Keep your dog or puppy happy, healthy and safe. Home What we do Care for Animals Dog Care Breeds What we do Adoptions Dogs and Puppies Cat and Kittens Pocket Pets Birds Livestock Adoption fees Exceptional Owners Seniors for Seniors Program Home Ever After Veterinary Services RSPCA Sydney Veterinary Hospital RSPCA Hunter Veterinary Hospital (Rutherford) RSPCA Broken Hill Veterinary Hospital Rescue and Rehabilitate Animal Ambulance Drives For Lives Behaviour Pet Rehabilitation Program Lost and Found I’ve lost my pet I’ve found a pet Care for Animals Owning a Pet Costs Veterinary Care Adopting a New Pet Locating a Lost Pet Pets and Rental Properties Disaster Management Plans Enrichment The Chain Exchange Dog Care Dog Walking Guidelines Parvovirus in Dogs Barking Dog Training Tips and Videos Bathing and Grooming Identification Veterinary Care Housing Breeds Enrichment Nutrition Puppy Care Cat Care Kitten Care Identification Veterinary Care Keeping Wildlife Safe and Your Cat Happy Housing Breeds Bathing and Grooming Training Nutrition Pocket Pets Livestock Birds Housing Identification Veterinary Care Nutrition Bathing and Grooming Training Pet Hazards Toxic Plants for Pets Christmas Season Fireworks and Storms Heat Stress Snake Bites and Pets Bushfires and House Fires Droughts Education Primary Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten) Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Secondary Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6 Tertiary School Holiday Program Community Groups RSPCA AWARE (free resource) Professional Development for Teachers Family Fun Training ACM20117 Certificate II in Animal Studies ACMGAS206 Provide Basic First Aid for Animals ACMMIC401 Implant Microchip in Cats and Dogs Basic Animal First Aid Introducing Your Pet to a New Baby Animal Welfare Our Inspectorate Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1979) Working in Communities Community Aged Care Program Community Domestic Violence Program Community Homelessness Program Outreach Animal Assistance Programs Human Services Workshops Indigenous Community Companion Animal Health Program (ICCAHP) Youth Initiatives Home Ever After Community Branches and Programs Bushfire Response Disaster and Alerts Hot weather Fireworks and Storms Bushfires and House Fires Droughts RSPCA Pet Insurance Dog CareDog Walking Guidelines Parvovirus in Dogs Barking Dog Training Tips and Videos Bathing and Grooming Identification Veterinary Care Housing Breeds Enrichment Nutrition Puppy Care Breeds When choosing a specific breed, it is important to understand why this breed was developed. For example, working breeds, such as Kelpies, are extremely active and intelligent, and are not suited to being alone in a yard all day. All breeds have different characteristics, so make sure you choose a pet that is appropriate to your lifestyle. Many breeds have inherited health problems which may need veterinary intervention and will incur ongoing costs. In reality, a crossbreed dog may be more robust and have the best of the breeds. Remember that dogs can live for more than 20 years, so owning one is a long-term commitment.