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Archive for January, 2009

Top Ten Dog Breeds In The UK

Thursday, January 29th, 2009

The top ten dog breeds for 2008; have basically stayed the same from 2007, but there have been some breeds what have fallen and risen.

The breeds what have risen are…

  • German Shepherd at 4th but was at 5th in 2007
  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel at 5th but was at 6th in 2007
  • Boxer at 9th but was at 10th in 2007

The breeds what have fallen are…

  • Staffordshire Bull Terrier at 6th but was at 4th in 2007
  • West Highland White Terrier at 10th but was at 9th in 2007

Here is the full list of the most popular dog breeds for 2008. This list will show you the top breeds which was registered and received by the Kennel Club.

   Dog breeds                      Number of breeds registered in 2008

 

 
1 Retriever (Labrador)                 45,233

 2 Spaniel (Cocker)                     22,508

3 Spaniel (English Springer)                14,899

4 German Shepherd Dog (Alsatian)             11,903

5 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel              11,226

6 Staffordshire Bull Terrier              10,744

7 Retriever (Golden)              9,159

8 Border Terrier         9,145

9 Boxer           7,353

10 West Highland White Terrier         7,330

 

The rest of the dog breeds what are in the top twenty are as follows…

 

11 Shih Tzu               5,495

12 Miniature Schnauzer           5,333

13 Lhasa Apso          5,117

14 Bulldog           4,543

15 Pug           4,480

16 Yorkshire Terrier          3,951

17 Whippet                3,328

18 Bull Terrier                2,922

19 Bichon Frise               2,757

20 Rottweiler                2,631

The Ultimate Pet Show

Thursday, January 22nd, 2009

Watch out pet lovers, there is a new pet show at the NEC in Birmingham, and it is called The Ultimate Pet Show.

Heres what the website says on what kind of stuff there will be…

  • Talks and workshops with expert advice and celebrity speakers led by ‘TV vet’ Marc Abraham, all taking place at the Jollyes LifeStage
  • One-to-one access to our expert panels of vets, trainers, breeders and pet-care specialists 
  • Pet grooming showcases and classes 
  • ‘Catwalk’ fashion for four-legged friends and their owners 
  • Exercise and agility classes and demonstrations 
  • An Animal Adventure Area – with all kinds of animal themed activities and an opportunity to meet some cute and cuddly and weird and wonderful pets 
  • Animal Adoption Area – both for domestic pets and for animals in need of support who are not so close to home 
  • Pet Point Information Centre – offering a wealth of essential pet care advice and hosted by leading pet care organisations including the PDSA 
  •  lots, lots more…. Plus you can also meet celebrity pet owners and their (sometimes equally as famous!) pets!

Not enough? Well they have big sponsors like James Wellbeloved and Jollyes Pet Superstores.

An Important Change to Argos Pet Insurance

Saturday, January 17th, 2009

From 17th January 2009 Argos Pet Insurance will be underwritten by a new insurer – Agria International Forsakring AB. From this date all new policies and those renewing will be insured by Agria rather than the current insurer AXA Insurance.

Bolton, UK (PRWEB) January 17, 2009 — Agria is a relatively new name in the UK, so we thought you might appreciate some further information about this change.

Who are Agria International?
Agria International is a part of Agria Djurförsäkring, the number one pet insurer in Sweden. Both companies are subsidiaries of the leading insurance group in Sweden, the Länsforsäkringar Alliance.

Agria first started offering animal insurance in Sweden in 1890 so have over 100 years experience in this specialist area.

They now operate in six European Countries.

They bought UK Based company PetPartners in 2007 and have started to underwrite a number of leading brands for pet insurance in the UK.

Why has Argos changed from AXA Insurance?
The Pet Insurance market is changing as insurance companies get more experience of the level of claims being made by customers. More sophisticated treatments are becoming available and the cost of treatment is increasing. This is putting pressure on insurers to raise their prices.
Some companies, like AXA, offer pet insurance as part of a wide range of other insurance products, others like Agria concentrate on a specialist area.
Argos felt that a change of insurer would benefit our customers in the long run, as a specialist pet insurer underwriting our product could help limit proposed price increases.

What difference does this make to customers?
There will be no noticeable difference to customers. The Argos pet insurance product remains unchanged with the same benefits and features as before. There is also no change in our policy towards payment of claims and our call centre remains the same and is based in the UK.

What if I have any questions about this?
For enquiries about this change please call our Product team on 01908 296621 – for a pet insurance quote or further information about our insurance please call 0800 422 0380.

Economic Downturn Hits Our Pets

Tuesday, January 13th, 2009

The figures released by the Blue Cross for last year show that sadly our beloved pets are having bad times as well and the future does not look bright at all.

The Blue Cross said that they had an huge increase of 50% in 2008 from the previous year, that shows that more animals were being took in to the Blue Cross animal adoption centres. Some of the reasons were that pet owners lost their jobs or because they were forced to move house.

Also applications for the Blue Cross veterinary care fund (the veterinary care fund helps pet owners who can not afford to pay for essential treatment) have more than doubled in the last year. Over £340,000 was used to help pet owners who are on benefits or on a pension to pay for essential treatment for their pets. A further 65,000 consultations at the Blue Cross charity animal hospitals and vetenery clinics. Kim Hamilton (Blue Cross Chief Executive) said “Theses figures suggest that sadly our pets are starting to hit hard times, along with much of the rest of the country, pets and their owners will need our support more than ever this year 2009 and we will be pulling out all the stops to help them.”

For 2009 it does not look any better but the Blue Cross and other Charities are braced to help even more animals. Here is some other figures you might want to know.

Key Blue Cross achievements during 2008 are:

  • More than 5,500 unwanted and homeless pets and horses taken in
  • Over 5,300 animals found permanent, loving new homes
  • Carried out over 65,000 consultations at its animal hospitals and vet clinics
  • Provided grants to help a further 3,000 pets receive vital treatment from their own vet

The Blue Cross is one of Britain’s oldest animal charities, but it receives no government funding so it relies on the support of the general public to help the animals in its care. For more information on supporting The Blue Cross, please visit www.bluecross.co.uk

Winners of the 5th Annual Top Ten Dog Products of the Year Awards Were Officially Announced Today by PupLife.com

Tuesday, January 13th, 2009

Fennville, MI (PRWEB) January 13, 2009 — Winners of the 5th Annual Top Ten Dog Products of the Year were officially announced today by PupLife.com. Now celebrating its fifth year, PupLife.com’s much anticipated Top Ten Dog Products of the Year gives special recognition to the best of the best. PupLife.com selected its Top Ten Dog Products for 2008 based on a number of factors including customer feeback, product consistency and performance, innovative design and overall sales.

PupLife.com President, Eric Houtkooper said, “PupLife.com prides itself on the fact that we only carry the finest dog supplies available. We search far and wide for the healthiest, safest, highest quality dog products and only the best are selected for inclusion on the site. For every item that we add to our selection, hundreds are turned down. For a dog product to make the cut, we think it has to be pretty special.”

And now, here are PupLife.com’s 5th Annual Top Ten Dog Products of the Year:

Lupine Dog Collars
Lupine® dog collars are stylish, functional and extremely durable. In fact, Lupine collars are guaranteed for life – even if chewed. If your pooch destroys a Lupine collar, simply mail it back to Lupine’s headquarters and they will send you a free replacement! Matching Lupine Dog Leashes and Dog Harnesses are available for all Lupine patterns, and Lupine even makes wonderful Martingale Collars for Greyhounds and other dogs that can back out of regular collars.

Manners Minder Remote Dog Training System
We love the Manners Minder Remote Reward Training System developed by world renown behaviorist, Dr. Sophia Yin. The Manners Minder Remote Reward Training System can help you train your dog to behave appropriately — not with punishment but with positive reinforcement!

Nina Ottosson’s Puzzle Toys for Dogs
Nina Ottosson’s interactive puzzle toys enhance canine problem solving skills and provide stimulating activity for dogs of all ages. These unique wooden puzzles are designed to enrich your dog’s mind and foster a stronger bond between you and your pet. Nina Ottosson’s puzzle toys for dogs (The Brick, The Tornado & Dog Smart) will revolutionize the way you play with your pet and provide a positive outlet for your dog’s energy and intellect.

West Paw Eco Slumber Dog Bed
The West Paw Eco Slumber Dog Bed is the ultimate in earth-friendly design. Your pooch will sleep in eco heaven in this super comfy, earth-friendly pet bed. The Eco Slumber dog bed combines eco fabric, made with 85% recycled IntelliLoft™ fibers and then filled with our 100% recycled IntelliLoft™ fiber fill.

Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Raw Dog Food – Keen
A nutritious raw dog food diet can be wonderful for your pet’s health and well-being. Honest Kitchen’s line of dehydrated raw dog foods offer the performance of raw dog food without all of the preparation hassles. Specially formulated for gluten-senstive dogs, Keen combines the wholesomeness of a home made diet with the convenience of an easy-to-prepare, scientifically balanced blend.

Red Dingo Stainless Steel Dog ID Tags
Attaching dog tags to your pet’s favorite collars is the best protection you have against losing your pet. Red Dingo Dog Tags are made from durable enamel and stainless steel, so you can trust them to protect your pet when you need them. These designer inspired dog tags come in a variety of fun patterns and colors. Plus, custom engraving is FREE!

Tazlab Joshua Tree Healing Pet Salve
Developed by rock climbers in the Mojave Desert, this healing salve contains a potent blend of antibiotic and healing herbs in a beeswax base. 100% organic and petroleum free. This unique formula effectively treats your pet’s cracked paw pads, abraded pads caused by urban dwelling, dermatitis, pink ear, pruritus. It is wonderful!

Stella & Chewy’s All Natural Dog Treats – Carnivore Kisses
These delicious freeze-dried treats can be given whole as a training reward, or crumbled over food at mealtimes for added flavor and nutrition. These all-natural, all-meat treats contain no preservatives, no dyes or colorings, and no sugar or salt. Carnivore Kisses are perfect for travel or training. They come in a screw-top plastic jar for easy storage and should be kept in a cool, dry place. Available in four awesome flavors: Turkey Tidbits, Angus Beef, White Meat Chicken or Grass-Fed Bison.

New York Dog Carriers
New York Dog makes luxurious dog carriers that are simply charming. With a multitude of styles and patterns to choose from, New York Dog certainly has the perfect carrier for your precious pet. Our favorites include their glamorous Hollywood Dog Carrier, the versatile faux suede Croco Dog Carrier and the popular Westport Dog Carrier. A PupLife.com favorite!

Dynamic Accents Dog Gates
Dynamic Accents’ beautiful hardwood gate construction is top notch and the hands only operation means no tools are required. They are gorgeous, durable and they fold away for easy storage when not in use. They also make amazing dog toy boxes!

A list of the winners along with pictures and descriptions can be found online at
PupLife.com.

All products are available for purchase. For more information, contact Leslie Hayes-Houtkooper at 773-620-0050 or visit PupLife.com.

Man Assaults A Dog And Only Gets Banned For 1 Year

Wednesday, January 7th, 2009

A man gets a American Bulldog (called Bronx) drunk and then beats him with a broken chair leg.

The man is the first person in britain to be convicted of getting a dog drunk. “Bronx” was forced to drink lagar and vodka in his bowl, soon after the horrible man viciously hits him, however after this terrible act of cruelty, the man ONLY received a ONE year ban from keeping a “warm blooded mammal” and 150 hours of community service.

Lucky “Bronx” is expected to make a full recovery and hopefully he will be re-homed in the coming weeks.

Read more info and see some pictures of “Bronx” on Thisisbristol.co.uk

Watch Out For Specially Stickered Bags From Science Plan

Tuesday, January 6th, 2009

If you buy Science Plan from your local pet shop or vet clinic, watch out for the special stickers as they have a special code what can be activated on their website and then they will donate £2 to the Blue Cross. So keep an eye out for the stickers on science plan bags, so you can help our animal friends at the Blue Cross.

Remember this promotion ends on the 31st March 2009

A really Good Post on Why to Adopt an Adult Dog

Thursday, January 1st, 2009

Here is a really good post by funstufffordogs about 10 reasons why you should adopt an adult dog, rather than a puppy.