Eileen Jones, Founder & Rescue Coordinator of Friends of Animals Wales, will be on the stand each day. Friends of Animals Wales is run solely by volunteers and they work around the clock to make a difference to the animals who may not have had a good start in life. Find out more about the charity at https://friendsofanimalswales.org.uk/

Thursday 5th March – Toy & Utility

ORIJEN brand ambassadors Elsa & Buffy travel the length and breadth of Great Britain visiting dog-friendly places and sharing ORIJEN treats along the way.

Friday 6th March – Gundogs

Laura Hill, of Stauntonvale Labradors, will be on stand with Field Trial Champion Moose. Laura has qualified for the IGL Retriever Championships more than ten times since 2009, with six different dogs. In 2019, the Kennel Club presented Laura with the Hanlye Trophy for breeding the highest scoring Retriever in Field Trials and also the Gavosie Trophy for the top female handler 2018/19.

Springer Spaniel Max, along with partners in crime Paddy and Harry, plus owner Kerry will be joining us on the stand to kick-off the launch of Kerry’s first book ‘Max the Miracle Dog: The Heart-warming Tale of a Life-saving Friendship’. With over 100,000 followers on Facebook, these boys have fans all over the world!

Saturday 7th March – Working & Pastoral

Get your own ‘pawtographed’ copy of ‘Max the Miracle Dog; The Heart-warming Tale of a Life-saving Friendship’.

After a car accident, Kerry developed severe depression, suffering from panic attacks and even thoughts of suicide until he met Max the Springer Spaniel. Max, along with fellow spaniels Paddy and Harry, have now gained over thousands of followers on Facebook, a commendation from the PDSA, raised over £127,000 for various charities and, in 2019, Max received an invitation to Buckingham Palace.

Sunday 10th March – Terrier & Hound

Meet Cara, a Belgian Mallinois who is part of the UK International Search & Rescue Team (ISAR). She’ll be on the stand along with her handler Mick, from The West Midland Fire Service, to showcase just what it takes to help in the rescue of people involved in major natural and man-made emergencies.

We are busy preparing for another year at Crufts and excited to let you know what will be happening on our stand. If you are attending, please do come and find us in Hall 3, Stand 52. We will be running some great competitions to win a stay in the Lake District with your dog AND vouchers for a dog-friendly break away with ‘Stay in a Pub’. We also have some exciting guests for you to meet on the stand.

Eileen Jones, Founder & Rescue Coordinator of Friends of Animals Wales, will also be on the stand each day. Friends of Animals Wales is run solely by volunteers and they work around the clock to make a difference to the animals who may not have had a good start in life.

Kerry Irving, owner of ACANA ambassadors Max, Paddy and Harry, experienced the intense connection that people can have with their pets in periods of crisis. A road traffic accident in 2006 left Kerry virtually housebound, in chronic pain, on a huge amount of medication and, at times, suicidal.

“When I was at my lowest point, I met Max and there was something very special about him. We immediately gelled and getting out to walk him, even if it was just to the end of the road and back, helped me.” Max was instrumental to Kerry’s recovery, and he credits his canine companion with helping him to get his life back on track, inspiring him to retrain as a locksmith where Max could join him at work each day.

A keen photographer, Kerry set up a Facebook page to document Max living life to the full in the beautiful Lake District. Since then, Paddy and Harry have joined the family and the Facebook page now has over 80,000 followers. It’s not just Kerry for whom the dogs have provided comfort and inspiration. Their Facebook fans regularly comment on the effect that the posts of Max, Paddy and Harry have on them and remark that the videos and photographs brighten their day. Kerry says: “I am full of gratitude to my dogs for helping me and intensely proud of the positive impact they have on people they meet along the way.”

Max is a registered therapy dog and in 2018, Max and Paddy were awarded a PDSA commendation for providing support in recovery and enriching the lives of many others. In 2019 Max and Paddy, along with Kerry, made an appearance on ITV’s Top 100 dogs. Later in the year, Max and Kerry were invited to the Buckingham Palace Garden Party as a result of the work that they do raising awareness of mental health issues. They also had the pleasure of being presented to HRH Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on a recent visit to Keswick as part of the 20^th anniversary celebrations of the Cumbria Community Foundation.

As well as plenty of fresh air and exercise, Kerry also focuses on giving his dogs the best nutrition to fuel their active life. Max’s food of choice is ACANA Wild Prairie 70/30 featuring meat protein from free-run chicken and turkey plus cage-free eggs. Paddy is fed on ACANA Sports and Agility, which is packed with 75% meat from flounder, free-run chicken and cage-free eggs plus fruit and vegetables to power him for activity and endurance. Little Harry is thriving on ACANA Puppy and Junior; it’s free of grains and fast carbohydrates such as rice, tapioca or potato, but rich in meat proteins to promote his peak development and conditioning. For treats, Kerry rewards the dogs with ACANA Yorkshire Pork, Grass-Fed Lamb or Free Run Duck Treats.

Find out more about Max, Paddy and Harry on Facebook, Instagram or on their Blog.

Prize draw terms and conditions

The promoter is Bern Pet Foods Ltd, whose registered office is Bancroft House, 10 Bancroft Road, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 7RP.

• These competitions are free-to-enter prize draws and winners will be chosen at random after Crufts 2019 from all valid entries submitted.
• Entry to the prize draw is restricted to one entry per person per competition, multiple entries will be disqualified.
• No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.
• The prize draws are strictly open only to those in attendance at Crufts between 7^th and 10^th March 2019 and will run exclusively on the ORIJEN stand in Hall 3, Stand 52.
• All entrants must be over the age of 18.
• The draws will take place on Wednesday 13^th March, and winners will be notified by Friday 15^th
• The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered in to.
• Winners will be contacted via email or phone.
• Prizes can only be sent to a valid UK address unless otherwise stated.
• No cash alternative or other alternative prize will be available on entrants’ request.
• Bern Pet Foods Ltd reserve the right to amend these rules at any time. Entry in this free prize draw implies acceptance of these rules.
• Bern Pet Foods Ltd, will not pass your details to any third party without your prior consent.
• By entering these competitions, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions
• This prize is for two adults and one dog only.
• The winners will stay at Inn on the Square in Keswich for two nights 16^th and 17^th Dinner, bed and breakfast is provided as part of this prize.
• All entrants need to confirm that they are available to take up this prize during the weekend of 16^th to 18^th August 2019. If no confirmation of availability is stated, the judges reserve the right to withdraw the entry from the competition.
• The winners will need to make their own travel arrangements to and from The Lake District at their own expense.

Representing your country may be the pinnacle of sporting achievement, but it isn’t only the preserve of humans – there are plenty of opportunities for animals to fly the flag in international competitions too. It’s always exciting watching these athletes perform at the highest level, and that’s why we were delighted when we heard that Laura Hill of Stauntonvale Gundogs and her Labrador Kitty were selected to compete for the England gundog team this season. Laura has been feeding her award-winning team ACANA for a number of years now, so we caught up with her after a busy summer of training and competing to find out what being selected means.

What is the England gundog team?

Each year a team of top handlers and their dogs are chosen to represent England in three major international competitions spread throughout the year. The team comprises both Labrador Retriever and Spaniel breeds.

Who is eligible to be selected?

Anyone who has a proven track record in competition, and who has won at least one award in a Field Trial, is eligible. Candidates are invited to a rigorous selection day in April, where they are tested across a variety of challenging scenarios. Handlers need to demonstrate that they and their dog can cope with demanding situations.

How long does it take to train a dog to that standard?

It takes several years to train a successful competition gundog, and it is often the more experienced dogs that fare better with the distracting ‘grandstand’ environments where these events take place. But it is not only about the dog. The handler needs to have the mental fortitude to think on their feet too and react quickly under the spotlight.

How has your training of the dogs developed over the years?

Being a breeder, as well as a trainer, has allowed my own ‘house style’ to develop over the years. I am breeding intelligent, biddable and stylish dogs with the required amount of drive, and this makes my job as a trainer easier. It helps to have the best ‘starting material’. In addition, I have developed a very thoughtful approach to training the dog in front of me, analysing how they are learning and adapting to their individual needs.

What role does nutrition play in the dogs’ development and progress?

Nutrition has a very important part to play in success at this level. In any sporting endeavour ‘food is fuel’ but it is also a whole lot more than that. Producing a dog that can compete at the top level requires ensuring they have the right food to complement their training and performance.

My three building blocks for success are: breeding, training, feeding. You need to get all three right. Correct nutrition supports the needs of working gundogs and keeps them at their peak in physical and mental fitness.

What advice would you give someone wanting to start training gun dogs for competitions?

For those wishing to compete with their dog I would recommend paying attention to the basics – heelwork and obedience. These are the foundation for all gundog work,  and if this is not ‘rock solid’ it is hard to advance to the higher levels. Finding a good trainer, not only with a proven track record themselves but who is a good communicator, will also be invaluable to help you along your journey.

Well done Laura and Kitty!

A huge thank you to everyone who came and visited us at Crufts 2018, we had a great time. We were joined by so many amazing people and dogs, we loved meeting everyone!

A huge thank you to all our guests on the stand, on Thursday Kai and Cara visited the stand with their owners, Mat Dixon (Kai) and Mick Attwood (Cara). Kai is part of the Search Dog Team for West Midlands Fire service. Cara is the Urban Search and Rescue Dog for Midlands Fire service, Cara and Mick are part of the Technical Rescue Unit. We were also joined by Keith Burns and Hood who is a working prison dog from the Isle of Man.

Max & Paddy had a great time on Friday and Saturday along with owner Kerry, we had so many fans come and see the bouncy boys including Radzi from Blue Peter. It was a lot of fun, Max & Paddy were worn out by the end of it but it was amazing to see so many happy faces and wagging tails!

For the final day of Crufts on the Sunday Laura Hill & Moose from the Stauntonvale Gundogs came on the stand. Laura showed us his retrieving skills and Moose enjoyed all the tasty ORIJEN & ACANA treats.

We would love to see you at one of our shows this year, below is a list of all the exhibitions we will be at so please do make sure you come by and say hello.

Dog Shows
Crufts Event – 8th – 11th March (NEC Birmingham) Official Crufts Sponsor
BBC Countryfile Live – 2nd – 5th August (Oxfordshire Blenheim Palace)
Discover Dogs – 20th – 21st October (ExCel London)

Cat Shows
Surrey & Sussex Cat Show – 17/03/2018
Preston and Blackpool Cat Club Show – 24/03/2018
Midland Counties Cat Show – 05/05/2018
Bristol Cat Show – 02/06/2018
Eastern Counties – 14/07/2018
Humberside & Lincolnshire Cat Club – 28/07/2018
Chester Cat Show – 11/08/2018
Somerset Cat Show – 08/09/2018
Kentish Cat Society – 20/10/2018
Supreme Cat Show – 27/10/2018
Yorkshire Cat Show – 10/11/2018
National Cat Show – 08/12/2018

Trade Shows
PATS Sandown – 22nd – 23rd March (Sandown Park, Surrey)
PATS Telford – 23rd – 24th September (Telford International Centre)

If you have any questions about any of these events we are attending please email us on marketing@bernpetfoods.co.uk or call 01737 767679

We’ve got so an action packed schedule this year at Crufts 2018! ORIJEN are official sponsors of Crufts 2018. If you are attending, then please come and visit us in Hall 3, Stand 52 at the NEC, Birmingham 8th-11th March.

We will have some great offers to share with you and a chance to meet some of our amazing ambassadors.

We kick off Crufts 2018, on Thursday 8^th March joined by Hood the hard-working Prison Dog and owner Keith Burns. Handsome Hood will be showing us his super skills which he uses to keeps the prison safe.

On Friday 9th & Saturday 10th March, your chance to meet canine stars and  ACANA Ambassadors Max & Paddy with owner Kerry who recently featured on ITV’s Favourite 100 Walks & The One Show. Come and see their impressive ‘flapometers’ in person!

On the final day of Crufts, Sunday 11th March,  England Gundog team member Laura Hill will be joining us with Moose who has just completed a first successful season as one of Laura’s trialling dogs. Laura will be on hand to discuss the qualities needed in a potential gundog and to help answer any questions on competing in Gundog Field Trials and Working Tests

Not only that we’re also on the hunt for our new ORIJEN dog Ambassador, come to the ORIJEN stand and fill in an entry form! Full terms & conditions can be found here.

We look forward to seeing you!

We are delighted to confirm that ORIJEN UK & Ireland are official sponsors of Crufts 2018. If you are attending, then please come and visit us in Hall 3, Stand 52 at the NEC, Birmingham 8-11th March. We have some amazing offers available on both ORIJEN & ACANA dog foods and treats that you don’t want to miss!

If you’re not going but want to, make sure you keep an eye out on our ORIJEN & ACANA Facebook pages as we will be giving away a number of one-day Crufts tickets!

You can also enter our free prize draw to win a year’s supply of ORIJEN Original Dog Food. You can enter online via this link, or you can come and visit us on our stand and complete your details on one of the iPads.

We’ve got lots going on this year so make sure you keep up to date by following our social media sites to see who will be joining us throughout Crufts 2018.