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 readBuying Safely
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 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 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 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