Pet care advice

New cat

Setting up your home ready for your new cat to help them settle in quickly

Cats, Adopters, Cat behaviour, Kitten

New dog

How to help your new friend settle in and start to build a bond

Dogs, Adopters, Dog behaviour

Dog adoption timeline

What to expect in the weeks and months after adopting a dog

Dogs, Adopters, Dog behaviour

Changing your pet's diet

Tips on weaning your pet onto a new diet to avoid upset tummies

Cats, Dogs, Adopters, Pet health

dog licking their lips_showing a calming signal

Learn to read the subtlest of body language.

Calming signals show when your pet is feeling uncomfortable.

Cats, Dogs, Adopters, Dog behaviour, Pet health, Cat behaviour

Making your home cat-friendly

If you make your home a comfortable environment for a cat, they will spend more time with you and so be a more rewarding pet.

Cats, Adopters, Cat behaviour, Kitten

Secure room set up for cats

How to set up a secure room for newly-adopted cats, or nervous cats

Cats, Adopters, Kitten

Letting your cat outside

Letting your cat outside for the first time is nerve-racking! Here are some tips on how to prepare your cat for their next adventure

Cats, Adopters, Cat behaviour

Quiet walks

What is a 'quiet walk'?

Dogs, Adopters, Dog behaviour

Housetraining

Toileting and even not-toileting are common frustrations in dog ownership. Here's our advice on encouraging housetraining in dogs.

Dogs, Dog training, Adopters, Dog behaviour

Introducing cats and dogs to each other

If the introduction is done carefully, dogs and cats can learn to live happily together, even if they don't become 'best friends'.

Cats, Dogs, Dog behaviour, Cat behaviour

Introducing cats to each other

Cats are solitary but can form friendships, here's our tips for helping that feline friendship blossom.

Cats, Adopters, Cat behaviour, Kitten

Free-roaming and community cats

The set up you need, and first steps to owning a more independent cat

Cats, Adopters, Welfare

FIV cats

What is FIV and how can it affect a cat?

Cats, Pet health

Nervous cats

Here's our advice for understanding and bonding with a nervous cat

Cats, Cat behaviour

Becoming friends with a nervous cat

This is a guide to some socialisation and befriending a cat that is hiding and wary.

Cats, Cat behaviour

Ginger and white cat inside a pet carrier with the door closed

Getting your cat to love their carrier

Tips on being able to get your cat into a carrier for vet visits.

Cats, Adopters, Pet health, Cat training

We love muzzles!

Why muzzles are beneficial, choosing a good muzzle and how to train your dog to wear one

Dogs, Dog training, Dog behaviour

Crates for dogs

Crates can be great to treat some behaviour issues and also as a nice place for your dog to retreat to.

Dogs, Dog training

Nervous dogs

There are lots of different reasons that your dog might be nervous of new people, or in new situations - we say don’t worry about why but focus on spotting the signs and taking action.

Dogs, Dog behaviour

Meeting and greeting other dogs

Most dogs want to meet others and it is important for them to have the opportunity to display their natural social behaviours and improve their doggie greetings.

Dogs, Dog behaviour

Parallel walking with two dogs of different temperaments

Introducing dogs with parallel walking

A technique for helping dogs meet each other

Dogs, Dog training, Dog behaviour

Walking with a reactive dog

Tips for coping with your everyday walks

Dogs, Dog training, Dog behaviour

Dog showing avoidance and calming signals

Stranger danger!

Helping your anxious dog cope when meeting new human friends

Dogs, Dog behaviour

Dog guarding a stick_baring teeth_growling

Mine! Guarding in dogs

Dogs guard what is precious to them, but it is possible to live with a guarding dog with a little two-way understanding.

Dogs, Dog training, Dog behaviour

Games with your dog

Keeping a dog mentally stimulated will prevent behaviour problems such as barking, being destructive or over-grooming. Let’s beat that boredom!

Dogs, Adopters, Dog behaviour

Focus and attention games

Great commands to build a bond and keep them close

Dogs, Dog training, Adopters

Cat playing with ready to pounce body language

Play with your cat!

Playing with your cat increases your bond, encourages them to stay closer to home, and reduces the urge to kill wildlife outside.

Cats, Adopters, Cat behaviour, Welfare

Leaving cats alone

Everything you need to know

Cats, Welfare

Dog happy in the crate_image by Tracy Ducasse

Teaching your dog to be left alone

When your dog finds it difficult for you to be away

Dogs, Dog training, Dog behaviour

Cats on counters

We give you our advice for more positive training.

Cats, Cat behaviour, Cat training

Living with pets and allergies

Pets are just one of the triggers for allergies including asthma attacks, but some simple steps may be enough to mean that you can keep your pet and control your allergy.

Cats, Dogs, Welfare

Keeping cats cool in hot weather

Our top tips for keeping your pet safe and happy in summer weather

Cats, Pet health, Cat behaviour, Welfare

Keeping dogs cool in hot weather

Our tips for keeping your hound cool and safe in the summer.

Dogs, Pet health, Welfare

Walking your dog in hot weather

If the weather is warm, exercise can be too much for our dogs.

Dogs, Pet health, Welfare

Helping your pets in cold weather

Keep your cats and dogs safe and cosy when the temperature drops

Cats, Dogs, Welfare

Cats with houseplants_toxic house plants

Houseplants and pets

Most of the time, houseplants and pets get along just fine but it is worth knowing about potential dangers.

Cats, Dogs, Welfare

Chocolate and pets

Chocolate is very toxic to both cats and dogs

Cats, Dogs, Welfare

Toxic food and poisonous plants for cats

Foods and plants to keep away from your pet cat.

Cats, Adopters, Welfare

Toxic food and poisonous plants for dogs

Foods and plants to keep away from your pet dog.

Dogs, Adopters, Welfare

Dog on the sofa with his owner who is gently holding his leg

Teaching your pet to accept being checked over

Being able to handle your pet means you can safely help them when they are ill or injured.

Cats, Dogs, Dog training, Pet health, Cat training

Touch training for reluctant pets

If your pet does not like a certain area being touched, then work gradually through this training.

Cats, Dogs, Dog training, Pet health, Cat training

dog hiding under a blanket so you can only see their nose

Looking for changes in your pet

Small changes in your pet’s behaviour and habits could be a sign of an ongoing illness or injury.

Cats, Dogs, Pet health

British Bulldog Coco is brachycephalic and needed corrective surgery to improve her breathing.

Brachycephalic breeds

What health issues you should look for if you own a flat-faced pet

Cats, Dogs, Welfare

Separation anxiety

What is it and what can you do to help?

Dogs, Dog behaviour

Puppy essentials: The first days and nights

Getting off to the best start with your new puppy.

Puppy

Puppy essentials: Crates and playpens

Prepare some safe spaces for your puppy.

Puppy

Puppy essentials: Feeding

What to feed your puppy

Puppy

Puppy essentials: Toilet training

Teaching your puppy to go to the toilet outside

Puppy

Puppy essentials: Leaving them on their own

Tips on getting them used to being left for short periods.

Puppy

Puppy introductions: Body language and cues

Dogs talk a lot through their body language, and keeping an eye on these can really help you understand your puppy.

Puppy

Our team socialising puppies in one of our paddocks

Puppy introductions: Socialising

It is very important that your puppy learns about life while it is young and open to new experiences.

Puppy

Puppy introductions: Children

Teaching your puppy and children to live in harmony

Puppy

Puppy introductions: Other dogs

Keeping your puppy socialised with other well-mannered dogs

Puppy

Puppy playtime and training: Chewing and mouthing

Coping with chewing, teething and mouthing

Puppy

Puppy playtime and training: Jumping up

Four paws to the floor!

Puppy

Puppy playtime and training: Recall

Puppy

Puppy playtime and training: Enrichment

Making your puppy use their brain

Puppy

Puppy playtime and training: Training

Why we train, and how to find a good class

Puppy

Healthy ears

Caring for your cat or dog's ears.

Pet health

Healthy eyes

Caring for your pet's eyes.

Pet health

Parasites

What they are and how to treat them

Cats, Dogs, Pet health

Taking care of their teeth

Let's keep them pearly white!

Cats, Dogs, Pet health

Fireworks and your pets

The noise and smell of fireworks can be very upsetting to some pets. Here’s some tips for helping your pet through the firework periods around Bonfire Night and New Year’s Eve.

Welfare

Puppy having an injection of vaccinations

Vaccinations for dogs

What they are and when to get them

Dogs, Pet health, Puppy

Cat vaccinations

What they are and when to get them

Cats, Pet health, Kitten

Neutering your cat

Neuter - spay or castrate - it's important to get it done!

Cats, Pet health