Lauren Mahaffey, Account Manager for Radio Systems Corporation, presents a training on PetSafe and Kurgo. PetSafe® Brand is an industry leader in the development of innovative pet behavioral, containment and lifestyle product solutions. Lauren delves into proper fitting techniques for their most popular harnesses and fields questions from our staff. Kurgo's mission is to help you travel safely, comfortably, and happily together with your pup through simple, durable, and need-based designs. Lauren goes through all their unique products and explains how they can often be impulse purchases because they solve problems pet owners may not have realized they had.

This week we are joined by Treatibles Founder Julianna Carella for a live training. Julianna discusses the science behind how their CBD products work in conjunction with the endocannabinoid system, gives us an overview of their latest product line, and discusses compliance. Many misnomers surrounding the CBD category stem from FDA restrictions and compliance. 

Overall, this is a very informative training that includes all the fundamentals you should know if you are selling CBD products.

In this training we are joined by EzyDog Marketing Sales Coordinator Bryant Baxter. Bryant skipped the slide deck altogether for a live demonstration of all the products we carry in stores. You will learn the proper fitting techniques for their line of easy-to-use harnesses, gain a better understanding of the benefits of their patented shock absorbing leash, and discover how their functionally designed products make them stand out as a category leader. 

Bryant is here to help, so if you ever have a question or concern from a customer that he did not cover in today's training you can reach him at bryant@ezydog.com.

PA Territory Manager Christopher Engle presents a training for Pets Global, parent company of Zignature and Fussie Cat.

Zignature positions themselves as "solution based food." It is suitable for all life stages, limited ingredient and can be fed rotationally. Their recipes feature:

• No Potato: Eliminating potatoes cuts down on smelly, itchy yeast issues and infections.
• No Chicken: Since it has become so ubiquitous in pet foods, Chicken is considered the 1# allergy inducing protein.
• No Grain: Some dogs are allergic to grains which can cause a number of additional health-related issues.

Fussie Cat offers premium (black label) and super premium (yellow label) low carb, protein rich cat food. Their wet recipes have a chunky texture profile, so be sure to ask if a customer's cat has a texture preference. Their "secret sauce" comes in the form of Fructooligosaccharide (FOS), which is a non-digestible sugar that adds a touch of sweetness for palatability.

Saved Me Program Manager Lauren Nace reviews adoption best practices, changes in adoption policies and general health related topics. If you have additional questions that were not addressed in this video, please don't hesitate to reach out to lauren@savedme.org ▸

VēRUS Brand Manager Candice Leitman provides an informative overview that includes their key selling points:

• Family Owned & Operated Since 1993: Owner Russell Armstrong has passed on the standard distributor markup, which means more profits for independent retailers. He has also committed to not sell VēRUS products to big box or Chewy. 
• Manufactured in an EU Certified Facility: Only proteins fit for human consumption can be utilized. Ingredients are holistic, non-GMO and stringent testing standards help protect against recalls (VēRUS has never been recalled).
• Freeze-Dried Live Probiotics: Exclusive to VēRUS, this is a live probiotic that lies dormant in the bag until it is digested. It offers a 93% live activity rate once it is activated in the gut and it becomes a powerhouse for immune support and intestinal function. 
• Omega-3s and 100% Chelated Vitamins & Minerals: VēRUS' formulas feature powerful Omega-3s and Chelated minerals that offer over 5x better absorption rate than non-chelated.

In this training session we are joined by Susan McCarthy, Sales Director at Natural Balance. Some of the recent changes with Natural Balance are covered, including the new Targeted Nutrition line that is set to soon arrive in stores. Many of you will be pleased to hear Natural Balance is once again privately owned, which means they have complete authority over operational decisions and are prioritizing throwing additional support behind independent pet. They've also made some recent packaging changes that are meant to help create a simplified three pillar structure across their product lines: 

• Essential Health: Ultra Formulas for everyday wellness. 
• Sensitive Health: L.I.D Formulas for food sensitivities.
• Targeted Health: Targeted Nutrition Formulas for specific health needs.

As far as the Targeted Health Line goes, there are four formulas you will be receiving. "Fat Dogs" and "Gentle Balance" (formerly Synergy) are simply repackaged skus, while "On The Move" and "Zen Life" are all new formulas. They are covered in the training and stores will also be receiving samples and pocket cards that highlight the key targeted benefits of each.  

Aside from Targeted Health – in the coming weeks you will also be receiving new skus of L.I.D. Beef and Rice. Beef is the #1 growing protein in pet retail, #3 in gross sales, and is seeing sizable gains in the L.I.D category. 

In this week's training we were joined by Wayne Deaven from Diamond Pet (parent company of Taste of the Wild) for a brief review of their emerging Diamond Naturals line — an affordable, quality pet food that aligns with our strategy of best food for every budget. This is a food that's rated 4.5 out of 5 stars by Dog Food Advisor and sells for 12.99 for a 6# bag and 28.99 for a 18# bag, making it a very cost effective brand for clients looking to transition from grocery and/or need a cost effective food to match their budget constraints.

Diamond Naturals offers uncompromising quality and performance, naturally. Every bag includes superfood ingredients — a source of antioxidants and other essential nutrients — as well as guaranteed probiotics for digestive and immune support. Our customers can feel good knowing they're providing their pet with complete, holistic nutrition for roughly the same price (or less) than many leading grocery store brands. 

The top selling skus of Diamond Naturals are set to arrive with Phillips shipment on 3/17/21. We will be sending out additional informational pamphlets, samples, and running an introductory $9.99 small bag promotion beginning in April to help support this new brand in our stores.

In this training we are joined by Rob Downey, Founder and President of Annamaet Petfoods. Rob is both an academic and an outdoorsman, combining four decades of research in nutrition with hands-on experience with canine athletes. The result is a brand that has been providing optimum nutrition to dogs and cats for over 30 years. Key Takeaways:

• Artisanal Production: Family owned and operated. Formulas are slow cooked in small batches. 
• Real Science in Every Bag: Two nutritionists are on staff with over 100 publications in peer reviewed journals and books. They boast 30+ years of passionate and professional involvement with dogs.
• Checks & Balances: Having two staff nutritionists, including a Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist, provides better checks and balances on creating great formulas.
• Top Quality Ingredients: Formulas contain holistic, non-GMO ingredients, as well as meat and fish fit for human consumption. Omega-3's are derived from sustainable algae.
• Extensive Testing: Raw materials coming in and finished product before it leaves is tested to prevent potential recalls.
• Eco Friendly Packaging: Bags are sustainable with convenient velcro (Aplix) closures.

Today we were joined by Kayti Earle, Training Specialist at Primal Pet Foods. Their company's goal is to help pet owners "Build a Better Bowl" through complete & balanced raw food, recreational raw bones, hydrators, and toppers.

In the training Kayti addresses:

• Safety Concerns: Unlike the raw meat found in grocery stores, there is a zero tolerance policy for pathogens in raw pet food. Primal uses High Pressure Processing (HPP) to eliminate the presence of Salmonella, E. Coli and Listeria. They test and hold all of their products before they reach the consumer. 
• Sourcing: Primal rigorously selects and sources their ingredients from vendors who humanely raise, sustainably grow, and responsibly process all of the proteins, certified organic produce, and unrefined food-based vitamins and minerals in their products.
• Products & Feeding: The process of feeding Raw is certainly different than traditional scoop and serve kibble or canned wet food. Kayti offers helpful tips to make feeding their products as convenient as possible, including staging portioned containers of frozen raw.

Primal also has updated their Retail Training Portal with new content, which can be accessed using Kayti's email as the password (kayti@primalpetfoods.com). You earn prizes like free products and apparel upon completing the three part test . Even if you have already completed it you are welcome to do so a second time to earn additional giveaways.