Newsletter - Pet Trade Xtra

The Kennel Club has joined the veterinary profession and other dog welfare organisations in expressing serious concerns over a Morrisons Christmas advert showing a child feeding a dog from the dinner table.

The Kennel Club fears that people may put their dogs’ lives at risk by allowing them to eat certain ingredients commonly found in Christmas food, echoing concerns expressed by the BVA, BSAVA and the Poisons Unit among others.

Kennel Club Health and Information Officer Nick Sutton said: “As a part of our family, we all enjoy including our dogs in our Christmas celebrations. However, chocolate, raisins, grapes, sultanas, avocados, onion, garlic, leeks, artificial sweeteners and even nuts can be potentially lethal to dogs.

“It is easy to forget that these foods are poisonous to dogs, especially as they are something that we can eat without any problems. As the Morrisons advert depicts, children often feed their dogs with food from their plates. By exposing children to this advert, it may encourage them to copy this behaviour and inadvertently poison their beloved pet dog.

“It is important that the whole family is aware of the need to be extremely careful when feeding human food to dogs and we urge all dog owners to educate their entire family of this danger. We ask that Morrisons take action by no longer showing this advert and educate their customers about the potentially lethal effects of feeding Christmas pudding and other Christmas treats to their dog.”

Grapes, raisins, currants and sultans can be highly poisonous to dogs. The number of cases of this type of poisoning always increases around the holiday season, when Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, stollen and mince pies are more readily available.

It is not known why this type of fruit is toxic to dogs, or even if there is a predictable toxic dose. Some dogs have developed kidney failure, or even died, after eating a very small amount; therefore dogs should not be fed these fruits under any circumstances.

Clinical effects may not be apparent for two to three days and treatment is intensive and prolonged. Early contact with a veterinary surgeon has been associated with an improved outcome and so it is vital that dogs that have eaten any quantity of these fruits be taken to a veterinary practice immediately.

Nick Sutton added: “Dogs should not eat our Christmas dinner; there are plenty of wonderful dog foods available for a Christmas treat, so there is no need to leave your dog out of the celebrations.”

Supermarket giant responds to criticism

Morrisons has responded to criticism of their TV advert and said a vet was present during filming...
Morrisons has responded to criticism of their TV advert and said a vet was present during filming.

"We know that many of our customers are dog lovers and we would never run any advert that encouraged poor pet care,” said a spokesperson.

"We were, therefore, careful to seek veterinary advice prior to filming the advert and ensured we had a vet present during filming.

"The veterinary advice we received concluded that there would be minimal, if any, risk to a dog of serious toxic reaction should a small amount, in relation to its body weight, of Christmas cake or pudding be consumed on a one-off basis.”

Cranberries have beneficial effects on dogs, say Applaws

Leading pet food brand Applaws are telling pet owners that Christmas favourite cranberries have beneficial effects on dogs...

Leading pet food brand Applaws are telling pet owners that cranberries have beneficial effects on dogs.

Applaws use Cranberry Extracts as part of a number of other natural supplements in its dry food range.

The brand was a pioneer when it came to introducing only natural ingredients from sustainable sources to its ranges. Recipes contain high levels of human grade meat and or fish – there are no artificial additives, no colourings or no sweeteners.

The Applaws dry food range contains 75% chicken and absolutely no grains and cereals. This means that it’s low in carbohydrate which helps manage healthy fat levels by promoting the development of lean, strong muscle tissue.

A spokesperson said: "Active pro-biotics in Applaws helps your dog’s digestive system and the food is packed full of natural omega oils, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to help with your dog’s joints, coat, skin, eyesight, muscle tone and immune system.

"Applaws dry food is also available in a number of life stages each containing the right level of protein and nutrients to support the wellbeing of your dog whatever its age.

"Cranberry Extract,which is present in the Applaws dry food, can help fight cellular ageing, maintain healthy skin, promote a shiny coat and support the immune system in dogs.

"It also promotes a healthy urinary tract. Cranberry Extract contains compounds that prevent bacteria from attaching themselves to the cellular lining of the urinary tract. D-mannose is a sugar monomer that is thought to interfere with E. coli ability to adhere to urinary tract cells. E. coli is the most common bacteria involved in canine urinary tract infections.

"So as you tuck in to your Christmas dinner this year look out for foods for your dog that contain quality ingredients and natural supplements such as Cranberry Extract to help support their overall health. They too deserve a special meal this festive season."

For more information visit www.applaws.co.uk

'Dog For Life' Christmas Campaign Launched

Heartless owners have given away pet dogs because they clashed with their sofa, or because they were no longer 'as cute' as they used to be...
Heartless owners have given away pet dogs because they clashed with their sofa, or because they were no longer 'as cute' as they used to be.

An animal charity has revealed some of the outlandish excuses trotted out by people getting rid of their pooches as it braces itself for the annual influx of unwanted dogs given as presents over Christmas.

The welfare charity Dogs Trust said other animals had been rejected for barking too much or because they couldn't perform tricks.

It has now launched its festive campaign, A Dog Is For Life, Not Just For Christmas, to drive home the message that potential owners should carefully consider what is involved before getting a pet.

The campaign discourages giving an animal as a present and in line with this, the Dogs Trust does not rehome any dogs between December 22 and 29, or until January 2 at its centres in Scotland.

Reasons given at centres around the UK have been: 'He keeps scaring the goldfish'; 'he snores really loudly', 'he can’t do any tricks'; 'my dog keeps passing wind'.

The Dogs Trust said some are handed in 'just for being dogs' and the charity said it is is bracing itself for the latest influx of unwanted presents.

Clarissa Baldwin, chief executive of the Trust, said: 'This year sees the 34th anniversary of Dogs Trust’s iconic slogan "A dog is for life, not just for Christmas" and sadly it’s as true today as when it was first coined.

'We see a number of dogs handed into our rehoming centres in the days and weeks following Christmas when the appeal of a cute puppy has worn off.

'It seems that people are still giving puppies as Christmas presents without considering the long-term ramifications.

'Dogs can provide a world of happiness and enjoyment, and we urge anyone considering a new addition to the family to think it through properly and remember that the only place a puppy should be is on the outside of the wrapping paper, not inside it.'

Busiest trading week of the year

The first full week of December was the busiest trading week of the year for garden and pet centres...

The first full week of December was the busiest trading week of the year for garden and pet centres, according to Garden Trade News Bestsellers data.

Sales volumes for the week ending Sunday, December 9, were up by 2.1% on the same week of 2011, and up 5.7% on the previous highest sales volume week this year – the week ending May 27.

Over the past 20 weeks, trading volumes at garden and pet centres, as measured by GTN Bestsellers from Epos data, have been up 3.9% on last year, abd even 4.3% ahead of predictions made at the start of August.

To Subscribe to the full GTN Bestsellers Weekly Charts for only £120.00 per year click here

Picture caption: Packed car parks at Bents in the North West

Breaking News: Kudos Pet Products ceases trading in UK

Pet retailers stocking Kudos pet products have been told that the company has ceased trading in the UK...
Pet retailers stocking Kudos pet products have been told that the company has ceased trading in the UK.

In an email Kudos stated:"I regret to advise you that due to the economic climate Kudos has ceased trading and cannot accept any further orders.

"The business may be resurrected in the New Year by another company and I am sure they will conytact you if that happens.

"In the meantime thank you for your business and support over the years."

Kudos Pet Products was based in Westbury, Wiltshire. The company website has been taken down and the office telephone number has been disconnected.

Discover the launch pad to success

Winning an award in the PATS New Product Showcase, sponsored by PBW News, can be the launch pad to huge sales. That’s according to companies whose new products have been recognized at previous exhibitions.

Manufacturers can be confident that successful products have a great chance of becoming bestsellers because a panel of pet retailers decides the awards.

Exhibitors are now being invited to enter their new products into the Showcase at PATS Sandown, taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday,
19th and 20th March, 2013. And they are being encouraged by former award winners.

“Being voted for by the trade is a great honour, so I would encourage exhibitors to enter their new products because it can certainly increase the profile of the items to the trade,” says Marion Stinton, of Mr Johnson’s.

Mr Johnson’s won the Small Animal Product Award at Sandown earlier this year with their Advanced Rabbit Food, and the company have used the success to promote their whole range.

Marion adds: “PATS was the window for the re-launch of the whole
Mr Johnson’s range with new packaging, pack sizes and exciting improved recipes. So winning an award, voted for by retailers, was particularly important to us as it showed the trade’s support for the changes we had made.

“We have proudly used the award details in many of our adverts and in sales literature, and as a result interest in stocking Advanced Rabbit Food and the rest of the Mr Johnson’s range has continued to grow.”

Winning Reptile Product Award with their Pro-rep Live Food Care Kit was a real boost to its launch for Peregrine Livefoods.

“The coverage it got in the trade press was a real bonus, helping sales and interest grow rapidly, says Sally Goldthorpe, of Peregrine Livefoods.

“The award is a great mark of success, and we use it in all our external marketing. We also make reference to it when liaising with suppliers, as it has a great reputation within the industry.”
Spike’s World won the Bird Product Award at Sandown with their Feathers and Beaky Agility Kit, and have promoted the success as much as possible through their website, brochures and anecdotally.

“Although sales of this product are not huge it has given the range even more credibility and PR,” says David Tracey, of Spike’s World.

“The key criteria is having something new and ideally truly unique, like our Veg holder which won the award at Harrogate, and then making the most of the opportunity.”

The Animology brand is sold in more than 30 countries and parent company Group55 have used the award-winning angle in all of their global marketing, particularly those successes achieved in the UK. That includes the Grooming Product Award picked up by the Animology Pro Grooming Scissors at Sandown.

Stephen Turner, of Group55, says: “I’m sure the added credibility the award bestowed upon the products was invaluable and a key part to the success we have subsequently enjoyed since the show.

“Enter the New Products competition if you have new stuff to shout about! The only way to win is to enter and I know that often entering trade show competitions gets overlooked by companies.”

The New Product Showcase is also a great opportunity for visiting retailers to see and touch the new products they will be stocking for the coming season. In previous years more than 200 new items have been entered into the Showcase so it is the best place to view potential bestsellers.

More details of the New Product Showcase can be found on the PATS website at www.patshow.co.uk. Companies wishing to exhibit should call Annie Dyke on +44 (0) 1892 862848.

Picture caption: Marion Stinton (centre), of Mr Johnson’s, receives the Small Animal Award from PBW News editor Karen Pickwick and PATS organiser Gordon Thomas at Sandown in March.

Three new hearing dogs to be trained

With nine million people in the UK experiencing some degree of hearing loss at some point in their lives, the Kennel Club Charitable Trust has given a £30,000 grant to the registered charity, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People...

With nine million people in the UK experiencing some degree of hearing loss at some point in their lives – that’s one person in every seven - the Kennel Club Charitable Trust has given a £30,000 grant to the registered charity, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.

The grant was awarded to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People to help towards the training of three new hearing dogs. The charity trains special hearing dogs to alert deaf people to everyday household sounds and danger signals in the home, work place and in public buildings, to promote independence.

The training of a hearing dog takes around 18 months, consisting of initial puppy socialisation with volunteers before moving on to sound work training at one of two specialist centres. During this period a suitable recipient for each dog is identified.

The recipient and hearing dog then spend a period of time training together before qualifying as an official partnership. There are currently over 750 working partnerships in place between hearing dogs and deaf people nationwide.

Michele Jennings, CEO of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People said: “As the only charity in the UK to specialise in this kind of training for hearing dogs, we would like to be able to extend the number of partnerships across the UK and this funding is a great step towards helping more people.

“Hearing dogs are provided to deaf people at no charge and each dog is trained to the specific needs of the deaf individual they have been matched to, creating a life-changing partnership. This funding from the Kennel Club Charitable Trust will help us to train three new hearing dogs and create lifelong partnerships.”

The Kennel Club Charitable Trust awards grants to welfare organisations which make a difference to dogs’ lives and also provides financial support to scientific research and support charities such as Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.

York equestrian retailer bought by Pets at Home

Pets at Home has bought equestrian retailer Ride-Away as part of efforts to expand its specialist retailing...
Pets at Home has bought equestrian retailer Ride-Away as part of efforts to expand its specialist retailing.

Ride-Away, based near York, was advised on the deal by Newcastle-based lawyers Ward Hadaway and the Newcastle office of professional services company KPMG.

The family-owned equestrian business was started in 1980 by Stephen and Angela Clark, selling horse riding clothing and equipment from its shop, catalogue and website. It turned over £6.7m last year.

Nick Wood, Pets at Home chief executive, said: “The acquisition of Ride-Away is a really exciting opportunity for Pets at Home where our equestrian offer is very limited at present.

“Stephen and Angela Clark have built Ride-Away into a significant multi-channel operation, specialising in the equestrian market.

“By deploying our wealth of experience and resources to support an accelerated growth plan, we look forward to developing the business further over the coming years.

“The success of Pets at Home is built on a foundation of friendly expertise delivered by outstanding colleagues, authoritative ranges, product innovation and great service.

“We believe in Ride-Away we have bought a business that shares these attributes.”

Vulnerable British breed rescued from France

A vulnerable British breed dog has been rescued from 'death row' in France...

A vulnerable British breed dog has been rescued from 'death row' in France.

The Otterhound is one of the UK’s vulnerable native dog breeds. With fewer than 50 puppy registrations a year, the breed that has been in the UK since the 11th century is at risk of dying out. However one more can now be added to the list after Otterhound Club Rescue helped one dog on death row in France.

Helen Hacking, from the Wirral is the rescue co-ordinator for Otterhound Club Rescue, a Kennel Club Breed Rescue organisation. In her role she helps owners understand the lifestyle requirements for this energetic breed to ensure they live harmoniously together, but also helps dogs that have lost their homes for any number of reasons.

As soon as Helen heard about Dede, an Otterhound on ‘death row’ in a pound in France, Helen knew she had to rescue him. “With so few of this wonderful breed in the UK, it is a travesty to know that the breed outside of the UK risks being put down for not having a home.” said Helen. “Dede was lucky - it was only because of a few extraordinary people that he is alive and well in a loving home today.”

It was the actions of a French woman, Annie Gratreau, who lives near the pound that set the ball rolling. Annie volunteered to walk Dede, realised he was special and alerted Evelyn Gorrill, an English woman living in France who runs a website for rehoming abandoned dogs, www.doglinks-france.com.

Alison and Billy Gale, friends of Helen’s who lived in France, were alerted to Dede’s plight and went to see him at the pound before calling Helen to tell her his story. Helen learned that Dede had been found wandering in the snow on the Atlantic coast, and didn’t have a microchip, a tattoo, or even a mark where a collar had been. The pound realised he must be a purebred dog, but didn’t know what breed and it was for this reason that he was kept longer than normal, whilst research was carried out.

Helen explains: “Dede was depressed and starved. He was a candidate for euthanasia, therefore he hadn’t been given any vaccinations. I knew I had a good home for him here in the UK with experienced Otterhound owners, who had recently lost their beloved hound. It was all very complicated, and we were warned that the pound might not release him if he was to leave the country. Therefore, Alison and Billy put their names forward to adopt him, and travelled three hours each way to take him to their home.

“On arrival Dede made himself at home and instantly bonded with their hounds and cats, eating all the food they had left in their bowls, but there wasn’t even a growl or spat between them. The next day they took him to their vet, where he was given all the necessary vaccinations, flea control etc and the pet passport process was begun. All of this should have taken three weeks, but there was a hiccup and it took a month. All of these expenses were generously paid by Alison and Billy.”

The dog travelled from France to England with the help of retired English lorry driver, David Marker, David transports dogs anywhere when they need rehoming and only charges his fuel. He even sleeps in the back of his estate car with them to save expenses.

Since he arrived in the UK, Dede has been rehomed with new owners who fell in love with him immediately and has been renamed Barney. Barney has now put on weight and is living his life out in a loving home.

For more information about Kennel Club Breed Rescue visit: www.thekennelclub.org.uk/breedrescue

Pupils being taught top tips on pets

Pupils at Nene Park Academy in Peterborough are being given special lessons about looking after pets...
Pupils at Nene Park Academy in Peterborough are being given special lessons about looking after pets.

Staff from Wood Green Animal Shelter are teaching pupils about the responsibilities of owning a pet in a series of after-school sessions.

The academy pupils are completing this programme as part of their Pledges commitment.

James Wellbeloved teams up with The Pet Show 2013

James Wellbeloved has announced that it will be sponsoring The Kennels section at The Pet Show 2013, taking place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire...
James Wellbeloved has announced that it will be sponsoring The Kennels section at The Pet Show 2013, taking place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.

The new indoor and outdoor show aimed at pet lovers across the UK, is aiming to attract 20,000 visitors on its debut outing and pet food manufacturer, James Wellbeloved has confirmed its support.

Lorraine Hemmings, marketing assistant at James Wellbeloved, said: “We're delighted to be part of The Pet Show 2013 and look forward to exhibiting at Stoneleigh Park. The fact that the venue provides both indoor and outdoor space was very appealing from outset"

The Pet Show 2013 will be held at the Warwickshire venue from 20 to 21 July 2013 and will have six dedicated show sections. Each section will have its own feature area with demonstrations, talks and plenty of shopping opportunities.

Show Director, Ian Sear, said: "It's great to have James Wellbeloved on board and confirmed as the sponsor for our Kennels section. This section fits perfectly with their brand and we look forward to providing a great platform for promoting their range of products next year."

The 2013 show will have more varieties of animals, exhibitors and displays than any other multi pet related show in the UK and will cover more than 21,000m².

Visit www.thepetshow.co.uk to find out more about The Pet Show, call Carly Jackson on 01625 413081 or email carly@thepetshow.co.uk.

CSJ CanineMax caught on film

For anyone who didn't manage to attend the CSJ CanineMax Dog Games that were held in Cirencester Park in Gloucestershire last month, don't worry. You can now see highlights of the event in a specially-prepared video.

Visit www.csjk9.com/news/caninemax-dog-games_p957.html for a 16 minute video showing all the action!

Peter Melling from Video4site was commissioned to attend and capture on film the excitement of the competitions and activities taking place.

These included the European CaniX Championships, Scurries, Bloodhound Trials, Terrier Racing, Disc Dog, Bikejor and Flyball with competitors attending from all over the world.

Show manager Carol Baker, the well-known Belgian Shepherd Dog breeder and nutritional advisor, was on hand on both days with CSJ’s unit displaying their full range of comprehensive and cost effective vat free foods, treats and herbal supplements. The stand also provided a friendly retreat for competitors after their exhausting activities!

A full list of shows where CSJ or their stockists will give you a warm welcome can be seen at www.csjk9.com/events

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