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If you had the chance to feed your dog 100% natural cooked food with no added preservatives or additives, would you consider buying it? |
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Advice for New Cat & Dog OwnersA few tips to our pet loving readers wanting to become successful pet owners.
Before buying, receiving or adopting a pet, here are some things to simply bear in mind:
1. Try to not get a pet on an impulsive day as pets should ideally be planned in mind to live with you for the duration of their lives.
Something to bear in mind is the future with you and them. The average dog lifespan is 12 years, cats can live much longer and some birds even live longer than us!
2. Your lifestyle can affect the type of pet you can enjoy so maybe think and research before both hearts break.
3. Your home size and outdoor garden space can affect the breed and type of dog you should think about too. (Do you live near a park to treat dogs to outdoor capers together more than once a week? Have you thought about using Walkers?)
4. Do you live near or on a main road? Sadly, there has been a huge recent increase of cat motor deaths within the UK.
5. You don't necessarily need to live in a palace to be a wonderful pet owner but think about access to the time you will have on your hands to spend with your longterm new friend. After all, larger pets will need regular stimulation as you do too.
6. Maybe find out if your landlords permit pets and test the water with friends and family who would have to play 'aunts' in your absence!
7. Will your partner or family and friends be as excited as you with the new member?
8. Costs and time involved in owning a pet are good to think about too.
petSmiles list all the breeders you'll need for finding a chosen breed. Click here to browse the breeds section.
If you decide to become a dog or cat owner buying from a reputable specialist pet breeder, we would recommend the following things:
1. Before you even visit puppies or kittens at a specific breeder, try to ensure you know as much about your chosen breed and it's suitability to you, your family and your own lifestyle. Your local vet or breed society can give you lots of advice on recommendations and you'll soon find lots of people willing to give free open advice specifically about your breed in question. Always remember, if you go and visit tiny babies, love can easily strike and before you know it, you've become a pet owner with all the added responsibilities. Plan everything before you go and see them!
2. Be prepared to travel for your chosen breed. Breeders in general have been specifically breeding your particular breed for many years and with that have years of experience in that one breed. They may live at the other end of the country to you so turn these initial visits into fun excursions out involving friends and the entire family. It may even impress the breeder.
3. When you get to see the puppies or kittens, both parents should really be visible. It's quite normal if the father isn't around as many 'stud' dogs or cats are not owned by the breeders and come in to do their job and are then reunited with their own breeders. Family strains in breeds should be well documented and not overused by one breeder. The mum should definitely be present and you'll get a good indication as to her temperament. After all she is the mother of the baby you will be homing who will have similar behavioural patterns.
4. You should be allowed to play with the babies and handle them freely. Young children may not always be welcome on the first visit when the babies are still inbetween vaccinations. It's a good idea to ask the breeder before hand on the phone if any children will be welcome too?
5. Toys for stimulation and clean facilities should be in practice.
6. A good breeder will expect you to visit the baby a few times (a.) to show commitment and (b.) to see the development of your baby before you can safely take it home with you. Don't worry if breeders ask you questions about your own lifestyle situation. All they want to ensure is that you can be a responsible pet owner. Try and be as honest as you can. It may work in your favour.
7. Relevant paperwork is essential if your pet is a pedigree, ensure that all the papers are visible to openly peruse. Pedigree papers, family history and registration papers may be of relevance.
8. Involving your vet can be beneficial. Your vet may even be prepared to visit the babies with you for detection of any health problems. Just remind yourself here of the sadness and costs involved if you home an ill pet.
9. Babies should be fully vaccinated & wormed. Many breeders provide some form of introductory insurance for your new pet. Ask!
10. Pets that do not originate from the place of purchase should cause suspicion.
This is where we would like to add that re-homing a dog or cat via your local Pet Charity or Pet Welfare can also be just as rewarding. Many thousands of dogs and cats are put to sleep (PTS) every year because previous owners do not claim their pets and new homes can not be found in time. With the right outlook, a re-homed dog or cat can be just a rewarding for both parties.
If you happen to find a stray dog in the streets, here's what to do:
1.) Please get it to the nearest re-homing centre as its loving owners may be looking for it. This you can do by following the below:
2.) Make contact with your own local authority. They have to employ dog wardens by law, who have to collect any potential stray dog.
3.) If you find a dog or cat outside office hours, you can take the stray dogs or cats to your local police station.
4.) If a stray dog is found in the Greater London area, you can call the 'Lost Dogs Line' on 020 7627 9245 or bring it direct into Battersea Dogs Home which is open 24 hours a day. Please remember, it's rightful owner may be looking for it.
5.) If you find a stray dog and would like to re-home it, let the local Pet Charity or Pet Welfare know you express interest in re-homing it if applicable and if serious, you'll have more than a good chance of being first on the cat or dogs waiting list. Remember, Pet Charity or Pet Welfare organisations only want the animal to be well homed.
Rehoming Centres may ask you basic lifestyle questions to match compatibility with their pets looking for a second chance and most will usually have contacts with alternative centres that may have something more suitable if their selection of pets don't suit.
There are also many specific rehoming centres run by devoted specific breed lovers for specific pedigree breeds if you are not too specific about the age or colour of a new pet but know which breed you would like to find.
Puppies are usually rarer in most rehoming centres but not completely unheard of. Maybe keep pursuing and join any databases or waiting lists as most rehoming centres have them.
Please remember to look into the full (available) history on the pet that interests you as a past may be hard to erase and may not suit your own available situation.
The last thing you want is to choose on an impulse than find the pet having to look for a third home.
Remember, rehoming a pet is such a noble path and can be just as rewarding as buying one from a pedigree breeder.
There are MANY Pet Charities listed or Pet Welfares in petSmiles to call or visit.
Some may have homing requirements, but remember if you can provide a loving home to one of their pets, the rehoming centre will be very interested to match-make and can even offer ongoing advice to you when the new member joins the family ongoingly.
We do list many 'Classified' adverts for pets needing rehoming or specific breeds of interest.
Please remember, nothing here is intended to scare you away from owning your new pet, or becoming the best owner in the world.
Pets are now more and more suiting to our individual lifestyles and can have fulfilling lives if planned for.
With a pinch of common sense and a bit of research into your chosen breed, it will become a valuable asset when you do eventually join the pet owning club.
We'll guarantee you plenty of fun and capers with your new friends and unconditional love can be guaranteed from them.
Have fun in your search and create a journey involving everyone close to you... you may need them in the future.
Good Luck!Click here to join the petPaper.Click here to email any advice.
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