4. DOGS: housing
o Dogs need a place where they can feel safe and
secure, like a den in the wild.4
o If your dog sleeps outside the yard must be escape-
proof, have a sheltered area and provide a warm, dry
kennel to sleep in. 4
5. DOGS: nutrition
o Dogs must be fed high quality premium commercial food
that is appropriate for the life stage and health status of
the dog (check with your Vet). 4
o You can feed your dog natural food occasionally such as
fresh raw meat, raw meaty bones as well as vegetables. 4
o Always consult your Vet before trying your dog on a
home cooked alternative. 4
6. DOGS: grooming
o Dogs need to be bathed regularly using shampoo made
specifically for dogs. 4
o Depending on your dog’s coat and breed it may require
more grooming than others. 4
o Professional dog groomers can assist with clipping and
grooming difficult dogs.
7. DOGS: training
o It is important to train and socialise your dog between the ages
of 3-17 weeks as that is their ‘critical socialisation period’. 4
o Training provides mental stimulation, exercise and keeps your
dog happy. 4
o Reward good behaviour with a pat on the head, a food treat
or a pleasant tone and ignore ‘unwanted’ behaviour. 4
o Puppy preschool and training classes are available for dogs.
Check with your local council for dates and locations.
8. DOGS: health
o Dogs require annual Vet check-ups for general health
and to keep their vaccinations up to date. 4
o It is important to treat your dog at home regularly for fleas
and worms. 4
10. CATS: housing
o A number of animal organisations recommend keeping your
cat indoors to prevent it from entering unfriendly
territories, encountering risks, being exposed to
cruelty, sustaining injuries from fighting or car accidents, or
catching diseases from other cats. 4
o Indoor cats require plenty of toys to keep them
amused, places to hide, plenty of play time with its
owner, scratching posts and a nice sunny place inside to sit. 4
o Cats require access to a litter tray which will need to be
cleaned regularly. 4
11. CATS: nutrition
o Cats need a source of animal protein to survive, so feed your
cat a high quality premium commercial food that is
appropriate for the life stage and health status of the cat
which includes fresh raw meat and raw meaty bones. 4
o Cats prefer to graze throughout the day so ensure there is
always a food source available. 4
o Ensure there is always an adequate supply of fresh, clean
water for your cat. 4
o Kittens require a special diet fed a certain amount of times per
day, consult with your Vet for further information. 4
12. CATS: grooming
o Although cats spend a lot of time grooming
themselves, regular brushing is essential for long haired
breeds year round to keep their fur from becoming
matted and to minimise moulting. 4
o Cats require a scratching post to keep their nails short and
sharp. 4
13. CATS: training
o Cats need to be litter trained from a young age to keep
them from urinating in the wrong places. 2
o Cats can also be trained to respond to a number of
commands and like most animals respond best to reward
based training in the form of treats, affection or playing
with a favourite toy. 2
14. CATS: health
o Cats require annual Vet check-ups for
vaccinations, boosters and general health checks. 4
o It is important to treat your cat at home regularly for fleas
and worms. 4
16. BIRDS: housing
o Birds need to have space to exercise and express their
normal behaviours so those permanently kept in cages
should have access to a flight aviary or be able to fly
around in a safe environment such as indoors. 4
o Cages, including food and water containers, should be
cleaned thoroughly on a weekly basis. 4
17. BIRDS: nutrition
o Birds eat a varied diet in the wild so it is important to
provide a combination of both a high quality commercial
food suitable for the species and some natural foods such
as fresh fruit, vegetables, seeding grasses, native
flowers, and green foods. 4
o Ensure that fresh water is always available and placed as
high as possible to prevent the water getting dirty. 4
18. BIRDS: grooming
o Birds spend a large amount of time preening their
feathers, however they will still benefit from bathing and
this can be done by spraying water over the bird, an
activity they thoroughly enjoy. 1
o Nails, wings and beaks can occasionally need trimming
which should be done by your Vet only. 4
19. BIRDS: training
o Birds can be toilet trained or taught to follow commands
like other pets, however they can also be trained to talk
which makes them interesting pets to own. 1
o Birds respond best to reward based training in the form of
treats. 1
o Birds learn to speak words by repetition.
20. BIRDS: health
o Birds can appear healthy despite being quite ill, so be
sure to keep a look out for these signs which may indicate
illness:
o Changes to droppings.
o Amount of food or water consumed.
o Behaviour (eg ability to fly).
o Appearance or posture (eg sleepy or fluffed-up).
o Bodyweight.
o Rate and depth of respiration. 4
22. RABBITS: housing
o An appropriate form of housing for rabbits is a hutch which can be
bought from most pet stores or even made at home. 4
o Rabbits still require regular exercise and should be allowed outside
of the hutch for 2-3 hours per day as well as given access to natural
sunlight. 4
o The hutch should be large enough that they can exhibit normal
behaviour, while keeping them safe from predators. 4
o Outdoor hutches need to be rainproof, mosquito proof and avoid
extreme heat. 4
o A ‘burrow’ area where the rabbit can run and hide is highly
recommended. 4
23. RABBITS: nutrition
o Rabbit teeth grow constantly and are worn down by the
chewing of grass in the wild, therefore it is important to provide
your rabbit with good quality grass or hay to chew on. 4
o Rabbits should also be fed 2 cups of leafy greens per day. 4
o Pellets should only be given to rabbits in small sizes and
shouldn’t substitute their entire diet. 4
o Always have fresh water available, preferably from an upright
drink bottle so that the water stays clean. 4
24. RABBITS: grooming
o Rabbits are very susceptible to heat stroke in hot weather
therefore longer haired rabbits may need to have their
coats groomed. 4
o Rabbit nails may need occasional clipping which should
be done by your Vet only. 4
25. RABBITS: training
o Rabbits are very intelligent animals and can be trained
easily with incentive (food). 3
o Reward your rabbit immediately after it performs the
action you want it to. 3
o Rabbits can be trained to come when you call
them, spin, stand up, play dead and much more. 3
26. RABBITS: health
o Rabbits need regular health checks and need
vaccinations for the Calici Virus kept up to date. 4
o It is important to treat your rabbit at home regularly for
fleas and worms. 4
o Rabbits also need to have their teeth checked regularly
by your Vet. 4
27. REFERENCES
1. Petco, Bird Grooming, 2014, viewed 15 May 2014
<http://www.petco.com/Content/ArticleList/List/19
/4/Grooming.aspx>
2. Purina, Tips and Advice for Training your
Cat, 2014, viewed 10 May 2014
<http://www.purina.com.au/cats/training/train>
3. Rabbit Haven, Training your bunny to do
tricks, 2012, viewed 15 May
<http://rabbithaven.org/training-tricks/>
4. RSPCA NSW, Learn, 2013, viewed 10 May 2014
<http://www.rspcansw.org.au/learn>
