The Tailchaser Times

r e s a h c l i a T Times

The

The official

magazine

to Issue 1 • February

June 2017

John Burns chews the fat The truth about tea cup dogs & pet obesity

A day in the life of a Burns Nutritionist

Meet Scotland’s

Adventure

Dog

He’s taking the Highlands by storm

Rise

of the cat café

Japan’s popular feline craze is gaining UK momentum.

!

N I W a Furbo g (it’s a treat-tossin a) er m dog ca

Feed your dog a healthy diet without breaking the bank.

Large

Feed a 10kg dog from as little as...

per day

GB Burns Original Chicken & Brown Rice Composition : Brown Rice (67%), Chicken Meal (20%), Oats, Peas, Chicken Oil, Sunflower Oil, Seaweed, Vitamins & Minerals.

Burns food is intended to ensure good health in all ages and breeds of adult dogs. This variety is also approved as a DIETETIC FOOD for the nutritional management of:

Analytical Constituents : Crude Protein 18.5%, Crude Oils & Fats 7.5%, Crude Fibre 2.2%, Crude Ash 6%, Copper 18mg/kg, Sodium 0.13%, Calcium 1.15%, Phosphorus 0.70%, Magnesium 0.10%, Potassium 0.32%, Sulphur 0.27%, Chloride 0.20%, Essential Fatty Acids 2.09%.

Nutritional Additives : Vit A 25,000 iu/kg, Vit D3 2,000 iu/Kg, Vit E 100 iu/Kg, Calcium Iodate Anhydrous 1.5mg/kg, Cupric Sulphate Pentahydrate 55mg/kg, Sodium Selenite 0.6 mg/kg, Ferrous Sulphate Monohydrate 160mg/kg, Manganous Sulphate Monohydrate 100mg/kg, Zinc Sulphate Monohydrate 130mg/kg

The reduction of ingredient and nutrient intolerances.

I Burns Original Pollo e Riso Integrale

The support of skin function in case of dermatosis and excessive loss of hair.

Ingredienti : Riso integrale (67%), farina di pollo (20%), avena, piselli, olio di pollo, olio di semi di girasole, alghe marine, vitamine e minerali.

The compensation for maldigestion.

Tenori analitici : Proteine grezze 18,5%, olii e grassi grezzi 7,5%, fibre grezze 2,2%, ceneri gregge 6%, rame 18mg/kg, sodio 0,13%, calcio 1,15%, fosforo 0,70%, magnesio 0,10%, acidi grassi essenziali 2,09%, potassio 0,32%, zolfo 0,27%, cloruro 0,20%.

Additivi Nutrizionali : Vit A 25,000 UI/kg, Vit D3 2,000 UI/kg, Vit E 100 UI/kg, iodato di calcio anidro 1,5 mg/kg, selenito di sodio 0,6 mg/kg, solfato di ferro monoidrato 160mg/kg, solfato rameico pentaidrato 55mg/kg, solfato manganoso monoidrato 100mg/kg, solfato di zinco monoidrato 130mg/kg.

The regulation of lipid metabolism in case of hyperlipidaemia.

hy life healt a long n for tritio ral nu Natu

F Burns Original Poulet et Riz complet Composition : Riz complet (67%), Farine de poulet (20%), Petits pois, Huile de poulet, Huile de tournesol, Algues, Vitamines et Minéraux.

Constituants Analytiques : Protéines Brutes 18,5%, Matières Grasses Brutes 7,5%, Fibres Brutes 2,2%, Cendres Brutes 6%, Cuivre 18mg/kg, Sodium 0,13%, Calcium 1,15%, Phosphore 0,70%, Magnésium 0,10%, Acides gras essentiels 2,09%, Potassium 0,32%, Soufre 0,27%, Chlorure 0,20%.

Additifs Nutritionnels : Vit A 25,000 UI/kg, Vit D3 2,000 UI/kg, Vit E 100 UI/kg, Iodate de Calcium Anhydre 1,5 mg/kg, Sélénite de Sodium 0,6 mg/kg, Sulfate Ferreux Monohydraté 160mg/kg, Sulfate de Cuivre Pentahydraté 55mg/kg, Sulfate Manganeux Monohydraté 100mg/kg, Sulfate de Zinc Monohydraté 130mg/kg

The support of liver function in case of chronic liver insufficiency.

Suitable for the support of renal function in case of chronic renal insufficiency and reduction of struvite stone recurrence if fed in conjunction with Burns Hypo - Allergenic Mixer.

Please contact our nutritionists for more information.

Our team of nutrition experts can help you get the best results from Burns. Whether you need in-depth advice on managing specific health problems or simply fine tuning feeding amounts, Burns has the experience and knowledge to help.

D Burns Original Huhn & Brauner Reis Ein Komplettfutter für ausgewachsene und ältere Hunde aller Rassen.

Inhaltsstoffe : Brauner Reis (67%), Hühnermehl (20%), Hafer, Erbsen, Hühneröl, Sonnenblumenöl, Seetang, Vitamine & Mineralstoffe.

Nutrition Helpline : 0800 083 66 96

Analytische Bestandteile : Rohprotein 18,5%, Rohöle und -fette 7,5%, Rohfaser 2,2%, Rohasche 6%, Kupfer 18mg/kg, Natrium 0,13%, Kalzium 1,15%, Phosphor 0,70%, Magnesium 0,10%, essenzielle Fettsäuren 2,09%, Kalium 0,32%, Schwefel 0,27%, Chlorid 0,20%.

Email : info@burnspet.co.uk

Zusatzstoffe : Vit. A 25,000 IE/kg, Vit. D3 2,000 IE/kg, Vit. E 100 IE/kg, Calciumjodat wasserfrei 1,5 mg/kg, Natriumselenit 0,6 mg/kg, Eisensulfat Monohydrat 160mg/kg, Kupfersulfat Pentahydrat 55mg/kg, Mangansulfat Monohydrat 100mg/kg, Zinksulfat Monohydrat 130mg/kg.

We recommend that a Veterinary Surgeon’s opinion be sought on how to best manage the above conditions.

E Burns Original de pollo y arroz integral Ingredientes: Arroz integral (67%), pasta de pollo (20%), guisantes, avena, grasa de pollo, aceite de girasol, algas marinas, vitaminas y minerales.

HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYAll Breeds.

PO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALAdult • Senior LERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • Chicken & Oats VITAMINS • AGOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAgreat source of soluble fibre making it ideal for overweight dogs Low Glycaemic Index making it ideal for diabetic dogs MINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • Contains everything needed for health & wellbeing and nothing else!

GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODGet in touch, we’d love to hear from you...

NESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALHealthy Hypo-Allergenic Healthy Naturally Higher in Análisis del producto: Proteínas 18,5%, Grasas 7,5%, Fibra 2,2%, Ceniza 6%, Cobre 18mg/kg, Sodio 0,13%, Calcio 1,15%, Fósforo 0,7%, Magnesio 0,1%, Ácidos grasos esenciales 2,09%, Potasio 0,32%, Sulfitos 0,27%, Sales 0,2%.

Aditivos Nutricionales: Vit A 25,000 ui/kg, Vit D3 2,000 ui/kg, Vit E 100 ui/kg, Yodato de cálcico anhidro 1,5mg/kg, Selenito de sodio 0,6mg/kg, Sulfato ferroso monohidratado 160mg/kg, Sulfato cúprico pentahidratado 55mg/kg, Sulfato manganoso monohidratado 100mg/kg, Sulfato de zinc monohidratado 130mg/kg.

Indicazioni per l’uso. Rations quotidiennes approximatives.

Tägliche Futtermenge. Indicaciones para la alimentación.

gr/giorno. g/jour. g/Tag. g/día

Anziano. Senior. Älterer Hund. Senior

20 - 40g 40 - 80g 80 - 160g 160 - 240g 240 - 320g 320 - 400g

Email : info@burnspet.co.uk www.burnspet.co.uk burnspet.co.uk/facebook burnspet.co.uk/twitter burnspet.co.uk/youtube Burns Pet Nutrition Ltd, Ferry Rd, Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, SA17 5EJ

WEIGHT CONTROL+

Skin & Coat

Digestion

Natural Fibre

Delicious

Feed a 20kg dog from as little as...

& Complete

LERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NAT7.5kg URAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • 7.5kg VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • meals VITAMINS • GOODNESS • SCAN ME

Medium

Small

We offer naturally delicious goodness from 33p per day.

75

per day

*

Feed a 30kg dog from as little as...

Developed by Veterinary Surgeon

per day

BVMS MRCVS

Free Nutrition Helpline 0800 083 66 96

www.burnspet.co.uk *Feeding cost may vary depending on breed and bag size

welcome!

John Burns (and Gregory!)

We’re thrilled to share the first issue of The Tailchaser Times with you.

From our innovative Burns By Your Side project (page 26) to home-grown events, there’s so much more to Burns than selling pet food so what better way to share our news than with a quarterly publication?

This issue, we discovered new ways to bond with animals, interviewed Scotland’s cutest adventure dog and chewed the fat on pet obesity.

We also quizzed our in-house photographer on taking the perfect pet picture, featured winter recipes from our talented chef and found out what a day in the life of a nutritionist entails.

And last but not least, we asked our chosen charities of the year to share their stories with us.

We hope you enjoy the first edition of our quarterly magazine.

Inside this issue: 04. Powered by Burns Hall of Fame 08. John Burns Chews the Fat! 14. Scotland’s Adventure Dog 18. The UK’s top 10 Dog Breeds 22. Pet Photography: top tips!

The humans behind The Tailchaser Times: Editor: Rosella Pollard Art Director: Alistair Corbett Words & images: John Burns, Wendy Richmond, Leon Burns, Rowan Flindall-Shayle, Paul Brett , Alistair Corbett, and Laura Crotch-Harvey

Follow us: Instagram.com/burnspet Facebook.com/burnspet Twitter.com/burnspetfood Get featured: #PoweredByBurns #AliveandWoofing

Contact us:

Marketing@burnspet.co.uk

BVMS MRCVS

Burns Pet Nutrition Ltd, Ferry Road, Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, Wales, SA17 5EJ

HEALTH & WELLBEING

#PoweredByBurns

! e m a f l l Ha of

Does your prized pet deserve a place in Vanity Fur?

Zac

Make like the pupparazzi and send in your best animal snaps to be featured in the Burns hall of fame.

Archie

Zac is a Burns sponsored Sheltie.

This picture was taken after he won the British Agility Championships in November. What a hero!

- Sent in by Bernadette Bay

Sooty

“This is 6 year old Archie. He has lost lots of weight and is now down to 21kg thanks to Burns Weight Control.”

- Sent in by Amy Bright-Smith

“My two elderly cats, Tom and Sooty, both powered by Burns and doing well”

- Sent in by Lauraine Clarke

Tom 4 • burnspet.co.uk

HEALTH & WELLBEING

“George was my first ever dog and he’s a wonderfully nutty boy. He’s very OCD, but we love him for it. Bosley has been blind from birth and since this picture he’s had to have one of his eyes removed…He’s such a sweetheart. Finally we have Maggie, she’s a sweet ball of fluff with a giant heart.”

- Sent in by Jenny Clark

(Left to right):

George,Bosley and Maggie

Scruff

Marley

“Whether kibble or his favourite lamb and rice pouches, my 6 year old whippet Marley eats nothing but Burns.”

“This is Scruff, she is a 5 year old crossbree d and is pictured with her Burns frisbees.”

- Sent in by Sarah Gibbs

- Sent in by Heather Scott

For a chance to be featured in the next issue, send in your pawfect snaps to: marketing@burnspet.co.uk Don’t forget you can also be featured on our social media channels!

Here’s how...

Instagram and Twitter: Use the #PoweredByBurns hashtag when you post.

Send us a private message or publish your pet on our Facebook page.

burnspet.co.uk •

5

HEALTH & WELLBEING

How many times a day should I feed my dog?

This is a question we’re often asked here at Burns. In fact, we get over 4,000 hits a month from people typing this query into Google!

With this in mind, we thought the question deserved it’s very own feature in our magazine. So, let’s get cracking...

In general the overall daily amount of food is most important for the health of your dog but there are circumstances where you might need to adjust the number of meals per day. It does depend on the individual needs of your dog and lifestyle – our Nutrition Team are always happy to help!

Free feeding Free feeding is when the dog eats as much as he wants from a regularly topped up bowl, grazing throughout the day. As well as causing digestive upset and fussiness, dogs allowed to eat as much as they like can also become overweight which can lead to associated problems such as diabetes, arthritis and heart disease.

However, some dogs (like people) seem to be able to eat and eat and never gain weight.

It may appear that they are perfectly healthy but these dogs are often passing most of what they are eating resulting in huge, smelly (and often runny) stools that the owner has to pick up.

Allowing your pet to pick all day means that at proper meal times when fresh food is offered, he or she is simply not hungry anymore.

6 • burnspet.co.uk

In puppies, free feeding can allow the pup to eat much more than they need. Again this may result in digestive problems but more seriously it can cause rapid growth.

Growing too quickly can lead to joint problems later in life; this is especially a problem with the larger breeds.

Free feeding is therefore usually only recommended for elderly underweight dogs that need to increase their calorie intake.

Puppies As puppies grow and develop rapidly, they need more food than adult dogs (per kg of body weight) to sustain this growth.

However, their bowels are not yet strong enough to cope with larger amounts of food and so offer smaller meals 3-4 meals a day from weaning and reduce this as they get older.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Allowing your pet to pick all day means that at proper meal times when fresh food is offered, he or she is simply not hungry anymore.

Behaviourists have suggested that some of the ‘naughty’ behaviour of older puppies could be simply due to hunger. After all, losing concentration and being irritable when hungry is something many of us have experienced! Reducing the daily amount of meals depends on your individual puppy’s growth rate (including if they are currently going through a spurt) and their breed.

Adult dogs Most adult dogs are fed once or twice a day. However, again there is no set rule here. For example, a working dog will need to be fed more than once in 24 hours for blood-sugar level control and to keep their energy up, whereas one meal a day is fine for a very fussy dog that isn’t food motivated.

For larger, deep-chested breeds, at least two meals a day is recommended as one large meal is more difficult to digest and could cause bloating.

Smaller more frequent meals are recommended for certain disease conditions and digestive upset, as they are easier to digest. They are also of benefit to dogs with liver disease and are more likely to be tolerated by dogs which are poorly and feeling nauseous.

Elderly dogs Elderly dogs are usually less active and often require fewer calories, so you can either reduce the amount of food you feed or change to our lower calorie food, such as Burns Weight Control+.

However, some very old dogs may refuse to eat much, possibly because their sense of smell and taste has declined with age.

Certain diseases e.g. kidney failure can cause appetite suppression too. If an elderly dog eats little and becomes underweight, then persuading them to eat more with small frequent meals or free feeding may be necessary.

Alternatively, changing them to a higher calorie diet, such as Burns Active, may help them gain weight, even if eating small amounts.

An increased appetite has also been reported in older dogs. If underlying diseases such as diabetes have been ruled out then it’s possible that the hunger is due to other causes.

Theories include side-effects from medication, senility or simply because meal times are the now the highlight of their day.

A higher fibre food such as Burns Weight Control+ can help to satisfy hungry dogs, or giving multiple meals will mean your dog doesn’t have to wait so long in between meals.

For tailored help and advice about feeding your dog or to request a free Burns sample, call our Nutrition Team on 0800 083 6696 or email info@burnspet.co.uk

burnspet.co.uk •

7

HEALTH & WELLBEING

chews the fat!

From worrying teacup trends to the Veterinary elephant in the room, John Burns dissects the pet industries biggest bugbears...

It’s time to stop viewing pets as fashion statements...

When pet ownership collides with the latest fashion, it’s almost always bad news for the animals. And so it is with the latest fad: teacup dogs. The name refers to undersized dogs which are bred to be teacup size and come with an expensive price tag due to their ‘special’ shape. I have several concerns about this: Firstly, fashion is disposable whereas dogs live for a long time. Acquiring a pet should not be part of being fashionable.

Unlike a new handbag or pair of shoes, dogs are not commodities.

Pet owners would expect a dog to be with them a long time but due to the health problems associated with the teacup breeding process, many dogs have a short and troublesome life.

8 • burnspet.co.uk

Breeding a very small dog from a breed which is already tiny is likely to lead to congenital or genetic defects. From low blood sugar to liver shunts, you only have to conduct a quick Google search to be met with a litany of health problems associated with teacup dogs.

Another problem is that trends such as teacup dogs attract corrupt breeders who are more concerned with consumer trends and profit than the welfare of animals.

I would advise anyone who is considering purchasing a teacup Chihuahua, Pomeranian or another breed to stop and think twice.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Pet obesity: the taboo we need to talk about...

We need a new approach based on prevention rather than treatment.

As with most health issues, this is surely the best route.

At the London Vet Show in November I attended a lecture titled ‘Obesity - are we [the veterinary practice] wasting our time?’

The speaker was Dr Alex German, Reader in Small Animal Medicine at Liverpool Veterinary School.

As the title of his talk suggests, longterm success in weight management is challenging. Studies suggest that 40% of dogs and 55% of cats fail to meet the target weight. Longer term studies show that 48% of dogs and 46% of cats regain weight.

Despite the facts, the subject is rarely raised in veterinary consultations; excess weight is just too touchy. There’s no profit in making your clients feel guilty.

A second point that Dr German made was that society tends to be amused, indulgent or even mocking of overweight people or animals in a way we would never do if someone has cancer, or diabetes, heart disease, kidney failure, etc. Obesity is a serious illness and should be viewed as such.

Dr German suggests that we need a new approach based on prevention rather than treatment. As with most health issues, this is surely the best route. Monitoring puppies’ weight as they grow to early adulthood can avoid the problem of excess and nip it in the bud. This is an opportunity and responsibility for pet owners and health professionals alike; health management is a lifetime process.

Some of you may remember that a few years ago, Hills Pet Nutrition complained to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) that Burns feeding amounts were too low. I suspect Hills’ thinking was that Burns was too economical for their liking. I explained

to the ASA that we had been using the same feeding amounts for nearly twenty years with excellent results and that no pet owner had complained. I also pointed out that there was an epidemic of fat dogs, due mainly to overfeeding. Despite that, the ASA upheld Hills’ complaint and I decided to change nothing.

A few months later in 2013, FEDIAF, the umbrella organisation of the European Pet Food Industry (www.fediaf.org) produced new reduced feeding guidelines for pets and highlighted yet again the problem of overweight pets. “For humans, the WHO considers obesity as one of the greatest public health challenges of the 21st century.

The trend is not limited to humans, as an increasing percentage of cats and dogs are

either overweight or obese. To promote good pet nutrition, Fediaf developed with the advice of independent scientists from across Europe an updated version of the Nutritional Guidelines Cats and Dogs with a special attention addressing pet obesity.”

I would like to say that I am preaching to the converted and that pets which are fed on Burns don’t suffer from excess weight. After all, Burns foods are designed to promote all-round, holistic health and that includes ensuring the optimum weight.

Unfortunately, I’ve seen plenty of overweight Burns-fed pets. The biggest problem is consistent overfeeding. Too many treats plus insufficient exercise make up the cocktail which can undo the benefits of the food itself.

burnspet.co.uk •

9

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

The rise of the

UK Cat Café If your chance of cat companionship has been thwarted in the past by an urban postcode or demanding job, you’ll be pleased to know that the times are changing.

Being a city slicker no longer means you have to forego your love of felines. Enter the cat café.

10 • burnspet.co.uk

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

The cat café concept originated in Japan in 1998 and has been gaining global popularity ever since. Today, Tokyo alone boasts 58 while the US, Canada and the UK are slowly catching up.

For those who are unable to own a pet, the cat café environment enables humans to bond with animals in an informal setting.

How does it work?

Most cat cafes work on an appointment basis to ensure that the animals don’t get stressed by too many visitors. At The Cat Café in Manchester, customers pay for the time they spend with animals which works out as £12 per hour including beverages.

Is there anything similar out there for dog lovers?

How are the cats cared for?

Although called cafés, the establishments are set up to resemble domestic home environments and members of staff are present during the evening to keep the cats company.

Many of the businesses work with animal rescue centres to give cats a forever home. However, rescue cats with a traumatic past will never be forced into this environment. In addition, cat cafes tend to give a percentage of their profits to animal charities.

Dog cafés are yet to reach the UK, but an app called Borrow My Doggy (www.borrowmydoggy.com) connects over 300,000 UK dog owners with dog lovers.

Both owners and borrowers pay a membership fee and once they are approved they are able to form relationships. Borrowers could simply meet up for a welcome woof or, once a relationship has been forged, care for a dog during holidays or work trips.

The idea isn’t to take away the responsibility of pet ownership, but instead to offer dogs extra love and attention.

d one?

Where canchesI fin ter, there are From Edinburgh to Man a number of cat cafés in the UK...

1. Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium

52-154 Bethnal Green Rd, Shoreditch, London, E2 6DG Ladydinahs.com

2. The Cat Café 103 High St, Manchester, M4 1HQ, Catcafe.co.uk

3. Kitty Café

4

5

4. Maison de Moggy 17 West Port, Edinburgh, Scotland, Maisondemoggy.com

5. Mog on the Tyne 24 Pudding Chare, Newcastle upon Tyne, Mogonthetyne.com

2

3 1

31-37 Friar Lane, Nottingham, Kittycafe.co.uk

burnspet.co.uk •

11

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Lynsey’s

Winter Warmers

We’re lucky enough to have an in-house chef at Burns who is on hand to rustle up homemade (human) food.

Lynsey Ciano...

If you were on death row, what would your last meal be?

Come lunchtime you’ll find the staff of head office feasting on seasonal 5-a-day salads and wholesome stews, not to mention peanut butter cheesecakes and the best Welsh cakes ever (seriously, they’re good).

An Italian feast with lots of red wine!

Lynsey’s food is so tasty we thought it deserved a place in our humble magazine. Delve into the following winter warmers.

If I wasn’t a chef I’d love to be an…

If you could have dinner with anyone alive or dead, who would you invite?

George Clooney and Jason Statham

Air hostess to see the world!

Bone appetite!

Classic butternut squash soup...

This is a low-fat weekday winner that’s surprisingly filling. Bulk it out with a wedge of granary bread and a sprinkle of cheese.

Ingredients Preparation time: 45 minutes to 1 hour Serves:4 • 1 butternut squash • 1 large onion • Knob of butter • 850ml vegetable stock • Salt and pepper • Parsley (optional)

Instructions 1. Deseed and dice the butternut squash into small pieces. Chop the onion finely.

2. Fry the onions in butter on a medium heat using a heavy duty saucepan.

3. After 5 minutes add the squash and the vegetable stock.

4. Bring to the boil and leave to simmer for 20-25 minutes.

5. Use a handheld blender to blitz the soup until smooth.

6. Season and serve.

12 • burnspet.co.uk

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Instructions

Welsh Cawl with a twist...

Traditionally, cawl is served with lamb but the beef produces a stronger flavour. Although it requires little attention, this is the kind of dish that will simmer away all day, so accompany the cooking with a good book!

Ingredients

1. Fill a heavy-duty saucepan with the beef.

2. Add 500ml boiling water and put the saucepan on a medium heat.

3. Add 1 stock cube.

4. Boil for 4 hours or until tender, checking occasionally.

5. Skim off the fat using a fine mesh skimmer.

6. Add swede to the pan and boil for 20 minutes.

7. Add the carrots, parsnips and potatoes and boil for a further 20 minutes.

8. Add the leeks for 10 minutes.

9. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Preparation time: 5 hours Serves:4 • 500g beef • 4 carrots • 1 swede • 4 potatoes • 1 parsnip • 2 leeks • 500ml vegetable stock • Parsley (optional)

burnspet.co.uk •

13

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Meet Scotland’s Adventure Dog

Terry the Lakeland Terrier Whether he’s scampering to the summit of awe-inspiring mountains, leaping across sandy beaches (A.K.A the fun zone) or hanging out in his human’s backpack, Terry the Lakeland is a bona fide adventure dog.

We caught up with Terry’s Dad, Paul, to find out more about their Scottish escapades...

14 • burnspet.co.uk

How did you meet Terry?

Terry came into our lives in the summer of 2013. After a long search to find a Lakeland Terrier, we found a breeder in Rochdale outside Manchester. We met Terry and his siblings and biological parents that day. We could tell that Terry was going to be a hardy brave wee dog straight away - he jumped in the car without hesitation and was raring to go to his new home in Edinburgh!

Where is your favourite place to explore?

Our favourite place to walk and hike is Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands. Terry has done all the major mountains in the area several times and we are currently working on a children’s book based on his adventures.

What has been your best adventure with Terry?

Our greatest adventure to date has been an amazing cloud inversion on our favourite mountain Buachaille Etive Mor, Glencoe. We climbed the hill opposite for a possible sunrise but also got an amazing cloud inversion. This was an incredible sight to witness.

What tips would you give to fellow dog owners who want to bring their dogs on adventures?

For people wanting advice on taking dogs to the mountains, I’d recommend purchasing a nice long lead, particularly if your recall skills aren’t great. Terry likes to chase mountain hares and also deer.

“We could tell that Terry was going to be a hardy, brave wee dog straight away.”

Also, be prepared for all weather conditions and have plenty of food and water for your dog and yourself.

What’s in store for 2017?

For the coming year we hope to finish Terry’s book and to continue our mountain adventures.

Follow Terry

Instagram.com/Terrythelakeland

burnspet.co.uk •

15

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

! t a e r t te p ano B p with the am sc ur yo oil sp , ies or ss ce ac to s et dg ga From most sought after dog gifts...

Andrew James 6 Day Pet Feeder £29.99 • www.andrewjamesworldwide.com This nifty device can be programmed to feed a dog for up to 6 days. This means even if you entrust a close friend or family member to look after Lassie while you’re away, they won’t have to worry about feeding amounts and your pets routine won’t be disturbed.

Dog lounger (Japan Waves) £80 - £180 • www.wildmanor.com

Handmade by craftsmen in Great Britain, Ralph&Co claim to make the “world’s best dog bed.”

These stylish beds are water repellent, made with comfy memory foam and available in 10 stylish designs. Best of all, for every bed purchased, the company will donate another to a pooch in need.

Memory foam dog bed £69.99 • www.greatbeanbags.com

Treat them to a bean bag bed fit for Barkingham Palace. Featuring a chew-proof soft fabric and an insert that moulds to their shape, they might finally stay off the sofa.

16 • burnspet.co.uk

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Shed the flubber!

Designed to help dogs reach and maintain a healthy weight, Burns Weight Control is a complete dry food containing all the essential nutrients a dog needs to thrive. Naturally delicious and hypoallergenic, the Weight Control recipe contains whole grain oats which are high in fibre ensuring that dogs feel fuller for longer.

Chicken & Brown Rice

ken Meal (20%), Oats, Peas, Chicken Oil, Sunflower Oil,

Burns food is intended to ensure good health in all ages and breeds of adult dogs. This variety is also approved as a DIETETIC FOOD for the nutritional management of:

in 18.5%, Crude Oils & Fats 7.5%, Crude Fibre 2.2%, um 0.13%, Calcium 1.15%, Phosphorus 0.70%, ulphur 0.27%, Chloride 0.20%, Essential Fatty Acids 2.09%.

/kg, Vit D3 2,000 iu/Kg, Vit E 100 iu/Kg, Calcium Iodate Pentahydrate 55mg/kg, Sodium Selenite 0.6 mg/kg, /kg, Manganous Sulphate Monohydrate 100mg/kg,

The reduction of ingredient and nutrient intolerances.

o e Riso Integrale

The support of skin function in case of dermatosis and excessive loss of hair.

na di pollo (20%), avena, piselli, olio di pollo, itamine e minerali.

kg, Vit D3 2,000 UI/kg, Vit E 100 UI/kg, nito di sodio 0,6 mg/kg, solfato di ferro monoidrato o 55mg/kg, solfato manganoso monoidrato 100mg/kg, .

The regulation of lipid metabolism in case of hyperlipidaemia.

y life ealth ng h r a lo ion fo it tr u ral n Natu

ulet et Riz complet

ne de poulet (20%), Petits pois, Huile de poulet, Huile de ux.

Brutes 18,5%, Matières Grasses Brutes 7,5%, Fibres Brutes g/kg, Sodium 0,13%, Calcium 1,15%, Phosphore 0,70%, els 2,09%, Potassium 0,32%, Soufre 0,27%, Chlorure 0,20%.

UI/kg, Vit D3 2,000 UI/kg, Vit E 100 UI/kg, Iodate de Calcium m 0,6 mg/kg, Sulfate Ferreux Monohydraté 160mg/kg, kg, Sulfate Manganeux Monohydraté 100mg/kg, Sulfate de

The support of liver function in case of chronic liver insufficiency.

Suitable for the support of renal function in case of chronic renal insufficiency and reduction of struvite stone recurrence if fed in conjunction with Burns Hypo - Allergenic Mixer.

For tailored dietary advice, call the Burns nutrition team on freephone number 0800 083 66 96 or Nutrition Helpline : 0800 083 66 96 Email : info@burnspet.co.uk visit www.burnspet.co.uk Please contact our nutritionists for more information.

Our team of nutrition experts can help you get the best results from Burns. Whether you need in-depth advice on managing specific health problems or simply fine tuning feeding amounts, Burns has the experience and knowledge to help.

hn & Brauner Reis

sene und ältere Hunde aller Rassen.

hnermehl (20%), Hafer, Erbsen, Hühneröl, Mineralstoffe.

n 18,5%, Rohöle und -fette 7,5%, Rohfaser 2,2%, Rohasche alzium 1,15%, Phosphor 0,70%, Magnesium 0,10%, ,32%, Schwefel 0,27%, Chlorid 0,20%.

D3 2,000 IE/kg, Vit. E 100 IE/kg, Calciumjodat wasserfrei 1,5 nsulfat Monohydrat 160mg/kg, Kupfersulfat Pentahydrat 00mg/kg, Zinksulfat Monohydrat 130mg/kg.

We recommend that a Veterinary Surgeon’s opinion be sought on how to best manage the above conditions.

pollo y arroz integral

sta de pollo (20%), guisantes, avena, grasa de pollo, aceite minerales.

HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYAll Breeds.

PO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALAdult • Senior LERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • Chicken & Oats VITAMINS • AGOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAgreat source of soluble fibre making it ideal for overweight dogs Low Glycaemic Index making it ideal for diabetic dogs MINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • Contains everything needed for health & wellbeing and nothing else!

GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODove to hear from you...

NESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALHypo-Allergenic Healthy Healthy Naturally Higher in

%, Grasas 7,5%, Fibra 2,2%, Ceniza 6%, Cobre 18mg/kg, %, Magnesio 0,1%, Ácidos grasos esenciales 2,09%, Potasio

Rations quotidiennes approximatives. e. Indicaciones para la alimentación.

gr/giorno. g/jour. g/Tag. g/día

Nutrition Ltd, idwelly, nshire,

20 - 40g 40 - 80g 80 - 160g 160 - 240g 240 - 320g 320 - 400g

WEIGHT CONTROL+

Skin & Coat

Digestion

Natural Fibre

Delicious

They’ll feel like they’re in Vanity Fur in one of these fetching cork collars.

Featuring a soft lining of PU leather and a brass coloured buckle, it’s the ideal gift for a posh pooch. Watch out for the pupparazzi!

& Complete

LERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NAT7.5kg URAL • VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • 7.5kg VITAMINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL • meals VITAMINS • GOODNESS • SCAN ME

o@burnspet.co.uk spet.co.uk co.uk/facebook co.uk/twitter co.uk/youtube

Anziano. Senior. Älterer Hund. Senior

£10 - £14 • (S, M & L) www.xlcork.com

The compensation for maldigestion.

%, olii e grassi grezzi 7,5%, fibre grezze 2,2%, ceneri gregge o 1,15%, fosforo 0,70%, magnesio 0,10%, acidi grassi 0,27%, cloruro 0,20%.

ui/kg, Vit D3 2,000 ui/kg, Vit E 100 ui/kg, Yodato de cálcico 6mg/kg, Sulfato ferroso monohidratado 160mg/kg, Sulfato ato manganoso monohidratado 100mg/kg, Sulfato de zinc

Cork Pet Collar

75

*

Flexi 5 metre lead in pink £30.85 • www.feedem.co.uk

Stripey dog socks £4.95 • (S, M & L) dotcomgiftshop

Keep their paws warm when the weather is not with these super cute dog socks. Whether you’ve got a Border Collie or a Husky, the non-slip grips will ensure that they can Daschund through the snow without hazard.

Furbo dog camera £199 • www.shopus.furbo.com

Ever wondered what your scamp gets up to while you’re away? The creators of Furbo have essentially set up skype for dogs with an innovative twist. Not only can you see and communicate with your dog via the Furbo app, you can also reward them via the built-in treat dispenser. An amazing way to let your pet know you care, no matter where in the world you are.

Does your scamp give you a run for your money during walkies?

Make light work of the daily roam with this super-stretchy lead.

Extending up to 5 metres and able to support a maximum weight of 60kg, playing catch up will become a thing of the past.

N I W A FURBO!

give away to e n o e v a h e W er. to a lucky read ur st a picture of yo How to enter: Po e th edia using dog on social m fing hashtag. oo #AliveandW

to ail your picture Alternatively, em inner w e Th rnspet.co.uk.

Marketing@bu ue iss xt ne r ou d in will be announce . se ur co e du in and notified

burnspet.co.uk •

17

0 1 P O T S D E E R B UK DOG

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

1.

e UK’s most th f o e m o s r e v Disco rn a fun fact a le d n a s d e re b popular dog hool day! c s a ’s y a d ry e v .E about each one

Labrador Labs have webbed toes (perfect for swimming!)

2.

German Shepherd German Shepherds have an average lifespan of 10.95 years

Boxer

3.

The world record for the longest tongue ever recorded on a dog is 43cm (17 in) and belonged to a boxer named Brandy.

4.

Pugs

Pugs are one of the world’s oldest dog breeds and are thought to have been in existence since 400 BC.

18 • burnspet.co.uk

5.

7.

Husky

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Beagle Beagle means “loudmouth” in French!

6.

Golden Retriever Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular assistance dog breeds due to their intelligent and kind demeanour.

During WWII, Husky puppies were employed as search and rescue dogs.

8.

10.

Jack Russell This small terrier can jump up to five feet high!!

9

Cocker . Spaniel

This energetic breed requires at least one hour’s worth of exercise per day.

Yorkshire Terrier Originally bred to kill vermin and also used as effective ratters in the mid-1800s. burnspet.co.uk •

19

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Guess the

dog breed

Think you know your Lhasa Apso from your Maltese?

Have a go at naming the following dog breeds...

(1) Shiba Inu (2) Bichon Frise (3) Kerry Blue Terrier (4) Chow Chow (5) Samoyed (6) Basset Hound (7) Labradoodle (8) Beagle) (9) Shetland Sheepdog

4.

2.

1.

3.

5.

7.

6.

9.

8.

20 • burnspet.co.uk

Winter at Penlan Farm

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

You’ve probably seen the name Penlan Farm used on our moist dog food packaging. It’s where many of the eggs and seasonal vegetables used in the range come from. But did you know that our thriving family farm is also home to fluffy alpacas, travelling wild birds and a host of Welsh mountain sheep?

We asked Farm Manager, Rowan Flindall-Shayle, what agricultural life is like during the cold season…

A

s 2017 begins, winter is in full effect and the team look forward to rare, pleasant spells when they can get on with essential land work.

The cattle have been indoors since the middle of November. We try to keep them outdoors most of the year but they do enjoy being pampered through the worst of the winter; bedded on straw from our own grain crops and munching their way through the mountain of baled haylage we produced last summer.

All last year’s calves have been weaned and their mums are now in calf to our handsome, new Hereford bull, Chief. This will be his first ‘crop’ with us and we are excitedly waiting to see what they will look like.

Our alpacas are tucked up in their winter quarters, safe from the mix of cold, wind and rain. Although alpaca have dense fleeces, they are not waterproof and quickly become chilled and hypothermic. Winter is also the time for head collar and handling training and this year’s trainees are coming on nicely.

We have a flock of free-range hens that still venture out and about most days. They enjoy frost and snow but aren’t so keen on rain. We open up their doors on all but the

worst of days so they can scratch and forage naturally.

Throughout the winter we play host to a flock of Welsh mountain sheep; mostly in-lamb ewes and last year’s lambs which make the most of the lush lowland grass.

Our own small flock are out in force as well, in fields with good natural shelter provided by our carefully managed hedges.

Good hedges are dense and strong with a wide base and good mixture of plants.

As well as providing shelter for livestock, hedges are wildlife highways which offer food and shelter to a broad range of creatures.

Although the livestock are indoors, the fields are far from quiet as this is the time that the wild bird cover areas and wildlife margins come into their own.

Large flocks of overwintering birds have been making use of the seeds and insects in these areas since early November.

Sometimes there are so many birds in one field, when we drive down the farm track it can seem like a scene from a Hitchcock film!

That’s all from the Penlan Pen, what will spring bring?

“Our alpacas are tucked up in their winter quarters, safe from the mix of cold, wind and rain.”

To stay up to date with news from the farm, follow the Penlan Farm Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Burns-Penlan-Farm burnspet.co.uk •

21

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Mastering the art of pet photography!

Anyone who has ever owned a cat or dog will appreciate that capturing them on camera is a total nightmare. No matter how docile Smokey and Max look snuggled on the sofa, as soon as the camera appears they’re bound to morph into lively rascals.

With that said, there are a few tricks of the trade that can help you to take better snaps. We asked our in-house photographer, Alistair Corbett to share his expertise...

2. Let there be light!

1. Tempt them with treats...

The hardest part of pet photography is convincing your scamp to stay still.

Enlist the help of a glamorous assistant to dangle treats in front of your pet.

With any luck, Lassie will be transfixed for long enough to get the shot.

3. Maintain a steady hand...

It might sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people take photos one-handedly and out of focus. Take your time to compose the image properly, focus, and click.

22 • burnspet.co.uk

Blurry photos can often occur from taking photos indoors, in poor light.

To avoid this rookie error, try to take your photos outside in natural light.

#Powered ByBurns Instagram Photo feed!

4.Take the scenic route...

Frame your pet with attractive background scenery. You don’t have to travel the length of Great Britain to do this. Your local park or even a pretty lawn will produce attractive results.

sarah_turner86

Top tip!

If you use a camera that has aperture adjustments, a wide aperture will allow you to ‘blur’ the background to create a pleasing effect (as the photo above). This effect is otherwise known as bokeh. molly_alf_agility

. . . m e h t h t i w 5. Levelke photos of their pets A lot of people ta stinct... from above by in

terrythelakeland

mattihemmings

tter shot ...but you’ll get a much be r level, and if you kneel down to thei e natural the picture will look mor as a result.

bwyk9

ALL ABOUT BURNS

A day in the life of a...

Nutritionist From fussy Lhasa Apsos to demanding office cats, there’s never a dull moment in the nutrition department. Here’s a snapshot of Laura Crotch-Harvey’s working life...

Morning 6.15 Rise and shine.

7.30 Take Amber, my 1 year old Staffie

11.00 Sylvester is free after a battle with a key in a lock so it’s time for a tea break.

Green tea and a piece of banana, hazelnut and chocolate cake baked by a fellow nutritionist.

Cross for her morning walk. The gorgeous Pembrey Country Park is en route to work so we visit most days.

Afternoon

8.45 Arrive at work. We’re lucky enough

and emails from pet owners who are considering changing to Burns. In this instance we’ll ask lots of questions to determine their needs before advising on suitable food and sending out samples. Today we have a rescue dog with digestive problems and a German Shepherd with joint problems.

to have complimentary on-site kennels so Amber is a regular visitor. I fix her breakfast and head to my office.

9.00 The phone calls and emails start

rolling in. Including me there are 5 of us in the nutrition team so we share the workload evenly. So far this morning, we’re dealing with a cat suffering from recurring cystitis, a German Shepherd with a wind problem, an overweight Westie, a greedy Cocker Spaniel and a puppy with tear staining problems.

10.30 Our mischievous office / stray cat Sylvester has got locked in the shed. We hear him meowing and hatch an escape plan.

12.05 We frequently receive calls

13.15 Lunch time! Meal times are legendary at Burns as we have an in-house chef serving all kinds of homemade food for the princely sum of £1. Today it’s a tasty salad buffet. I eat quickly so that I can take Amber for a walk around the grounds and stretch my legs.

14.00 I head to reception to prepare

samples and information packs for the customers I’ve spoken to today.

14.30 Impromptu event brainstorming session with our Farm Manager, Rowan.

As nutritionists, we attend countless events over the year from Crufts to our very own Dogs’ Day Out.

15.40 More calls and live chat enquiries.

A Papillon with a broken jaw, an overweight Lhasa Apso and a fussy kitten!

16.10 Our copywriter pops in to ask for advice regarding an article about caring for cats at Christmas.

16.30 Sylvester slinks in for a treat and

this inspires a conversation about our own pets. Including Amber, between us we have a 14 year old Collie cross Retriever called KT, a rescue crossbreed called Hugo, Indie the Bearded Collie, and a little moggie called Marnie!

17.00 Wrap things up for the day. I make sure Sylvester is fed and watered for the night, fetch Amber and head home.

17.30 Home! Time to tire Amber out with training and play. She’s just completed her beginner’s agility course with Canine Gems Training and a course with Scentwork Wales, she has come a long way since we rescued her 9 months ago.

If I wasn’t a Nutritionist I’d love to be a...

Dressage rider!

If you could have dinner with anyone alive or dead, who would you invite?

David Attenborough, Zara Phillips and Noel Fielding

My all-time favourite meal is...

Spaghetti bolognese. It’s an absolute classic.

24 • burnspet.co.uk

ALL ABOUT BURNS

We’re lucky enough to have complimentary on-site kennels so Amber is a regular visitor.

Laura and her Staffie Cross, Amber burnspet.co.uk •

25

ALL ABOUT BURNS

Making a difference one bag of pet food at a time...

We decided many moons ago to use our profit to help the greater good. We set up The Burns Pet Nutrition Foundation in 2009 to improve the lives of people and pets in the local community and beyond.

Since then we’ve become the first UK pet food business to pay the Living Wage. We have provided free supper to thousands and thousands of dogs across the country and organised fundraising events in Wales and Scotland. In 2016 we invested a considerable amount of money into training, life skills and conservation programmes for young and disadvantaged groups.

26 • burnspet.co.uk

BY YOUR SIDE

Burns By Your Side 2015 marked the inception of our Burns

By Your Side reading dogs scheme.

Literacy is a huge problem in the UK. One in 6 million children struggle to read and 12 million adults have the reading levels of an 11 year old. We want to change this for the next generation by instilling confidence in children and improving literacy skills through the aid of canine companions and their owners.

Reading can be a scary experience for a child, but reading to a dog reduces stress levels and creates an environment where children feel empowered. We launched our reading with dogs scheme at the end of 2015 and to this day the scheme is active in schools across West Wales with more than 25 dogs and their owners helping school children to read and communicate.

www.burnsbyyourside.org

ALL ABOUT BURNS

Cresselly Big Wood Project Investing in youth development is something we feel particularly passionate about at Burns.

After all, young people are the future.

In autumn 2016 we launched The Cresselly Big Wood Project to help future generations gain valuable work experience outside of a mainstream classroom environment.

“In autumn 2016 we launched The Cresselly Big Wood Project to help future generations gain valuable work experience outside of a mainstream classroom environment.”

We teamed up with social enterprise, Down to Earth and invited youth groups to work and study at Cresselly Woods - a traditional mixed woodland which is owned by Burns Pet Nutrition.

Down to Earth delivered an 8 week training programme with a group of students aged 16+ from Pembrokeshire College.

To stay up to date with our work, follow Burns In The Community: www.facebook.com/ burnspetnutritionfoundation

To stay up to date with our work, follow Burns In The Community: www.facebook.com/ burnspetnutritionfoundation

burnspet.co.uk •

27

ALL ABOUT BURNS

The Burns Pet Charity of the Year Programme In 2015, we decided to permanently offer a year’s supply of financial support, pet food and promotion to the UK animal welfare organisations that are most deserving. We called it The Burns Pet Charity of the Year Programme.

Learn about this year’s chosen ones, The National Animal Welfare Trust and Appaws for Autism…

Opening doors for rescued paws...

Not content with being one of the country’s biggest animal welfare charities, The National Animal Welfare Trust recently became the first rescue and rehoming organisation to introduce The Open Paw Programme. We asked CEO Claire Williams to talk us through this radical training scheme for dogs…

When Charlotte Overton and her partner Matt moved from London to Truro, one of the first things they wanted to do was rehome a dog.

What they never expected to find was the perfect pooch of their dreams - a Staffordshire Bull Terrier called Kara.

The young dog was in kennels at the National Animal Welfare Trust’s Cornwall rehoming centre. Kara had been there for about six months; a long time for any dog to be in kennels.

However, like the others at the centre, Kara had been responding well to the introduction of a radical new training scheme called Open Paw. Likened to a “university for dogs” Open Paw helps to reduce the stresses

28 • burnspet.co.uk

of kennel life and shorten the length of time canines like Kara need to spend finding a new home.

The National Animal Welfare Trust is the first rescue and rehoming charity in the UK to introduce the Open Paw programme. Through training and care, staff and volunteers help the animals learn positive behaviours in order to set them up for the rest of their lives.

Charlotte remembers all dogs being calm and open to being greeted by strangers like her on her first visit to the centre. Anyone visiting a NAWT rehoming centre is encouraged to go round the kennels, hand feeding the dogs some kibble as part of their socialisation training.

r Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Kara Matt and Charlotte with thei

The couple’s first meeting with Kara went well. She was calm and relaxed and after a few more visits, Charlotte and Matt were able to take Kara back to live in her new home.

Charlotte believes the Open Paw training has helped the dog get off to a great start. And the waggy-tailed bundle of fun has found the human companionship she so desperately craved when she first arrived in rescue.

This year marks the start of the National Animal Welfare Trust’s next challenge – Open Paw for Cats – aiming to improve the welfare for kitties in care.

ALL ABOUT BURNS

John Burns and NAWT CEO Claire Williams

Open Paw helps to reduce the stresses of kennel life and shorten the length of time canines like Kara need to spend finding a new home.

If you’d like to know more about NAWT, visit www.nawt.org.uk To find what we’re doing to help this amazing organisation, visit www.burnspet.co.uk/burns-pet-charity-of-the-year.html

Could you be our Charity of the Year for 2018? Visit... www.burnspet.co.uk/burns-pet-charity-of-the-year-application.html to apply or nominate a charity by April 3oth 2017.

burnspet.co.uk •

29

ALL ABOUT BURNS

Man’s best friend, at your service...

Despite 1 in 100 people being diagnosed with autism, the level of support available for those in need is limited to say the least.

Carol Chisholm knows this all too well. Frustrated by the quality of services available for her autistic son, Christopher, she decided to set up her own charity and in 2015, Appaws for Autism was born.

The first and only facility in Scotland to provide assistance dogs to individuals with an autism disorder, Appaws for Autism is helping to promote acceptance and awareness of autism in society while supporting families through their journey.

Speaking on the issue, Carol Chisholm said, “It doesn’t matter if you have autism or not, everyone should be free to be themselves. What makes us different from other charities is that we don’t close our doors. We’re available

to offer support 24 hours a day, in fact we often get calls from parents until 3 or 4 in the morning.”

The charity works with partner organisations to re-home animals that have the potential to become therapeutic pets and provide autism training for this process to happen.

An autism specific assistance dog can increase social interaction, confidence and safety.

To find out more about Appaws for Autism or to make a donation visit: www.appawsforautism.org

30 • burnspet.co.uk

at the opening of Carol and Niel Chisholm Burns Pet Nutrition with in Cowdenbeath. tre cen ism Aut for the new Appaws

They can comfort and protect in times of great anxiety or stress and keep a person safe in times of grave danger by alerting, carrying out deep pressure techniques and distraction. Most of all, they provide children and adults with unconditional love and a best friend for life.

Dates Diary

ALL ABOUT BURNS

for the

With 2017 in full swing, we’re busy bees getting ready for events season. From Burns hosted events to national dog shows, find out where we’re popping up this year...

CRUFTS

9-12th March 2017 Birmingham NEC

How could we miss out on the world’s largest dog show?

Crufts has been going for a whopping 125 years and is a must-attend for all pooch lovers. Every pet food manufacturer worth their salt will have a presence here, so bring a backpack to hold all the freebies. Whether you’re gaga for German shepherd’s or crazy about Corgis, you’re bound to spot your breed at Crufts.

Dogs’ Day Out Glamis Sunday 30th July 2017 Glamis, Angus DD8 1RJ

Last year, we launched our first ever Dogs’ Day Out in Scotland and the response was phenomenal. This year we’re hoping the event will be even bigger and better. Expect have-a-go-activities such as Happiest Dog and Canine Singer of the Year, a plethora of independent traders and impressive dog display teams in a most regal setting.

There’s also an altruistic aspect to the event as proceeds from activities and fun shows will go towards animal welfare charities.

Dogs’ Day Out Pembrey

Sunday 10th September 2017 Pembrey Country Park, Pembrey, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire SA16 0EJ3

a stone’s throw away from The original Dogs’ Day Out event, this is particularly special one for us as it is situated legendary and become has event the our head office and farm shop in Carmarthenshire. Now in its 11th year, attracts dog enthusiasts from all over the UK. the scamp spotting. Again, all of Enter your prized pooch into a class, fun dog show or simply spectate and enjoy charities. welfare the proceeds from activities, cake stalls and shows will go towards animal www.facebook.com/burnspet Attending? RSVP by visiting the events section of our Facebook page:

burnspet.co.uk

•

31

D O O F T E P Y H T L A E H , L A NATUR Developed by Veterinary Surgeon

400g

BVMS MRCVS

Penlan Farm r a n g e

BURNS Real Food for Dogs

Developed by a Veterinary Surgeon

Lamb, Vegetables & Brown Rice

PENLAN FARM MOIST FOOD AVAILABLE IN 150G AND 400G POUCHES LOW IN FAT WITH CONTROLLED CALORIE CONTENT NATURALLY DELICIOUS AND HIGHLY DIGESTIBLE HYPO-ALLERGENIC AND COMPLETE

For more information contact our Nutrition Team on 0800 083 66 96

www.burnspet.co.uk

150g