A shocking new animal welfare report by leading veterinary charity, PDSA, today reveals millions of pets are more aggressive, overweight and misunderstood than ever due to fundamental gaps in pet owners’ animal welfare knowledge.

According to the report, 1.3 million dogs across the UK are displaying problem behaviour, 18.5 million dogs, cats and rabbits are being fed deathly diets, and 11.2 million pets are at risk of life threatening disease due to not being vaccinated or neutered.

Findings from the second PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report produced in conjunction with YouGov, exposes a serious lack of understanding and provision of even basic levels of care for millions of the UK’s pets. 

The report, which captures the views of pet owners, the veterinary profession and for the first time, children, lifts the lid on some of the most concerning health and welfare issues facing the pet population and reveals some uncomfortable home truths, with problem behaviour in dogs, and obesity and illness in dogs, cats and rabbits, set to rise unless action is taken.

PDSA Head of Pet Health and Welfare, Nicola Martin, says: “The new PAW Report findings do make for difficult reading especially considering virtually all of the issues we have investigated are entirely preventable.

"The new report identifies serious concerns when it comes to the wellbeing of our pet nation, but in reality these are just the tip of the iceberg, especially if we don’t take action now to protect animal welfare long into the future.

"Taking on pets is a huge commitment and one that brings with it significant responsibilities throughout a pet’s lifetime. These responsibilities are not optional, they are a legal requirement and vital to ensure the physical and mental wellbeing of all pets.

 “Just as humans have basic health and welfare needs, so do animals, but it is clear that in many cases their individual needs are just not understood.

"As the UK’s leading veterinary charity, we simply cannot ignore this and we want to do all we can to improve the long-term wellbeing of pets by helping owners understand what their pets really need to be healthy and happy.”

The 2012 PAW Report reveals frightening levels of problem behaviour in dogs, with growling, snarling and aggression towards people and other animals happening on a regular basis.

The highest levels of problem behaviour are seen in Northern Ireland and the East of England. Of the owners surveyed for the PAW Report, 24% in Northern Ireland reported that their dogs show problem behaviour on a regular basis. This was closely followed by the East of England (20%); North East (19%) and Yorkshire and Humber (19%). The area of the UK with the least reported problem behaviour in dogs was Wales (8%).

The research also reveals that almost one in three (30%) dog owners have been bitten or attacked by a dog with over half (51%) knowing someone else who has.

The PAW Report also warns that while in some cases dogs are deliberately trained to be aggressive, the primary cause of the anti-social behaviour is a lack of socialisation and basic obedience training when dogs are young - 61% of dogs (5.3 million) never attended training classes within their first six months of life, an increase of 11% on last year’s figure.

David Ryan, Clinical Animal Behaviourist and former Chair of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors, says: “Good puppy socialisation and training classes undoubtedly help to reduce the initial development of aggression, but it is also essential to provide our pets with guidance in good behaviour, at home and elsewhere, throughout their lives. Training should be synonymous with ‘living with’ and never stops.”

What is encouraging is that 95% of pet owners believe that dog owners must take full responsibility for their dog’s behaviour; key to this is educating owners on the importance of training and socialisation.

And when it comes to the views of children a shocking 65% reported having been frightened or scared by a dog’s behaviour.

PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Sean Wensley, says: “Each year there are awful stories of dogs attacking pets and people, sometimes with fatal consequences. Tackling this begins with owners and breeders taking full responsibility for their dogs’ behaviour and adequately socialising and training them from a young age.

"It is also essential that young people understand how to be safe around all pets and learn how to become caring and responsible owners in the future. In PDSA’s view, this should include learning about a pet’s five welfare needs at school as well as from other responsible adults around them.”

The feeding of inappropriate diets, one of the root causes fuelling the UK’s pet obesity epidemic, shows no sign of letting up - if anything the problem is set to get even worse based on what owners told the charity for the PAW report.

While a high percentage of owners understand that overweight pets will have a shortened lifespan (91%) and an increased risk of ill health due to obesity (93%), and 95% believe owners have overall responsibility to learn about their pet’s dietary needs, it appears this isn’t translating into positive action. 

Despite acknowledging the consequences of pet obesity, millions of pet owners are still providing unsuitable diets for their companions with the levels of unsuitable treats being fed, rising.

Diets are being influenced by human emotion rather than an understanding of what pets really need, with 48% of owners motivated to feed treats because of the short-term happiness it appears to bring to their animal companions. Even more worrying, 29% of owners feed treats because it makes them feel happy.

Putting emotion aside, owners do have strong opinions on what should happen if people persistently fail to heed warnings and act on veterinary advice about their pets’ weight - with 61% believing that severely overweight pets should be removed from an owner in such cases.

Dr Alex German, leading animal obesity specialist at the University of Liverpool Veterinary School, says: “I am pleased to see PDSA stressing the important message that obesity is entirely preventable. Prevention is vital to reduce the number of overweight and obese pets, and a key benefit of PDSA’s research would be to help set a national agenda on pet obesity prevention.”

Further PAW Report findings:

As well as serious issues regarding pet behaviour and obesity, the PAW Report has also uncovered other health and welfare failings:

• The fate of millions more pets could be at risk for generations to come as hundreds of children who were surveyed for this year’s report lack basic knowledge about animal welfare needs. Whilst 76% of children think they should be taught at school about caring for pets, only 16% actually have been.
• Around 2.5 million dogs, cats and rabbits still aren’t registered with a vet, 4.5 million aren’t vaccinated and over 4 million aren’t neutered. The consequence of neglecting the health needs of pets can prove fatal. Pets that aren’t vaccinated or neutered are at serious risk of developing potentially fatal illnesses such as parvovirus, cat flu or pyometra.
• When it comes to cost, nearly half of vets and vet nurses believe that the financial responsibility of looking after pets is one of the least understood aspects of pet ownership. This is particularly worrying as 17% of owners surveyed for the report said they would consider giving up their pet due to the associated costs if they became too much. This increases to 33% amongst 18-24 year old pet owners who are currently some of the most financially challenged people in the UK due to the uncertain job market.
• 47% of those surveyed think prospective pet owners should pass a test before taking on a pet, but children feel this is even more important with 65% of them agreeing that everyone taking on a pet should take a test first.
•  92% of pet owners agree that all pet owners should have a basic understanding of the five welfare needs as outlined in the Animal Welfare Act (2006), yet over two thirds of owners (69%) are not familiar with the Act.

As part of its launch of the 2012 PAW Report PDSA has created a special animation designed to support the pet owning public and increase their basic understanding of pets’ needs. The charity is calling on animal lovers across the nation to view the animation, download the report and commit to making a better life for pets www.abetterlifeforpets.co.uk

With pet stores closing at a rate of knots and customers drifting off to competitors, Supreme Petfoods’ Marketing Manager Claire Hamblion says it’s time to stop the rot and drive growth in the market...

The recent years of economic uncertainty and talk of gloom and doom on the high street has piled the pressure on independent pet retailers. But it is not just the economy that has hit the pet trade hard, it has also been affected by the changing face of the pet retail sector.

The Pet Care Trade Association (PCTA) Triennial State of the Sector Survey stated that the number of pet stores selling livestock has dropped significantly since 2005 – by a staggering 28%. Pet retailers are finding it increasingly tough to make a profit from selling livestock. 

According to the PCTA survey, independent pet retailers are also concerned about the increasing competition from online and grocery retailers. In fact over 60% of respondents said that they believed competitive internet sales are their biggest threat, ahead of those who stated that supermarkets are their greatest competition.

Supreme Petfoods recognised this as a big concern for the independent pet sector and decided it was about time something was done to help stop the rot.

Claire said:  “We frequently hear from our customers that pet owners will buy their pet or get advice from their local pet store, but then go and spend their money somewhere else – maybe online or in grocery. Being helpful is great, but not when your own knowledge and experience is putting profit into someone else’s pocket. That is simply not a long term business model.”

Supreme’s solution is the Happy Hoppers Club – a supercharged loyalty programme. It doesn’t cost anything for retailers to take part and allows pet stores to engage in a fun way with their customers, as well as providing a strategic method of building relationships.

When retailers sign their store up to the Happy Hoppers Club, there is no risk. And for every customer a pet store signs up, Supreme will regularly drive that customer directly back to the store to redeem vouchers, to collect gifts and much more that will make pet ownership even more fun. The Happy Hoppers Club will also drive added value into the category.

Supreme will be at all the big pet events and each time, they will recruit pet owners to the club and drive them back to their local Happy Hoppers’ retailer – with a voucher to spend that can only be redeemed in that store. This bespoke loyalty scheme is available to all independent retailers at absolutely no cost.

The Happy Hoppers Club will also help retailers fill the ‘needs gap’ recognised by the PDSA Animal Wellbeing Report, which found that 150,000 rabbits live in cages that are too small and 750,000 rabbits do not get enough hay. The report also found that 1.1 million rabbits live alone when they should be living in pairs. In addition, it found that over 1 million bunnies lack mental stimulation. This gives pet retailers a big opportunity to make happier hoppers and remember - what’s better for bunnies is better for business – bigger hutches, more hay, bedding, accessories and food sales.

Claire said: “We carried out significant research and understand that there is still a lot of work to be done to promote the right level of care that pets need. Educated pet owners are prepared to spend much more when they visit their local pet store. Happy Hoppers is all about pet owners having more fun with their pets.”

And the profit potential is an incredibly tasty proposition too with the estimated total annual profit value for those retailers signing up just one rabbit owner a week at £15,765.

Claire continued: “Happy Hoppers Club members will receive advice on pet care, special gifts, giveaways and money off coupons. We will join them in celebrating their pets’ birthdays as well as other events in their pets’ lives. The best bit for retailers is that the small amount of effort it takes them to sign up their customers will be rewarded big time – as all these special offers will only be redeemable at their store.”

Record numbers of dog lovers are expected to flock to Earls Court in London this weekend for the annual Discover Dogs show.

Discover Dogs, taking place on Saturday and Sunday (10th-11th), gives visitors the opportunity to meet and find out about around 200 dog breeds and aims to educate and inform visitors about the benefits of dog ownership.

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Communications Director, said: “Discover Dogs is a fun event that showcases dogs of all breeds.

"It is also educational and the free seminars, sponsored by Royal Canin, give visitors the opportunity to get first-hand advice from dog experts on a variety of issues that they can put into practice with their own dogs.

"Visitors will also hear inspirational stories highlighting the special bond between dogs and their owners, including the incredible story of Sergeant Dave Heyhoe and Treo who protected our troops on the front line.”

Seminar places are free to anybody who has Discover Dogs tickets and seats will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Topics to be covered include:

How to improve the relationship you have with your dog - Carolyn Menteith, dog trainer and behaviourist, talks about how to improve your relationship with your dog using training and games.

What to look for when buying a puppy – Bill Lambert, Health and Breeder Services Manager at the Kennel Club, will guide visitors through the process of buying a puppy to help ensure that they buy the right breed for them and from a responsible breeder. The talk will give visitors all of the necessary information and expert advice available to help them find the right dog.

Sergeant Dave Heyhoe and his Labrador-Spaniel cross, Treo, will tell the incredible story of their bond and the crucial role they played on the front line of war as one of the British Army's foremost Arms Explosives Search Dog teams.

Needs of the ageing dog - ‘Maturity Matters’ – Vikki Haydon of Royal Canin will talk about how the age of our pet population is slowly creeping up and how and when the needs of these senior citizens change and what nutritional support they will need.

Reiki for dogs - Rob Fellows will be giving a talk on Reiki for dogs including practical demonstrations and providing information on the benefits of using Reiki on our canine companions including pain reduction.

Tellington TTouch – Sarah Fisher will talk about the Tellington TTouch technique and how this can help to address many behavioural and health problems including noise sensitivity, separation anxiety and hyperactivity in dogs.

Discover Dogs has a host of competitions and activities in store for visitors, including  Scruffts, Crufts Factor and the Companion Dog Club Competition, as well as displays including rescue dog agility. There will be over 100 trade stands.

For more information visit www.discoverdogs.org.uk

Leading recruitment agency Pet Trade Solutions is reporting that UK manufacturers are continuing to make inroads into the EU pet market...

Owner Lynda Ward says that, despite the difficult financial climate, the UK pet industry is still enjoying a buoyant export situation.

“The call for export sales managers has not abated at all,” says Lynda. “The only difference between now and five years ago is that employers are more flexible about location. Whereas in the past employers specified an EU home-base, with easier transport links managers need not relocate to mainland Europe.”

So why are so many manufacturers enjoying success overseas? 

“It has to be down to innovative products, quality and reliability of supply," adds Lynda. 

"But of course the final ingredient is the sales drive – no matter how good the product is it won’t move without being driven and the export sales manager is key in building strong relationships and making those sales.”

New reptile stockists should order livefood ‘little and often’ until they build up a regular and reliable clientele, according to a leading livefood breeder.

Jo Wise is Director/Owner at Monkfield Nutrition near Cambridge and has been breeding and supplying livefoods on a massive scale for over 20 years.  

“It can be disheartening to order lots of tubs, only to throw them away unsold at the end of their shelf-life,” says Jo.  

“Once you have an idea of what you can sell it is much easier to place a regular order. With proper storage you can expect at least a week of shelf-life.”

All crickets are not created equal. Banded Grey Crickets are the most common variety given their prolific breeding potential, but these can suffer mortality in transit in cold weather. 

‘Silent’ Grey Crickets fare better in cold weather and have the added benefits of being meatier, less noisy and less aggressive but this species is not always available. Only the most discerning customers will notice the difference between the two.

Black Field Crickets look much different and customers who like them will ask for them specifically. These are another bulky, slow and superior cricket and people tend to love them for their benefits, or hate them for their looks.

Locusts mushroomed in popularity in tandem with the Bearded Dragon and are the most profitable livefood for suppliers and retailers alike. The golden Desert Locust is the industry standard variety nowadays and could almost be described as pretty.

Words: Tony Jones

Westland Horticulture’s bird food factory in Driffield, East Yorkshire, has been awarded its third consecutive A grade rating from the British Retail Consortium.

The Driffield facilities purchased by Westland earlier this year have been awarded this standard for the past three years.

The stringent requirements needed for BRC rating requires the Driffield site to adhere to 10 key requirements in relation to production, packaging, storage and distribution.  Retailers can be assured that all of the bird feed products produced from the site are the best quality for their consumers.

Westland products produced at the Driffield facility include the successful wild bird feed brands Nature’s Feast, Peckish and specialist bird brand Bucktons.

Rachael Dickinson, Marketing Manager for Bird Care at Westland said: “All of the Westland sites have achieved incredibly high standards in quality and at Driffield we have facilities which are second to none in both the products we produce and also the way we produce them. 

"The continued hard work and dedication of the staff at Driffield has certainly paid off and it is due to them that we have received this rating once again.”

Westland Horticulture purchased the Driffield site when they acquired Cranswick Pet Products in April. By making this purchase Westland has access to market leading knowledge, expertise, infrastructure and world leading manufacturing facilities within the wild bird care sector. 

For further information about the facilities at Westland Driffield site click here

New figures from the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF), the biggest UK charity dedicated to improving the lives of pet rabbits, show that the number of unwanted rabbits has nearly doubled in recent years. 

The last meaningful survey conducted by the charity estimated the number of rabbits given up to rescue shelters at around 35,000. The organisation has recently conducted another survey, and was shocked to find the figure now standing at well over 67,000. 

"What is really worrying," said Richard Saunders, RWAF Veterinary Expert Advisor, "is that this number only reflects the cases where the rabbits have made it into rescue.

"We can't possibly quantify how many more are dumped in the wild and left to fend for themselves, which leads to almost certain death, by the way. Then there are those who, when the novelty has worn off, are simply neglected and left often in a hutch with no access to exercise space and almost no attention except for a handful of food now and again." 

The charity also points out that countless unwanted pet rabbits are sold for next to nothing through classified ads both in newspapers and online as well as at livestock auctions. It is understood that many of these are bought as meat. 

In the survey, almost all the rescues said that the problem is getting worse, with more and more people wanting to rehome their pet rabbits. Many said they are only able to take in around 10% of the requests they receive, with most having waiting lists of 2-6 months. Many owners will not wait that long, and take their own steps to dispose of the animal. 

The answer? Well the charity's message is simple on this one. Rabbits are not the cheap and easy children's pet that they are often mistaken as being. They are as big a commitment as a cat or dog, and people should think long and hard, and do their research before taking them on. And even longer and harder before they decide to breed 'just one litter' from their pets, all of which will then need to find homes. If you can't commit to providing rabbits with the space, companionship, vet care and proper diet for 10 years or more, then rabbits are not for you. 

For more information visit www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk

Having launched its pet care brands in June, Gardman believes that special Christmas deals offer great potential for pet retailers and garden centres. 

“All our research and our own experience has shown that consumers love to treat their pets all year round so this category benefits from not being seasonally dependent,” says Lisa Blackmore, Head of Category Management at Gardman.

“However, at Christmas nearly 70% of consumers buy gifts for their pets so pet care has tremendous potential at this time of year. Garden centres are an ideal environment for pet owners to shop for their pets, particularly as they are often keen gardeners too.

“We’ve had a great response to our new pet care category as customers have appreciated the breadth of products and target consumers that the Gardman Pet, Heads & Tails and Explorer brands cover, as well as the merchandising solutions and delivery options we are offering. 

“Now we have over 100 stockists we’re focussing on our promotional offers for Christmas and using great deals as a lever to encourage both customers and consumers to experience the benefits of our new pet care range.”

For the Christmas pet care promotion Gardman is offering great deals on seven festive volume lines with stand out POS and merchandising, all available for immediate delivery.  See www.gardman.co.uk/petcare-promotions for more information on promotional activity or Gardman’s new standalone pet care website, www.gardmanpetcare.co.uk for more information on its petcare range.

The final night of the nation’s favourite dog event, Crufts, is to be broadcast for the first time on Channel 4 next year. More4 will continue its coverage across the remainder of the annual four-day show.

With Clare Balding at the helm, Channel 4 will cover the grand finale of Crufts 2012 for two hours, from 6pm-8pm, on Sunday, March 10. More4 will be covering the first three days for two and half hours each night, from 6.30pm-9pm, March 7-9.

Channel 4 Documentaries Commissioning Editor, Anna Miralis has also commissioned a documentary entitled Best in Show: Taking the Lead, to be broadcast in the lead up to Crufts.

“Channel 4 is known for its coverage of great sporting events and our Crufts coverage will capture all of the excitement of the different competitions, from showing to agility, in a live sporting format," said Anna.

The move of the Sunday night show to Channel 4 reflects the continuing popularity of Crufts and demand for coverage. More4 will look forward to continuing its coverage of the event for the other three days, delivering an exciting show for its loyal dog-loving audience.

Crufts coverage will include interviews about buying and caring for dogs, as well as exploring issues surrounding dog health, welfare and general wellbeing.

Caroline Kisko, Secretary of the Kennel Club, which organises Crufts, says: “The Sunday night programme on Channel 4 will enable millions of people to watch the grand finale of the world’s greatest dog event.

"Crufts is a key date in any dog lover’s calendar and More4’s coverage for the last three years has captured the special relationship between man and dog. The coverage on More4 and Channel 4 means that it will continue to be essential viewing, whether people are looking for information on choosing, caring for and enjoying life with their dog or simply want to watch dogs of all shapes and sizes showing off a range of special talents.”

Pets at Home is investing more than £490,000 in a new store opening in Ballymena, Northern Ireland on November 30, providing 13 new jobs for the local area.

Store manager Stephen Rainey has been with Pets at Home for more than six years, having previously worked at the Coleraine store. During his time with the company, Stephen has received regular training in pet care. He is the proud owner of a Rottweiler called Broxy.

Stephen said: “I love my job and working with pets. We are all passionate about pets, which is evident to everyone who visits a Pets at Home store.

“Every day brings new challenges and it’s never the same two days running. I enjoy interacting with customers and giving them the help and advice they need. Thanks to Pets at Home, I am fully qualified to advise on all types of pets from rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas to fish and reptiles.

“I’m delighted to be opening our new store in Ballymena. It will offer everything a pet owner could wish for, all under one roof. We will provide plenty of advice and ideas for customers and we welcome pets of all shapes and sizes.

“We will also have a Groom Room, offering full grooming, bath and blow dry, puppy grooming and nail clipping, which are all important to a pet’s health and wellbeing.”

Leading Worcestershire-based pet food manufacturer, Albion Meat Products, is celebrating its 30th year in business. 

The company, which produces natural meat products for dogs, is one of the pioneers of the Biologically Appropriate Raw Food diet in the UK as they were one of the first companies to recognise the potential in this Bones and Raw Meat formula.

BARF follows the principle of evolution that dogs are descended from wolves and other wild dogs and although humans have changed their external appearance as well as special skills (guarding, protecting, hunting or lap-dogs), the dog’s digestive system however remains unchanged.

Dogs belong to the family of carnivores, i.e. meat eaters with sharp incisors designed for more than just grinding vegetables and grain. A natural raw meat diet combined with vegetables, rice or cooked potatoes is seen by many to be healthier way to feed their pets. This is also supplemented by feeding raw bones.

The company was founded by Catherine Donegan, the daughter of Birmingham meat supplier, Leslie Rock who was also part of the original business. He used to get requests all the time from dog owners who wanted to feed their dogs raw meat and bones and used to do a roaring trade in ox cheeks, bones and sheep heads having found this diet had a remarkable effect in turning around the health of their pet German Shepherd dog, Lucy.

Deciding not to pursue a career in nursing, Catherine started the business at the age of 18 by delivering meat products for dog owners from the back of her car around the Midlands.

The business expanded quite rapidly and the product range was expanded to include butcher’s pet mince and they opened a manufacturing plant based in Birmingham and moved their sales and delivery service to Pershore where Catherine lived. Catherine’s husband Gary is also now a partner in the firm.

 All the meat in Albion’s products is sourced locally where possible and is of human grade quality. They offer five core ranges as well as selection of bones. For those who do not want to make up their own recipes they also offer a complete food.

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Albion has announced it is to re-brand its range and is in the process of developing new logos and packaging for the business.

Picture caption: Catherine Donegan, Founder of Albion Meat Products, with Kim Hague who has just started a celebration cake business in Worcester.

A pug puppy has been stolen from a pet store in Hare Hatch, Reading. The 11-week-old male puppy was taken by intruders to the Linton Pet Store in Ladds Garden Village.

The thieves broke into the shop by forcing open an upstairs window, taking the puppy as well as a cash register and its contents.

Police are appealing for anybody who has information about the incident or the stolen puppy. The pug is described as fawn coloured and is microchipped.

Call police on 101 and ask to speak to PC Timothy Cameron or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org

Members of the Young Kennel Club have been given an insight into finding work in the pet industry at a special Careers with Dogs Day.

The Kennel Club played host to 26 14-24 year olds keen on pursuing a career with dogs. 

Experts including Wandsworth Council dog warden, Mark Callis; dog behaviourist, Robert Alleyne; Guide Dogs recruitment consultant, Helene Reinbolt, and trainers, Zoe Aird and Laura Skinner; PDSA veterinary surgeon, Sean Wensley and veterinary nurse, Amy Henson; and Blue Cross education officer, Marion Jones, shared their knowledge and experience with the YKC members in a series of talks.

Mark Callis explained: “Wandsworth Council has supported Careers with Dogs Day for the past five years because it is important that tomorrow’s leaders of the dog world are fully grounded and experienced and able to promote responsible dog ownership.

“It is vital to encourage these young people and help them as they look towards careers with dogs - and in particular, to working with dogs in the community.  Wandsworth Council offers many work experience placements each year to young people, and I am pleased that we received an application from one of the attendees within a few hours of the event ending.”

Fifteen year old Alice Ryan said: “I wanted to find out what jobs were out there where you could work with dogs and to find out what they entailed. I found the dog warden talk really interesting, which I didn’t expect.”

Sixteen year old Samantha Towe added: “I found the day really helpful - the speakers offered a great insight into what routes and courses to take towards working with dogs.”

For more information about future Young Kennel Club events visit www.youngkennelclub.org.uk

Town & Country Petfoods, makers of HiLife petfood, is following the launch of its ultra premium range, HiLife Indulge Me!, with a new super-premium range called HiLife tempt me!  The brand offers a choice of pouches, cans and packet cat food. 

HiLife tempt me! 85g single pouches are available in a range of six Tuna- or Chicken-based recipes in either Jelly or Sauce. 

The recipes in Jelly include Just Tuna with Prawns, Just Tuna with Ocean Fish, Just Chopped Chicken and Just Chicken with Liver. 

The pouch choices in Sauce include Just Tuna Flakes and Just Tuna with Squid; all for adult cats. 

There is also a selection of five multipacks each containing eight pouches, for cats at all life stages, including Kitten Poultry Pâtés, Adult Tuna Selection in Jelly, Adult Chicken Collection in Jelly, Adult Seafood Assortment in Sauce and Senior Chicken Terrines.

The HiLife tempt me! range also includes a choice of terrines in 85g cans in three varieties; with Turkey and Lamb, with Chicken and Duck or with Salmon and Tuna.

To complete the range, HiLife tempt me! presents 375g bags of dry Crunchy Kibbles containing Organic Chicken or Scottish Salmon and semi-moist Soft & Tender made with Tasty Chicken or Salmon.

Peter Parkinson, Marketing Director at Town & Country Petfoods comments: “We are seeing consistent growth at the top end of the market so this new range has been developed to match this. 

"Our extensive market research reflected the demand for high quality, natural ingredients and nutritionally balanced, complete recipes. tempt me! offers all this with a choice of delicious recipes, in a variety of convenient formats, all in visually impactful packaging that will tempt your customers to buy. 

"We would encourage all pet food retailers to join us in supporting this growth at the super-premium end of the market.”

Premium Fish4Dogs pet brand has launched two new products which have been created in response to consumer demands for gourmet healthy dog treats.

The two products – Fish4Dogs Sea Wrap and Fish4Dogs Sea Hide – have been designed to offer maximum taste appeal for dogs, while providing a healthy option and guilt free treat.

As with products in the existing Fish4Dogs range, these two new lines only feature natural, healthy ingredients, using responsibly source fish stocks predominantly from Norway and no artificial preservatives or colours.

Fish4Dogs Sea Wraps has strong visual and taste appeal and features dried 100% cod fish skins which have been wrapped around a dried sweet potato centre to create a treat which is also packed full of Vitamin A, Beta Carotene, complex carbohydrates, iron and potassium, as well as being low calorie.  

Continuing on the theme of providing healthy guilt free tasty treats, Fish4Dogs Sea Hide provides dogs with a natural dried 100% cod treat which is harvested from the clean waters of the Norwegian fjords within the Arctic Circle. 

The Fish4Dogs Sea Hide treat is unique because it has been created from the ingredients used within the Norwegian traditional Christmas delicacy of Lutefisk.  

Graham Smith, Chief Executive of Fish4Dogs explains how the company is developing.

“We have been really proud to achieve a strong following from amongst consumers for our existing product range and high repeat purchasing indicates that once dogs and cats try our foods they stay loyal to the brand. 

"With this in mind it was critical that these new products achieved high taste appeal, whilst offering good nutritional benefits.Our product testing phase has indicated one of the highest product acceptance scores we have ever seen so we are forecasting high product demand.” 

For more information visit www.fish4dogs.com

Pet Munchies has launched two new 100% Natural Dog Treats in time for Christmas – Chicken & Calcium Bone and Duck Strips.

These  new varieties complement their successful range of Chicken Breast Fillets, Chicken Strips, Chicken Chips, Duck Breast Fillets, Beef Liver and Ocean White Fish. 

Chicken & Calcium Bone is 100% natural chicken breast wrapped around a calcium bone. There are no artificial additives, preservatives, flavours or colours. These treats are suitable for puppies over the age of four months.

Duck Strips are a premium treat made from quality duck breast meat. They can be given as a chew, and are easy to break up for training and rewards.

Pet Munchies will be exhibiting and showing their full range at Discover Dogs and the London Vet Show.

For further information visit www.pet-munchies.com

The Canny Collar is now available in deep red and royal blue to ensure dogs are colourful on their walks. A baby pink version will soon be available too... 

"Whilst black will never be out of fashion and of course has the fabulous slimming effect on our more substantial canine companions, a splash of colour on your walks often brightens up a chilly autumn day," said a spokesperson for the Canny Company.
    
The Canny Collar features a padded collar with secure buckle, deep padding and industrial fittings designed to ensure dogs are safely under control when walking.

It also comes with the usual Canny Lifetime Guarantee.
To find out more about the Canny Collar click here 

The Canny Collar is now available in deep red and royal blue to ensure dogs are colourful on their walks. A baby pink version will soon be available too... 

"Whilst black will never be out of fashion and of course has the fabulous slimming effect on our more substantial canine companions, a splash of colour on your walks often brightens up a chilly autumn day," said a spokesperson for the Canny Company.
    
The Canny Collar features a padded collar with secure buckle, deep padding and industrial fittings designed to ensure dogs are safely under control when walking.

It also comes with the usual Canny Lifetime Guarantee.

To find out more about the Canny Collar click here 

ChapelWood Wildlife Care has a wide range of wild bird food for winter and is encouraging retailers to stock up in anticipation of a surge in buying activity...

Henry Corbett, ChapelWood's brand manager, said: “We all know how harsh our winters can be, which is why it is essential that we provide our wild birds with the food they need to get through the winter.

"Our ranges of high quality foods have been designed to provide the high fat levels that the birds need to maintain their fat reserve - helping them to keep warm in cold temperatures.”

Key wild bird foods available from ChapelWood which are ideal for winter feeding include Woodland Crumble (RRP £3.99 - £24.99) - a delicate blend of wild bird's favourites such as sunflower hearts, mealworms, peanut flour plus much more.

Another energy boosting feed is ChapelWood's Mealworms (RRP £5.99 - £29.99) range, the new Suet Log Feeder (RRP £4.99) and Suet Logs (6 pack RRP £2.99)  and Suet Stars (3 pack RRP £2.99).

The Finest High Energy, No Mess (RRP £6.99 - £29.99) range does exactly what the label suggests, and is suitable for a wide variety of birds.

ChapelWood's bird food, feeders and accessories are available from a range of retailers, including all good garden centres and pet retailers.

To find out more visit www.chapelwoodwildlife.co.uk or call 01905 791984.