Dog Adoption Guides

10 guides written for Perth owners, covering the breeds that turn up most often in Western Australia rescue. What each one costs to adopt, the health issues worth planning for, and what daily life with them is really like.

Start here

Dog Parks and Off-Lead Areas in Perth

How Perth off-lead areas work (each council sets its own), plus the heat, snake and 1080 safety that actually matters at a WA park.

Dog Registration in Perth

Registering a dog with your WA council: the 3-month rule, microchipping, the desexed and pensioner discounts, and why there is no single Perth fee.

Dog Desexing in Perth: Cost and WA Law

What desexing costs in Perth, why it is not mandatory for ordinary dogs in WA, and how it lowers your council registration fee.

Guides by breed

7 breeds

Staffordshire Bull Terrier1 guide

Staffy Adoption in Perth: Rescue GuideWhere to adopt a Staffy in Perth, real costs, the WA Dog Act, and why they are the most common dog in WA rescue.

See adoptable Staffordshire Bull Terriers →

Bull Arab1 guide

Bull Arab Adoption in Perth: Rescue GuideWhere to find a rescue Bull Arab in Perth, the prey drive and secure-fencing reality, real costs, and WA law.

See adoptable Bull Arabs →

German Shepherd1 guide

German Shepherd Adoption in Perth: Rescue GuideWhere to adopt a German Shepherd in Perth, the health issues to plan for, real costs, and coping with the WA heat.

See adoptable German Shepherds →

Kelpie1 guide

Kelpie Adoption in Perth: Rescue GuideWhere to find a rescue Kelpie in Perth, why this high-drive working dog needs a job, real costs, and WA law.

See adoptable Kelpies →

Rottweiler1 guide

Rottweiler Adoption in Perth: Rescue GuideWhere to adopt a Rottweiler in Perth, why they are not restricted in WA, the health issues to plan for, and real costs.

See adoptable Rottweilers →

Mastiff1 guide

Mastiff Adoption in Perth: Rescue GuideAdopting a Mastiff or Bullmastiff in Perth: the giant-breed health and heat realities, real costs, and where to find one in WA rescue.

See adoptable Mastiffs →

American Bulldog1 guide

American Bulldog Adoption in Perth: Rescue GuideWhere to adopt an American Bulldog in Perth, why they are not restricted in WA, the training and secure-space needs, and real costs.

See adoptable American Bulldogs →

Free tools & training

Free Dog Training Program

Step-by-step commands to train your new rescue dog.

Adoption Readiness Check

A quick gut-check on time, budget and home before you apply.

Dog Cost Calculator

The real monthly and yearly cost of owning a dog in Australia.

Dog Age Calculator

Convert your dog's age to human years, adjusted for size.