Pooch and Mutt at Crufts: Celebrating the wonderful world of happy, healthy dogs

The theme of Crufts 2009 is happy, healthy dogs. The show takes place at the Birmingham NEC next week, 5-8 March and will showcase a central exhibit where you can gain advice from vets and experts about latest research and knowledge on dog health.

Pooch & Mutt are pleased to be present at Crufts (in hall 4, stand 80) and hope to introduce even more people to the natural way to prevent and treat common dog health problems such as diarrhea, weight loss, joint stiffness and arthritis.

The great news for anyone not able to attend the dog show of the year is that the main arena exhibits will be streamed online for the first time at cruftslive.tv

For those of you who will be showing or visiting during these four dogtastic days there will be plenty of fun and entertainment for you to get your paws into. Here are some highlights you shouldn’t miss out on.

Good boy - Over 22,000 dogs are competing for the world class title of Crufts Best In Show, the arenas will be packed with displays and competitions including the Obedience competitions organised by the Good Citizen Dog Scheme training, the UK’s largest dog training programme. Here is last year’s Best in Show: Philippe the Giant Schnauzer.

Who let the dogs out? - If you missed Discover Dogs last year, there will be a dedicated area at Crufts where you can familiarise yourself with over 200 pedigree breeds such as favourites like the German Shepherd (or Alsatian) to rarer breeds like the Portuguese Water Dog - President Obama's choice for his first presidential pooch. The adopted dog will be arriving to the White House in April.

Action dogs - Daring doggy lovers can visit the Dog Activities Ring, where you can learn how to unleash your dog’s full potential- From Working Trials, Agility, Flyball and lots more, the Kennel Club can tell you how to get started or how to become more involved.

Shopaholic caninophiles - If you just want to enjoy some straight forward retail therapy there are over 400 trade stands including Pooch and Mutt with special show offers and exciting new products for you and your furry friend!

Cream of the crop - Discover the Best In Show competitors right through to the vibrant Young Kennel Club; young dog lovers competing in their own ‘junior Crufts’. Be exhilarated by the fast paced Agility and watch in awe at the precise work of Obedience dogs.

To catch the main arena shows here is the schedule of days:
Thursday 5th March 2009 – Terrier and Hound
Friday 6th March 2009 - Toy and Utility
Saturday 7th March 2009 – Gundog
Sunday 8th March 2009 – Working and Pastoral

If you want to try your luck with our monthly draw to win a bag of Bionic Biotic enter now here!

Puppy power! Superdogs that come to the rescue

They can fetch your slippers, bring you the post and rollover amongst other things, but could you ever imagine your dog rescuing someone from danger.

With the release of Bolt , the new Disney Pixar animation about a dog who thinks he is a real super hero (pictured above), we sniffed out a few of our amazing dog ‘tales’ to prove that when danger strikes it’s not always the humans that come running first. Here are some super dogs that surprised their owners with their antics when they came to save the day.

Last year a dog saved a toddler by shielding him from a venomous snake and taking a bite in the neck. The tot was playing with his grandmother's terrier, Pickle, in her garden when he was confronted by an adder. The dog jumped between them but the snake bit Pickles who was saved by emergency treatment. What a hero. Click here to read the story.

In Argentina, an eight year old working dog saved the life of a premature baby left abandoned by his teenage mother in a shanty town in Buenos Aires. Shaggy dog La China managed to pick up the tiny baby without inflicting any injuries to him and carried him 50 metres to place him alongside her own puppies and care for him. You can watch the super nanny dog here.

But dogs are not only out to save us; they will even risk their lives to save other dogs and animals.

In this video clip a very brave dog crosses busy motorway traffic to try and drag the body of another dog to safety. Onlookers are astonished at the antics of this lost motorway mutt.

Another terrier down under risked his life to save a litter of newborn kittens from a blazing house fire. When firemen entered the house to search for remaining people they found Leo standing guard over some kittens despite thick nasty smoke filling the room. Leo, who lost consciousness and stopped breathing outside, was revived by the firemen using dog CPR. Click here to read this amazing story.

Back in the UK, a ten stone Newfoundland called Whizz was hailed a hero after rescuing a drowning pooch in Somerset. Topper’s owner was walking in a wood near Clevedon when her pet disappeared. She hadn’t realised that mischievous Topper had fallen into a disused water tank close by and couldn’t get out. That’s when friendly giant Whizz came along and grabbed the red setter by the neck to haul him to safety. Read the newspaper clipping here.

You never know, your dog could be the next hero so to help maintain a healthy and happy dog you can add Pooch & Mutt’s dog supplements to their diet daily. Bionic Biotic helps Digestion, condition, weight, skin & coat and Mobile Bones, with Glucosamine for dogs, is excellent for mobility and joint problems. To win a bag of Bionic Biotic try our prize draw here.

Spiderdog? - Last but not least this is a dog who really has been reading too many super hero comics. Click here to watch this exclusive video of spider dog!

Amazing dog tails. Sometime’s man’s best friend needs a hero too...

Its seems we can never be too careful when out walking our dogs these days and it’s not traffic or aggressive dogs we need to worry about but icy water, balls, fire and even sharks!

If you encountered a pooch in distress, to what lengths would you go to save him/her?

Here are a few feel good real life stories about pooches who lived happily ever after thanks to brave humans heroes who risked their own lives to drag them out of danger.

Last weekend an ex Royal Navy serviceman risked hyperthermia in freezing temperatures when he leapt into an frozen river to save a woman’s two pet Cocker Spaniels. The shocked pooches, who helplessly sunk into the ice in Hampshire, were rescued by Steve Williams who without thinking slipped off his jeans and broke into the ice to pull both dogs out. Click here to read the full story. Also last week another brave man rescued a Labrador from a burning house fire in Jersey last week. Click here to read more.

Across the pond, Jake, the Rat Terrier from Florida Keys escaped from the jaws of a shark last year. Whilst out swimming laps off the dock Jack (as pictured above) was attacked by a large Lemon shark who took a bite out of the little mutt’s belly. You can see the news clip here. Jake’s owner Greg dived into the water giving the shark a sharp blow with his fists which released the dog from his grip. Thankfully the dog escaped death with just a few stitches but next time swimming will be likely to be confined to a swimming pool.

Also in the states a woman stopped her vehicle when she noticed a small Pit Bull pup lying in the middle of the road. The caring lady, who unlike other drivers who swerved passed the severely injured dog, took the dog into her arms and took her to a local animal hospital. She has now adopted the puppy named Angel as her own. Read more about the story here.

Finally here is a tear jerker movie clip about a Dalmatian who got a small ball lodged in his throat whilst playing at home - see clip here. Willy escaped miraculously with a help of a canine cop who knew how to perform dog CPR. If you want to prepare yourself for any nasty surprises have a look at Stan Rawlinson’s page of canine first aid. Worth a read - you never know when it may come in handy.

Do you know anyone who became a hero for their dog? We’d love to hear your real stories too.

And don’t forget, if you are looking for an easy way to give your dog a helping hand there is no better way than Pooch & Mutt’s dog supplements; Bionic Biotic for Digestion, condition, weight, skin & coat and Mobile Bones, with Glucosamine for dogs, for mobility.

Next week we will be looking at amazing dogs that save humans and other dogs!