Every time you purchase a Big Dog product, you’re helping us support Smart Pups Assistance Dogs with a weekly donation of over 300kg of food to nourish dogs through their customised training programs and support the life-changing work of this extraordinary charity. This incredible initiative aims to enrich the lives of children with special needs by providing them with highly trained canine companions that improve their physical health and safety, independence, confidence, self-esteem, social interaction, life experience, happiness and wellbeing.

Our relationship with Smart Pups Assistance Dogs began in 2016 when Big Dog’s Founder, Chris Essex, heard a story about a beautiful little girl, Akira, who has autism and suffers from a rare form of epilepsy, which causes her to have multiple myoclonic seizures daily.

When Chris heard Akira’s story, he donated the $25,000 needed to raise and train her assistance dog, Jagger. After seeing the astounding positive impact Jagger has had on Akira’s life, Big Dog joined with Smart Pups.

Thank you for purchasing a Big Dog product and helping to improve the quality of life for these deserving Aussie families.


We believe in a healthy, active lifestyle for pets and people, which is why we choose to sponsor a local agility dog sports club, Pine Agility Dog Sports Club (PADS).

PADS is 100% volunteer run, not for profit club, offering a broad range of high quality, low cost dog training classes for the local community. This includes multiple levels of agility, instruction, obedience, training skills and fun for dogs. North Brisbane locals should check out PADS for some energetic bonding with your dog.

PTSD Dogs Australia is a Not For Profit Charity solely dedicated to the rescuing, re-homing and training of suitable displaced and unwanted dogs to support and assist Australia’s First Responders (Fire, Police Ambulance) and the Australian Defence Force (A.D.F) Air Force, Army and Navy suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) both current and retired.

PTSD Dogs Australia also provides personalised / group training and Assistance Dog Certification for people who already own a dog considered appropriate as a PTSD Certified Assistance Dog. As a national organisation PTSD Dogs Australia also provides an education program to inform and promote greater awareness around PTSD certified Assistance Dogs to the greater community in both relevant private and public organisations.

Big Dog Pet Foods is proud to support the Petstock Foundation and its mission to make real change in the lives of pets and people. Through impactful initiatives like National Pet Adoption Month, Hometown Heroes, and the Big Hearts Project, the Foundation shines a spotlight on the unsung heroes of the animal welfare world.

With 100% of donations going directly to charities that share our passion for care and compassion, their work supports incredible organisations like Guide Dogs Australia, Assistance Dogs Australia, Safe Pets Safe Families, Make-A-Wish, Pets for the Homeless, Second Chance Animal Rescue, and many more.

Together, we’re helping pets find loving homes, supporting people in need, and creating a better future—one paw at a time.