We are delighted to announced the arrival of our new Mini Max crate. Like our original crates they're designed to fit into the back of estate cars, 4x4s and people carriers, but they're smaller to accommodate little dogs - and the crate bars are closer together.

Like the original crates they extend - in this case from 22.5" to 30.5" in length, they're 21" wide and 18" high. Priced at £395 which includes delivery of a flatpacked crate to any UK address.

We are delighted to announce that we are now one of the sponsors of The Lowestoft Dog Agility Display Team. We've been approached by a number of teams over the years but we wanted to choose a team whose displays we particularly enjoyed. A professional and entertaining show - if you get a chance to catch one of their events then it's worth a look. The team also dispels the myth that you need a collie to do agility! They have a full summer diary in the East of England. Check out their website for further details. www.lowestoftdogteam.co.uk

Our Dobermann Beau used to hate the water, but after a series of operations by Noel Fitzpatrick he grew to love his hydrotherapy sessions. Our Golden Retriever was diagnosed with arthritis last month so we searched for somewhere to take the pair of them for a swim. We were lucky enough to find The Brook, near Maidstone in Kent. We can swim with the dogs if we want to and the pool is long enough to do laps in. It's only been open since mid 2012 but already Karl has built up a regular client base.

www.thebrookcaninehydrotherapycentre.com

When Beverley Cuddy, Editor of Dogs Today magazine, put out a request for a crate for the new Hounds for Heroes vehicle we decided that it was a charity we'd like to be involved with. The Head Trainer brought the car to the warehouse to get the crate fitted in the new Skoda Octavia.

The car is more spacious than it looks (takes a Double X Large crate up to 38") and could easily accommodate two labs or two golden retrievers with a central divider installed.

We wish Hounds for Heroes every success.

We sold our first hatchback crate today. After many years of telling people that we would be selling them 'one day' that day was today (our golden retriever's ninth birthday)!

The crate is pictured in a Nissan Qashqai and is owned by a Swedish Vallhund and family.

The new (3G) version of the crate is launched. There's a few differences: the door closure is more sophisticated; the escape hatch is metal mesh rather than bars (to prevent claws and teeth damaging the back seat); there are fewer parts to make installation easier; and the Single X Small, Single Large and Hatchback crates can usually* be sited on the right as well as the left of the vehicle (useful if you have a seven seater and prefer the left hand seat up). The Single X Large can also be placed on the right, though clearly it wouldn't fit in a seven seater with one seat up in the third row.

* in some vehicles the door may catch if it's placed on the right-hand side

We now have so many visitors to our Biggin Hill warehouse that we decided to create a 'showroom' with all the crates and tailgate on display. It's still 'work in progress' as we sold the Double Small crate that should be in the gap!

The display has been designed so that you can back your car into the warehouse and try whichever crates you like in the back of your vehicle.

Of course you're welcome to bring your dogs to try in the crate(s).

We accept payment by credit or debit card at the warehouse.

*picture updated to show hatchback crate, bottom right

Sadly we lost our beloved dobermann girl Roxy to heart disease. We only had five years with her (she was 18 months when she came to live with us). We knew that we could lose her at any time, but everything was so normal that day that the shock was enormous. We can only be thankful that she didn't suffer. We later took out a full page in Dogs Today magazine in her memory - effectively a bloat awareness poster that may save other dogs' lives.

She was the first Safedog harness model (we took pictures of all three dogs in the harnesses but Roxy's turned out better than the others).

Having owned dogs ourselves for many years we've been to visit several general and specialist vets. However it made a lovely change to have a vet visit us, to get his car kitted out with a Safedog crate for his gorgeous GWP.

Click here to see further details

We had a stand at the Companion dog show in aid of Dobermann Rescue. We took one of our own Dobermanns with us who thoroughly enjoyed the day, albeit refused to wag her stump in Waggiest Tail class! Well done to Sue & her team who raised £1,600 for the charity.