Therapy Focus

Ethical Breeding with Purpose

At Shorebreak Pals Australian Cobberdogs, our commitment extends far beyond producing beautiful puppies. We are passionate about raising healthy, well-adjusted companions with sound temperaments, making them wonderful family members and suitable candidates for therapy and assistance work.

Michelle is a Therapy Dogs Australia Certified Educated Breeder, having completed specialised education focused on breeding, raising and selecting puppies with the temperament, resilience and social foundations needed to support therapy dog potential. This knowledge influences every stage of our breeding and puppy raising program, from selecting breeding dogs through to the critical early developmental weeks.

We are also proud to be RightPaw Verified. RightPaw's verification process recognises breeders who demonstrate responsible and ethical breeding practices, including comprehensive health testing, transparent breeding standards, appropriate welfare practices, and a genuine commitment to the lifelong wellbeing of every dog we breed.

Our breeding program is founded on:

• Comprehensive health testing of all breeding dogs.

• Careful selection for exceptional temperament, health and structure.

• Evidence-based puppy raising and early neurological development.

• Ethical breeding practices with the welfare of every dog as the highest priority.

• Lifetime support for every Shorebreak Pals family.

Our goal is simple: to breed Australian Cobberdogs that are healthy, confident, loving companions who enrich the lives of their families for many years to come.

"Ethical breeding isn't just about producing puppies—it's about protecting the future of the breed and giving every puppy the very best start in life."

Raising Puppies with Therapy Potential

We understand that producing a puppy with therapy potential begins long before they leave for their forever home. While no ethical breeder can guarantee that every puppy will become a therapy dog, we can give each puppy the very best start through thoughtful breeding and purposeful early development.

Our breeding program places a strong emphasis on selecting parents with calm, gentle, people-focused temperaments. These wonderful genetics are then supported by carefully planned early experiences during the critical developmental weeks.

The First Eight Weeks Matter

Research has shown that a puppy's early experiences have a lasting influence on their confidence, emotional resilience, and ability to cope with new environments. During this time, puppies are learning about the world every single day.

Our puppies are raised in our family home where they experience normal household life, gentle handling, and positive human interaction from birth.

Our Early Development Program

Every litter benefit from a structured program that includes:

• Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) during the neonatal period.

• Daily gentle handling to build trust and positive human connections.

• Exposure to everyday household sounds, including vacuum cleaners, televisions, kitchen noises and visitors.

• Age-appropriate enrichment activities that encourage curiosity and problem-solving.

• Different floor surfaces and environments to develop confidence and coordination.

• Positive introductions to grooming, brushing and handling of paws, ears and mouth.

• Foundation toilet and crate training.

• Carefully managed socialisation experiences that encourage calm, confident behaviour.

• Plenty of opportunities for rest, ensuring puppies are never overwhelmed during learning.