Colour Me Better

Great news, Daddy Zuma is back on his feet and able to play again, well, almost. I think it will still be some time before he's able to take part in the kind of play I enjoy. While he was getting better from his accident he worked on some of the new print and colour pictures of me which are on my website. I'd rather run around the garden or a beach all day, but when we're stuck inside I like to see pretty pictures of me which other people have done. Mummy has put eight different drawings of me on the website, including three which are specially done for Halloween. Now that Halloween is nearly here the weather is drawing in and there is less time for outside play, why don't you get creative? Colour in one of my pictures and then tweet them to me. There's Franken Zuma, Jacko Zuma and Zuma Potter to choose from.

 

 

 

You can find my twitter account, and so many other things about me on the website. Every picture I get I'll share with all my other friends so they can see how well you've done.

I look forward to see what you all come up with and show the world how talented you all are.


Much Love



Zuma XX

The Ending Summer

The summer is starting to come to an end and for many of us it feels like it just got started. I’ve had a great time off, a wonderful doggy holiday, but now we are getting back into the full swing of it. The kids will soon be back at school and it’s only a matter of week before we start to celebrate Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas! Can you believe that?



Samples heading out to new distributors

Zuma the Dog head office was at a standstill for a while, due to Daddy Zuma having a serious accident, an eight week hospital stay and weeks of hospital treatment and physiotherapy. Now we have slipped into a nice little routine which includes the hospital visits, HQ is moving forward again. We’ve been busy catching up and Mummy Zuma has been hard at it again securing new distributors, covering the USA, Russia and Ukraine. Along with the licensing deals signed at the beginning of the summer Zuma the Dog is set for large growth in business over the next year. Summer 2014 order are being taken, winter 2014 range is designed and research for summer 2015 is under way. So much going on that we really now need to stay ahead.



Samples heading out all over the world

On top of all this great news we are also being featured in two great magazines over the next two months. Firstly is with Beebo magazine, the Southwest’s must have family magazine. Here we get to tell you all about our brand for those who are not familiar with us and with a cute colouring competition we get to give away one of our hoodies with various other surprises.

In October we are honoured to be featured in CWB magazine, which will expose our brand to all of the Children’s wear stores and boutiques throughout the UK.

For our tiny little family run brand all about me (the family pet) we really are making waves in the big wide world and with all my recent trauma issues almost solved. Life is becoming most pleasurable for Zuma the Dog.



Can I get a high five?

 

Much love

 

Zuma XX



Summer Holidays

 

Zuma is off having a wonderful time running around the Quinta of his trainer Altino with his other dog buddies and enjoying his summer vacation, so while he is having so much fun. I am left to fill in his work obligation which means writing his blog for this edition.

We visited Zuma yesterday to see how he was getting on and it turns out he’s loving every moment and Altino tells us he is the best behaved dog there. I find that hard to believe, but we are happy that he is calm and relaxed and having a nice time.

Zuma with his Trainer Altino. Loving his holiday time

We are now moving into summer holiday time and we all start to think about what we are going to do with our little ones to keep them occupied during these 6 weeks. For many you will be going on vacation to a sunny resort with family, maybe summer camp is calling, but for most the summer holidays are a time where we can spend time with our kids, choose fun activity and play outside (weather permitting).

We at Zuma the Dog HQ are working away creating new product ideas and designing new ranges to keep you all up with the latest styles and kids trends, but while all this is going on we have also found some time to search for and recommend some activities you can do if the weather changes and need something to do indoors.

We have listed five of our favourites.

1.       Colouring-in crazy? Visit www.zumathedog.com and click on “print & colour” to download free our simple Zuma the dog characters

2.       For creative indoor fun you can download for free our Zuma the dog pop-ette with pals. Go to www.zumathedog.com and click on “print & colour” to see our Popagami Zuma the Dog to colour in and make.

3.       Love Popagami? We recommend you go to www.popagami.com  where you can download full colour versions of Zuma the Dog and other characters to make and create plays and stories with.

4.       We love Tilly and Tam. Doggy friends of Zuma with new stories every week and games to play check out www.tillyandtam.com/playtime/

5.        Lots of free download able craft fun here at http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/crafts

We certainly know that Zuma is playing outside and has gathered together a football team with his other dog buddies. As he is having such a wonderful time I am wondering whether he will want to come home.

Enjoy your summer holidays and play safe whatever you do.

Much Love

Sam (Zuma’s Mummy)

XX

Press Release

Mummy has been busy again and look what she has been up to..............

Press Release

Glastonbury based business owner, Mum-entrepreneur and owner of the kids lifestyle brand Zuma the Dog, Samantha Morgan announced this week that a license agreement has been made between Zuma the Dog and the Dragon’s Den contestant Brain Craik author and creator of Popagami(R).



Free download now available on
www.zumathedog.com

The origami lover wowed the dragons last October with his new take on paper folding and has since approached Samantha to develop his lovable pets into a dog styled for Zuma the Dog. It will be accompanied by a book to help children develop their language skills. “With the world becoming such a smaller place the emphasis is on language and giving children the opportunity to learn more than one language early in life is becoming more prevalent,” Said Samantha “and partnering up with Brian and his Pop-ettes gives us the opportunity to take my Zuma the Dog brand into new categories, creating more brand awareness whilst developing a product that is indicative to our brand philosophy.”



Samantha pictured with the first pop-ette
prototype and the cheeky inspiration, Zuma

“Zuma the Dog fans everywhere should expect great things from the fusion of Popagami puppets,” said Philip “Working with Samantha the author of the Zuma the Dog books, a new “cutting-edge” dimension can be added!” 



 

 

 

Samantha’s original story books “The Adventures of Zuma the Dog” have already been translated into bilingual stories for children growing up in multinational families. Based on personal experience, Samantha believes in getting children to interact and playing games with such activities like Popagami gives a child confidence and promotes good self esteem, while helping with their language development.

To kick off the partnership four free downloads have been made available on the brands website www.zumathedog.com Click on “Print and Colour” and you can download, colour and create. The books will be available to buy through any good retailer and online in time for Christmas and makes a wonderful accompaniment to the clothing line which already exists. 

Yes yes and yes I’m sure you can tell by Mummy’s recent Facebook posts that I’ve recovered from my little leg injury and back to my old tricks, like a mini whirl wind I’ve been undoing all the work Mummy has been putting into the garden and to get back at her for her recent humiliation of name calling and dug up her newly planted lavender from the borders and pooped on them Ha Ha Ha. Now my pseudo name has gone from Cone Head the Barbarian to The Great Shatsby and wonders what other names my very humorous Mummy can come up with next for me. Master C and Daddy were calling Limp Biscuit at one point last week. No wonder I have issues!

Product in store at Kids & Design

I can’t really complain we all have a lot of fun and do so many things and without our family fun and banter my Zuma the Dog range wouldn’t be as creative and colourful as it is. I’m sure. We are so very nearly close to the middle point of 2013 and can’t believe how fast time is moving and looking back we have had some successes as our little brand grows. This month we started to supply a new boutique store in Cascais, Portugal called Kids & Design. Right in the centre of town and stocking other brands, all with a bright colourful, fun concept. It’s so good to be situated in such a great spot and sure Zuma the Dog will do very well in such a prominent position



Store front window display



Yellow shirt in store window

"How much is that puppy in the window?"

 












This month also brought us our new sales agent from Dallas, USA. A long time coming and very excited that we finally have representation covering eight of the southern states of the USA. We know we have a strong demand in the USA and so happy that we can finally supply that demand and make more happy customers. Boutiques and stores all over the USA will have our brand and we will do our very best to inform you where they are as soon as stock is delivered. If you are a boutique owner and wish to get in touch with our agent then please email me here zuma@zumathedog.com and Mummy will be happy to forward details on to you.

                                                        

New samples winging their way to our agent in Dallas

Now I’m back to full health I’m looking forward to heading back out for more paddle boarding lessons. Mummy had a new rash vest made for me and I want to wear it out so everyone can see how cool I am. I wonder what humiliating new name I’ll get next week.

 

Much Love

 

Zuma XX


 

 

A brighter side to life

So I am now three weeks into my therapy and despite one tiny relapse last night Mummy thinks I´m doing very well. My therapist says I´m progressing so well that as from next week we are able to reduce our sessions. I have to say I do feel so much better, calmer and feel less anxious and able to cope without being continuously attached to Mummy. I think I will always have some small issues, but for the most part able to move on and live life “semi normal”, for me.

Me and Nick from SurfnPaddle

Just like our clothing brand demands, we are all looking towards to the brighter side of life and as my anger issues start to fade away, new opportunities and doors are opening up and I´m seeing the fun I could have missed out on if I hadn’t have got my act together. This week I went Stand up Paddle boarding or SUP as the pros call it. It was such a surprise and a great treat. As you all know the beach is my most favourite place to be and now I have the freedom to use the sea as my playground also.  I have to say I was a little nervous at first, but as soon as I found my sea legs I was excited about this new experience. My teacher Nick from SurfnPaddle in Cascais was very good and gave me lots of encouragement. He even let me have a go with the paddle while Mummy was at the shore filming.

At the helm

So now that I´m on the mend Mummy has time to concentrate on business again. Turns out she´s started working with a company called Ship& Duck and licensing agreements to take Zuma the Dog into new product categories and markets. One she is considering is mobile game apps. Wouldn´t that be great! What do you think?

Our sales team continues to grow with reps in the USA, Australia, UK, and Portugal & Spain and a new deal with UAE to be confirmed. Life really is looking up for this little pup and I am so happy to have the love and support of my fans, friends and family.

 

 

Much Love

 

Zuma xx

A more serious note - Part 2

With spring time fast approaching we start to notice new growth in our garden and new life appearing in the fields with the birth of lambs and baby cows. The cycle of new life and beginnings is starting again and Easter gives us the chance to celebrate those new beginnings. I too am celebrating a new beginning for me. Some of the questions in my last blog edition have been answered and help has been found for me.

 

Easter cards available to buy online at www.zumathedog.com

 

It took a lot of research and some phone calls and digging around, but we did find a connection with Dog behaviour and domestic violence and a suitable therapist / trainer has been found to help me with my issues. I have always had trouble trusting people since my abuser left and the trainer is now able to translate my troubles to Mummy, so that she has the best understanding in helping me. After my first consultation my therapist’s description of me was “extremely traumatised”. Finally! Someone who understands me! Many humans don’t expect dogs to have real feeling and emotions and my new therapist is able to articulate those emotions to Mummy making them more real for her. She now has some understanding of what happened to me as a puppy when she wasn’t around and in helping me she has to relive some of the memories she had put to bed. Perhaps this is therapy for both of us?

 

Me and Mummy working together to help each other

 

 It´s only been the first week and there really is a long way to go, but already I am making progress. German Shepherds, for some reason are not my favourite breed of dog and I have always tried to pick a fight with any that I meet. This week I have spent most of my time with a very nice and well behaved one and not one single urge to go and eat him. So, for me that’s a huge improvement. At home I am much calmer, I feel more serene and less anxious. Less of a desire to hide under Mummy’s feet, which I´m sure Mummy is happy about.

If I keep this up Mummy has promised me a big surprise and I´m going to work hard to make improvements each week. I will be able to move on from my trauma and live a full and happy life like many other dogs. You know what though? In all honesty, I am a Jack Russell and it is in my nature to be naughty, so don’t count on me being 100% perfect.

 

Much Love

 

Zuma XX