The Canine First Aid Company has joined forces with award-winning Scampers in Cambridgeshire to hold its first training course in a pet shop. The event will take place on April 3.

The family-run business, which originated with human first aid training, has had such a huge demand for canine first aid (first aid for dogs) that director Melanie Whitten decided to utilise her love of dogs and vast experience to train thelive-saving skills.

“The skills we use in human first aid are not too different from the skills we use on dogs - still centred around Health and Safety, Primary Surveys, CPR, Recovery Position, Bleeds, Drowning, Shock, Poisons, and Heatstroke," said Melanie.

"We can now help and support our canine friends in the event of a situation arising.  We can be the bridge/chain of survival whilst awaiting professional medical help from vets.

"There are a few differences which we have to make when treating our dogs – no mouth to mouth but mouth to snout, where to find a pulse, utilising whatever is available to ensure human safety by making a muzzle.

"Our courses include handouts, candidate packs and shock blankets as well as a Certificate of Successful Completion, as well as practical sessions on mouth to snout on canine manikins, bandaging and muzzling. Our training sessions are fun even though we are dealing with a serious subject.”

The Canine First Aid Company is taking its training nationwide to offer guidance to canine orientated businesses, pet shops and individuals who want to know how to save a dog’s life.  

"We are working with Scampers to spread the word and get the unique courses available to as many businesses and individuals as possible," added Melanie.

"Piers and Michelle at Scampers know first-hand how important these skills are and have had to use lifesaving skills on their dogs, including CPR which kept their pet alive. They are well aware of the importance of these valuable skills."

The Canine First Aid Training Course is being held at Scampers on April 3 between 10am and 3pm. To find out more information email melanie@caninefirstaidcompany.co.uk

More than 150 dogs had to be rescued in 2014, when an adoption centre was destroyed in a big blaze.

Since then, people have donated more than a million pounds to help the adoption centre rebuild, and it's finally ready to open.

The new centre is better than ever, with glass windows and doors on each kennel, and even underfloor heating!

The dogs seem pretty happy with their new pad.



Watch dog's adorable reaction at becoming first pooch to find new home after rescue centre reopens. Click the image above to watch the video on YouTube.

PetQuip is urging UK-based pet companies to visit Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Florida, next month (March 16-18) where they’ll be able to see thousands of new product launches.

As an enticement for visitors, there will be a daily prize draw to win an iPad Mini in the International Pavilion.

To understand the scale of Global Pet Expo, the 2015 show featured 1,051 exhibitors, 3,113 booths and more than 3,000 new product launches. More than 6,000 of the most qualified pet product buyers in the industry attended the show, including an impressive number of international retailers.

PetQuip is once again organising the British group of exhibitors at Global Pet Expo and will be operating a booth in the International Pavilion (booth 4467). The British group will feature a wide range of innovative products from the UK.

If you're interested in visiting the show and need to register as a new buyer, you must do so before Friday 26 February.

If you need any persuading then go to http://www.petquip.com/emailer/160223.html

As well as the pet product buyers, three garden product buyers from Dubai, France and the US will be involved in the one-to-one meetings with UK suppliers.

For more information contact 01959 565995 or visit www.petquip.com

Over the past 10 years the pet insurance market has seen an increase in the number of claims for diet-related illnesses from vets and it is now thought that around 1 in 10 cats and dogs in the UK suffers from a food intolerance of allergy mirroring the human trend for special diets.

Wonderdog Elite contains a high percentage of freshly prepared meats such as Lamb, Salmon and Trout with no artificial colourings, additives or preservatives.

The range is currently available in two varieties. The Wonderdog Elite Premium Hypoallergenic contains Prime Lamb and Rice and is gluten free. The Wonderdog Elite Premium Grain Free contains Gourmet Fish and Potato and is ideal for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

Both varieties contain natural antioxidants and vitamins designed to support the dog’s immune system and eyesight with a composition that includes vitamins E7, C selenium, beta carotene and marigold meal.

The food is preserved naturally with vitamin E and vitamin C with added rosemary extract which also acts as an anti-oxidant. Both varieties which are rich in omega 3 and 6 using ingredients such as whole linseed or fish to help support the dog’s joints and to promote a healthy and shiny coat.  

The foods also contain seaweed meal, a natural source of iodine used to support a healthy thyroid. The balanced combination of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and the inclusion of yucca extract also aid the dog’s digestive system.

Both varieties exclude ingredients that are thought to cause intolerances or allergies in dogs such as beef, pork, diary, soya, eggs, wheat, wheat gluten, artificial flavourings or colourings.

The new Wonderdog Elite food offers excellent value for money compared to other Super Premium brands costing around only £1.06 per day to feed an average sized dog. The new diets are available in 3kg or 12kg  bags.

Sneyd’s also produce a range of working dog foods and a premium range which has seen prize winning results in the gundog world.

Sneyd’s Wonderdog sponsor John Halsted who recently won the 2015 I.G.L Retriever Championships held at the Queensberry Estate, Dumfries & Galloway He qualified a total of 5 dogs for the finals which is a remarkable achievement. Dave Latham who is also sponsored by Sneyd’s Wonderdog qualified 2 dogs for the finals.

Innovation Sports is a specialist in event planning with a strong focus on running and outdoor events, working with established centres like The Chelsea Club and ReCentre.

The company's flagship running event, the Clapham Common Series, is in its 8th year and growing rapidly, and with Pooch & Mutt headquarters located a stone’s throw away from Clapham Common, the company is thrilled to be supporting local business.

Both companies share a dedication to promoting a healthy lifestyle and understand the importance of proper nutrition for both humans and dogs.

The Pooch & Mutt events team will be found at every upcoming Innovation Sports race, including at locations such as Victoria Park, Clapham Common, Battersea Park and Wimbledon Common. The team will be on hand to deliver free nutritional advice, provide healthy samples to dogs and chat about the importance of proper nutrition.

Guy Blaskey, founder of Pooch & Mutt, says: “Partnering with Innovation Sports is perfect for Pooch & Mutt, as it allows us to collaborate with a similar minded company who share our quest for healthy lifestyles for humans and dogs alike."

If you would like to enter an upcoming event or have any questions, email samantha@poochandmutt.com for further information.

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Vicky joins Beaphar UK with a BSc Equine Studies degree from Writtle Agricultural College, Essex and eight years’ marketing expertise under her belt, along with strong design and creative skills.

Sue Huggett, Beaphar Business Manager for the UK, commented: “Vicky brings great creative flair to the Beaphar Marketing Team and is already very involved in generating our 2016 trade and consumer campaigns. We are delighted to welcome her on-board and know she will excel in her new role.”

For information on the Beaphar product range contact your Local Area Sales Executive, call the Customer Care Team on 0333 0066236 or visit www.beaphar.co.uk.

Alex brings to his role a wealth of experience having already held senior sales positions with both Cambrian Petfoods Limited and Mars Petcare Ltd where he was responsible for selling a range of well known brands to retailers and other stockists.

As one of the newest but fastest growing BARF Diet brands in the UK, the team at Benyfit Natural believe that they can offer retailers an outstanding range of products at exceptional prices. With sales already soaring with existing retailers (one in particular noticing a 55% increase in sales since last summer), Benyfit Natural believes that now is a good time for retailers to come on board with this brand.

All the products in the range are 100% natural. That means no artificial colourings, preservatives or fillers - all the things that have been associated with causing health issues in some dogs.

The recipes are also veterinary approved and are available in Puppy, Adult and Senior life stages using a variety of human grade and ethically produced meats such as chicken, turkey, rabbit, venison and beef together with tripe, all from British Defra approved farms.

The complete diets also contain ground bones, carrot, broccoli, swede, offal, flaxseed oil, kelp and herbs as well as raw eggs all of which offer a natural combination of vitamins, minerals, omega oils and amino acids to produce a healthy skin, coat, joints, thyroid and cell production as well as helping to support the immune system.

The adult food is coarsely minced to provide the texture that dogs like and the new Premium Blend range contains a combination of venison, rabbit and turkey which is ideal for dogs with sensitive stomachs. All varieties are designed to help maintain a healthy weight whatever the life stage of a dog and are available in 1kg and 500g packs.

Benyfit Natural offer retailers branded freezer deals packed full of their best sellers together with good margins, a straight to your door delivery service, training for shop staff on the BARF Diet and excellent customer care

Commenting on the new appointment at Benyfit Natural, Ben Van Praagh the company’s founder said: “We are absoultely delighted to have Alex Light on board. These are exciting times for Benyfit Natural as we are currently embarking on a new brand image for the company and are looking to expand our range by bringing out new products this year. We are looking forward to introducing Alex to our customers both exisiting and new.”

For further information on becoming a stockist, visit the website: www.benyfitnatural.co.uk call 01892 770 188 or email info@benyfitnatural.co.uk

See Benyfit Natural at Crufts Hall 4 Stand 28 10th-13th March 2016 on the Finer by Nature Stand.

Animal charities have revealed that more than 850,000 cats in the UK have had unplanned litters, leaving many owners unprepared for the cost and commitment of raising kittens and struggling to find them suitable homes.   

The charities are warning owners not having their cats neutered could lead to a population explosion as these unplanned litters could add up to as many as 4.3 million potentially unwanted kittens.

The nine animal welfare charities which make up the Cat Population Control Group (CPCG) are urging cat owners to get their animals neutered to avoid more unwanted felines ending up on the streets or in rescue centres that are already struggling to cope.

Research from vet charity PDSA has revealed that just 15% of cat owners whose animals had kittens had planned for the litters.

These high numbers of unplanned and potentially unwanted kittens continue to cause strain on animal charities and rescue centres. There are already over 11 million cats in the UK and thousands of these end up abandoned in rescue centres across the country every year.

To tackle the issue, the CPCG today launched its annual World Spay Day campaign to encourage more owners to get their cats neutered.

Nicola Martin, Head of Pet Health & Welfare at PDSA, said: “Our research has shown that unprepared cat owners are putting themselves in an unnecessary and potentially challenging position by not getting their cats neutered.

“The impact of this can be both costly and stressful if a cat becomes pregnant as it can be very difficult to find loving new homes for large numbers of kittens. As a result, we know that sadly many cats end up in rehoming and rescue centres.”

According to PDSA’s Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report, which was produced in conjunction with YouGov, nearly a quarter of cat owners (24%) whose cat has not been neutered said their felines had not been neutered because they “hadn’t thought about it”. Other top reasons for not getting the procedure done included simply not getting around to it (13%) and that it was too expensive (8%).

Nicola added: “Neutering has numerous health benefits for your cat and is, in fact not as expensive as many people think. By getting your cat neutered, not only will you be avoiding the risk of an unwanted or unplanned pregnancy but you will be reducing their risk of contracting diseases such as cancer or FIV – the feline equivalent of HIV.

“Many pet owners also believe that neutering should take place when their cat is around six-months-old but our advice is that for maximum health and welfare benefits, it should take place from four months of age.”

Thanks to funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, PDSA will be educating more owners about the benefits of neutering, through a team of Pet Wellbeing Champions in PDSA’s Pet Hospitals. The CPCG is using World Spay Day to encourage owners of unneutered cats to speak to their vet about neutering. For more information please visit www.pdsa.org.uk/worldspayday

Following a strategic investment from the founders of King Digital Entertainment via its new fund Sweet Capital, DogBuddy aims to see the Nordics become one of its strongest regions over the next eighteen months. DogBuddy has now raised more investment than any of its competitors in Europe, with just over €4m raised to date.

With more than 200,000 dog lovers already registered, and 20,000 approved dog sitters using the service in less than three years, the business has seen revenues grow at over 360% YoY since launching in 2013, and plans to continue to lead this sector in both existing and new markets.

With an estimated 40k dogs in Stockholm alone, the “Airbnb for dogs” is set to capitalise on the trend for humanising dogs, the increasing number of households with dogs^[2], and the growing demand for experienced and trusted dog sitters in Sweden.

King’s founders join some of Sweden’s most prominent business figures, including Claes Dahlbäck, Vigo Carlund, Fredrik Palmstierna, Anders Böös and Gerard De Geer, as investors in DogBuddy.

Richard Setterwall, CEO and Founder of DogBuddy, comments: "We’re really excited about launching in Sweden – it’s a natural fit for us, especially with the growing demand for dog care services. We strive to be the best community for all dog lovers, providing safe and trusted dog boarding, and this latest round of investment from Sweet Capital puts us in a great position to bring DogBuddy to more dog owners across Europe."

Christian Dörffer, Co-Founder and CEO of Sweet Capital, says: "DogBuddy has seen incredible growth to date and their entrance into Sweden is an evolution of the business’ tried and tested model in a market where demand for dog care services is ever-increasing. We’re thrilled to be supporting DogBuddy in its journey to become Europe’s number one trusted dog brand."