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Kennels and Catteries or pet sitters

I thought this would be an interesting post for anyone who is on the fence about whether to use a pet sitter / boarder or a kennels / cattery.
You are probably thinking that I am biased because I run a pet sitting business - well actually not so.  I believe that both types of establishments have their their place as individual pets have individual requirements.
Here are a few things you might find helpful in making your decision:

Your Pet's Behaviour & Temperament

If you had to sum your pet up in a few words how would you do it?  Active? Aggressive?  Insecure? Pampered?
Your pets personality goes a long way towards determining how he or she will cope with any type of new environment.  For example if your dog is happy-go-lucky and totally up for anything than its entirely possible that he will adjust well to a boarding kennel as well as boarding in someone else's home.
If on the other hand pooch or puss is insecure and nervous the chances are that you will trigger a sense of abandonment by leaving him in a kennels/cattery.  It's worth mentioning here that to some degree this will still be an issue when leaving him with a pet sitter/boarder but a big bonus to using a pet sitter is that your dog will be able to meet and get acquainted with the individual before his actual "holiday".  This makes a huge difference to how well your dog adjusts to the change in environment and carer.
If your dog has difficulties with house training or is prone to destructive behaviour than its realistic to expect that a pet sitter will not accept him into their home.  Therefore in such an instance a boarding kennel may be your only option aside from cancelling your holiday or taking your dog with you (unless you have a trusty relative you can leave him with).  You should expect to be asked about your dogs behaviour by a potential pet sitter.
Aggressive dogs or dogs who have issues with children or other pets may also be better suited to a boarding kennels because although they will be next door to other dogs they will not be a threat.  It's usually the case that a pet sitter will not have multiple dogs from different owners staying with them at the same time as yours but its likely they will have their own pets or children.  Even if they dont make a habit of mixing the two together its possible they will not want to risk any injury.  Therefore you should not expect a pet boarder or sitter to look after an aggressive dog.
For dogs that love comfort and cuddles then a pet sitter is the ideal choice as attention and home comforts are in generous supply :)

Your Peace Of Mind

The decision about who to leave your pet with when you are out of town is not just about how your precious companion will cope - its about how you feel about things too.
Just because your dog is comfortable in a boarding kennel does not mean you will be!
Better to pay a little more for a pet sitter and enjoy peace of mind whilst on your holidays than spend your entire vacation worrying about what your pet is doing.
Another plus to pet sitters is that they will be happy to keep in touch with you via text, email and sometimes facebook so that you can see photos of how your baby is doing.  This is a big plus for anxious owners!

Price

Budget certainly comes into play when it comes to choosing where your pet should go.
Boarding kennels and catteries are generally pretty cost effective and so if you are on a tight budget than this would be your best option.
Pet sitters and boarders are generally quite a bit more expensive - you should expect this as you are paying for what is essentially a luxury service.
Whatever your choice it could be worth setting aside a little money each week so that when the time for your holiday comes you have the funds ready.  You should also expect to pay a deposit to secure your booking.

Dispelling The Myths

Some owners have heard horror stories about kennels and catteries and whilst its true that some pets have had bad experiences  - the majority of establishments are excellent.
Gone are the days of damp, old wooden kennels with grubby bedding.  Most kennels / catteries are now spacious, heated and comfortable - as well as clean.
Some people also think that their dog will be neglected whilst in a boarding kennels.  Whilst its true that they probably wont have as much undivided attention as they would at home (if you are an owner who spends a lot of time with your dog or cat), they are given plenty of exercise - usually either in a secure play area where they can socialize and have a romp with other dogs, or by being taken for several walks per day.
If you are concerned and really want to know what its like then you should try visiting the boarding kennels unexpectedly.  Additionally you could search online for reviews and speak to owners who have used the establishment.

Pros Of Kennels & Catteries

Cost effective
Safe
Usually have availability
Good for dogs with behavioural issues

Pros Of Pet Sitters & Boarders

Luxury service
Regular updates & photos
More attention
Ideal for older or more needy pets


 

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Parrot Toys On A Budget

For those of us who are owned by a parrot it's a well known fact that purchasing toys for them can be expensive.

I have found that even if they are reasonably long lasting and tough, Henry, my Amazon parrot soon gets bored of them.  There have also been several occasions when I have purchased some rather costly items and he has totally ignored them.  So after some research, trial and error and suggestions from other owners I have put together a few ideas of how to keep parrots entertained on a budget.

Not only are these suggestions cheap and cheerful, but they are safe and make fun little projects too.

For those of you who still prefer to go shopping I have also added some links to reliable toy stockists that I have found to be competitively priced and reliable.

DIY CARGO NET

Many parrots love to climb and so cargo nets are often a great addition to any cage or bird room.

They are relatively simple to make and all you really need is sisal rope.

I do think it important to emphasize that sisal rope is the best option as other string and twine can be dangerous.  I have seen birds become badly tangled in string products which has sadly resulted in amputation and even death.  Sisal is a natural product and very safe.

It's also fairly inexpensive if you purchase from the right stockist.  The natural colour is the cheapest but you can also get the coloured options if you want to make something a little more funky!

Sisal rope also varies in size so you can buy according to the size of your parrot.  

It is usually sold by the meter.  Below is a link to an ebay stockist.

Buy Sisal rope here

Cardboard Tubes

If your parrot loves to shred things then this could be just perfect for him.

Carpet retailers are very happy to give these away as they are what carpets are rolled on.  You can often find them in skips around the back of the stores.  Just please ask before you take them.

They are actually quite long but you can easily cut them down to size and your feathered friend will have a ball getting stuck in.  Each piece should last a fair while too as they are pretty tough!

Pine Cone Toys

Many pet stores sell parrot toys made from pine cones and charge a high price for them too!  Why not make your own.  Some thin sisal rope with a pine cone hanging from it may just equal hours of fun for your bird.

You can collect them for free from woods and local parks.  You could even collect them when you go on holiday and keep a stash of them.

Cardboard & Shoe Boxes

Ever noticed how when you buy a child a present he or she ends up spending more time playing with the box?  Parrots are similar so make use of this free commodity.  

Supermarkets are happy to give them away and who of us doesn't have a shoe box or two hanging about around the house?

Simply fill a box with pine cones, newspaper, almonds and favourite treats and let your parrot get stuck into destroying it.

The down side is that you will have a mess to clean up but it's something we parrot owners are very used to anyway!

Foraging Bags & Boxes

Zoe Danielle Doubleday makes these cute toys for her parrot.  Here is what she said:

 "A cardboard box or sweet bag, fill with shredded paper you can buy or your birds create for you  a few nuts and treats and any bits off old toys, hang up or place somewhere. I made loads for the aviary birds at our local shelter."

What parrot in his or her right mind would not enjoy getting stuck into these little babies!

Simply fill a sweet bag with shredded paper and treats and then tie up with sisal and away he goes!

The sweet bags are very inexpensive at just 99p for 100.  You can buy from ebay.  Below is a sample link:

Buy these sweet bags here

You could also make some for local bird sanctuaries like Zoe does!

Spoon Toys

Lots of pet stores sell parrot toys made out of dessert spoons and teaspoons.  Why not make your own?

Some parrots love just throwing a spoon about due to the sound it makes.

Recycle Old Toys

Rather than throwing old or rejected toys away consider breaking them up and using their parts to make new ones.  You will get more and more creative as you go.  It's still a bit of trial and error but good fun!

Baby Toys

I am a big fan of buying baby toys for my parrot.  I have found that they are much stronger and safer than pet toys. 

I spend hours looking on ebay for baby rattles and have picked up some great bargains.

You can also buy them from carboot sales.  

Please be sure to clean and disinfect them with a bird safe formula first though.

Below are some photos of toys that I have purchased for Henry.  He favours foot toys so I tend to go for baby rattles.

 I paid just £2.95 for all four of these brand new baby toys (above) !  You can purchase them at the link below.

Buy These Toys Here

If You Still Prefer To Buy New

For those who still feel more comfortable purchasing parrot toys from pet retailers, here are some links to good stockists that I have found to be reliable.

1. Scarlett's Parrot Essentials.

You can find pretty much everything you need for your bird here as well as some really good quality foods.

The prices are slightly cheaper than other places but do bear in mind that postage is always about £5 which can be very expensive depending on how small your order is.

Delivery is always very quick and Scarlett, the business owner, is very helpful.  These are genuine "bird people" so you can be sure you are speaking to and dealing with someone in the know.

Here is a link to Scarlett's Parrot Essentials:

Scarlett's Parrot Essentials

2. Northern Parrots

I love Northern Parrots.  Their products are slightly more expensive than scarlett's but as mentioned above it really depends how large or small your order is as postage here is cheaper.

They have a wide selection of toys and there are plenty of reviews on them them buyers which helps you to see which ones are good value for money.  This is something which Scarlett's has yet to develop although the option to leave a review is there - it's just that no one really has yet bothered.

I have noticed that the seed available at Northen Parrots is not as good quality is the Avian Specific available at Scarlett's.  A good tell tale sign is whether or not monkey nuts are present in the mix - there are in nearly all the choices at Northern Parrots which is not good as they can be dangerous to birds.

Another plus to Northern Parrots is that they are quick to deliver.  They even put freebies and samples in with your order which is always fun.  This is something that Scarlett's should aim to do as it helps build good relations with clients.

Northern Parrots are also on TopCashBack so if you like to shop and save its ideal.

Below is a link to Northern Parrots:

Northern Parrots

I have not been paid for either of these recommendations or for any of the links.  They are my own options and experiences and have been included for your convenience.

Thanks to all the people on Problem Parrots extra for their help and suggestions including:

Teri Humber

Scotty Dunkley

Gordon Brightey

Zoe Danielle Doubleday

Simon Price

Thanks for reading :)

DO YOU KNOW THE DANGERS OF RAWHIDE CHEWS

Rawhide treats are commonly available in pet shops and supermarkets.  They are affordable and due to the fact that many trusted suppliers stock them owners associate them as being safe for their dogs.
I was one of them! I used to buy rawhide shoes and sticks for my dachshund puppy all the time - Soon learned my lesson!

First a little about these products:

Rawhide chews and bones are made from the inner layers of cow or horse hides.  They are cleaned and cut into various shapes and sometimes flavoured to make them more appealing.
Many owners are encouraged to give these products to their dogs to strengthen and clean their teeth through chewing.
They also are considered to be a low fat, low calorie ,cost effective and long lasting treat.

The facts about rawhide chew products:

There are many horror stories about the use of toxic chemicals including arsenic and chrome as preservatives.  No doubt that this does have some truth to it but in my research I have not been able to find any concrete proof .
What I did find however was evidence of bacterial contamination.  Many rawhide chews, including ones supplied by trusted UK retailers are made in Thailand and China.  Tests were done on these imported products by UK health authorities and a high percentage were found to be contaminated with Salmonella.  In short the cleaning processes that the products had been subjected to were not enough the kill the bug.
As you may already know this is an extremely dangerous bug and pets certainly can become very ill once infected.  Additionally, Salmonellosis is zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans.
A serious concern for owners who also have children.  Always check where the product you are going to buy was made.

Another danger of rawhide chews is that of choking.  I know this from experience.  As mentioned at the outset , I was also led to believe that these products were safe and good for my dog.  I was horrified, however when my dachshund nearly choked to death on a piece of a rawhide shoe.  She had been chewing it for a little while and she had got it to the stage where it was tough yet moist.  As she was chewing it it went back her throat and was unable to bring it back up.  My father literally had to put his fingers down her throat and pull it out.  Needless to say - we never gave her rawhide again.  To this day it is banned from our house!

Many owners have experienced similar problems with their dog choking on rawhide.  The risk is especially high with puppies and greedy dogs.

Hopefully this article will be enough to convince you to look for alternatives.
Better safe than sorry!