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 readDog advice
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 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 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 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 readCrate training without the guilt
A crate is a bedroom, not a cage, and the difference is entirely in how you introduce it. A week of doing it properly saves months.
6 min readThe first six months: a realistic timeline
What actually happens, week by week, including the bit at four months when everyone thinks they have made a terrible mistake.
8 min read