Welcome to Wagtails Pet Shop in Aylsham

Wagtails Pet Shop of Aylsham, Norfolk has been trading since 1994; established by Lynne Berry whose passion for animal welfare sets the ethos of the business.

Lynne is supported by a reliable team of staff who have a wealth of knowledge and experience in the animal and pet world. All have a wide range of expertise to help advise you on caring for your much loved family members. Whether you have dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, poultry or fish, or your passion is for wild life, we are here to help.

We cater for all of life’s stages and hold an extensive range of products for your pets; leads, collars, bedding, feeding bowls, toys..... right through to grooming equipment.

Our aim is to help keep your pets in a happy, healthy condition.

Our stock is practically endless, we aim to cover all the popular brands. Due to increased demand we have now doubled the floor space store allowing us to carry a wider range of food and accessories.

But still we are unable to carry stock of everything; non-stocked items can be specially ordered and will be in store within 3 working days.

Please note we DO NOT stock live animals.

Dogs & Cats

Dietary Advice

Whether taking on a puppy, kitten or rescue animal it is important to get good advice on care, diet and training from the start. The life-stages of a pet demand different diets and it is important to feed the correct diet especially when the animal is young and growing. At Wagtails we have available wet and dry special diets for all growth stages and also for the elderly pet whose needs are different to younger animals. Supplements are also available to boost diets and help with ailments, a good supplement called Joint aid can be fed throughout a dogs' life to prevent arthritis in later life, prevention is better than cure. Some animals suffer from either a sensitive digestion or skin or sometimes both. Special gluten free diets can be fed to assist with these problems and several manufacturers tailor make food for dietary requirements. Of course along with specific diets we also have the favourites in store, Whiskas, Pedigree, Chappie etc. We try to cater for all.

Flea & Worm Treatment

Another important part of pet ownership is worming and flea treatments, both problems can be kept at bay with regular doses of preventatives. If an animal grooms itself and swallows a flea it will quite probably end up with tapeworms as the flea carries the tapeworm eggs. So whenever you treat your pet for fleas you should also worm them. Also don't forget your home, a good household treatment should be used at least twice a year.

Dog and Puppy Training/Agility/Scentwork

Something also to consider with puppies and rescue dogs is proper training, you are responsible for your pet on and off the lead and a few handy training lessons are valuable for both dog and owner. Puppy training and Agility for the slightly more mature pups are available in Aylsham from Wanderwoof Dogs run by Alison Burns, feel free to call into Wagtails for info and contact numbers. Along with classes are various training aids from clickers to non pull harnesses and numerous brands of collars and leads.

Wild Birds

**Now stocking a wider selection of Wild Bird mixes**

It’s not just our pets that are important - wild birds, ducks and wildfowl all need our help too. We sell a wide range of important feeds including mixes, seeds, nuts, mealworms and suet based products to satisfy their needs. Our products are carefully sourced to ensure that they offer great quality at competitive prices.

Feeding Tips

The BTO and RSPB recommend wild birds are fed all year round.
Requirements are greater in late autumn and winter when natural resources are in shorter supply.
High energy levels are also needed during spring when birds are busy breeding and raising young.
Birds lose energy maintaining body temperature overnight, so a good breakfast is essential to set them up for the day.
Once you have established a feeding regime don’t disappoint them, they will depend on you.
Establish several feeding areas and move them regularly to avoid bacterial build up.
Consider predators when selecting suitable feeding sites, set table and feeder heights accordingly and make sure birds feeding on the ground have a good line of sight.
Store all foods in a cool, dry place.
Be aware that ground feeding stations can attract rodents.

Hygiene Tips

Feed little and often.
Replace old or wet food to prevent build up of bacteria or mould, particularly on table and ground feeding stations.
Clean feeding stations regularly with a safe disinfectant.
Always wash your hands after handling bird products.

Spring (March, April, May)

Springtime is a particularly important period in the Wild Bird calendar. Days are slowly becoming longer and warmer and our garden birds begin to increase activity preparing their nests in order to raise their young.

Birds time their breeding period to exploit the availability of natural foods, however, shortages can occur when the birds have young in the nest and they will need to turn to food put out on bird tables and in feeders to make up for the shortfall in natural resources.

Summer (June, July, August)

The summer months can be an exciting time in the garden as many young birds are fledging. Young Finches, Blackbirds and Robins are now totally independent and will be seen feeding in the garden. Many parent birds will be busy with their second brood or by July even a third.

Dues to this increased activity birds require high energy, protein rich foods. Black sunflower seeds, sunflower hearts, soaked sultanas, raisins, currants and mealworms are all good foods to provide and would be readily appreciated.

Autumn (September, October, November)

At this time of the year it is important that food is put out on a more regular basis, now is the time to introduce a twice daily feeding routine: in the morning and early afternoon.

Winter (December, January, February)

Birds require high energy (high fat) foods during the cold winter weather to maintain their fat reserves to survive the frosty nights.

Energy Boost Fat Balls, Energy Boost Suet Pellets and Energy Boost Suet Blocks are all perfect to be fed during this time of the year.

Small Animals

Favourites with the younger generation are Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Hamsters and other small rodents. It is important when selecting housing that space is available for sleeping, dining and exercise, they also need to be handled every day to keep them tame and it is a good time to give them a health check. Signs to look out for are growing teeth, claws and parasites. Check Rabbits and Guinea Pigs daily in the summer for fly strike, this occurs when flies lay eggs on the animals rear end and maggots eat into the animal. A spray is available to prevent this but remember good hygiene is essential. Woodshavings or pellets for the floor, straw for bedding and hay to eat are all essentials for Rabbits and Guinea Pigs and fluffy or paper bedding for the smaller rodents.

Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Gerbils, Mice and some Hamsters will be much happier being kept in pairs but be careful when selecting partners as two can become many in a short space of time if opposite sexes are chosen. Remember to treat all small animals to hard wood gnaws to keep their teeth in good order and many love the snacks and bars in store as a special treat.

Finally we have most foods, bedding and feeders for chickens. Watch out in warmer weather for red spider mite, powders are available in store for treating this life threatening parasite. Wormers, tonics and treats are also stocked.

Products

Wagtails Pet Shop of Aylsham stocks a wide range of pet food, pet treats and accessories including toys, bedding, leads and harnesses. Whatever your pet's needs we have it covered but if you are not sure our helpful, fully trained team are on hand to help you make the right choice for your pet.

Burns Real Foods

As the name implies, Burns Real Food is just that. A simple food which is intended to allow the body to function as it should. Burns is not intended to intervene in order to alter the normal metabolism of the body. The aim is to stand back and let the body get on with what it does best; to maintain and repair itself and to prevent deterioration of the organ system.

The most important and simplest way of promoting that process is through the choice of food. Needless to say, we humans have to make that choice on behalf of our pets.

The main protein sources in Burns are chicken, lamb, fish and duck which are nutritious and highly digestible. Burns products (other than high-energy foods) are low in fat and protein and high in complex carbohydrate. There are no chemical additives. This minimises the amount of waste matter which the body has to eliminate. When metabolised, carbohydrate produces less harmful toxic waste than protein and fat.

Owners find that when their pet goes onto Burns the pet's condition is transformed. Skin and coat condition improve, hair stops falling out, itching ceases and the coat becomes glossy with a silky feel. Unpleasant odours disappear and older pets become livelier, less stiff and generally more interested in life.

These changes, which take about 4 weeks, show that the body is cleaning itself of accumulated toxic waste products.

Burns natural food for pets Customer Loyalty Card - buy 7 get 8th free*
*Bag size purchased has to be the same size

Natural Instinct

Feeding as Nature Intended. Natural Instincts believe in saying "You are what you eat". This certainly applies to our dogs and cats who trust us to provide them with the best possible diet. Feeding a Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF) diet to your cat or dog will provide them with all the essential vitamins, minerals and essential proteins that they need for an active and health life. Feeding complete meals, you can also be assured that you are giving them the very best , balanced diet made from all natural, 100% British human-grade ingredients with no cereals or fillers. Just as nature intended.

Natural Instinct are of the opinion that all dogs and cats deserve this diet with the visible improvements that it brings to their health and well-being. Natural Instinct pride themselves on providing you with the most effective and convenient means of feeding raw food.

Natural Instinct dog and cat food is a simple, safe and easy way to feed a complete and balanced diet. All recipes contain the finest raw ingredients and are available in a wide variety of flavours catering for all your dog's and cat's individual tastes and needs.

Lovejoys

There's something for every dog in the Lovejoys range. Dry and wet foods include puppy, adult, senior/light and a large bite kibble for bigger dogs. Pure & Simple dry and wet grain free foods offer a higher meat content for adults only, while Moments treats provide the perfect reward at any time.

Loved by dogs for the high meat content and delicious irresistible taste; loved by owners for giving their dogs a nutritious, balanced diet, complete with all the vitamins and minerals they need for a healthy, happy life.

Skinner's

Skinner's manufacture a range of different diets and each one has been carefully formulated by expert nutritionists to provide the correct balance of protein, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals required by your dog. Whatever the age, breed or activity level of your dog there is a Skinner's food to suit.

Lily's Kitchen

Lily's Kitchen range of foods are made specially to maximise the nutritional content of each recipe, for example they fill their tins with the raw ingredients, seal them and then cook them. This is the best way to keep all the nutrients locked in and maintain the integrity of the natural, organic raw ingredients.

Good nutrition boosts your pet's immune system to develop disease resistance and heal from within.

Verm-X

Verm-X is a 100% natural formulation that helps maintain all areas of intestinal hygiene whilst being gentle on the animal’s gut and digestive system. Verm-X was initially launched for horses in 2002, but now have successful formulations for cows, poultry, dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, sheep, goats, pigs, ducks, game and caged birds, llamas and alpacas, wild birds, wild boar, red deer, antelope, oryx and reptiles.

Dorwest

Dorwest are the leading authority on veterinary herbal medicine which they have been producing for over 60 years.