Fetched Magazine | Issue 1 | FREE Australian Dog Magazine

FETCHED

MAGAZINE

MAY 2021 ISSUE 1

FREE

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Dog Trainer Charlotte Bryan explains what you should consider BEFORE getting a

A K9Fit® OneLeash? valued at $60!

There are 5 up for grabs!

Consider adopting a DEAF DOG Here's WHY!

FAMILY DOG! NEW APP TO HELP YOU FIND REPUTABLE BREEDERS

COVER IMAGE COURTESY OF BORDER COLLIE FRANKIE

READ ABOUT FRANKIE IN OUR Celebrity Spotlight

PUPPY SCAMS ARE ON THE RISE! Learn how to SPOT them!

© Fetched Magazine 2021. All rights reserved.

The opinions of the contributors do not necessarily reflect those of Fetched Magazine.

Always ask your veterinarian or dog training professional.

M agazin e Con t en t s Don't Be Fooled - Puppy Scams Are On The Rise!

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By Emma Dunkley, Co-founder of My Little Mate

Dogs Of The Homeless - How Do The Homeless Care For Their Dogs

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By Linda Norris, Marketing & Events Coordinator Of Rainbow Paws

Deaf Dog Tails - Why You Should Consider Adopting A Deaf Dog

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By Heather Engel, Deaf Dog Advocate & Apprentice Dog Trainer

Getting A Family - What To Consider

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By Charlotte Bryan, Dog Trainer & Behaviourist

Celebrity Spotlight - Border Collie Frankie

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By Ashley Michael, Writer

Hello Frankie!?

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Win A K9Fit® OneLeash ?

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Wr it e For Us OR Adver t ise In Fet ch ed M agazin e?

Visit the submissions or advertising page on our website for more information. mail our editor Charlie at fetchedmagazine@gmail.com for more information.

Fin d Fr an k ie! Somewhere in this issue, Cartoon Frankie is hiding!

Look for him as you read through the magazine! When you find him, click on him and go into the draw to win a Limited Edition Souvenir Frankie keychain!

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Don't Be Fooled.

Pu ppy scam s ar e a gr ow in g issu e! Her e is som e sim ple advice t o avoid bein g scam m ed.

By Emma Dunkley If you are looking for a dog, and you are anything like me, you fall in love with every cute puppy face that crosses your path, closely followed by the thought ?ohhhhh? . maybe I want one of those.?

I?ve been in the market for a dog for a couple of years now, and quite honestly, I haven?t been able to make a Emma Dunkley, decision on which breed is most suitable for me. I have Co-founder of My Little Mate a young family, and I am not an experienced dog owner. Every pooch from rottweiler to cavoodle floats my boat, and when it comes to getting serious about finding the right dog for my family, I am acutely aware of the pitfalls that are out there waiting for the unsuspecting pet buyer to fall into.

The ?art? of scamming is not a new concept of course, it?s as old as time. We all know the digital age has made both financial and personal identification scamming infinitely easier. When you apply this to the pet industry and add in a COVID pandemic to really shake things up? well, let?s just say, Australia ? we have a problem.

* Su n sh in e Coast , Qu een slan d On ly*

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The Australian pet industry was worth over $4 billion in 2019, and its value has probably risen in the past 14 months due to COVID. The demand for pets outweighed supply in Australia in 2020, which has sharply increased both the price of pets and the incidence of pet scamming.

Whilst it is easy to fall for every gorgeous puppy photo you come across (trust me I know!), it is important to resist the urge to throw cash at the pet seller without doing some homework.

So, how do you avoid being scammed? How do you make sure you are purchasing a pet from a reputable breeder?

Let me give you some advice.

1.Ph on e t h em Old school, I know! It may seem like the most simplistic of tasks ? but a simple phone call (yes, using your voice and listening to theirs!) could save you thousands of dollars and avoid you being scammed. A good pet breeder will not only be happy to take your call but will answer all your questions and ask questions of you as well.

One thing that became immediately apparent when I started talking to breeders for My Little Mate, was that you just know when you are talking to a good pet breeder.

Firstly, they have A LOT to say about their breed.

These breeders are intelligent, passionate, caring and dedicated people who want to share their knowledge with you. They will tell you all about the parents and they will talk openly and honestly about

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their breeding experience and experiences.

A less than reputable breeder won?t do this. In fact, generally they choose not to communicate via phone at all. Simply by text or email.

It sounds like I am telling you it?s ?all about the vibe?, but a 20-minute conversation should put you on the right path to knowing you are supporting and buying your pet from a good breeder. If you are getting a bad feeling from a phone call, walk away. Your instinct is probably right.

2.Becom e a Digit al Su per Sleu t h Whilst technology is making scamming easier, it can also make sleuthing easy work for you. If you?ve found a puppy you?re interested in, Google the breeder. Check their Facebook page.

Do an ABN or phone lookup. If they have Breeder Identification Numbers (which in most cases, they should) ? check them by contacting their Dog Breeding Association or the appropriate State Government Register.

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In addition, you can cross check breeder details with Puppy Scam Awareness Australia or Scam Watch. You can reverse Google image search to check the photos they are using are unique. (You do this by ?right clicking? over the image and selecting ?Search Google for Image?).

There are many ways to check someone?s digital footprint and it is important to take the time to validate breeders before you start handing over cash to them.

3. In sist on m eet in g t h e par en t s When any relationship gets serious, it is almost mandatory to meet the parents. This applies in the pet world too!

Whilst COVID-19 has knocked travel on the head over the past 14 months, we still have technology ? so where applicable you should always insist on ?meeting?the mum and or dad of the pup you are going to purchase, via a video call.

A great breeder will have no problems with this and will happily show mum and pup together.

On this call, you will be looking at the health of the mum, her energy levels, the cleanliness of the environment and whether there are other pups around to encourage socialization.

A video call can show so much! It?s a simple process, for which no one has an excuse to say no! If they do, walk away.

4. Ask f or paper w or k All pups should come with paperwork of some kind.

At the very least, you should receive a microchip certificate, record of worming, flea

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and tick treatment and vaccinations and the puppy's parent's pedigree papers (if it's a purebred). If you are not receiving these basics, then you need to ask why!

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The pet transport companies we deal with at My Little Mate are outraged that pet transportation has become the new way to scam money from unsuspecting buyers. The basic premise for this racket is that the pet seller will ask for money to transport the pup to your place and continue to ask for money for add-ons such as ?COVID fees? ? which simply don?t exist.

Simple solution. Organise your own transport. Pet transport companies are professional businesses that will guide you through what needs to be done to make your pup compliant for travel. It is no more difficult for you as the buyer to organise this for your new little mate, and for piece of mind, it?s worth it. This is by no means a definitive checklist of things to do to avoid being pet scammed,

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but these five points will set you on a path for a better understanding about who the person is you are purchasing your pet from and how they operate as a business selling companion animals.

It is imperative to support breeders who put animal welfare at the forefront of their business. To make an impact on the incidence of pet scamming, we all need to work at knowing who we are buying our pets from. We need to stop the inadvertent support of puppy farmers and we need to take our time to find a pet, by doing the background work on the seller. It may take a little more time, but it will be worth it.

Is there another way you can determine whether you are dealing with a legitimate and REPUTABLE breeder? See if they are registered with M y Lit t le M at e.

Wh at is M y Lit t le M at e?

My Little Mate is an online platform that brings together pet breeders who have been validated in a comprehensive process of digital checks and phone interviews. We take the onus of verifying pet breeders away from the buyers, ensuring that our pet sellers are legitimate, that they have pets to sell and these pets are happy, healthy and socialised.

We can help you shop around for pet transport quotations, which we will pass on to you to decide a supplier. We want to create a marketplace where pet buyers can shop for a pet with confidence and pet sellers can help us grow our community of like minded, professional, positive and dedicated breeders.If you are a pet breeder or buyer and you?d like to get involved, check us out at www.mylittlemate.com.au.

@mylittlemate.aus

@_littlemate p.9

Dogs Of Th e Hom eless.

Have you ever w on der ed h ow t h e h om eless car e f or t h eir dogs?

By Linda Norris Have you ever wondered how the homeless care for their dogs? These loving dogs give these men and women a reason to get up every day to continue surviving. They are often the only thing they have remaining of a previous life when things weren?t as tough and are often the only Linda Norris, friendly face that is Marketing & Events Coordinator consistent and For The Rainbow Paws Program dependable and the only living thing that shows any love and affection.

Believe it or not, these men and women will not eat until their dog has. They will spend any spare dollars making sure their pet?s needs are met before theirs, but sometimes these sacrifices aren?t quite enough to ensure these treasured pets are at their optimum health and that?s where charities

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like The Rainbow Paws Program and Pets in the Park step in. We?ve all seen how the last 18 months have unfolded. First we had relentless drought, followed by devastating bushfires and just when we thought it couldn?t get any worse, COVID-19 hit and changed everything. Workplaces shut down, people were unable to work or laid off and with no income - how do rents and mortgages get paid? It?s not only people who get evicted, their pets do too and unfortunately not everyone has somewhere or someone they can turn too, especially if there is a pet involved.

In the quiet suburbs of Canberra, a team of volunteers from The Rainbow Paws Program work tirelessly to pack pet food to distribute to local charities and food pantries, coordinate emergency vet care and pet boarding and work with the Pets in the Park team who provide a monthly vet clinic of volunteer vets and vet nurses for the pets of the homeless. These charities understand the importance pets have in the lives of these men and women, who were just like you and me in our warm houses once upon a time. p.11

But they don?t do it alone.

There is a silent army in the corners of Canberra, of generous businesses, of members of the community who donate pet food, dog jackets, money for vet supplies and boarding and if anything is needed and we don?t have it, we humbly ask and there is always someone who will help with what is needed. This silent army know these dogs are providing hope for better times ahead, protection and warmth on those cold Canberra winter nights and a best friend when there is no one else.

Ensuring these dogs are in peak health and most of all are happy and content in difficult circumstances is what their owners really want for them. Life isn?t always easy and the last 18 months have proven that to all of us. For the homeless, the last thing they have left is their dog, who they love as much as you and I love ours. It could be easy to judge, but instead of that, remember who would you want by your side if you were all alone with nowhere to go? My dogs!

Next time you see a homeless person with a dog, please give a smile and a dollar or two if you have it, these dogs mean more to them than you could ever imagine and the difference these dogs make in their lives is more than we could ever know.

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Deaf Dog Tails.

Wh y you sh ou ld con sider adopt in g a deaf dog.

By Heather Engel So, you're proudly an ?adopt don?t shop? hooman.

You?ve seen a photo of a rescue dog available for adoption in your area. You read the profile. You get excited thinking this pooch could be THE ONE. Then you get to the medical section where the dog is listed as deaf. What is your reaction? Does your heart sink? Do you scroll on by? Or, like me, do you get excited that you might have just found your pawfect pooch? Yes, I admit it. I?m a deaf dog tragic. I love them all. They?re smart, challenging, rewarding and, as most of them are deaf due to the double merle gene, they are incredibly cute.

Heather Engel, Deaf Dog Advocate & Apprentice Dog Trainer

So, what?s the big deal about deafness? Well, let me explain why it?s such a big deal. The American Kennel Club [1] estimates that between 5% and 10% of dogs were bilaterally (both ears) or unilaterally (one ear) deaf in 2016. Ask around and you will hear horror stories about deaf dogs being put to sleep, the dreaded green dream.In fact, as little as a decade or two ago, it was common practice for breeders to cull deaf puppies. So let?s put this into perspective. In 2017 Pet Secure[2] estimated 3.7 million deaf dogs in Australia alone ? that?s between 185,000 and 370,000 dogs

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with a hearing impairment in Australia.

Now, depending on how you look at it, that?s either hundreds of thousands of healthy dogs that faced euthanasia, or its hundreds of thousands of loveable and trainable family pets. Today, deaf dogs who find themselves in a pound still face euthanasia if they?re not adopted or if organisations like Deaf Dogs Rescue Australia can?t take them in to train and re-home them. The same fate is faced by dogs whose owners don?t have the skills, support or the time to train them.

Many people ask if a deaf dog is hard to train.

Well, training any dog does come with its challenges. Deaf dogs are dogs first and deaf second. They are no harder to train than a hearing dog. In fact, some people say they are easier to train because they don?t get distracted by noises in their environment. The foundation of training a deaf dog is to get them to check in with you so that you can use sign language to give them the sign command. Just as with a hearing dog, deaf dogs can do all sorts of amazing things. They can compete in agility, fly ball, advanced tricks, become therapy dogs, emotional

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support dogs and psychiatric assistance dogs, just to name a few. In fact, George Wilson, the mascot for Deaf Dogs Rescue Australia, has an important job working in palliative care.

Probably the hardest thing to accomplish with any dog is to get them to respond to your commands. With a hearing dog this looks like them pretending that they can?t hear your voice commands. With a deaf dog they won?t look at you to see your sign commands. Think petulant three year old! Deaf Dogs Rescue Australia has recently opened a training centre in Port Kembla NSW so that they can teach deaf (and hearing) dog owners to train their furkids in sign. They hope to reduce the amount of deaf dog surrenders by educating and supporting owners and advocating for de-sexing their furkids.

There are many benefits to sharing your life with a deaf dog: -

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Deaf dogs lurve their hoomans. They?re often referred to as ?Velcro Dogs?; They sleep like the dead. No waking up to the slightest of noises and woofing their heads off in the middle of the night; Fireworks, thunder storms? .no problems there. Some deaf dogs like to watch the light show but the noise won?t bother them; There?s some evidence that they read human body language and emotions better than hearing dogs which makes them better emotional support, therapy and psychiatric assistance dogs Their love is unconditional.

They don?t care if you have a (dis)ability. p.15

Get t in g A Fam ily Dog? Get t in g a dog is r ew ar din g bu t does r equ ir e a bit of t im e an d ef f or t . Her e's w h at you n eed t o con sider bef or eh an d.

By Charlotte Bryan Your family has decided they want to get a dog and this is a very exciting time! Before going out and finding a beloved pooch though, there are some things to consider first. For starters, dogs become family members and do come with responsibilities as they rely on you for food, water, shelter, care and love. So, what are some of the things you should be considering before Charlotte Bryan, you welcome your new pet into your home?

Dog Trainer, Behaviourist, Trick Dog Con sider lif est yle

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Instructor, Canine Fitness Coach

You need to take into account your lifestyle and the lifestyle of other family members before deciding on the right dog breed for you. If you have little time, work long hours or are just not very active, then you won?t want to choose an energetic breed of dog that requires loads of exercise. Border Collies, for example, love to play and exercise a lot! If you have little children in your home who tend to leave the front door open then getting a sighthound like a Greyhound or Whippet may not be the way to go because these breeds typically love to chase small animals once they "sight" them, and can be a little difficult to get back! Of course, these are just generalisations.

Greyhounds, if trained from a young enough age, may be taught to not chase moving objects, and not all Border Collies are super high energy (just take a look at mine!). p.16

There are always exceptions to the rule but you can research a dog's breed for a general guide.

Your lifestyle also encompasses your home environment - how much do you want to groom your new dog? How much are you willing to spend on food each week? How much shedding can you tolerate?

Con sider a br eed su it ably-sized f or you r h om e It's vital that you choose the right sized breed for your home. The size of your home (including whether or not you have a fenced yard) should play a large role in determining what breed you should get (or whether you get a dog at all). Ideally, all dogs should have access to a yard or garden. For those in apartments, this is not always possible. If you are an apartment dweller then you should ensure that you have a park within walking distance of your home so you can easily get out and exercise your dog and allow them to sniff and explore. If you are an apartment dweller then you may want to opt for a smaller, low energy breed. Shih Tzus can often be seen living in apartments - these little dogs make great companions and don't require excessive amounts of exercise.

Con sider w h et h er you r an y of you r f am ily m em ber s h ave a dog aller gy Just because someone living in your household has a dog allergy doesn't mean that you can't get a dog. If this is the case, try getting a Schnauzer, Bichon Frise, Poodle, Shih Tzu, Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier or another Hypoallergenic breed (breeds that reportedly do well with people with dog allergies). A quick Google search can bring up a list of Hypoallergenic dog breeds.

Con sider t h e age of t h e ch ildr en (if you h ave an y) in you r h om e Children are typcially loud, boisterous and unpredictable. All dog breeds have lovely personalities - some however are a little more forgiving than p.17

others. Therefore, you want to look for a breed with a mild or typically more mellow temperament. Breeds like the Bichon Frise, Boxer, Pug, Spaniel and Bull Dog can be good choices. If you're worried that your children might get accidently knocked over if your dog gets too excited then you might want to choose a dog that is on the smaller side.

Perhaps the ultimate breed for little ones is the Bichon Frise. Their curly coat doesn?t shed and cause allergies, and they are a hardy dog with a gentle temperament. They do require regular grooming though.

Con sider w h et h er you w an t t o get a pu ppy or adopt an adu lt dog Whilst getting a puppy may seem more exciting than adopting an adult dog, you must bear in mind that a puppy is hard work. Puppies are boisterous, cheeky and tend to get into mischief - you need to start training them from a young age. An adult dog however, tends to be more settled and may not require as much training.

You could also consider a dog that "failed". Not all dogs that are put through the Guide Dog training process pass as fully fledged Guide Dogs. In fact, most don't. It is not that there is anything wrong with these dogs, it's just that they don't quite meet the STRICT criteria required to become a service animal. These dogs come fully trained so may be an option for those looking to adopt an adult dog.

Wh er e t o Fin d You r New Dog So you've got an idea about the ideal dog for you. But where do you find them?

Local Animal Shelter - Save a life and adopt a dog from your local animal shelter. There are many beautiful dogs in animal shelters just hoping to become part of a loving home. Many of them make the most devoted pets. p.18

The shelter will ask you lots of questions to ensure the dog is going to a good home.

Breed-Rescue Group- If you can?t afford to buy a certain breed but have your heart set on one, a good solution is to contact a breed-rescue group. These organisations save dogs who have been abandoned by owners, vets, kennels, breeders and shelters. They are also an invaluable source of information on dog breeds.

Breed-Specific Breeder- To buy a purebred puppy, you?ll need to find a dog breeder who specialises in that particular breed. Visit the breeder to view the parents and the puppies, then make your choice. There is a chance you?ll be put on a waiting list and you may need to be approved by the breeder first, before you can buy a pup.

Th e Tak eaw ay Dogs need love, attention and devotion. Be a good parent and show your dog the same love you would show a child or loved one - but don't treat them as human child! Babying a dog can lead to training and behviour problems later on!

Dogs are not toys. They are a lifetime commitment and should be members of the family. In return, they?ll love you forever and devote their entire life to you.

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Celebr it y Spot ligh t " Bor der Collie Fr an k ie" , dan cin g in st a-pooch , t r ick dog an d can in e m odel.

By Ashley Michael In our digitally-focused world social media platforms are becoming increasingly popular. It often seems as though our lives are surrounded by hashtags, follower counts and "likes".

One of the most popular social media platforms is Instagram and it's not just humans who are becoming Insta-famous!

There are many dogs that are "rising giants" in "the world of "Insta" with some known for their cute looks while others are known for their amazing talents!

Bor der Collie Fr an k ie is a rising social media star who has already accumulated over 21K followers across all his social media platforms, at only 2 years of age!

Frankie is a charismatic black and white Border Collie from the Sunshine Coast here in Aussie who is known for his groovy dancing and cute photos.

Many of the posts on Frankie's Instagram account are videos of him dancing to some popular songs and photos that follow his daily life.

Frankie knows hundreds of dog tricks and aside from doggy dancing, Frankie is savvy in Dog Agility, Canine Disc (Frisbee) and a fun dog sport called Dock Diving (which is pretty much doggy long jump into water). He also does a lot of product modelling and his owner Charlotte says he definitely has a star quality. She also says "Everyone loves Frankie - we're yet to find someone who doesn't.

Speaking of stars, Frankie has also starred in his own children's book called Frankie's Alphabet Day which helps children learn their ABCs. Follow Frankie on Instagram @FrankieTheDancingDog.

@BorderCollieFrankie and

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Hi Friends!

My name is Frankie! You may have read about me in this issue's Celebrity Spotlight section, or you may already know me from Instagram.

Hello Frankie!? is my new column in Fetched Magazine (written by my hooman of course haha - what a talent I would be if I could write it myself!)

Anyway, each issue of Fetched Magazine will have a Hello Frankie!? section so you can keep up-to-date with what's been happening with me since the last issue!

To give you a quick summary of my life so far: I was born on March 27th 2019 (only 19 days after my hooman's birthday!) along with my 5 other brothers and sisters. I was picked up when I was 8 weeks old and my breeder said I was "pick of the litter " and I couldn't agree more! When I was younger I had a white stripe on my forehead in the shape of a lightning bolt and so I was almost called "Harry" - but my hooman had her heart set on "Frankie" and so that became my name. As it turns out it was luckily that she didn't name me "Harry" after my lightnng bolt because as I got older my special marking disappeared! So all I have now is a white stripe that is slightly not centred haha!

Many people think I was named "Frankie" because it's a popular dog name at the moment but the real reason behind my name is that Frankie is the name of one of my hooman's favourite singers of all time, Frankie Valli! There's a fun fact about me!

Now moving on... I love to do dog tricks!

My hooman and I have been working on tricks since I was 8 weeks old. In fact, p.22

I already knew 50 tricks by the time I was 4 months old! I was also reliable off leash at that point, though that reliability was put to the test when other people were giving their own dog treats haha! Currently, I know lots and lots and lots of dog tricks, around 200 and counting!

But my hooman kind of lost track!

I also lovvvvve the water! I used to hate it you know - in fact I used to be soo terrified of it that my hooman thought I'd die of fright! But I didn't! And after one whole year of hard work, my hooman showed me that water was soooo much fun! Nowadays, you can't keep me out of the water!

Especially fun when my hooman throws my toy in!

As I've gotten older, my hooman has seen that I'm a natural model - and not just because I'm good looking! I'm a bit of a quieter Border Collie - I am not high energy like my other Border Collie friends - which means that I sit still and am easy to photograph! I do a bit of doggy modelling here and there but will hopefully do some more!

I've also started doing some small trick performances, nothing fancy mind you. If you come down to the Buddina off leash dog park on a Saturday, you may see one of my little trick shows. If you do pop down, be sure to say hi! I'd love to meet you!

Well that's all for now!

I'll tell you more in the next issue!

Love,

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WIN A K9Fit ® On eLeash ?

Head over to www.fetchedmagazine.com.au/get-notified and subscribe to our mailing list. You'll automatically go into the draw to win a K9Fit® OneLeash? !

There are 5 OneLeashes? to be won. Competition closes July 30th at 12pm AEST so make sure you've subscribed before then. Winners will be notified by email the email they subscribed with by August 6th 2021.

The K9Fit® OneLeash? is the first of its kind in Australia. It is strong, durable and made to last, and with its shock-absorbing qualities doubles as a dog car restraint.

The K9Fit® OneLeash? has 5 uses in 1 and includes the primary leash and the OneLeash? Extend? .

Valu ed at $60 AUD! p.24

Ou r Team Ou r Edit or Charlie Kate Contact Charlie at fetchedmagazine@gmail.com Ou r Con t r ibu t or s

Charlotte Bryan

Emma Dunkley

Linda Norris

Heather Engel

Ashley Michael

Want to become a Fetched Magazine contributor as well?

Visit www.fetchedmagazine.com.au/submissions

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