
• Zoomies Alerts & Weekly Roundups: Track your dog's sudden bursts of joy and review weekly activity summaries showing total distance walked and which family member provided the most hands-on care.

Essential Escape-Proofing & Next-Gen Protection

Protecting your dog requires combining physical yard checks with modern recovery tech:

• Audit Your Yard Perimeter: Inspect fencing for loose palings, soil erosion under gates, or garden furniture placed too close to boundary walls that could serve as a launching pad.
• Update Microchip Records: While a microchip is mandatory, it is useless unless your current mobile phone number and home address are accurately listed on national databases. (If the unexpected happens, see our guide on what to do if your microchipped dog goes missing.)
• Use Tech-Friendly Collar QR Tags: Lightweight options like the stainless-steel Life360 Pet Tag ($12.99 AUD) allow anyone who finds your wandering pet to instantly scan a QR code with their phone—allowing them to call, text, or share location details with your whole family without needing a vet scanner.
• Set Up Real-Time GPS Geofencing: For confirmed serial escape artists, pairing a Life360 Pet GPS Tracker (available via a Silver Bundle for $149.99 AUD) allows owners to draw digital boundaries around their home and receive immediate mobile alerts the instant a pet strays beyond the yard.

Our dogs are our everything. Taking a few moments this International Dog Day to audit your fence lines and upgrade your pet safety tools ensures your loyal companion stays right where they belong—safe at home with family.

A heartfelt tribute to Spice, a loyal German Shepherd who guarded her family's hearts for over a decade.

By Andrew C. Gunn

Last Saturday was one of the saddest days in our family’s life. We made the heartbreaking decision to say goodbye to our loyal, much-loved German Shepherd, Spice.

To say that Spice brought joy, comfort, and reliability into our lives would be an understatement. We welcomed her into our family when she was ten months old. Over the years, she became far more than a pet. She witnessed our children grow from kids into young adults. She was there through school years, family celebrations, COVID lockdowns, cyclones, and all the highs and lows that life inevitably brings.

For more than a decade, Spice was the guardian of our household. She never took a day off from protecting her family and her territory. We always knew when another dog walked past our front fence or when somebody entered the front gate. She was vigilant, devoted, and utterly committed to her role. Like many German Shepherds, she could be indifferent to strangers, but to her pack she was endlessly loyal and loving.

Spice was also incredibly gentle with children. She seemed to understand that they required special care and patience. Whether it was our own children or visiting friends, she tolerated endless pats, hugs, and attention with remarkable grace.

Every morning and every afternoon, she was there. She greeted us as we left for school and work, and she greeted us again when we returned home. No matter what kind of day we had experienced, there was always a wagging tail waiting at the door.

She also kept me accountable. Our morning walks became part of our routine. If I was tired, busy, or lacking motivation, Spice was always ready. She never missed a walk and never looked for excuses. Only in the past few weeks, as age finally caught up with her, did she begin to slow down.

I already miss the simple things. I miss seeing her stretched out on her bed on the deck. I miss catching glimpses of her wandering through the backyard. I miss hearing her move around the house and simply knowing she was there.

The truth is that pets teach us far more than we often realise. Spice taught me patience. She taught me the value of routine. She reminded me never to say no to a walk, to enjoy sleeping under a tree, and to always be ready for an adventure.

Anyone who has ever owned a pet understands that, from the day they arrive, there is an unspoken awareness that one day they will leave us. We know that moment is coming, but knowing does not make it any easier. Even as I write these words, tears well in my eyes.

One of my favourite memories of Spice came in 2020 when we brought home a kitten for our daughter. By then, Spice had been part of our family for seven years. I naturally assumed there would be tension between the two. I was completely wrong.

From the beginning, Spice accepted the kitten as if it belonged. Not once did she lose her patience or show aggression. Instead, she was gentle, tolerant, and protective. The relationship became another example of the enormous capacity for love that she carried within her.

My mother-in-law once made an observation that has stayed with me. She said Spice’s eyes were full of unconditional love whenever she looked at my wife, our children, and me. Yet she remained slightly aloof around everyone else.

That was Spice. And perhaps that is also the essence of a German Shepherd. They do not give their hearts easily, but when they do, they give them completely.

On Sunday afternoons, I often sit beneath our poinciana tree. It is my place to read, write, reflect, and occasionally drift off for a nap on the grass. And who was almost always beside me? Spice. Quietly. Faithfully. Expecting nothing. Just happy to be near her family.

The final morning was both heartbreaking and beautiful. We took Spice to the vet knowing what was coming. The room was heavy with sadness, and there were tears from all of us.

After the vet administered the sedative, something remarkable happened. Despite being tired and fading, Spice continued making the happy whining sounds she always made when she sensed we were upset. Even in her final moments, it felt as though she was trying to comfort us. Trying to tell us that everything would be okay.

Then she gently lay down. Surrounded by the people she loved most. And peacefully went to sleep.

The house feels quieter now. The backyard feels emptier. The morning walks are different. But what remains are the memories, the lessons, and the love she gave us so freely for so many years.

Spice may no longer be lying on the deck or waiting by the front gate, but she will always be part of our family story.

Some dogs are pets.
Others become family.
Spice was family.

As emergency cases surge by nearly 30%, a landmark study of over 10,000 cases reveals the surprising places paralysis ticks prefer to hide on pets.

As National Tick Awareness Month approaches this September, Australia’s largest-ever study into paralysis tick attachment sites reveals where ticks prefer to hide—including surprising places many owners forget to check.

Paralysis tick season is already proving brutal, with emergency veterinary hospitals reporting a 29% surge in cases across New South Wales compared to the previous year.

According to data from the Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH), staff treated over 400 dogs and cats for tick paralysis between August 2025 and February 2026. Alarmingly, vets report seeing active cases throughout the winter months, proving that paralysis ticks are no longer just a spring and summer threat.

With cases also rising in pets that travel into tick-endemic coastal regions with their families, Australian pet owners are being urged to maintain year-round vigilance and effective preventative protection.

Where Do Ticks Hide? Landmark Study Pinpoints Attachment Sites

A landmark Australian study analysing over 10,000 tick paralysis cases across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, and Sydney’s Northern Beaches has provided crucial insights into where paralysis ticks (Ixodes holocyclus) prefer to attach.

Infographic source: NexGard SPECTRA® paralysis tick attachment site study (Teo, EJM., et al. 2025).

The research confirmed that pet owners should always prioritise the head and front of the body during daily checks:

• Head, Neck, and Ears: Accounted for 73% of ticks found on dogs and 63% on cats.
• Unusual Hiding Spots: Researchers identified critical "hidden" attachment sites, including inside the mouth (on the gums and tongue), inside the nostrils, deep within the external ear canals, and around the genitalia.

Finding and removing a paralysis tick as quickly as possible is life-saving, as the neurotoxin injected by the tick continually worsens the longer it remains attached.

"Finding and removing the tick quickly is critical," explains Dr. Tim Hopkins, Emergency Veterinarian at SASH Northern Beaches. 

“Many people check the obvious places but don’t realise ticks can also attach inside the mouth or ear canals—hidden sites that can delay detection and increase the risk of severe, life-threatening illness.” 

"As well as searching for ticks, the best way to protect dogs and cats is to use a highly effective tick control product from the Isoxazoline class, such as NexGard SPECTRA®, all year round," Dr. Hopkins adds.

Real-Life Emergencies: Halley & Gummy

The speed at which tick paralysis escalates can catch even the most diligent owners off guard.

• Halley's Story: Halley, a NSW family dog, went from completely healthy to critically ill over the Christmas period within just a few hours. After an unnoticed tick left her weak and wobbly, she required three nights in intensive emergency care followed by weeks of monitoring at home before making a full recovery.
• Gummy's Story: Gummy the cat suffered rapid respiratory failure after a tick bite. Her life was saved only after seven days of 24/7 intensive care, including mechanical ventilation, tick antiserum, and advanced life support.

Vets advise owners to seek immediate emergency care if they notice early warning signs, including wobbliness, hind leg weakness, a change in their bark/meow, laboured breathing, coughing, or vomiting.

Vets advise owners to seek immediate emergency care if they notice early warning signs, including wobbliness, hind leg weakness, a change in their bark/meow, laboured breathing, coughing, or vomiting.

Daily Tick Search Routine

Even when using an effective preventative, performing a thorough daily physical search remains a vital line of defence against tick paralysis.

• The 'Finger Walk': Gently move your fingertips through the coat at skin level, feeling for any small bumps, scabs, or raised areas.
• Start at the Top: Focus on the head, face, and neck first. Carefully check inside the ears, under the collar, and look inside the lips and gums.
• Paws & Legs: Move down the front legs to the paws, checking thoroughly between the toes, around the pads, and under the armpits.
• Body & Tail: Search the chest, belly, back, groin, and all the way to the tip of the tail.
• Consider a Clip: For long-coated or thick-furred dogs, clipping the coat short during peak spring and summer months makes daily searches significantly easier and more reliable.

For more information on paralysis tick prevention, visit your local veterinarian or consult the NexGard Range.

Reference: Teo, EJM., et al. (2025) Attachment-site preferences of Ixodes holocyclus, the eastern paralysis tick of Australia: insights from 10,311 cases of tick infestations in dogs and cats. Australian Veterinary Journal.

Celebrate Moon Festival with Your Pup at Sydney’s Moon Paw-ty for Pound Paws

Sydney pet lovers are invited to celebrate Moon Festival with a playful, pet-friendly twist! On Saturday, 5 September, Sydney-based Japanese eatery IIKO Mazesoba is hosting Moon Paw-ty—a special dog-friendly dining event bringing together limited-edition dishes, cold brew teas, Asian-inspired pup treats, live pet portraits, and fundraising for rescue charity Pound Paws.

Inspired by Japan’s traditional Tsukimi (moon-viewing) festival, the event is designed to bring together the local dog community and food lovers for a fun-filled day with a purpose: enjoying great food while helping Sydney rescue pets find their forever homes.

Delicious Menu Highlights & Pup Treats

IIKO Mazesoba’s limited-edition Tsukimi menu set paired with East Forged cold brew tea, Chonkers pup treats, chestnut dessert, and a live pet portrait by Yoki Z Design.

Human guests can enjoy a limited-edition Tsukimi-inspired menu set curated by IIKO Mazesoba, perfectly paired with artisanal cold brew tea from East Forged Tea.

Four-legged attendees won't miss out on the feast, either! Gourmet dog treat brand Chonkers will be serving up handmade, Asian-inspired treats crafted specifically for pups, including:

✔ A pup-friendly Muttcha Latte

✔ A mini Doggy Bento Box

Live Pet Portraits & Goodie Bags

Guests can also capture a special memory from the day with live custom human and pet illustrations by Sydney designer Yoki Zhou of Yoki Z Design (@yokizdesign). Portrait sessions start from $25 per human and pet pair, making for a unique keepsake.

Plus, every guest who books a table in advance will receive an exclusive event goodie bag on arrival!

“Moon Paw-ty brings together good food, good company, and a chance to help more pets find their forever homes.”

Event Details & Bookings

• Event: Moon Paw-ty at IIKO Mazesoba
• Date: Saturday, 5 September 2026, from 11:30am to 2:30pm
• Location: IIKO Mazesoba, Darling Square, Sydney, NSW
• Cause: Raising funds for Pound Paws rescue pet rehoming
• Bookings: Essential (limited seats available). Book directly at mazesoba.com.au

Pups enjoying the famous Chonkers Muttcha Latte at the Moon Paw-ty!

About the Collaborators

Pound Paws: An Australian charity dedicated to raising awareness for pet adoption and connecting rescue pets with loving homes. Follow @poundpaws.

IIKO Mazesoba: Known for its authentic Japanese brothless ramen bowls, bold flavours, and community-driven events. Follow @iikomazesoba.

Chonkers: Creators of handmade, natural, and fun dog treats featuring Asian-inspired flavours. Follow @chonkersau.

East Forged Tea: Award-winning Australian brand crafting cold brew teas made with real tea leaves. Follow @eastforged.

Yoki Z Design: Sydney-based designer and illustrator offering live human and pet portraits. Follow @yokizdesign.

Photo credits: All images courtesy of Pound Paws (Supplied).

50-Year Community Cornerstone Upgrades to State-of-the-Art Fear Free Clinic in Macquarie Park

After nearly 50 years caring for local pets and the families who love them, Macquarie Veterinary Hospital is thrilled to announce its move to a brand-new, purpose-built veterinary clinic located just around the corner from its long-standing home in North Ryde. The new hospital will officially open in September at the Lachlan’s Square site in Macquarie Park.

Led by Dr Matt Buchanan Pascall and Dr Michael Stephen, the team at Macquarie Veterinary Hospital is celebrating this milestone as a major step forward for the beloved community clinic. The move brings expanded space, easier access, and plentiful parking, while keeping the same passionate team and trusted continuity of care that generations of local pet owners have relied on.

“We’re incredibly excited to welcome our community into a modern space that truly reflects the standard of care we’ve always strived to deliver,” said Dr Matt Buchanan Pascall.

“After almost 50 years in our current home, this purpose-built hospital gives us the chance to elevate the experience for both pets and their people.” — Dr Matt Buchanan Pascall

Designed With Pets in Mind – A Fully Fear Free Approach

The new facility has been thoughtfully crafted using Fear Free principles, ensuring a calm, low-stress environment from the moment pets walk through the door. This includes:

✔ A layout designed to minimise anxiety and reduce wait times

✔ Quiet, spacious consult rooms

✔ Smooth patient flow and separate areas for different species

✔ Purpose-built spaces that support stress-free handling and care

“Fear Free design is at the heart of the new hospital.” — Dr Michael Stephen

“Every detail has been selected to make visits easier on pets and their families. It’s all about creating a positive, comfortable experience.”

A New Home, the Same Heart

Macquarie Veterinary Hospital remains the same warm, community-focused team that has been a fixture in North Ryde for almost five decades. The new hospital simply provides:

✔ More capacity

✔ Improved technology and equipment

✔ Enhanced comfort for pets

✔ Expanded services

All existing patient records, ongoing treatments, and bookings will seamlessly transfer to the new location.

A Celebration for the Community

As a clinic deeply woven into the North Ryde community, the team is excited to share this next chapter with local families. An open day celebration is planned for September 19th, giving clients a chance to explore the upgraded facility and meet the team in their new space.

Free Community Grand Opening Event:

• When: Saturday, 19 September, from 10:00am to 2:00pm
• Where: Lachlan's Square, Macquarie Park

The family-friendly celebration will have something for everyone, including:

✔ Free five-minute veterinary consultations

✔ Activities and fun for pets

✔ Face painting for kids

✔ Competitions and giveaways

✔ Local market stalls

✔ Family-friendly activities

✔ Plenty of opportunities to meet the Macquarie Veterinary Hospital team

Everyone is welcome, whether you're an existing client, a long-time member of the Macquarie community, or have never visited the hospital before. The event is an opportunity for the team to celebrate the community that has supported Macquarie Veterinary Hospital for almost 50 years and to introduce the new generation of the hospital to local families.

Opening Soon

The new Macquarie Veterinary Hospital will open at 15 Halifax Street, Macquarie Park in September. Until then, the clinic continues operating as usual from its current location.

Pet owners can follow updates and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks at www.macquarievets.com.au and on the hospital’s Facebook and Instagram.

About Macquarie Veterinary Hospital

Macquarie Veterinary Hospital has been a cornerstone of the North Ryde community for nearly 50 years, providing high-quality veterinary care to generations of local pets. Led by Dr Matt Buchanan Pascall and Dr Michael Stephen, the hospital offers a warm, Fear Free approach and a full range of general veterinary services, backed by a team deeply committed to personalised, compassionate care.

Senate Inquiry Calls for Clearer APVMA Rules on Hemp-Based Pet Nutrition

Australian pet wellness pioneer HempPet has welcomed a landmark Senate committee recommendation calling on government regulators to simplify and clarify the regulatory framework surrounding hemp-based pet products.

The Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee recently released its report, Opportunities for the development of a hemp industry in Australia. Among its key findings, the report highlighted widespread industry confusion regarding product classification, pointing out that shifting interpretations from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) have hampered sector growth and created uncertainty for Australian business owners.

A "Quiet Win" for Australian Pets and Business

Recommendation 5 of the Senate report specifically calls on the APVMA to clarify requirements and simplify the process for eligible hemp-based products to be classified as Excluded Nutritional or Digestive (END) products.

END products are animal feed formulations that do not require full APVMA registration as veterinary chemical products—provided they meet strict criteria regarding ingredients, manufacturing standards, labelling, and health claims.

HempPet co-founder Arthur Wajs—who also serves as Treasurer of the Australian Industrial Hemp Alliance and represents the sector on the APVMA’s Veterinary Medicines Working Group—described the Senate report as a vital step forward.

"This is a quiet but important win for Australian pets," said Mr Wajs. "The future of hemp in pet care depends on clarity, not confusion."

Why APVMA Product Classification Matters

The distinction between a general nutritional supplement and a registered veterinary chemical product dictates how hemp formulations are developed, distributed, and marketed across Australia:

✔ For Manufacturers: Clear guidelines outline what ingredients, safety evidence, and labelling are required without forcing low-risk nutritional feeds into costly, lengthy pharmaceutical registration pathways.

✔ For Retailers & Vets: Clear regulatory definitions provide certainty on what products can be legally stocked and recommended to clients.

✔ For Pet Owners: Proper labelling allows consumers to clearly distinguish between daily nutritional feed supplements and clinical veterinary treatments designed to cure or prevent disease.

The Senate report cited evidence presented by HempPet showing that hemp feed supplements had repeatedly been treated as veterinary chemical products by regulators, despite meeting criteria that should qualify them as END products.

What Happens Next?

While Recommendation 5 is a significant milestone, it is not legally binding and does not alter current regulations overnight, nor does it provide a blanket exemption for all hemp products. Any formal change will depend on how the APVMA chooses to implement the committee's guidance in the months ahead.

All eligible products will still be required to meet strict safety, quality, and evidentiary standards before hitting store shelves.

“Pet owners need clear information about what a product is, what it is intended to do, and what claims can legitimately be made about it. This could help them make far better-informed decisions for their pets.” — Arthur Wajs, HempPet

HempPet has confirmed it will continue engaging constructively with government authorities, the APVMA, and industry partners to ensure practical guidance is established while keeping pet safety at the forefront.

About HempPet

HempPet is an Australian-owned pioneer in high-quality, hemp-derived wellness products for companion animals. Working closely with veterinarians, researchers, and pet professionals, HempPet produces a range of premium hemp-based oils, supplements, and treats for dogs and cats. To learn more about their formulations and FAQs, visit hemppet.com.au.