Seeing the mother: what you are actually looking for
The single most useful thing you can do when buying a puppy or kitten, and how to tell a genuine home rearing from a staged one.
7 min readPet advice
Written for people making a decision, not for a search engine. Health and welfare articles carry a named reviewer.
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What "health tested" actually means, breed by breed
Two words that appear in almost every advert and are worth nothing without the certificates. Here is what to ask for.
8 min readThe real cost of a dog in the UK
The purchase price is the smallest number involved. Setup, insurance, food, and the bills nobody budgets for.
6 min readHow to spot a pet scam
The patterns are consistent and they are easy to recognise once you know them. None of them require you to be gullible.
5 min readBringing a puppy home: the first week
What to do, what not to worry about, and the two mistakes that make the next six months harder.
7 min readAdopting instead of buying: what it is really like
Rescue is not second best, and it is also not simple. An honest account of both.
6 min readKitten or adult cat: choosing well
Kittens are harder work than people expect and adult cats are easier. What actually differs.
5 min readWhat a good breeder asks you
You are assessing them. They should be assessing you. If the conversation is one-directional, that tells you something.
4 min readWhat a puppy contract should actually say
Most contracts you will be handed are one page and protect nobody. Here is what a good one covers, and which clauses are not enforceable.
6 min readPet insurance: what actually gets excluded
The policy you buy in week one determines what is covered for the animal's whole life. Four decisions matter and the rest is noise.
7 min readThere is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog
The allergen is in saliva and skin, not hair. What low-shedding breeds actually change, and how to find out whether it is enough for you.
5 min readKennel Club registration: what it tells you, and what it does not
KC papers are a pedigree record, not a health certificate or a quality mark. Knowing the difference will save you a lot of money.
6 min read