Welcome to:-
Handcrafts4pets.net
For That Pawsome Pet Style!
At Handcrafts4pets.net
we offer a wide variety of accessories for most pets. These include everything from pet beds, collars, bandanas & pet toys. Shop online or visit our store today!
There are tips & advice for those who want to know more. Add your pet stories. Plus there's lots of interesting info for both adults and kids!
A Helpful Paw
with Sizes
'Cos It's Not Always That Easy
Just like you humans, us pets are special and we're all different. Careful measuring us 'little ones', & 'bigger ones', for collars , warm jackets, pretty bandanas is very important.
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Handcrafts4Pets won't mind giving you a helping 'paw' to show you how it's done - if you aren't sure.
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There is also a chart below for a rough guide.
A few things your pet needs measuring for:-
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​Dog & Cat Collars
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Dog Jackets
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Dog Harnesses
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Bandanas
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​​Dog Collars :- All our Dog Collars are adjustable & fitted with good quality hardware
( buckle, adjuster & 'D' ring).
The base of the collar is a strong, rot-proof, yet soft Polypropylene webbing and most have a themed grosgrain ribbon stitched on top for a nice bit of extra detail. Some are left as a plain colour.
Dog collars come in 2 widths : 5/8" W (narrow) for small breeds & puppies. 1"W for larger breeds.
Cat Collars : - All come fitted with Safety Cat Buckles. Our pretty woven Paracord cat collars are not adjustable & come in a wide range of sizes 8" - 12"L
Our Polypropylene webbing based cat collars are adjustable. Cat Collars are fitted with 5/8" W safety buckles which will quick release should a cat get caught up in e.g a tree branch. Sizes start from 5" - 9".
Fleece Dog Jackets :-
Come in 4 sizes from XSmall, Small, Medium & Large.
These are made from Anti Pill Polar Fleece and are lined with cotton Calico. They are adjustable around the girth (chest) and the neck with Hook & Loop tabs.
Waterproof Dog Jackets:-
Handmade waterproof dog jackets come in 4 sizes, X-Small, Small, Medium & large. They are line with fleece for extra warmth.
Dog Harnesses :-
These come in 6 sizes: XX-Small, X-Small, Small, Medium, Large & X-Large.
All sizes are adjustable using the Strap Adjusters at the sides. They are made using similar materials to our Dog Collars.
Bandanas :-
These are made from a pretty cotton material. Our Bandanas have a channel stitched at the top which the collar is fed through preventing the Bandana from slipping off.
They come in 4 sizes: X-Small, Small, Medium & Large.
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All our pet wear is washable. Wash cool machine/hand wash & dry on cool settings.
All the above products can be customised and/or personalised for a small extra fee.
"Ooh! Please excuse me for a sec.
"I'm rather busy"!
Measuring
For All Collars:-​
You will need a soft tape measure. Carefully put the tape around your pet's neck. You may need someone to hold your pet whilst you measure.
Next, put 2 fingers vertically between the tape and the neck. Where the tape end meets, read the figure to give you your pets collar length. Easy!​
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Dog Jackets :-​
These have an extra 2 steps to negotiate. Measure around the neck as for the collar. Then measure around the girth or chest. Then the last measurement is the most important of all. Measure from the top of neck or where the collar would sit and take the tape to the base of the tail to give you the length of the jacket required.
​​Dog Harnesses :- ​All our Dog Harnesses are the 'step in' type. There is 1 (one) important measurement for these. Carefully measure around the girth or chest. That's all! All our Harnesses are adjustable with the strap adjusters at the sides.
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To Fit a Harness : -
Lay the Harness out in front of you. You should see a clear figure '8' in the design. Then put your pets front paws, one in each hole, & draw the harness up around your pet's neck. Lastly, locate the buckle and clip together. You can make any adjustments with the strap adjusters on either side. The lead clip needs to be attached to both 'D' rings
​Bandanas :-​
You won't really need to measure your dog for a Bandana but you will need to know what the collar width is. There is a channel at the top of the Bandana through which the collar will go through. Sizing will depend on the breed i.e an X-Small Bandana would be for a Chihuahua or a Yorkie.
Our Waterproof Dog Jacket Size Chart
Safety for Pets
Safety in the Dark
Every pet needs to stay safe in the dark & especially in the winter months when days are so much shorter.
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As humans, we don't always see well in the dark and resort to carrying a torch. But what about your dog?
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Dogs can be at risk of being hit by a car when walking on or near a busy road if not seen in time. Scary!
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A flashing L.E.DC Collar Light or a L.E.D (luminous) Dog Collar is beneficial whilst walking your dog in the dark. You can see where your dog is & so can others - even drivers. It's peace of mind.
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Cats love to hunt at night and they, too, can benefit from a 'lit' collar.
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Some white paracord cat collars made by Handcrafts4pets actually 'glow in the dark' for a short time providing the collar has been exposed to light beforehand.
Cat's Always Rule !
The most important thing in a relationship with CATS - is trust.
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If you try to punish your cats or scold them, their trust in you quickly erodes which means - any behaviour you encounter with them.
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I found this to be true with my own cat. He used to sneak upstairs into my bedroom where the window was open. He'd climb out onto the narrow ledge which freaked me out because I'd thought he'd fall & injure himself badly.
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I could read his mind like a book - he would be about to leap up the stairs watching me to see if I was looking at him. So I'd clap my hands & tell him "NO".
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After that, he started to leave home taking himself off on his 'hols' & 'cat burgling' someone elses home. The owner didn't know where he came from & took him to a vets to have his microchip scanned for his I.D. I ended up with a 20 mile round trip to go and pick him up.
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My lesson, not to scold him, was learnt.
Safety for our Felines
So, most of the time cats are lazy and, being well fed, are content to curl up and snooze somewhere quiet at home. No harm there!
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Others, may be semi-feral and just yearn to go out and explore or hunt. Climbing trees can especially be addictive for the curious cat. But, there's a chance our intrepid explorer could get caught up on a branch and hang themselves!
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It's important that cats wear collars made with a 'quick release' buckle. These buckles pull apart easily ensuring the cat doesn't get strangled.
As mentioned earlier, some White Paracord cat collars will glow in the dark letting you see your cat strut up the garden path!
We're looking for a cosy bed!
What About All the Very Small Pets?
Here, we're talking about 'Pocket Pets' for small children.
These can range from Rabbits & Guinea Pigs to Hamsters, Mice, Rats & Gerbils.
They need somewhere warm to sleep - something they do quite a lot of the time, especially during the day.
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At Handcrafts4pets we have made warm fleece Snuggle Sacks for all pocket pets. For larger pets like Guinea pigs, rabbits & even kittens, we have Cup Beds and Donut Beds named - after their shapes.
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These are also made from pretty anti-pill Polar fleece. Others are made from a crisp pretty cotton fabric and line with fleece making them reversible.
These all come in various sizes and can even be adjusted.
Making A Home for Rodents
Guinea Pigs - Rats & Mice - Hamsters - Gerbils & all their family friends.
Rodents are like one big family all needing similar care.
Their biology & behaviour is mush the same as their wild cousins.
However there are a few who have complex needs making them challenging to look after.
So it is important to do research into your furry friends needs before buying!
Caring for rodents can be great fun& rewarding but they are a big commitment & can be costly to look after properly.
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Who We Are
All rodents have well developed senses of smell, hearing & vision.
Most of them are nocturnal & nearly all are herbivores feeding on plants, seeds, leaves, stems, flowers and roots.
Many have a very distinct feature - a pair of continuously growing incissors in both upper and lower jaws.
Over 40% of the worlds animals are rodents & are found everywhere except Antartica.
Their other wild cousins include squirrels, beavers, voles and shrews.
Pocket pets have a shorter life than other pets but do make wonderful first time pets for young children.
Rodents rarely bite or scratch unless nervous or frightened.
Pet rodents have very few diseases and do not need to be vaccinated. Rats are prone to tumours, hamsters get diarrhea (wet tail) whilst others can have respiratory diseases.
Rodents should not be given to very small children under the age of 5 & those under 10 should be supervised when handling their pets.
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Pets Rodents need:- A clean large cage, chew toys, ladders, bedding, stainless steel food bowls, a water bottle & a nest box. Plus a carry case for trips to the vet.
As Individuals
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Mice: can be timid but are intelligent, entertaining and easy to care for. Handle and train mice from a young age. They are most active at night being nocturnal & sleep during the day. Lifespan; approx. 2yrs
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Rats: are also very intelligent, highly inquisitive and very sociable. They are very clean and have almost no smell. Rats are playful & can be taught tricks. They love human company. Lifespan; up to 3 yrs.
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Gerbils: have lots of character and are about the smallest of pets rodents. An ideal home for gerbils is a fish tank! They are also very sociable and best kept in numbers as a solitary pet is bad for them. They don't have routine sleeping schedules & often sleep for just an hour or two at a time. They love to hoard and tunnel. Lifespan; 3 - 4yrs.
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Hamsters: adult Syrian hamsters will fight if not kept apart. Dwarf hamsters can be kept in 'female only' pairs or groups. They all love to bury their food or store it in their pouches. Hamsters may bite if startled during the day as they, too, are nocturnal. Handle them from an early age and they will become your friend. Lifespan; 2 - 3yrs.
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Guinea Pigs: are facinating, curious, intelligent and friendly. They can be allowed to roam freely indoors but close doors and keep cats & dogs away. They don't need toys but love to explore. Guinea pigs need company of their own kind but males need to be neutered. Lifespan; 4 - 8yrs
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Chinchillas: native to the Andes mountains. They are also nocturnal and known for their large ears and soft fur. They are very active & acrobatic but can be shy. They require a lot of space. They are more appropriate as pets for adults & older children. Lifespan; 8 - 10yrs
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Degus: were seldom seen in pet shops but have now become more popular. Also social animals & thrive when kept in pairs. They love to run around, exercise and explore. They require plenty of bedding so they can store their food. Their incisor & molar teeth never stop growing & need plenty of chews to gnaw on. They are active during the day. Degus are prone to diabetes & need a diet low in fats and sugars. Lifespan; 5 - 9yrs
Hedgehogs - They Need a Helping Hand
Hedgehogs are a gardeners best friend! That's a fact & they are in decline!​ Their diet consists of 'creepy crawlies' - slugs, beetles, worms, earwigs and millipedes etc. They will also clear up fallen fruit. They are Omnivorous & nocturnal.​
Encourage them into your gardens by making a small gap under the fence for them to find their way in. Leave cat food or special hedgehog food with a bowl of fresh clean water - never bread or milk.
Give them a home by making or buying a hedgehog house where they can curl up and hibernate through the cold winter months rather than being roasted under a lit bonfire. Clean dry hay or dry leaves helps to keep 'hoggies' bed warm and snug
​ If hedgehogs do their bit in eating slugs & snails, you shouldn't need to use pesticides and slug pellets. Cover any fish pond as these are traps for hedgehogs to drown in.
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Hedgehogs harbour fleas but not the type that will infest your dog or cat.​Hoglets are born late in the year & won't have time to build up sufficient fat to survive the winter. Their minimum weight is 450grms.​ So if you see a hedgehog out in the day in autumn, please take him to a rescue centre for expert care.
Another 'helping hand' for hogs is to leave a small 'wild area' in your garden where the grass is long! Feed wild birds & leave fresh water for them too. Check long grass in the rest of your garden before mowing or strimming & pick up rubbish there. Hedgehogs can get their heads stuck in tins, jars, bottles and even toilet rolls!
We're now classified as 'Vulnerable to extinction'.
Which is sadly true!
Rabbits
Keeping Rabbits Happy & Healthy
Until 1912, rabbits were classed as Rodents but were moved up to what we now know as small mammals. They are bred in all shapes & colours from Dwarfs, Angoras, Dutch, Lops, Lionheads, Himalayan & the Jersey Wooly to name a few of the 50 recognised breeds across the U.K.
Rabbits are highly intelligent, very inquisitive and very sociable making them ideal pets for young children. Owning a rabbit can be extremely rewarding & they can live from around 6 - 12 years depending on the breed.
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Baby rabbits are called kits & are not native to the U.K. They have a very unusual digestive system. Their food is eaten, passed through their gut & the droppings, known as caecotrophs, are eaten again to keep their digestive system in top condition. Like rodents, they have continous growing top teeth.
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Caring for Rabbits
There are a few things to consider before getting a rabbit.
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They need to be neutered/spayed to prevent over-breeding and diseases like Cancer.
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Have a suitable environment in which to live. Rabbits need lots of space. They like to relax, graze & play. Their home needs to be well ventilated, dry & free from draughts as well as safe from predators. They can be easily scared so will need a place to hide & eat. Their bedding should be made up of dust-free hay and/or shredded paper. They will also need a 'litter tray' for a toilet.
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Their diet consists of hay & grass which keeps their teeth & gut healthy. They can have some vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, & broccoli but don't give them grass cuttings as this may upset their digestive system. There are recommended commercial rabbit foods available from all good pet stores. They will need a bowl of fresh clean water too.
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Groom daily to keep their coats in top condition and check their teeth & nails. Their top teeth grow continuously & eating the correct diet will help to keep their teeth in trim.
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Rabbits, like cats & dogs, can be microchipped.
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Rabbits are sociable & love company.
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Handle rabbits gently every day from an early age & they will see you as a friend.
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Any change in a rabbits behaviour may be a sign of illness or pain. Seek a vets advice. They are prone to infections especially dental disease & should be kept away from wild rabbits. They need regular health checks to keep them in top condition. Keep their vaccinations up to date too & check for parasites.
Reading your Rabbits Body Language​
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A happy rabbit will lie down with front & back legs out-stretched - will jump in the air twisting in mid-air before landing.
A worried rabbit will crouch with tensed muscles, head flat on the ground, ears wide apart & pupils dilated.
An angry or unhappy rabbit will turn & move away flicking back feet & ears held against his back - will sit upon back legs with front paws displaying a boxing act - ears
pointing upwards & outwards - can be seen standing tense with back legs thumping on the ground - tail raised, ears forward, muscles tensed & eyed dilated - may stand tense with body down & weight towards the back, head is tilted upwards with mouth open & teeth visible, ears back & lowered, tail raised & pupils dilated.
Do You Want a 'Sweet Heart' ?
I would love a 'forever' home please!
Unless you particularly want a pure bred pet for showing or for another reason, why not rescue a dog or any other pet who may be desperate for a loving 'forever' home and who needs your love and care?
There are many reasons why these pets have been abandoned & some may have even suffered some form of cruelty.
You can help by saving their lives and giving them the love and care they yearn for. It can also be the cheapest way of acquiring a loving pet who will most certainly reward you for your kindness.
Firstly, once you have found the pet you would like to adopt, you will be asked to fill out a rehoming application form. Then an adoption support volunteer will visit your home. They will give you tips on caring for your new pet and check that your home is suitable and safe for them.
A one-off adoption fee covers neutering/spaying, vaccinations and microchipping as well as up-to-date flea and worming treatments. Fees may vary between adult dogs and puppies under 6 months in centres like the RSPCA.
Contact details for rehoming centres like the RSPCA can be found online or in local directories. The most famous centre is, of course, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. There are also many local Recue Centres, most of whom may offer, not just dogs & cats, but also rabbits, rodents, chicken & larger animals such as alpacas, sheep & pigs.
Financial support is also needed for animal charities such as Guide Dogs for the Blind, Dogs Trust, PDSA, Cats Protection, WWF, World Animal Protection, The Donkey Sanctuary and many others who carry out exceptional work to save animals. They all need genuine help with donations including food, bedding & other useful items that can help suffering animals.
These organisations are always grateful for any help no matter how small your donation may be & if you can give a rescue animal a loving home, then that's better still.