Google Meet Training
As we have adjusted to adhere to social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, we are continuing our training efforts though virtual meetings with our valued partners.
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Kristen Sanders returns for another training on Nulo pet food — this time with more emphasis on their line of cat offerings. Nulo's four key nutritional values are:
The inclusion of GanedenBC30® is notable because it's the first probiotic that survives heat, cooking, shelf life and stomach acids. As it moves through the body and intestinal tract, it aids in the absorption of nutrients, improves stool and overall intestinal and immune health. The inclusion of this patented probiotic is unique to Nulo and should be considered a key selling point. |
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In this training Susan McCarthy details the full line of products offered by Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Pet Food. Much of their kibble has been recently reformulated with improved ingredients. It should be noted that meat is now listed as the first ingredient across the board. Natural Balance is the #1 brand in "limited ingredient" dry dog food.* For over 15 years they have been pioneering these simple formulas, which benefit pet diets by keeping things simple and help pet parents single out food allergens. If a customer's pet is doing great on a Natural Balance L.I.D. formula, know that there is a limited ingredient treat to compliment the food and maintain their pet's optimum nutrition levels. *By shares and dollar sales in total pet specialty |
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Retail Training Specialist Emma Kumbier takes us through all the ways we can "build a better bowl" with Primal Pet Foods. Emma provides some helpful tips on how we can open up a dialogue with our customers to find out what areas their pet can benefit most from the nutritional boost that Primal Pet Foods can provide. Oftentimes the answer is right in our freezer section. |
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We are joined once again by Jake Hewson for live remote training. While our last Merrick session took a deeper dive into products, this training focuses more broadly on defining "The Merrick Difference". |
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Wayne Deaven from Diamond Pet Foods gives a live remote training session on Taste of the Wild! Wayne covers their entire product line and explains how they pivoted to introduce "Ancient Grains" in light of last year's DCM controversy. The key takeaway is that these recipes are based off of their TOTW grain free counterparts and are formulated to allow for a seamless transition to a grain inclusive diet. They invest less in advertising and marketing than their leading competitors and this allows them to offer a great product at an exceptional value. Still they intend on supporting us and their products next month by offering a generous "dollars off" deal on the entire Taste of the Wild lineup. |
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In this week's remote training session we are joined by Lauren Mahaffey from Radio Systems Corporation — parent company of both PetSafe and Kurgo pet products. The training begins by focusing mainly on Kurgo's extensive line of simple, need-based products designed to help you go safely, comfortably, and happily together with your pup. Later in the session she covers our most popular PetSafe leads and harnesses and addresses questions that our staff have encountered while interacting with customers, including proper Easy Walk fitting and Gentle Leader training. Those who attended training live are offered their choice of a FREE Kurgo or PetSafe product to try out with their own pet, including carriers, harnesses, seatbelt tethers and more! |
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Dr Danielle Bernal, WellPet's Global Vet Nutrition Director, shares with us some key selling points for Wellness' Balanced Nutrition and Core offerings, as well as Whimzees Dental Treats. Complete Health offers exceptional value. Their natural formulas come at a daily cost of only $0.38 (small breed) - $1.17 (large breed). At this price a person could easily spend more in one trip to Starbucks than it would cost to feed their pet a healthy diet for an entire week. Core is their commitment to elevated nutrition, with high percentages of meat derived proteins, moderate fat content and digestible carbohydrates. We are all set to begin carrying Core with Wholesome Grains in early October, which adds in easy digestible grains such as oats, barley and quinoa while maintaining the same high protein levels of the grain free Core. Whimzees Dental Treats boast the claim that they are scientifically proven to clean 2x better and last 3x longer than their leading competitors. In lieu of brushing teeth (which Dr Danielle points out hardly anyone does for their dog) dental treats should be recommended as part of any dog's daily routine. |
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In this live remote training session, Sonya Sestito from Open Farm explains the ways their company champions their motto "Do Some Good" through ethical and certified humane sourcing and production. Peep the labels on the bag: animal welfare designations like "Certified Humane" are things you normally only see at higher end grocery stores like Whole Foods! While Open Farm is one of the more expensive brands we carry, Sonya points out that their pet foods have above average kcals per cup. In other words, it's more nutrient dense — so as you feed less it ends up costing close to the same as other brands. |
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Many misnomers surrounding the CBD category stem from FDA restrictions and compliance. In this training, Treatibles founder Julianna Carella clears things up and explains how their products can be administered when pets are experiencing deficiencies in their endocannabinoid system (i.e. stress). |
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Stephanie Striar from Nature's Variety gives us an introduction to all things Instinct, details the benefits of raw vs. traditional kibble, and discusses solutions to some of the obstacles you may encounter when discussing raw feeding with a customer. |
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Champion Petfoods' James Schoolcraft gives us a great overview of their "biologically appropriate" approach and fresh regional sourcing. He explains that even though a pet food manufacturer may technically meet the AAFCO standard of weight to list a protein as their first ingredient, not all are using Champion's quality of fresh whole prey ratios. A good talking point to have when justifying the high price point to a customer. |
In the earlier portion of the training James references a new research study by the Journal of Animal Science, which found no definitive correlation between DCM and canine diets. More information about that study can be found here. There was also an issue with the sound streaming from the video clips in James' presentation, so we have included additional videos below:
Click to expand additional videos
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Merrick's Jake Hewson delves into the top sellers, evolving products and highlights their new slow cooked BBQ recipes. Our meeting was cut short when we lost connection due to Tropical Storm Isaias, however, he was able to cover most key topics and showed us that Merrick's products are so human-grade — he's willing to eat them himself! |
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Nulo's Kristen Sanders explains why they have become one of the fastest growing brands in the independent pet industry. Nulo's nutrient-rich recipes are formulated with high protein, low-glycemic carbs to build lean muscle and maintain stable energy. |
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Weruva's Tanya Noack breaks down their feline product line — and its all about the "High's, Low's and No's." High protein, moisture and palatability. Low carb, fat and ash content. No GMO, no bones and no compromises. |
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