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Mel Armstrong is an Aussie/Kiwi Illustrator & Surface Pattern Designer who now lives in Wellington, New Zealand. Mel is the talent behind Indie Boho's new collection - Sunset Cockatoo. She drew her inspiration for this design from the many years living in the Southern Highlands, NSW. She illustrates for children’s books, shoes, designs fabric, stationery and baby products for clients such as Scholastic UK, Harper Collins, Hallmark Creative US, American Greetings and Oxford University Press to name a few. Mel was once a ballet dancer, then had a corporate career as a graphic artist and web designer for many years before she found her passion for surface pattern design about 10 years ago. 

While using crates is a personal choice, there is no doubt that many dog parents are intrigued by them and interested in learning more so that they can make an informed decision. We asked two of our favourite dog mamas - Sheyleigh and Bec about their experience using dog crates, the reasons why they love them and their tips on how to crate train from their own trials and errors.
But first, here's what Jordan Dog Training has to say about crates:

"Crates are not intended for confining your dog for lengthy periods of time on a routine basis. Your dog will quickly grow tired of this and begin resisting it. Use a crate, but don’t abuse a crate.

Ideally, a crate should be large enough to allow your dog to stretch out on his side, stand without hitting his head and be able to turn around. The crate should not be so large that your dog can relieve himself in one corner and move away to play and sleep in another. Place the crate close to the main living area of the house, such as the kitchen or lounge. Draping the crate with a sheet may help to enhance the den-like quality for the puppy. Put a soft blanket in the crate to make it comfortable. Also ensure that the crate is free from drafts or direct heat."

Jocelyn Proust is a revered Australian artist with a unique flair for pattern design. She draws her inspiration from nature, particularly her surroundings where she lives on the north coast of New South Wales. Her signature style of illustration uses bright, bold colours and clean lines. Her patterns often depict native flowers and birds but also fruits, animals, insects and our very special Daydream Shells design. 

Jocelyn’s designs are perfectly balanced between complexity and simplicity, making them ideal for a wide range of applications including textile and ceramic products. Jocelyn's distinctive work can be seen at Spotlight, Hallmark, Annabel Trends, Australia Post, Urban Road… just to name a few.

Mat training is one of the most valuable skills you can teach your pup. It is all about asking your dog to go to their place (mat), thereby preventing them from doing things you don’t want them to do, like being under your feet in the kitchen or jumping on the couch when guests are over. Once their mat training is mastered at home, you can progress to taking your dog out to busy restaurants and cafes with the mat they have grown familiar with. That's why a travel mat is so handy for this type of training. 

In this step-by-step guide, Amy gives us her tips (and a video!) to ensure that you too can succeed with mat training your dog. Plus there's a special online course offer for our readers!

Debi Hudson is an Australian illustrator and the talent behind our latest designer pet bed and blanket called Foxy Tales. Her work is currently being featured in schools and bookshops all around Victoria for the 2021 Premier’s Reading Challenge and she's also known for a children’s dinner set design with Ashdene/Ladelle Group and a junior reader series with an award-winning author, published through Penguin Books Australia. 

Debi illustrates cheerful, dreamy, bright worlds where animals, people and nature intertwine as one. Foxy Tales is a snapshot of two sweet foxes, decorated with leaf and flower patterns relaxing in the forest with some furry friends.

If you've ever taken your dog to the beach (or plan to!) this article is a must-read. Dr Amelia Allen is an emergency veterinarian in one of the Animal Emergency Service (AES) hospitals in Brisbane and we've chosen her as our guest for this article, for obvious reasons.

Amelia takes us through the planning of a beach trip, dangers to be wary of, how to play safely in the heat of the sun, with sand and salt water and how to wash off your dog afterwards. She answers all those common questions such as - can my dog approach another dog who is on lead when at an off leash beach? How much sun can my dog handle? Is sand / saltwater dangerous? Should I wash them after every beach trip? Enjoy this incredibly valuable (possibly life-saving) read!