A Return to a More Serious Note

As I am nearing my four year anniversary since moving to Portugal I can’t help thinking about how much I have changed and grown as a dog. If you recall the post I wrote three years ago entitled “A more serious note” (15^th March 2013), about coping with the aftermath of domestic violence and how Mummy was seeking help for my behaviour while dealing with her own trauma. You would read how difficult times had become.

My life in England was very different. In my early years I was witness to a lot of unpleasant things. Lots of shouting and hiding in small places, violence and aggression. Things no puppy should ever see. When Mummy wasn’t around the unpleasant attention was geared towards me. I learnt early on that I needed to be there for Mummy and we formed a very close bond protecting each other. At two years old the dynamics in our home changed with the removal of our abuser, but being so used to playing the role of Mummy’s protector, traumatised and constantly being on a high state of alert I became aggressive and with this came isolation because I was not trusted to behave in public.

Fast forward four years and with love, kindness, understanding, persistence and a whole lot of therapy; Mummy truly believes I am a different dog. No need to be muzzled and kept on the leash. No need to be kept away from others. Instead of the dog that picks the fight, I am the dog who shows others how to behave. Of course I’m not perfect and I will always be there to protect my home and my family and if a puppy decides to steal my ball at the beach I WILL tell them off, but life is certainly a lot easier.

Daily Doggy Beach Party With My Buddies

Perhaps it’s because I am older and wiser, calmer, more experienced? I now have many doggy friends, who I learn from as well as teach. Time is a great healer as they say. Look at me now! I am the inspiration for the latest kids character and I even have my own children's digital series coming out soon. I am a star!

We are the lucky ones. Unlike so many, we are survivor's of Domestic Violence and it's now our reasonability to speak out against it and stop these terrible acts.

Thank you Mummy for not giving up on me.

Much Love

Zuma XX

Small Dog Digs up New Award

I am blown away by the amount of good news I'm reading about Mummy's hard work right now. It looks like her patience is paying off and here is another exciting announcement we have been celebrating.

This press release is out now about our good news.

Award winning Glastonbury based children’s brand Zuma the Dog announced as a finalist in Book Awards.

Brand owner Samantha Morgan-Bertish is celebrating this week after receiving the news that her book Zuma Likes to Dig, the first picture book in the pre-school series The Adventures of Zuma the Dog has been chosen as a finalist in The Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards. This exciting news coincides with the launch of her fourth book Zuma the Dog: The Dinosaur Guy, both of which are available to buy from Amazon worldwide.

 Books for the award were read and judged by children in 8 UK primary and secondary schools, a book award that is judged by the people that matter with honest opinions and feedback.

Always keen to have mummy read about me to me

“I am delighted and honoured that we have been chosen as a finalist for this award. It means so much to me that my work and dog character, Zuma is enjoyed by so many children.”

Zuma the Dog kids brand was created in Somerset in 2009 inspired by the family pet and has been gaining strength in recent months with licensing deals including a clothing range and an online TV show.

The winners will be announced on 1^st April.

Zuma Likes to Dog: Finalist in book awards

Search Samantha Bertish on Amazon to find all Zuma the Dog book releases worldwide. The Adventures of Zuma the Dog series is available to buy at all good UK book retailers.

I recommend you give my books a go. Your kids will love them and there's nothing better than falling asleep to a story about a dog. The perfect bedtime story all about me!

Much Love

Zuma XX

SMALL DOG PREMIERS ON KINDLE

Mummy is at it again! A new book all about me and my escapades is out and we are really excited. Following my 9th birthday Mummy decided it was time to put something new out there for you all to enjoy. It's been some time in the making, many changes, tweaks and edits, but finally it's finished and ready for the world. The press release is out and here's what our clever marketing people have to say....................

Children’s brand Zuma the Dog is pleased to announce the release of their latest story book on Amazon.

New Kindle Edition

Embracing the tech world, this first kindle edition of their new picture book Zuma the Dog: The Dinosaur Guy is now available to pre-order on Amazon ahead of its launch date on 1st March. If you would like to review this book then brand owner Samantha Morgan invites you to email her at zuma@zumathedog.com and the first 20 people will receive a FREE PDF version of the book.

“It’s been some time since we released a story book and looking forward to hearing the public’s reaction. We are so happy that our brand is able to extend into products outside the clothing line. It gives the brand real strength and longevity in a fickle and ever changing marketplace.”

You can search Samantha Bertish on Amazon to find all Zuma the Dog book releases and click here to go straight to our new release.

I hope that you enjoy our new book and look forward to seeing your reviews on Amazon.

Happy Valentine's Day and Much Love

Zuma XX

Little Dog signs Licensing Agent

So, this is why Mummy has been so busy just lately. Would have been nice to know she was signing me to an agent. I guess now I can say "Talk to my agent!"

Zuma the Dog finds growth through Licensing

Glastonbury based start up Children’s brand Zuma the Dog is excited to announce they have now signed a Licensing Agent. Those Licensing People based in North Yorkshire is set to grow the brands awareness outside its original clothing line.

  TLP will represent Zuma the Dog, with an initial project being a TV series aimed at 4-6 year olds to be broadcast worldwide via its YouTube Channel Zuma the Dog TV. This will open up Zuma the Dog to an international market and give the ability for the brand to extend outside its current online market with licensed products such as stationary, plush collectibles, toys, gifts and apps. Award winning marketing company Weird Lime will be heading up all the marketing to compliment all licensed products. “This is an exciting step forward for Zuma the Dog”. Says owner/creator Samantha Morgan “we are really looking forward to working with TLP and Weird Lime and will continue to make sure Zuma the Dog’s core brand philosophy stays in the forefront of the TV series and any new licensed products.”

Samantha will continue to concentrate her efforts on the clothing line and hopes the licensed products will bring more brand awareness and free up time for her to continue designing fabulous fashion for kids.

Little Stuffed Zuma is all ready

for Christmas

What exciting news this is to end what has been a fabulous year for the whole family. I can't wait to see myself on TV and going over right now to subscribe to Zuma the Dog TV. I suggest you do the same to be sure you get the very latest on the TV show.         

With Christmas just around the corner there is still time to get your hands on some of our award winning Zuma the Dog products and our books make great stocking fillers too.

We hope you enjoy this special time with your families and we will be back in the New Year with more news and updates about our TV series and other escapades from Zuma the Dog HQ.

Much Love

Zuma XX

Zuma's Fashion Doldrums

As if facing the change in the British weather and the depressed feeling you get at the end of the summer, knowing that all you have to look forward to is six months of long cold winter nights followed by morning visits from Jack Frost, bundling the kids into their thick coats, hats and scarves and scrapping ice off the car windscreen wasn't enough, after scouting around the local supermarkets to find Master C something interesting to wear for the next season, I was dumbstruck to see the lack of interesting options available.

Too dull for kids!

Still lucky, during mid August to experience what often seems a very short summer for the UK in recent years, I thought it would be nice while shopping with Nanny Zuma to get a quick clothing shop done (knowing it’s Master C’s growing season). Enjoying the sunshine and still feeling quite summery I entered the boys section of the supermarket only to be faced with the most dullest, boring and downright dreary clothing range I could possible see. There was absolutely nothing exciting or inspiring about the styles and quite frankly not willing to dress my fun, colourful, playful little boy anything this store had to offer.

I don’t want to sound like a moaning mini, but having worked as a designer supplying stores like these for many years, I believe their buyers are playing it too safe by not offering an alternative to grey, black and white stripes, grey on grey checks with an accent of red and white. I actually thought I’d walked into the school uniform department at first until I realised this was the only row available for boys clothes.

Shame on you ASDA! Shame shame shame for lacking imagination and balls to try something new. With a consumer spend of £3.4 Million, (figures based on tax year 2008-2009), I’m pretty sure you can come up with something better, more exciting, more original than what you already currently stock. Why play it safe for the sake of margins and profit?

Same dull colours in Europe

Our children deserve to dress age appropriate, fun, colourful and bright.  Supermarkets and other high street chain stores can do so much better than this. It’s time to stop forcing bland winter fashion doldrums on our children, particularly stocking colours like this during August.  Winter is tough enough! Dress to impress not dress to depress!

Lucky for you guy’s Zuma the Dog can save the day and brighten up those winter fashion blues. ;-)

Much Love

Mummy Zuma XX

JEALOUS? WHO ME?

 

So, it looks like Stuffed Zuma had the time of his life while he was on his travels with Mummy and Master C. Nope! I’m not jealous at all. Jack Russell’s don’t know what it feels like to be jealous. We just don’t have it in us! MMmmmmmm

 

Don’t get me wrong, I had a wonderful time playing at the farm, but they don’t need to rub it in that I got left behind with all their posted instagram photos. I guess in Mummy’s mind she sees it as a way to gain more inspiration for her books and clothing line and I do believe she has a few things up her sleeve……………….. I feel another trip coming on.

While she gets back into the swing of work mode, lots of phone calls and meetings are taking place. I know she has some ideas and really wants to get my Zuma the Dog brand back into the UK high street. I believe a plan is being hatched and with any luck I can tell you all about it next time my paws are ready to type. It’s been super hot here this week and the ground has been really too hot for walking on. In need my walkies, but my little paws have gotten just a bit too hot for my liking, which is why it’s not so easy typing today.

 

Now if you don’t mind, I’m off to poop under Mummy’s bed to get her back for not taking me with her and don't forget to check out all our social media from our office daily antics.

 

Much Love

Zuma  XX