NEW PRODUCT – SUPER PREMIUM ADULT GRAIN AND CEREAL FREE DUCK AND POTATO

Super Premium Adult Grain and Cereal Free Duck and Potato

A single source, cereal and grain free food, ideal for any dogs that have shown an allergy to more traditional foods

Analysis: Protein 26%, Oil 12%, Fibre 4%, Ash 10%

  • 12 KG Bag available now at £36.99
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FLYBALL

About Flyball…one of the most rapidly growing dog sports in the world.

Flyball is one of the most rapidly growing dog sports in the world, and involves teams of four dogs racing over jumps to retrieve a ball from a mechanically triggered box. The sport is getting faster and faster, with the current UK record for four dogs traversing the 102ft course is 16.60 seconds. All breeds and sizes of dog can take part, and it isn’t just border collies, as proved by the winner of the Flyball Fever Singles 2009 being a crossbreed measuring 16″ to the shoulder (running a very impressive 3.95 seconds!). In 2009, over 2000 dogs competed under the British Flyball Association, and to date there are over 6000 registered dogs, with these figures often not including starter dogs and those currently completing their training.

Flyball started as a dog sport in the late 1960′s and early 1970′s, in Southern California. Dog trainers started to combine scent hurdle racing with the dogs bringing back a tennis ball to the finish line to give their dog’s variety and more fun. Then a tennis ball-launching apparatus was added and the first flyball box was born. Herbert Wagner is credited with making the first real flyball box, and he also demonstrated flyball on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. The first Flyball tournament was held in 1983 in the USA.

Flyball has now expanded into many countries including Australia, Canada and South Africa, and is big in Europe where National flyball tournaments are held and also annual European championships. The European championships were held in Britain in 2007, the Czech Republic in 2008 and Belgium in 2009.

Flyball provides an entertaining and active way to interact with your dog and other dog enthusiasts in an environment that is fun while allowing the dogs exercise and enjoyment. It is an especially effective way to burn off the energy of dogs with a high drive to work such as Border Collies and Terriers.

A large part of flyball’s popularity stems from the fact that it is one of the competition activities available to mixed breed dogs allowing even rescued dogs and non pedigree dogs to shine alongside with purebred canines. Dogs earn titles and awards based on points earned by their team in racing.

Throughout the year, there are tournaments up and down the country; sometimes as many as five on a single weekend in the summer. Owners travel for many hours with their dogs to compete and will devote numerous hours to training to get their dogs fit and racing their best and in top condition. Our recommended food of choice for Flyball dogs is Working Dog – Chicken with Garlic and Herbs as it is higher in fats and carbohydrates to give the dogs the sustained energy they need for this demanding and competitive sport along with garlic and herbs for easy digestibility.

Many dogs will also compete in other sports, such as agility, obedience, Dash ‘n’ Splash and working trials.

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NATURAL DOG FOOD FOR STRONG TEETH AND GUMS

Statistics show that by the age of two many dogs have some kind of gum disease. Doggy breath is not natural and is an indication that things are not as they should be. Gingivitis, the inflammation of the edge of the gums, is caused by the build up of plaque, a tacky bacterium. If plaque is allowed to build up the bacteria it contains attacks the gums and the gums will eventually begin to recede. The result, if allowed to continue, can be periodontitis and in extreme cases teeth can be lost.

Disease forming bacteria can also accumulate within tartar which forms from layers of plaque that have built up and, because of the components of saliva, have become hardened.

The most effective way of minimising the risk of gum disease and poor teeth is to feed a premium complete dry dog food. Not all dry foods are suitable as most of the inferior brands contain cheep ingredients and crumble quite easily when chewed. If fed a premium complete dry dog food from puppy hood teeth will constantly be scrubbed clean and it will be hard for plaque to build up. Treats can be fed but should be of the same high quality as the food. Try feeding a raw bone with meat on it every now and then, your dog will enjoy pulling off the cartilage and ligaments, and it will give his teeth and jaws a good workout. Never feed cooked bones (including those sold in pet shops) as these can splinter, causing problems, and fracture teeth

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Complete Dry Dog Food Explained

The ingredients listed on the dog food label must be listed in descending order by weight before cooking. This means that the ingredient still contains all of its water.
Canned wet dog food contains around 60 – 90% moisture. More wet food needs to be fed to provide the same amount of protein or fat than dry food because of the high moisture content. Often the ‘meaty chunks’ in wet food are not meat at all but a mixture of ingredients bound together with wheat gluten then made into chunks to look like meat. Animal by-products including spinal cords and brains are also sometimes included in wet food formulations.

Owners who feed a raw food diet are trying to imitate what the wolf or ancestor to the dog would have eaten in the wild. The problem with this, however, is that there is a high risk of food-borne illnesses to the dog and indeed the owner who prepares and handles the meat. No scientific studies have been conducted to support the claims made regarding this type of diet.

The raw food diet is also not complete. By making a kill in the wild the wolf would eat the fur, skin, muscle, fat and stomach contents, usually vegetation in origin. Although dogs are classified as carnivores they are not obligate carnivores (like cats) and through thousands of years of breeding by humans require a well-balanced diet.

Complete dry dog foods made into kibble contain around 6 – 10% moisture by volume. Dry complete dog foods tend to be made using meat meals or a mixture of mainly meal and some regular meat mixed with grain, fat, fibers, vitamins and minerals. The meat listed on the ingredient label as meat or fresh meat has, by way of the cooking process, been turned into a type of meal anyway. Not much regular meat can be included in dry complete dog food formulations because it is too high in moisture.

Meals are much higher in protein because most of the water has been removed. For example, chicken meat contains around 70% water with a protein content of 18% and a fat content of 5%. Chicken meal, on the other hand, has been carefully dried to contain around 10% moisture. It has a concentrated protein content of 65% with a fat content of 12%. Meal is made by cooking the ingredient in a large vat. This process allows the fat and water to separate and kills bacteria, parasites, viruses and other organisms.

To make complete dry dog food all the ingredients are mixed together and passed through a cooker called an extruder. The extruder cooks in a similar way to a pressure cooker by heat and steam. The kibble is formed by passing the cooked mixture through cutters then drying it. The end product, the complete dry dog food, is an affordable and convenient way of feeding the dog.
The ingredients on the label must be listed in descending order by weight before cooking. This means before all of the moisture is removed from the meat, fruits, vegetables and other ingredients used.

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A practical guide to dog claw cutting

Your dog’s claws, just like your own nails, continually grow and therefore need attention. Although walking on hard surfaces wares down the claw they will still require cutting on a regular basis. Leaving the claws long can cause pain in toes, pads and legs, and could result in ingrown claws, splitting and infection.

When is attention necessary?

The following are good indicators that your dog’s claws need cutting:-

  • Does the claw touch the ground when the dog is standing?
  • Is the claw well over the pad?
  • Can you hear the claws on hard surfaces?
  • Is there a long part of claw after the quick?
  • Is there any splitting to the claw?

Your dog’s back claws usually require less trimming than the front. Unless your dog has had them removed remember to cut the dew claws which wear out less and are often longer than any of the other claws.

DIY Claw cutting Whether you choose to cut your dog’s claws yourself or go to the groomers/vets is your choice. Cutting light coloured claws is much easier than cutting dark claws as you can quite clearly see the quick (the blood vessels and nerves of the claw).

Equipment necessary for home cutting includes:-

  • Guillotine or scissor action cutters
  • Styptic pencil or styptic powder
  • file

Try to cut the claw just after the quick, roughly 2mm, and file the edges smooth.

Position your cutters and without your dog moving cut in one steady motion. Have some treats handy to give after each claw is successfully cut but stop if your dog becomes fractious and continue another day. If your dog’s claws have grown too long trim them a little each week as this will help the quick recede. Then you will be able to resume monthly sessions.

 It can be difficult to see the quick in dark claws. However, by wetting the nails the quick sometimes becomes more visible, or by shinning a torch from underneath the claw or looking at the claw from the underside. Cut dark claws in small stages and look for a black dot in the middle of the cut claw. Once you see this stop as this is the start of the quick.

Should you cut the nail too short and it starts to bleed use your styptic pencil or styptic powder to stop the blood flow, or hold the end of the claw tightly with a cotton pad/tissue. At the most it will bleed for a few minutes then heal itself. Apply a little purple spray or other animal antiseptic if you become concerned over infection.

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2012 Newsletter – Number One

Happy New Year to you all !!  Many thanks for your custom throughout 2011 and we hope to provide you with an improved level of service throughout 2012.  We have a lot of great information for you in this edition and we would welcome you feedback on any of the articles.

 New Products

Lamb and Rice with Verm-X

Verm-X – A natural internal parasite control

Regularly worming our dogs is something we sometimes over-look or gets forgotten about with the busy lifestyles which we lead.  Verm-X is a natural internal parasite control and has been available for some years and has proven to be very successful.  In fact some of you may use Verm-X already or have seen it for sale at your local pet store.

Kent Premium can now offer a Lamb and Rice food with Verm-X incorporated.  It is available in a 12 Kilo Bag at a price of £35.99.

New Zealand 100% Natural Treats

Check out the attached flyer on our new range of New Zealand 100% Natural Treats !!

Customer Feedback / Comments

All my dogs are happily eating the new Salmon and Potato with Allergy-X and with 2 fussy food pickers that is no mean feat. One of them spent the first week looking suspiciously at his bowl for the first five minutes but soon gobbled it all.  Everyone else loved it from the first mouthful.  As yet the only issue with all three of the sensitive tummied dogs is some wind from the terrier, but alas it is Christmas and he has been fed more treats than usual in a bid to keep him happy around visitors.  All in all I am a very happy dog mommy and I have a pack of dogs who love their new food.  Thank you very much.  Marie-Claire – Maidstone, Kent

 OK, I fed all 3 of my dogs the food, all enjoyed it very much, Bella my working cocker did have a bad Ear when I started and by the end of a week it was all clear, she was not on any antibiotics. Their stools were non smelling and firm.
They did not scratch as much and Bella has a skin condition as well.  So over all I thought the food was fantastic and will recommend it.  Also for the cats they loved their new food – had non smelly litter trays whilst on the food, I have already recommended the cat food to my friend who will be grateful for samples she has 5 cats. Leslie – East Grinstead

 Flatulence – A Note from the Nutritionist

A few reasons why flatulence may occur:

***A sudden change in food without a gradual change over sometimes causes digestive upset. This impacts the bacteria in the intestinal tract and colon.

***Certain dogs have particular sensitivities to ingredients in their food, but these ingredients are known to be problematic and are not present in most of our foods. However it is important to remember that if the dog receives table scraps or snacks – it could be these as well.
***Flatulence can also occur when a dog wolfs down his food. If he eats too fast, he may swallow air that will eventually have to find its way out.
News and Reviews

Compostable Bags

In line with our desire to be as green as practicable, we are now providing all our food in compostable bags – this means you can dispose of them on your compost heap!!.

 Bag Sizes

You may have noticed that more and more Dog Food Bags, particularly some of the well known brands are going from 15 kilo to 12 kilo bags.  This is mainly due to a new EU Health and Safety requirement.  Before long we will have to supply all our food in 12 Kilo Bags.  At the moment only our new products will go in to 12 Kilo Bags i.e. Lamb and Rice with Verm-X and Salmon and Potato with Allergy-X.  All other bags remain in 15 Kilo bags until we are no longer allowed to supply them.  We’ll keep you posted!

 Bath Time!!

So your dog has just been for a lovely long romp but come back ponging, or just needs a bath because it’s been a while. Here are some helpful bath time tips:-

• Most dogs aren’t that keen on baths so get everything you need ready in advance: pet shampoo, jug, bath mat, towels and a hair dryer (if they are ok with them).

• Decide the best area for the bath, your bath or kitchen sink, depending on the dog’s size. Remember they can slip in the bath just like us so make sure to use a rubber mat.

• Place a towel ready for the exit on the floor.
• If your dog isn’t covered in mud then a brush first might help.

• Don’t attempt this in your best clothes; there will be lots of splashes!

• If you have a hand shower attachment turn it on and regulate the water to a nice warm gentle flow. If not, fill your bath/sink with enough warm water to go roughly half way up your dog’s legs then turn the taps off.

• Pick up your dog (this might be a two people job) and put him in. Don’t make a fuss and be ready to hold him in place. Give him lots of praise and encouragement, what a brave dog!

• While keeping one hand on him for reassurance pick up your shower/jug with the other.

• Wet him all over but avoid his face, even if it needs cleaning. Most dogs will shake straight away if they get water in their eyes or ears so leave this area till last.

• Give him a good clean with the shampoo, following the manufacturer’s instructions

. • Rinse him with your shower/jug making sure to remove all the shampoo. Now clean his face but be ready for that shake, if he hasn’t done it already!
• Let your dog out onto the towel on the floor and quickly place another one over him. Hopefully he will shake now and most of the water will be caught by the towel.

• Give him a good rub, for a larger dog you will probably need several towels.

• If he’s ok with a hairdryer use it, some dogs can become quite chilled after a bath and some go a little nuts trying to dry themselves on your furniture and curtains.

• After a final brush give him a treat, what a good dog!

All the very best for 2012

Monique, Willow, Skye, Summer and Daisy

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November / December Newsletter

Hi and Welcome to our December / November Newsletter.  We have some really interesting information for you this month – and of course with Christmas / New Year holidays upon us we can help you stock up with dog food for the holiday season. Stock up before the SNOW! See the attached Flyer with full details!!

Customer Feedback / Comments

We have several customers currently trialling our new Salmon and Potato with Allergy-X formulated food.  We will bring you findings as soon as possible.  Initial findings are very exciting.

Exciting New Food

Salmon and Potato with Allergy-X

The Mill has incorporated Allergy-X into a new Salmon and Potato Food – formulated without beef, pork, lamb, chicken, soya, dairy, eggs, yeast and there is no added wheat – in fact no cereals or grains of any kind.

Allergy-X has been specially developed to meet the demand from customers for a completely natural allergy control.  The blend of herbs has been found to eradicate many allergies suffered by dogs such as itching, hair loss and mucky ears, often resolving problems where chemical treatments have failed. The Allergy-X formula is manufactured to the highest standards from unadulterated, non-GM, natural ingredients and acknowledged by the Soil Association for use on organic farms. Normal Recommended Price 12 Kilo Bag is £35.99 – Introductory Offer for this new ‘Kid on the Block!!’ Discount Code: ALLX1211 – 15% Discount

 

November Show Sponsorship

South of England Gun Dog Show – 19TH November at Ardingly.  Come and visit us at our Stand. 

Southern English Setter Society Show Champ Show – 20th November in Tadley, Hampshire.  .  We look forward to seeing you at the Show.

 

News and Reviews

CANINE CARERSWhat would happen if you suddenly became incapacitated?  So you’ve broken your leg and can’t get out.  Yes there are very trustworthy walkers out there, but not all of us can foot that length of bill and they don’t feed, let the dog out at night, groom etc.  Not such a problem when there are others in the household, but for those of us who live alone without a nearby support network - what would we do?  As dog owners we have a duty of care to our pets and should have a plan in place to ensure they are properly looked after should we become unexpectedly incapacitated.  Leave a paper copy of the plan in a highly visible place, such as under a fridge magnet on the fridge or on the notice board, so that in the event of an accident it can be easily found.  Your plan should include:

  • The dog’s name, age, colouring and any distinguishing marks (particularly important should you own more than one dog) – you may like to include a photo.
  • What/where his feed is, how often/what time he is fed and how much.  Include the importance of available fresh drinking water and where his bowl is located.
  • Does he get walked and for how long, where can his lead be found.
  • Where he stays when in the house alone.
  • His vet details and whether he is micro chipped
  • Remember to include the contact details of your canine Carer.

 

It may be wise to appoint short term and long term carers.  Give short term carers all necessary important information regarding your pet and make sure they can afford food and any necessary vet bills / medicines.  Keep a card in your bag or wallet should you be involved in an accident stating that you have animals at home and the contact details of your canine Carer.  If your dogs travel in the car with you – attach a card to their crate or dog guard with your canine carers contact details and assurance of payment should the animals need to be taken to a vets and or kennels.

For anyone who has no carer in place – Dogs Trust has a free service, the Canine Care Card, whereby the owners register with them and in the event of an emergency the charity will take the dog in and do all they can to find a new loving home.  They promise never to put down a healthy dog.

You may wish to consider short term carers for the long term role or you may have other people in mind.  Long term carers may have to care for your pet for many years, if not the rest of their lives, so finding the right match is crucial:

  • Although the potential carer is willing to look after your dog can they do so responsibly?
  • Are their house and / or lifestyle appropriate for your dog?
  • Do they have children and / or other pets and can your dog live with them?
  • Watch them interact with your dog – do they genuinely like him, do they understand the essentials of leadership, could they form a bond with your dog?
  • Does your dog seem happy to be with this person?

In legal terms animals are considered inanimate possessions and are treated the same should you die without leaving a will or making provisions.  Formalise and draw up an agreement with your appointed long term canine carers.  If you have more than one dog state who is taking which dog.  Although these people are probably friends or family having everything in place will be helpful during an upsetting time.

The Cinnamon Trust is a UK charity devoted to the terminally ill and older people continuing to live with their pets.  They have volunteers who will help out, and should a residential or nursing home become necessary, a register of those who accept residents and their pets.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT!

New Zealand 100% Natural Treats

We are in the process of revamping our stocks of New Zealand Treats – some will goL but we have some great new onesJ! Coming soon!!

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Our New Exciting Product – Salmon and Potato with Allergy-X

Kent Premium Dog Food Supplies  is very excited to be offering a new revolutionary dog food product – Salmon and Potato with Allergy-X.

Formulated with an intelligent blend of hydrolysed fish, fish meal and fish oil to help promote digestibility and support a hypoallergenic response.  Formulated without beef, pork, lamb, chicken, soya, dairy, eggs, yeast and there is no added wheat! In fact it is formulated without any cereals or grains of any kind, using hypoallergenic potato and pea as a source of vegetable carbohydrates.  Contains Allergy-X – a unique blend of herbs which may help alleviate ‘allergic signs such as itching, hair loss and mucky ears’.

Give me a call today and we can answer any of the questions you may have.  In this months newsletter we have feedback from Breeders and dog owners who have been trialling the food.  Subscribe today.

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INTRODUCTION OF AN EXCELLENT QUALITY WILD BIRD FOOD

Along with my passion for dogs I have a passion for Wild Birds and it really excites me to see our feathered friends in our gardens.  Its something that really brings me joy.  I’m very pleased to say that I have nutured a family of blue tits in my garden over the last few years and they now return every spring to nest.  It really is something to see!

In keeping with our commitment of providing quality products for animals, we have chosen a top quality Wild Bird Food in CJs.

CJs are passionate about the quality of their products.  Many of their food ingredients are human grade quality – the best available.  CJ Wildlife mixes contain energy-giving foods the birds love; and food mixes are not bulked out with low cereals that tend to get discarded and made a mess.

The CJ Wildlife range of seed mixes, seeds, peanuts and peanut cakes provide garden birds with a supply of food rich in the calories and oils they need to get through the harsh winter and spring breeding season.  To help you select the most energy-rich food for their garden birds, CJs food bags all feature the calorie content on the front.

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******LOST DOG IN THE LINGFIELD, SURREY AREA ******

We have learn’t today through Dawn Allen at Four Positive Paws, East Grinstead that a little dog called Linda has gone missing from Lingfield, Surrey.  She is a rescue from Spain and was being fostered by a familiy in Lingfield.  Linda had only been with them a few days.  Linda jumped a high wall from her garden on Monday 3rd Oct.   Could all dog owners whilst out walking their dogs in the Lingfield, Edenbridge, East Grinstead, Felbridge areas please keep your eyes peeled.  Below is a link that gives you a picture of Linda and a few details of where people have been looking and a progress report on how the search is going.   Lets hope Linda is found soon safe and well!!

http://www.doglost.co.uk/dog_blog.php?dogId=33192

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