Now that autumnal weather has well and truly descended upon us, dog walks may well involve muddy paws, soggy legs, a wet underbelly, or, indeed, an entirely saturated body if you have pooch with a penchant for rolling.

Certain dogs really do seem able to find the smelliest and most disgusting things to roll in.

This is, apparently, a throwback to when dogs were wild and needed to roll in faeces and carcasses to mask their scent so that they could creep up on their prey.

If you smell like your prey, or your prey’s dung, then you’re more likely to catch it.

If you have a smelly dog, or an exceptionally muddy one, then bathing him or her is unavoidable. But how often should you wash your dog?

Veterinary experts worry that some dog owners bathe their pets far too frequently, concerned more for the cleanliness and appearance of their homes than the wellbeing of their pet.

Many dogs don’t require routine bathing at all and their coat condition can be well maintained by regular grooming and brushing.

Too much bathing can strip away essential oils from a dog’s skin, leaving it dry and itchy, although some dermatological conditions benefit from a specially medicated, dog-specific shampoo prescribed by a vet.

Human shampoos should never be used because they’re too acidic - instead, there is a wide range of doggy shampoo to choose from.

Grooming and bathing are also great opportunities to check a dog for fleas and ticks, and to ensure there are no new lumps and bumps or hidden wounds.

We have two Caucasian Shepherd cross-breeds, Sabre (male) and Narla (female), looking for new homes and as short-haired versions of the breed they shouldn’t require too much grooming - a good brush once or twice a week will suffice.

Both dogs are, technically, still classed as puppies because they are just over a year old.

They did not live together but they played together, and so they would be happy to be rehomed either singly or as a pair.

They have similar temperaments in that they are both big softies, but as large dogs they can be strong and powerful. But they are both good with other dogs, and they’re very people orientated.

Sabre and Narla are not suitable for first-time dog owners because they will need further training and socialisation, so that they can become confident in strange situations and with new people, and understand appropriate responses and behaviours.

They are the first Caucasian crosses we have seen in the kennels, and they are impressive dogs with a rich history.

The Caucasian Shepherd breed is a descendent from the ancient Molosser breeds, which were used to protect flocks from large predators and thieves.

They’re still popular in Russia, Hungary and Poland as both working dogs and family pets.

Although we have no reason to believe that Sabre or Narla would hurt a child, we are recommending that they go to new homes where children are 15 years old or more.

As large, playful dogs who are still learning where their boundaries lie, they could knock over a smaller child accidentally or be a bit too rough in their play.

As is the case with most shepherds, they will make amazing companions and be incredibly loyal and loving.

Many shepherd owners stick with the breed for life, which usually means they chose German Shepherd Dogs (GSDs).

Sabre and Narla are an unusual version of a GSD and so we’re sure it won’t be too long before they are snapped up by shepherd lovers.