Clown Care 101

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Whether you are planning on getting a clown yourself, or simply considering it, it's always a good idea to familiarise yourself with their needs when it comes to owning and caring for a clown.

Remember that clowns are living breathing beings, and therefore require a lot of work, attention and care!

Things clowns need:

    •Accommodation

    •Food & Water

    •Socialisation

    •Training

It is a bit of a list but bare with me and I'll help you through understanding each one

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Accommodation

Domestic clowns need a safe environment where they can grow and thrive. A loving home. But that isn't really all. As clowns come in all shapes and sizes, some may require things such as a crate, a large enclosure, a tent, and a large contained space such as a backyard to run around in.

For sizes such as teacups and some small clowns, a crate with a bed for sleeping in and a small contained enclosure will suit them just fine. We recommend a small enclosure as such small clowns are often tricky and will sometimes get themselves in small and tight spaces they are not meant to get into, therefore an enclosure gives them the space they need to run around and do magic and tricks, without getting lost.

For medium clowns you will require at least a crate for sleeping in. Due to being less easily lost, these types of clown can safely roam the house as long as you clown proof your space. Remember, they have quick hands and can and will get into all your things if given the chance. They also require some exercise space and therefore a garden or frequent outings are expected.

For large clowns you will need an extra room. At this height these clowns require enough space to themselves and a large bed. Crates will no longer suffice and will be often seen as inadequate. This does however depend on the clown, for some a large circus standard crate will be required. Large clowns tend to be the most energetic of all and you will require a large space for them to run around in and play.

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Food & Water

Just like every other living thing, clowns require sustinance. Every breed's diet is different and quite diverse. From carnivours to herbivours and all other diets in between. Keeping up with their respective diets is incredibly important. Failure to do so can cause sickness, rage streaks or even death!

For the most part clowns should be fed 2 to 3 times a day. The amount of food will of course vary between sizes. A teacup will never be able to eat as much as a large clown and vice versa. Giving each clown appropriate food portions is very important to maintain a healthy complexion, hair texture and temperament.

Made sure that your clown always has access to fresh clean water. Some tend to hate the taste of water, or even the colour of it and you may need to resort to some clever thinking such as dying the water or giving them diluted juices.

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Socialisation

I feel like this sentence is one that does not get spoken enough times. CLOWNS ARE TROUPE ANIMALS. What does that mean? That they are sociable creatures that thrive on having social interactions with other clowns. There are simply things a clown can do for yours that you as a human cannot. Generally it is good practice to keep 2 to 3 clowns at a time so they can have a normal troupe and clown to clown interactions.

Very few clowns stray from the need of a troupe, an example being mimes and some scare clowns, but generally all clown breeds part take in the creation and upkeep of a troupe and it is something that many clowns seek.

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Training

There are a variety of training aspects when it comes to clowns and it is something that should be done frequently in order to keep their minds nimble as well as keep them active. You don't have to teach them magic as it's something many clowns instinctively know but you can aid them in offering praise and treats when they successfully perform a trick!

For the most part, if you plan to take your clown(s) into public spaces you will be expected to have taught them

Some clowns can even be trained as guide and service clowns. The most common breeds used for these jobs tend to be Birthday, Scare and Teddy. However, really any domestic breed can be taught these skill sets but not all will succeed. Generally mimes are not appropriate for this line of work due to possibility of attacks as well as not doing very well in high intensity training.

Clowns can be taught to unicycling, balloon sculpting, acrobatics, juggling, etc. These are the most commonly sought out skills in a clown and especially if you plan to enter them in shows.