Search Results

Here at Lucky Leads we do our best to be environmentally conscious With this in mind, we have chosen to stock 'Poppy's Picnic' raw food. ​ Poppy's Picnic is a Wiltshire based raw food company, who use local red tractor farms for meat, and locally farmed veggies. Their RAW POWER and MIGHTY MINCE trays are 100% compostable or can be recycled as paper. They are made from a plant-based pulp with a bio-laminate liner, all of which can go in the compost. Meatballs are packed in recycled and recyclable clear trays. Once pulp trays for meatballs can be sourced these will be replaced too! We have a freezer in the shop for Poppy's Picnic raw foods and can accommodate your monthly or weekly order too. ​ We also stock Tabby's Table, from Poppy's Picnic, which is specially designed for cats, and is available in 3 flavours - Chicken, Turkey with Lamb & Beef with Chicken Just as we’re told that fresh food is the healthiest way for us to eat, the same applies to our four-legged friends. Founder Dylan Watkins and his Chief Executive Dog, Poppy, launched Poppy’s Picnic in 2016 to make it easy for people to feed their dogs a raw food diet the way nature intended. Headquartered in the heart of Wiltshire, our tasty wholesome recipes have been lovingly crafted with the help of canine nutritionists and fourth generation butchers. With no hidden nasties, the balanced meals contain all the goodness a dog needs for optimal health and wellbeing. Here’s a fact you probably didn’t know - the rules for producing food for animals in the UK are far more stringent than those for producing our own food stuffs! DEFRA (the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) oversees these regulations and enforces the strict government guidelines. Is raw dog food regulated? Poppy’s Picnic is a DEFRA-registered raw pet food company and we abide by all the legislation that covers the manufacture of raw dog and cat food. This means you, our wonderful customers and four-legged friends, can buy our award-winning meals with confidence. As a DEFRA dog food company all our ingredients have been sourced, processed and packaged in a totally safe and hygienic environment. Our raw cat food, Tabby’s Table, is also held to these high standards. An important part of the safety regime requires that a sample of every batch of food we produce to be sent for microbiological testing, for Salmonella and Enterobacteriaceae, by an independent laboratory. This is to ensure and maintain the quality and safety of our products. The results are sent to APHA (the Animal and Plant Health Agency) which also carries out regular inspections of the manufacturing facilities of DEFRA-registered raw dog food companies.

With the weather set to be hot hot hot again today, and with Summer still to go, here are just a few enrichment ideas to keep your going ☆ shredded chicken (any other meat will work too), mixed with veggies and a little stock, freeze in an ice cube tray or stuff a treat ball ☆ peanut butter in a Kong/Grrrelli ☆ make a fruity smoothie, then use it to fill a treat toy, freeze in ice cubes or just top a Lickimat ☆ open up a tube of our pâté, mix a little with water and chill, give as an alternative to a meal for those that are struggling to eat in the heat, we call it pât'tea ☆ water play, if your pet likes water why not get the hose out and have a game, then leave wet so they can cool down a little more Just remember If using peanut butter to make sure it is pet safe, either get the special pet packs, or buy a jar of 100% peanuts, no Xylitol, no danger. We use Whole Earth or Nuts about Nature Same goes if you use any yoghurt. Plain natural yoghurt is best, no flavour, no sweetener, no problem. Check the ingredients carefully! If you are in any doubt, don't use it. These along with the list below should help you manage your pets in the heat! Why not tag us in your cooling ideas @luckyleadsltd • paddling pool in the shade • ice cubes in their water bowl, or fridge cold water • wet a towel and pop it on a non carpeted floor for them to lay on •fans, and maybe even a frozen bottle of water in front as DIY air con • frozen treats, freeze a Lickimat or stuffed treat ball, make stock ice lollies with fruit or treats inside Don't exercise them in the heat, they love you, and will do anything to make you happy! Super early morning or late evening when the temperature has dropped again. Don't hesitate to call your vet if you have ANY concerns about their behaviour or health

'Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.' Rudyard Kipling A great time was had by all at this Sunday's Alice in Wonderland themed sellers market. Despite the Englishman's reputation, many paid us a visit in the morning and avoided the midday sun! We're delighted so many like our new Dogs Day Out treat bags. Now dogs can go to the mad hatter's tea party too! As much as Michelle loves seeing your pups and having cuddles (don't we know it!) she also wants them to be happy and cool in the blistering heat. If you aren't able to leave pup at home we have an online exclusive just for you. Use our free click and collect or home delivery service (within 5 miles of your local market on spends over £20). Enter HOTDOG online for a free Jumbo sausage roll and choose your market for collection! It's win-win!

Today the BBC issued a 'Heat health warning' for vulnerable members of the UK. Pets are just as prone to overheating as people, so what can you do to help your pet stay cool and happy during a spate of hot weather? Remember, pavements, astroturf and similar surfaces, can get hot enough to cook an egg. You can gauge the temperature with a quick palm/bare feet test to see if you think the surface is too hot for sensitive paws. Dogs don't need to be walked several times every day. Once a day can be enough, providing they are entertained throughout the day with other activities. Early morning walks before the sun is too hot are fine. Try to choose shady walks or walks where your pooch can swim if possible. Other tips: Keep the curtains closed at home providing much needed shade Make sure there's plenty of fresh water on hand If you have a garden try a paddling pool for your pooch For extreme heat you can provide damp towels for your dog to lie on DIY air conditioning - try a fan with a bowl of ice in front of it And remember, these handy hints can be used for humans too!! Heatwave treats... Try a frozen lick mat with yoghurt & fruit for your dog or freeze fruit/meaty treats in an ice cube tray as the occasional tit bit. Prevention is always better than cure....

Wilton Carnival Little could dampen the spirits of Wilton carnival-goers on Saturday 2nd July, despite one or two downpours. Wilton families enjoyed the party atmosphere and the organisers had clearly worked hard to deliver a great day out for everyone. We were chuffed that the Lucky Leads dog show went as well as it did and plenty of dogs signed up so they could strut their stuff in the ring. As you know, Lucky Leads supports Together Anything is Pawsible (T.A.P) so we were delighted there was a representative at the show. T.A.P dog, Fern, entered the Best Dressed Dog category with her owner and came first! Well done to Fern’s owner, who braved the crowds so that Fern could win a rosette! The gorgeous Dalmatian pup, Benji, came second, dressed as a hot dog! Some of the other winners were: Best Child Handler: 1st Beau, 2nd Bobby N. / Waggiest Tail: 1st Lola, 2nd Mowgli, 3rd Mungo / Best Recall: 1st Daisy, Joint 2nd Jago & Silas, 3rd Millie /Coolest Trick:1st Penny, 2nd Charlie, 3rd Ziggy / Best Dressed:1st Fern & Mancub, 2nd Benji, 3rd Bobby S. Awesome paws to everyone who took part in the dog show! Date for your diary: Monthly Sellers market - Salisbury town centre - Sunday 10th July Join us at the Salisbury Street Sellers market on Sunday 10th July. Alice and Wonderland is this market’s theme. Not only will Alice and the Mad Hatter be there, but there will also be a Mad Hatters Tea Party and craft workshops. All activities are free.

Is it June already?! Apologies for the lack of blogging but, in our defence, our blogging silence doesn’t mean we haven’t been doing anything. We’ve been working hard to find the best possible treats for your beloved hound and our range is steadily growing. We now have a ‘giant’ range, for the bigger pooch to wrap their teeth ‘round; we have cow horns for the not-so-big dog to chomp; and goat horn or hairy beef strip for the smaller hound, because we don’t want anyone to be left out! We’ve also increased our market activity to include Westbury market. We started our summer with the Vintage Nostalgia event at the beginning of June, and our next outing is at the Wilton carnival on July 2nd, where we’ll not only have a stall with pic ’n mix, treat boxes, and antlers, but we’ll also be hosting the dog show (starts @ 3.30pm). Looking forward to seeing you there! Some of you may already have heard, via our newsletter, that Liz has joined us, and she'll be providing us with some much needed admin support. You’ll almost certainly meet her at some point - because ‘admin support’ is a multifaceted role at Lucky Leads! We have great plans for the coming weeks and (now that Liz is here) we’ll be keeping you posted on any new products we get and why we decided to get them for your pup, pooch, dog or hound to try! Lucky Leads aims to provide dogs (and their humans) with the best possible products, without costing the Earth, either financially or ecologically. All products and treats are quality tested by the family’s very own hound, Bobbi. And you can rest assured that we would never give your dog anything we wouldn’t give our own. Where possible all treats are sustainably sourced (within the UK) and all Lucky Leads packaging is biodegradable or compostable.

As 2021 drew to an end, I found myself wondering where 2022 would take me, my family, and my business. Lucky Leads started in October 2020, and was originally just me, making leads & collars in my home with the aim of changing my little families future for something...more. I created a website, with the help of my partner, and put out calls for lead testers on social media. Several people replied and I tasked myself with making the perfect lead for them, there were big dogs, and tiny ones, and a strong puller who is still using her tester lead a year on! Feedback was positive, and I learned from it, I got better tools, and worked on methods to create a more aesthetic lead, with the rivets in better positions, bigger handles on slip leads and with rounded rather than straight edges. I also started using BioThane Beta, rather than standard, as it is more flexible, softer on the hands and has a better grip when wet. I now have a standard lead, in different lengths, a double ended training lead, a slip lead, chain lead with material handle and trigger clip and a 'road' lead, with plans to develop the training leads into multi-use leads, able to be used for exercise and securing whilst in a vehicle. As well as these, I had been working on a martingale style collar for the last little while, making sure that it is adjustable as well as suitable for use on sighthounds. It is still not quite right, but that is mostly down to the fact that I went off in a slightly different direction and started a natural treat box range. That's another story though, so for now I'll leave you with thanks for all the support and love given to Lucky Leads & I in 2021, and wishes for a fantastic 2022 for you all! If you want to keep up to date with product changes follow the Facebook or Instagram pages @luckyleadsltd or to receive newsletters with information, updates and offers click through to the website and subscribe

A few people have asked about our antlers and where they come from... All our antlers are sourced ethically, they are natural drop of Red and Fallow deer predominantly. Deer drop, or cast, their antlers every year, then go through the process of re-growing them over several months, during this regrowth they are covered in skin to protect them, this is known as velvet. Once the antlers are finished growing the velvet is rubbed off, the the antler is described as clean. This tends to happen sooner in older deer. I'll pop a link at the end to the British Deer Society video showing the life cycle of antlers Photo Courtesy of H. Ditton Where do you get your antlers? We stock Antos Antlers, and they are from Red Deer and Fallow deer, much of which is from Scottish highland herds. The antlers have simply been cleaned (with no chemicals) and cut to various sizes/weights for dogs to chew on. Sharp points have been removed to make them safe. We also have split antlers, which have basically been cut in half lengthways exposing the middle, softer part of the antler, which makes it more suitable for smaller or younger dogs, who may benefit from having something to chew while teething that is not your favourite pair of shoes or the skirting boards! WHY should I choose antler for my pooch? Antler satisfies a dog’s natural urge to chew, which is also a calming behaviour and helps to alleviate mild boredom or frustration, whilst also helping to strengthen and clean teeth. Antlers are full of calcium and minerals and long lasting, usually a 6-12month chew! They should also not splinter as they are unprocessed. Studies show (apparently) that gnawing on an antler for 30 minutes a day can reduce the plaque on teeth by up to 70%! Looking at Bobbi's teeth I would suggest that to be a pretty accurate study. Unlike rawhide and some non-natural chews they do not get soggy, and cannot cause obstruction as they are ground down over time rather than torn in chunks or strips and swallowed whole, raw-hide is undigestible, and so needs to be properly chewed into little pieces to pass through the system fully and without blockage or pain. HOW should I choose an antler? Check the antler for size, make sure that your pooch cannot easily fit all of it in their mouth, but, at the same time, can easily chew it. Once the antler is small enough that they can get it wholly in their mouth easily then it is time to take it away and get a new one! If you have a puppy, and want them to have an antler, then a split antler is the way forward, it will give them something to chew as adult teeth come in, but as it is a bit softer will not damage young teeth. When is antler NOT the best choice? If your pooch is a destructive or aggressive chewer then antler may not be the best solution, as if chewed too hard it can cause dental fracture, which in itself is painful, but if the pulp of the tooth also becomes exposed it could cause infection and mean the tooth having to be removed....painful for pooch, with general anaesthetic and recovery time, and costly for you. We do have other treats and chews that may help to disrupt destructive or stressed chewing and more still that are suitable for pups, and can also recommend some local behaviourists to help with any root causes to unwanted behaviours. (We also suggest that if any destructive or aggressive behaviours are noticed you get your vet to check them over, negative behaviours can be the first sign of illness in our pets) Here is the link I promised to the British Deer Society video https://youtu.be/Xh3NGZrP7SA Photo courtesy of H. Ditton - Deer in Velvet 2012