Sadly many families and individuals have been scammed out of thousands of dollars when purchasing a puppy online in Australia. ​ Follow these 6 simple rules to minimise your chances of being scammed. ​ 1. Do not purchase a puppy only from a photo. Ask for an appointment via a WhatsApp, or Facetime Video Call or organise to attend the property in person to see your puppy. ​ 2. Buy only from a registered breeder and ask for their breeder license number. ​ 3. Contact the local council of that area to check the authenticity of the name, license number and address of the breeder. ​ Our Local Council is Latrobe City Shire They can be contacted on 1300 367 700. Please quote L120 to verify our license. ​ 4. Ask for the puppy's vaccination records and microchip number ​ 5. Ask for proof of the breeder's drivers license and request permission to check the microchip with the veterinarian who was the implanter. ​ 6. If using a courier, check with the courier to find out how long they have been dealing with the breeder for. ​ We have compiled a few articles, videos and tools that will provide further advice on the best ways to purchase your puppy and how to avoid the scams that are currently circulating. The Department of Environment and Primary Industries Victoria provides an excellent guide to Buying a pet in Victoria. Pet Place provides information on Questions to ask the breeder when purchasing your puppy. 6o Minutes recently aired stories on puppy scams in Victoria during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gumtree provides a blog on Things you should know before purchasing from Gumtree. Tineye is a great reverse image search tool. People can use this tool to check if the picture of the puppy has been used on any other pages and is an obvious scam. Walkerville Vet has some good about how to avoid being scammed. Dogmovers also have good information and as well as contacts points for those who have been scammed. Have you had a bad experience? You can report them to Puppy Scam Awareness Australia

A big THANKS to The Dogs Journal for choosing us as the Best Groodle Breeder in Victoria!

On 18th June 2021 Puppies Downunder was re-approved by the Victorian Minister of Agriculture the Honorable Mary-Anne Thomas MP to operate as a Commercial dog breeder for the next three years. This 3 year license is the first of its kind in Victoria and was imposed as a measure to rule out unethical breeding. Our operations are conducted in according with the Code of Practice for the Operation of Breeding and Rearing Business and our license was granted on the basis of us satisfying all the requirements. For information about the Code of Practice visit: https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/animal-welfare-victoria/domestic-animals-act/codes-of-practice/code-of-practice-for-the-operation-of-breeding-and-rearing-businesses-2014

We charge a premium because we set a very high standard for animal health and well-being and go beyond the requirements imposed on us by the Victorian State Government. We strongly focus on health, intelligence, temperament and hypo-allergenic qualities. We believe we can do it better than others based on 45 years of acquiring the best bloodlines that emphasise these qualities. We also believe we are better resourced than others as we are a commercial breeder which licenses us to breed with up to 50 females that have been carefully selected over the years. As responsible and ethical breeders, we ensure we provide our animals with the best care possible at all times. We have recently established our own on site veterinary clinic and surgery for our vet so he can perform any procedures or surgeries as they arise. We also employ 15 employees to cater for the socialisation and enrichment requirements for all our puppies and adult dogs. This means that when the puppies leave our facility at 10 weeks they have been well cared for and loved since birth by our staff and family. This positive experience results in excellent health and forms the beautiful temperament they have developed by the time they are ready to go to their new homes.

The Heart Foundation reports that dog owners are more likely to live longer than non dog owners, and this is why... When you own a dog, your hormone levels increase exponentially to enhance the natural production of oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine in your body. These hormones are called your ‘happy hormones’. They lower stress levels and increase your overall feeling of well-being. They lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and improve fitness and reduce feelings of depression.

#PuppiesDownunder and #NewBeginnings Animal Rescue have worked together finding homes for our retired dogs over a period that spans more than 15 years. #PuppiesDownunder retire their dams after 5 litters and sires at the age of 7. If they are not adopted by our 14 staff, we call on Krystal from #Newbeginnings to help us find a loving home for them. It is a great privilege to work with Krystal who is the founder of this non-profit organisation. She has helped us find many loving homes for our retired dams and sires. At #NewBeginnings, their purpose is to rehome, save and rehabilitate animals from breeding establishments, pounds and shelters. This not for profit organisation pays for veterinary costs themselves. They pay for food, toys, beds and many other things to make the animal’s life more comfortable. They send the animal to a foster home to be assessed, and until a suitable home can be found for them. They take the animal to their own homes, and they treat them as their own. They train them and socialise them. And they also pay this from their own pockets and the donations they raise. This organisation needs your support to keep going and so they can meet the costs of helping these animals. Please give generously. Click On the following link to learn more: https://www.newbeginningsari.org.au/

We find ourselves in a market that is subject to heavy regulation. There have been major changes to this industry that have placed a significant regulatory burden on all puppy breeding operators. Barriers to entry are now extremely high due to costs to satisfy infrastructure and compliance requirements. We find ourselves well placed in this time of change as we have always invested our profits back into infrastructure and into our dogs, ensuring they have a healthy, safe and loving environment to live in. We seek to promote responsible breeding of puppies and restore the tarnished reputation of an industry that has diminished credit-ability. We love our dogs and we have always aimed to provide an environment for them that nurtres their behavioral, social and physiological needs. Pet Shops in Victoria were banned from selling puppies on 1 July 2018 which has resulted in buyers obtaining puppies directly from the breeder. This was aimed at reducing opportunities gained by unethical breeders and uneducated retailers who exploit the welfare of the animal so that they may profit from sale. Puppies Downunder has been regarded as an Ethical Breeder by the Animal Welfare Victoria's Chief Veterinary Officer who has the important role of strengthening Victoria's animal health, welfare and biosecurity standards. We have also received positive support from our Latrobe City Shire and Mayor Sharon Gibson as well as our local Member of Parliament The Hon. Russell Northe. We welcome the public to come view our facilities and judge for themselves whether they consider us to be a ‘True’ ethical breeder.