“I am excited he LOVES your recipe. He has never really been food motivated… I never had a dog be part of our family and not be food motivated.” ~ Lindsey
So many choices… so what dog food is best? With all the information out there, that might sound like a confusing question!
Maybe the answer is: Perhaps the best dog food is not “dog food” at all.
Just like us, our dogs do best on whole foods. Making that happen is very simple once you learn a couple tricks of the trade. Here is what I can offer you:
Cooking. I have been home cooking for my dogs since 2008, and have learned many things. I’ve been fortunate enough to connect with some very progressive veterinarians and other pros who have taught me a great deal over the years!
Learning. I’ve been studying human and animal nutrition since 1996. See my educational creds below.
Experience and Love. My work on behalf of animals began long ago, and over the years I’ve had the pleasure of working with a number of nonprofit animal protection organizations. I believe my love and concern for animals was inborn, and is not going anywhere.
My Education:
- Current – Pursuing Pet Master Herbalist certification
- 2022 – Pet Therapeutic Nutrition Coach Certification, North American Veterinary Association
- 2022 – Pet Nutrition Coach Certification, North American Veterinary Association
- 2016 – Master of Science, Holistic Nutrition, American College of Healthcare Sciences, Portland, OR – Delta Epsilon Tau Honor Society
- 2011 – Holistic Chef for Animals (HCA) certification, Global College of Natural Medicine, Santa Cruz, CA
- 2010 – Canine sports and therapeutic massage studies, Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure and Massage, Carbondale, CO
- 2005 – Canine Massage Advanced Studies, Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy, Newington, CT
- 2000 – Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Political Science, University of Connecticut
- 1998 – Master of Science in Animals and Public Policy lectures, Tufts University, Grafton, MA
- 1997-1999 – Animal law and ethics lectures, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
- 1996 – Diploma, Comprehensive Nutrition (Dip.C.N.), Huntington College of Health Sciences, Knoxville, TN
My animal-related work has been featured in:
- K9 Magazine
- GoSolo
- The Shoreline Times
- The Guilford Courier
- Dog Fancy magazine
- NBC News
- The Waterbury Republican-American
- Voices
- The Litchfield County Times
- The Seattle-Post Intelligencer and elsewhere
About Cori, one of my inspirations for Dog Food Coach and so much more….
Cori was my first dog on homemade food.
Cori, a golden retriever mix of some sort, came to me off the rescue truck as a scared pup from Georgia. During our time together, she overcame amazing hurdles, including becoming blind from glaucoma at age three.
Our journey into homemade food began in 2007, when I began researching pet foods and discovered that with a few exceptions, I can’t put my faith in the safety of most commercial foods on the market today.
Learning about recalls, chemicals, fillers, mold and all sorts of other contaminants led me to say “enough is enough,” and I transitioned my best furry friend onto homemade food. Now I know exactly what’s in her food. I control the ingredients, the quality and the freshness, and I feel at ease knowing I am not subjecting Cori to the culinary unknown.
After Cori began eating homemade, human-grade food, her fur became softer, a lump on her back disappeared, and her spirits remained high into her elderly years. I truly believe that giving her clean, whole foods — and constant love of course — made all the difference in her long life.
Autumn Came Next
Autumn was born in 2016 and has always had my homemade food.
My next addition to the family, Autumn (seen lounging here) is on the same track. She has never had a kibble based diet.
And then Wynter
Me and my girls Autumn, left, and Wynnie, zooming at camera.
If you would like to learn more about incorporating healthier foods into your dog’s diet, explore my Services page to choose what works for you. We will work together to create a plan that works for your dog’s needs and your lifestyle.
Best wishes,
Sarah