A leading groomer has urged those people thinking of taking it up as a profession to get proper training first...

“We try to get over the message of responsible grooming and urge everyone thinking of doing it professionally to get the relevant qualifications," said grooming consultant Diana North.

“It’s very difficult to stop anyone setting up a grooming business regardless of whether they’ve got the relevant qualifications or not but the more opportunities we get to educate people the better."

Diana, pictured above left, says that a visit to PATS Sandown in March would prove worthwhile for people interested in grooming.

“Exhibitions like PATS give groomers the opportunity to speak face-to-face with other groomers and those people in the pet trade considering taking it up as a profession,” said Diana.

Grooming expert Su Eld-Weaver, who will be representing Groom Team England at the World Championships in Barcelona in October, will be showing off her skills at PATS Sandown.

Su will be revealing to PATS visitors how to carry out a show trim as well as demonstrating her creative styling skills during the opening day of the exhibition (Tuesday, March 19). These demonstrations will be given on two different Standard Poodles.

On day two of PATS Sandown (Wednesday, March 20) the demonstrations will be given by Louisa Tandy, secretary of the English Groomers Group. Louisa will be using a clip and scissor technique on a Bedlington Terrier and the scissor technique on a Cavachon (Cavalier King Charles x Bichon Frise).

Commentaries will be provided by Diana North, who will offer guidance on City and Guilds qualifications as well as giving information about future grooming events.

There are many companies, who supply grooming products to the trade, exhibiting at PATS Sandown as well as taking part in the Grooming Workshops product displays.

These exhibitors include Phileas Dogg, Groomers, Dogs Trust Products, Animology, Collarways, H3D, 3P Enterprise, Hilton Herbs, Gor Pets, Pedigree Wholesale, Pet Revolution, PetLondon, Klyne & Klyne, The Company of Animals, Trixie and Beaphar, and many of them will be entering the New Products Showcase.

Tuesday, March 19
Su Eld-Weaver, Group Team England
10.00-12.00 Standard Poodle, show trim
13.00-15.00 Standard Poodle, creative styling
(These demonstrations will be given on two different dogs)

Wednesday, March 20
Louisa Tandy, English Groomers Group Secretary
10.00-12.00 Bedlington Terrier, clip and scissor technique
13.00-15.00 Cavachon (Cavalier King Charles x Bichon Frise), scissor technique

To register to visit PATS Sandown click here

A decision by the Advertising Standards Authority not to uphold complaints against the Morrisons' Christmas TV advertisement has disappointed leading vets.

In December the British Veterinary Association issued a statement and also wrote to Morrisons asking them to withdraw the commercial which showed a child feeding Christmas pudding to a dog.
 
Commenting on the ASA’s decision, Peter Jones, President of the British Veterinary Association, said: “This ruling is disappointing but the ASA has set out its reasons for the decision and we accept those reasons.

"Thankfully, the advert only had a short shelf life and we hope that Morrisons is now very unlikely to make the same mistakes again.

"Overall, we hope the whole incident has served to educate Morrisons and the general public about the dangers of grapes and raisins to dogs.”

The ASA received 234 complaints about the TV advert, including a number from vets, veterinary nurses and others who worked with dogs.

The ASA ruling stated: "Whilst we noted the complainants' concerns that dog owners might not be aware of the possible toxicity of grapes and raisins (and other foods) to dogs, we considered that dog owners would be aware that they should not feed their dogs foods which did not form part of a standard canine diet, and that it was the responsibility of parents to educate their children that they should not feed unsuitable food to dogs.

"We concluded the ad was not irresponsible and did not condone or encourage viewers to feed Christmas pudding to dogs."

For the full ruling click here 

Pet Trade Xtra broke the news about the Morrisons' TV advert back in December. See original story below.

Collarways is launching an exciting new line of tough soft dog toys called Fluff & Tuff.

These high quality, durable plush toys were launched in the USA in 2010, and Collarways have secured the distributorship on these products. They plan to unveil them at PATS Sandown in March.

A Fluff & Tuff toy has original design, ultra-plush fabrics and durable construction techniques and materials.

Here are some of their features:

• High quality ultra-plush fabric for a great look and feel
• Non-toxic polyester fibre is used for the best shaping and playability 
• Durable 'Tuffweb' mesh liner is a whole body under-armour
• All seams are concealed and double stitched with no hard exposed edges
• Embroidered eyes, no loose pieces 
• Large durable squeaker
• All toys are scanned for foreign or metallic objects
• Machine washable

Gabriela Lerner, Director at Collarways, said: “As with all the brands we distribute, we have taken great care in selecting the Fluff & Tuff brand to be a part of the Collarways offering.

"We have been testing Fluff & Tuff for the last three months with a variety of dog breeds from Chihuahua to Labrador and find these toys are the best combination of quality, appearance and durability we have found in a plush toy.”

For more information visit www.collarways.com

Scientists at Durham University are using a £950,000 National Environment Research Council grant to find out when and where dogs first became domesticated. They are examining bones of wolves and dogs.

The earliest conclusive evidence showed dogs have been pets for about 14,000 years, but theories now suggest it could have been for as long as 35,000 years.

"Just about everything associated with domestication is really about the beginnings of farming. Except dogs," said Prof Keith Dobney.

"Dogs were domesticated by hunter-gatherers at least 3,000-5,000 years before agriculture and possibly tens of thousands of years earlier."

The three year project starts in October.

Phileas Dogg will be launching a new range of shampoos and conditioner called Organic Oscar at PATS Sandown. 

Organic Oscar is a high quality organic, all natural and eco-friendly range of shampoos and conditioner which supports a healthy and holistic lifestyle for dogs.

Advocating a new wave in pet care philosophy, Organic Oscar is helping make the world a better place for pets and the environment. The products, presented in the company’s unique patented 100% recyclable bottles, are certified organic, cruelty-free and are not tested on animals.

Phileas Dogg is representing and distributing Organic Oscar in the UK, and the product range will be officially launched at PATS Sandown.

For more information visit www.phileas-dogg.com

Leading international brand Rolf C Hagen is set to make its debut at AQUA 2013 which is being held on October 9-10 at the International Centre in Telford.

The multi-national supplier of products across the pet sector with a base in the UK in Castleford, Yorkshire, has booked the largest stand in the Telford International Centre.

Confirmation of Hagen’s presence means that the floor space booked to date is already more than the total when the doors opened in 2011.

Hagen is not the only company scheduled to make its debut at AQUA 2013. In recent weeks there has been a flurry of activity with show organiser Annie Dyke taking first-time bookings from Beaver Plants, Black Knight, Hobby Fish, Ocean Aquarium, OmegaSea and Peregrine while Aquallan and Eastern Connections both make a welcome return after an absence in 2011.

Commenting on their appearance at AQUA 2013, Paul Trott, marketing manager of Rolf C Hagen (UK), said: “Following the growing success of the AQUA show in recent years, we have made the decision to support this important industry event in 2013; and we will be doing so in style!

"We will be bringing our latest aquatic, reptile and pond ranges and in true Hagen style will be exhibiting them on the largest stand at the show.

“Brands such as Fluval, Exo Terra and Laguna have always been at the forefront of their segments and our stand will feature some truly revolutionary items designed with ease of use, innovation and retailer margin firmly in mind. We're very excited about our upcoming product ranges and know your visitors will be too!

“In order to fully support AQUA 2013 we have decided not to hold our Hagen Trade Exhibition this year but we will be back with a truly spectacular product exhibition, world class entertainment and the best night in the industry in September 2014!

“We can't wait to attend Aqua and look forward to seeing our customers and industry partners there.”

Visitor attractions such as the New Product Display Area and a full retailer-focussed seminar programme are being developed. The popular free lunch bags and International Buffet feature strongly in the planning while visitor pre-registration is now up and running on the show’s dedicated website www.aquatelford.co.uk

Commenting on the show’s progress to date, Annie Dyke said: “It’s generally acknowledged that the last couple of seasons have been difficult for the aquatics and water gardening sectors.

"Therefore it is very encouraging to see the level of support and commitment to AQUA 2013 we are getting from our UK and overseas exhibitors, especially as there are so many household names already booked in.

"It means there will be plenty of interest for visiting buyers to look forward to.”

For more information please contact Annie Dyke at OATA Impact Exhibitions Ltd on 01892 862848.

Customers of Just for Pets stores have helped to raise £15,000 towards the sponsorship of a Guide Dog puppy.

The money is being used to help Bentley go through his training and hopefully on to become a registered Guide Dog.

"All Just for Pets stores have either life-sized Guide Dog or counter top collecting boxes for customers to donate as little or as much as they like. Every penny has made a difference," said spokesperson Karen Smith.

For more info about this scheme click here

The dog-related good deeds of the past 12 months were celebrated in London, as the Kennel Club hosted a prize-giving ceremony to honour the winners of the annual Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme (GCDS) Awards and the KC Dog Awards.

Now in their 16th year, the GCDS awards recognise the efforts of organisations nationwide which have invested their time and energy into helping to train dogs and educating their owners on the importance of responsible dog ownership.

The KC Dog Awards acknowledge the actions taken by politicians, local authorities, public bodies and individuals to develop positive alternatives to restrictions on dog walking and ensure that the nation’s dogs continue to enjoy maximum access to the UK’s open spaces.

The Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme was set up in 1992 to promote socially acceptable dogs by way of creating responsible dog owners. It provides a quality standard of training for dog and owner and incorporates many domestic obedience exercises.

Now the largest dog training scheme in the UK, since its inception over 430,000 certificates of achievement have been awarded to owners and their dogs who have successfully passed the scheme’s tests. There are currently around 1,800 dog training clubs and other organisations around the country actively using the scheme.

In honour of the scheme’s 20th birthday last year, a special award for outstanding service was presented to Mr Bill Hardaway, who was the Chairman of the GCDS from 1991-2010. Bill was responsible for launching the scheme and over the years helped to implement many scheme initiatives, including the annual awards.

The award winners were:

Kennel Club Registered Training Club
Winner – Langstone and District Canine Society
Second – Haslemere and District Dog Training Club
Third – The Isle of Wight Dog Training Society  

Kennel Club Listed Status Club
Winner – The K9 Academy
Second – Bordercombe Dog Training
Third – Braunton Dog Training Club  

Kennel Club General Canine Association/Breed Club
Winner – Lochaber and District Canine Society
Second – Southern Finnish Lapphund Society
Third – Hovawart Club of Great Britain  

Local Council Category – Most Effective Campaign
Winner – East Lothian Council

Lochaber and District Canine Society was chosen as the overall winner of the GCDS Awards for their dedication, commitment and outstanding support in promoting the scheme in 2012.

The Kennel Club’s KC Dog campaign was established in 2006, after the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act gave local authorities the power to restrict dog access in their area.
KC Dog award recipients were selected on account of their positive approach to dog walking around their local area. This year’s winners are:

KC Dog Campaigner Award
Good Glossop Dogs, High Peak, Derbyshire  

KC Dog Local Authority Award
North Hertfordshire District Council  

KC Dog Parliamentary Award
Jake Berry, MP for Rossendale and Darwen  

KC Dog Special Recognition Award
Dorset Dogs, Dorset

Speaking at the ceremony, Kennel Club Chairman, Steve Dean, said: “These awards are an opportunity for us to credit the actions taken by training groups, politicians, local authorities, groups and individuals to ensure that the UK’s dogs continue to enjoy maximum access to the our open spaces.

“We really do feel that you, and many others, have all done fantastic work in promoting responsible dog ownership in local communities and all deserve a huge vote of thanks.  

"Your enthusiasm and dedication help organisations like the Kennel Club to promote responsible dog ownership and canine welfare, and we extend our appreciation for helping us make a positive difference for dogs and their owners.”

A Dutch chain of garden and pet centres is on the hunt for pet care accessories from UK-based suppliers and manufacturers.

Ranzign Tuin & Dier is taking part in the PetQuip Meet the Buyer event at The White House, Brasted, Kent on February 28.
 
Ranzijn is a chain of eight wholly-owned, large format garden and pet centres – the largest being the 14,500 square-metre store in Almere. 

Ranzijn’s pet sections stock a broad range of up to 8,000 items, including food, pet care and accessories for dogs, cats, small mammals, birds, fish and reptiles. 

The focus is on offering both a broad and an in-depth range to differentiate Ranzijn from its competitors. Pet sales contribute 40% of the company's overall turnover.

The buyer is particularly looking for accessories and pet care items for dogs, cats and small mammals, and also summer food for wild birds.  He is not looking for dog/cat food.
 
Hoogzaad Pet Products, a wholesaler working with Ranzijn, will also participate in the same meetings at the Meet the Buyer event. Hoogzaad supplies other large retailers and, in addition to the above products, is interested in garden products where there is a link with the pet sector.

For more information about the company visit www.ranzijn.nl

For further information about the Meet the Buyer event email theresa@petquip.com

Aaron Smith and Richard Fairlamb from the Kennel Club are hoping to raise thousands of pounds for dogs by running the London Marathon...

Last year, Richard took over the role of Kennel Club Charitable Trust administrator. In this role, he receives letter after letter from charities desperately seeking support. Now, vowing to help as many as possible, he has decided to raise more money for the Kennel Club Charitable Trust.

Richard, along with his colleague Aaron, set about seeing how they could best raise money for the Charitable Trust together and decided that running one of the toughest challenges in the UK would do the trick.

Calling on the support of friends, family and dog lovers around the country, the two are hoping to raise more than £5,000 for the charity which helps make a difference to dogs’ lives by supporting research into canine diseases, assisting support dogs and providing much needed funding to a variety of welfare charities.

Aaron said: “Richard and I have been training hard for what is bound to be the most difficult challenge that either of us have ever faced.

"Neither of us are actually dog owners but we were keen to take part in the London Marathon to raise money for the Kennel Club Charitable Trust as we’ve seen the great work that it does to make a real difference for dogs.”

Richard and Aaron will be raising money at Crufts by training on a treadmill on the Kennel Club Charitable Trust Stand (Hall 3 Stand 52) at the Birmingham NEC from March 7-10.

Anyone wishing to sponsor Aaron and Richard should click here 

Wagging Tails has been hailed a success by Dragon's Den star Theo Paphitis through his Small Business Sunday on Twitter.

The business big gun tweeted about the city-based company to his 313,000 followers, resulting in hundreds of people learning about their work and visiting their website.

Caroline Harrison, who runs the Hampshire branch of Wagging Tails, said: “I took over my Wagging Tails franchise almost two years ago and the business is going from strength to strength with lots of very happy dogs getting a holiday of their own with one of my lovely carers.

“It is great to have support from Theo especially as to date Wagging Tails are the only pet care company to win this award and Theo has recognised our hard work and helped spread the word about what we do to his following."

Established in early 2007 Wagging Tails offers home dog boarding to dog owners as an alternative to traditional kennels.

Dogs may understand their owners better than we think, research suggests.

Tests show they are more likely to steal food when they think nobody can see them doing it.

Psychologist Dr Juliane Kaminski, of Portsmouth University, studied what happens when a human forbids a dog from taking food.

Those left in a dark room who thought they could not be seen took more food and quicker than dogs in a well-lit room.

That suggests they take into account what the human can or cannot see.

Dr Kaminski said: “That’s incredible because it means they might understand the human perspective."

She said that although many dog owners think that their pets are clever and understand humans, this had not yet previously been tested by science.

"Humans constantly attribute certain qualities and emotions to other living things.

"We know that our own dog is clever or sensitive, but that's us thinking, not them.

"These results suggest humans might be right, where dogs are concerned, but we still can't be completely sure if the results mean dogs have a truly flexible understanding of the mind and others' minds.

"It has always been assumed only humans had this ability.

"The results of these tests suggest that dogs are deciding it's safer to steal the food when the room is dark because they understand something of the human's perspective."

She said that previous studies have shown chimpanzees seem to know when someone else can or cannot see them and can also remember what others have seen in the past.

She added that more research was needed to understand what was influencing the behaviour of dogs because their understanding was limited to the "here and now".

The research, published in the journal Animal Cognition, studied 42 female and 42 male pet dogs aged one year or older.

They were chosen only if they were comfortable without their owners in the room, even in complete darkness, and if they were interested in food.

Pet supplies could soon be sold in a Hampshire village if permission is granted to change the use of this old vet’s premises.

Kara Pym of Barn Lane, Basingstoke, has asked the borough council for a certificate of lawfulness to change the use of the building in Hill Road, Oakley, to a pet supply shop.

The application states that the vacant veterinary centre has been used for retail before, was once a butcher’s shop and that the proposed business is wanted in the village and has been highlighted in the Oakley village design statement.