A new concept in pet nutrition for dogs which is designed to tackle pet obesity, Caboodle is one of only 10 companies to make the finals of the Pet Industry Federation’s New Pet Innovation of the Year Award.The finals take place on 7 & 8 June at The Business of Pets Conference at Cranfield Management Development Centre, near Milton Keynes.

As part of the final judging process Caboodle will have the opportunity to present their innovation to an audience of business experts, industry influencers and fellow business owners. The winner will also receive a trophy, PR coverage and the provision of a free year’s Sprintlaw Membership, valued at £400.

Caboodle also recently made the finals of The Best in Show Spotlight at the Pet Innovation Europe Show in Berlin, which showcases the latest innovations across Europe to drive partnerships and investment within petcare. Here Caboodle made some excellent business contacts which will result in new partnerships for them.

Caboodle is the brainchild of the company’s three founders who already have impressive pedigrees in the pet world. They are: Karen Hanton MBE, Founder of Top Table (sold to Open Table), Pets Pyjamasand Positive Luxury, Investor and serial entrepreneur. Gillian Quek, Co-founder of training centre The Dog House Trading Company who with Michelin Starred chef Michel Roux OBE created a range of premium treats and snacks for dogs and Simon Arkwright, an experienced strategist and innovation insight expert, working previously with Purina, Unilever and GSK.  Karen is also the proud owner of a Parson Jack Russell called ‘Wilson’ and Gillian owns a Chocolate Cockapoo, ‘Miso’ 

Caboodle which is based in Gloucestershire and started trading in the summer of 2022, was born from a mutual desire of its founders to combat the disturbing rise in pet obesity and to create effortless feeding solutions for today’s busy dog owners.   Delicious and nutritious dog food, treats and chews delivered in pre-measured daily boxes not only delight smaller dogs every day with great food and flavours, but also delight dog owners with the convenience of properly proportioned meals and daily treats taking the hassle and guesswork out of feeding their dog.

Pet obesity is an ever- increasing problem. In the UK alone, it is estimated that 51% of dogs are overweight or obese, which is only set to get worse. 81% of vets and nurses report seeing an increase in the number of overweight animals and according to a survey conducted by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in 2021, 1 in 14 dogs were recorded by their vets as being overweight each year. The study also found that certain breeds were especially prone to weight gain, including Pugs, Beagles and English Springer Spaniels. Obesity carries severe welfare risks for dogs. Obese dogs have shortened life spans, reduced quality of life and higher frequencies of some important conditions including arthritis, breathing problems, heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer. 

There are other reasons as well why pet owners need to tackle the Battle of the Bulge with their dogs as founder Gillian Quek explains,

“In the past 3 years, pet insurance companies are increasingly rejecting claims for sick dogs if they are found to be overweight. Despite all of the shocking facts, our methods of feeding dogs have not changed in decades.

"My experience of over 20 years of running The Dog House, a renowned training centre in the UK, showed me that despite all the guidelines, advice and the best will in the world, most dog owners still can’t get food portioning right. We offered popular weight reduction programmes where we would achieve great results getting dogs back to their optimum weight, only to send them home where the pounds would quickly creep back on again.

"One of the most common issues we saw was owners using human food and treats to demonstrate their love for their dogs, without realising the calorie implications of a piece of bacon, half a sausage or the leftovers from their Sunday lunch. 

"Whilst nobody intentionally wants to over feed their dog, it is so easy to do so without realising and it was from this personal experience that I realised something radical had to change. So in 2022, along with my like-minded partners Karen and Simon, Caboodle was born.” 

Caboodle combines the most nutritious, healthy and varied flavours to create a selection of menus which will keep the fussiest of dogs satisfied and engaged. The varied diet also helps to prevent food allergies and intolerances. Combining wet and dry food and adding low-calorie treats and dental chews ensures that all the guesswork is removed from what to feed each day. Caboodle pre-portion daily meals and treats according to each dog’s weight, age, sex and activity level and deliver in planet-friendly packaging. Caboodle is also perfect for dogs who enjoy being by their human’s side all day long and great for taking away on long walks, trips and holidays with your dog. 

Caboodle only uses the highest grade of ingredients and sources where possible from the UK and EU. Caboodle’s food contains no nasties and also incorporates a number of superfoods to give a dog all the added vitamins and minerals it needs for a happy and active life.

Caboodle has a strong D2C approach with their subscription boxes proving to be very popular but are also activating a number of B2B channels with key industry partnerships, pet-friendly hotels and restaurants, dog-friendly workplaces, convenience retail and the industry professional space. Caboodle has a Trustpilot score of 4.6, and an All About Dog Food top rating of 91%.

The range of products is developing all the time as Gillian concludes,

“We are constantly aiming to create more flexibility and choice for the customer. We are also focused on combating and reducing dog obesity through our products but also by educating the owner to take greater responsibility for their dog’s health and wellbeing. 

We aim to keep improving Caboodle using the development of AI so we can more accurately provide a product that is tailored to a specific dog’s needs. For Caboodle - the sky's the limit, we have a vision to create hassle-free solutions for pet owners in Europe and further afield, making lives easier in today’s increasingly complicated world.“

For further information please visit: www.caboodle.dog