42 questions. The answers to life, the universe, and feeding dogs.

You don’t have to know where to start.
That’s my job.

How do I know which service is right for my dog?

You don’t have to figure that out on your own. Submit a brief service request through Get Started, and I’ll review the information before you purchase anything to make sure you’re starting with the best option.

If I need more information before making a recommendation, I’ll contact you by email.

How soon can my consultation be scheduled?

After payment is received, I assign your consultation to the next available work week, usually the same or following week, and confirm by email.

Special-needs cases receive preferential scheduling. If your dog requires urgent nutritional assistance, please mention that in your service request and I will make every effort to accommodate you as quickly as possible.

Consultations are completed online and by email, so you do not need to be available at a specific time of day.

What happens after I submit a service request?

I’ll review the information you provide and let you know which service I recommend.

Once the service is confirmed, I’ll send you payment information. After payment is received, I’ll assign your consultation to the next available work week, usually the same or following week, and send you everything you need to get started.

How long does it take to receive my feeding plan?

Once I begin work on your consultation, it is generally completed within 1–2 business days. If your case requires additional information or takes longer than expected, I’ll let you know.

Do you offer phone consultations?

Yes. Phone consultations are available.

Do you offer personal visits?

Yes. Personal visits are available.

Can you show me how to prepare my dog’s food?

Yes. A personal visit can include hands-on guidance with food preparation, weighing and portioning ingredients, supplements, storage, organization, and putting an existing Feeding Plan into practice.

Can I reschedule my consultation?

Yes. If the time frame of your confirmed starting week no longer works for you, please let me know as soon as possible. Rescheduling is free of charge, including when circumstances require more than one change.

Specific cancellation, refund, credit, and rescheduling deadlines are outlined in the Terms & Conditions you receive before making a payment.

What is your cancellation and refund policy?

Cancellation and refund terms depend on how far in advance you cancel or reschedule. In general, earlier notice allows for a full or partial refund or credit, while late cancellations and missed consultations may not be refundable. Completed consultations are not refundable because payment covers the time and work already provided.

The exact deadlines and credit terms are outlined in the Terms & Conditions you receive before making a payment.

Special Needs & Individual Cases

Complicated is allowed.

Does my dog need a diagnosis?

For Fresh-Food Diets for Special Needs, I require the relevant veterinary records to understand your dog’s medical needs.

If you know something is wrong but do not yet have a diagnosis, you can still submit a service request. I’ll review the information you provide and let you know what’s needed before I can formulate.

For suspected food sensitivities and GI distress, elimination-diet work may sometimes begin without a specific diagnosis, but unexplained or persistent symptoms should still be evaluated by your veterinarian first.

What if my dog has more than one medical condition?

Many of the dogs I work with have multiple concurrent diagnoses, and the dietary requirements for one condition may need to be balanced carefully against those of another.

These cases require an individually formulated Fresh-Food Diet for Special Needs, so the diet can be formulated around the complete medical picture rather than a single condition.

What information or veterinary records will I need to provide?

That depends on the service and your dog’s situation. For healthy dogs, the questionnaires usually provide most of the information I require.

For dogs with diagnosed medical conditions, I may also request relevant veterinary records, blood work, imaging reports, or other diagnostics. I’ll let you know exactly what is appropriate for your dog’s case.

The more complete the information you provide, the better I can understand your dog’s needs and make appropriate recommendations.

Do you work with my veterinarian?

While I prefer to work with your veterinarian as a team whenever possible, direct veterinary involvement is not required. Not all veterinarians are comfortable with home-prepared diets, and that should not prevent you from pursuing an appropriately formulated diet for your dog.

For dogs with diagnosed medical needs, I do require the veterinary information necessary to understand the case, including relevant diagnoses, blood work, records, and other diagnostics as applicable. Nutrition is provided in a supportive role and within the veterinary treatment plan.

If additional veterinary information or clarification is needed before I can proceed, I’ll let you know.

What if my dog is a picky eater?

If you already know that your dog is selective about foods or may refuse certain ingredients, please tell me about that in your questionnaire so I can take it into account when formulating the diet.

I can also help with the behavioral side of picky eating by guiding you through a structured feeding approach and helping your dog become more accepting of appropriate foods over time.

My dog needs to lose or gain weight. Can you help?

Yes. Weight Management is available for dogs that need to lose or gain weight safely, with an individualized plan for reaching and maintaining ideal body condition.

Before starting a weight-loss plan, I review your dog’s health and diet history, current needs, blood work, and other relevant diagnostics. This is important because unexplained weight gain or loss can have an underlying medical cause that needs to be addressed first.

Depending on your preference, the plan may use commercial food or an individually formulated fresh-food diet.

Fresh-Food Diets & Formulation

There will be math. You won’t have to do it.

Do you formulate cooked and raw diets?

Yes. Fresh-food diets may be cooked, raw, or a combination of both, depending on the individual dog and the owner’s preferences.

I do not base formulation on a particular feeding philosophy. The goal is to develop a diet that meets established nutrient requirements and is appropriate for the dog in front of me.

What nutrient standards do you use when formulating fresh-food diets?

I formulate primarily according to NRC nutrient recommendations, applying them to the needs of the individual dog rather than relying on generic ratios or standard recipes.

Over the years, client feedback and follow-up blood work have repeatedly confirmed that these guidelines work very well in practice, including for dogs maintained on individualized fresh-food diets long term.

In my experience, results have been equally successful with cooked, raw, and combination diets. What matters most is how well the diet is formulated, how appropriate it is for the individual dog, and how consistently the owner follows the plan.

How do you know what my dog needs?

This is where experience and expertise matter. Knowing established nutrient requirements is only the starting point. The real skill is knowing how to apply them to an individual dog, especially when health conditions, medications, food tolerances, body condition, activity, and other factors all have to be considered together.

I look at the whole dog and their health and diet history as well as your practical feeding preferences.

More than two decades of hands-on formulation have taught me how differently dogs can respond, even when they have the same diagnosis. I use that experience together with detailed nutrient analysis to determine what is appropriate for the individual dog rather than relying on generic ratios, standard recipes, or one-size-fits-all recommendations.

Formulation is not just about meeting numbers. It is about knowing which numbers matter, how they interact, and how to turn them into a diet that works for the individual dog.

Do I need to calculate nutrients or balance the diet myself?

No. There will be math. You won’t have to do it. Your Feeding Plan gives you the ingredients, amounts, supplements, and instructions you need to follow the diet as formulated.

Do I have to follow the feeding plan exactly?

For fresh-food plans, yes. A formulated diet is balanced as a complete plan, so changing ingredient amounts, leaving ingredients out, or making substitutions will alter its nutritional profile.

If something in the plan is not working for you or your dog, please ask before changing it. I can let you know whether the change is simple or whether the plan needs to be adjusted or reformulated.

Can I request specific ingredients or foods?

Yes. For fresh-food plans, your food preferences are part of the formulation process whenever they are appropriate for your dog’s nutritional needs.

I can’t guarantee that every requested ingredient will be suitable, but I’ll take your preferences into account and explain when a different choice is necessary.

Can you work with an existing recipe?

Yes. If you already have a homemade recipe that works well for your dog, I can evaluate it and use it as a starting point when appropriate.

If the recipe was created by someone else, I do not make assumptions about the rationale behind their formulation choices. I evaluate the recipe as it is and make recommendations based on your dog’s current needs and the information available to me.

Depending on the nutritional adequacy of the existing recipe, I may be able to make adjustments while preserving much of what you are already feeding, or I may recommend reformulating it more substantially.

The goal is not to unnecessarily change what is already working, but the finished plan still needs to meet your dog’s nutritional requirements and my standards for nutritional excellence.

Will my fresh-food diet require supplements?

Usually, yes. Whole foods provide an excellent nutritional foundation, but it is not always practical or appropriate to meet every nutrient requirement from food ingredients alone.

I use supplements only where they serve a specific purpose. Part of the formulation process is balancing your budget and preference for simplicity against the amount of variety and preparation you are comfortable with. A simpler plan with fewer ingredients may rely more on targeted supplements, while a diet built with greater ingredient variety may allow more nutrients to come directly from the foods themselves.

If minimizing supplements is important to you, I can formulate diets that rely on very little. This requires greater ingredient variety and careful balancing, so please mention that preference in your questionnaire.

The goal is to find the right balance for your dog and your household while still meeting your dog’s nutritional requirements.

Can I combine fresh food with commercial food?

Yes. A feeding plan does not have to be all-or-nothing. Depending on your dog’s needs, I can help you combine fresh food with an appropriate commercial diet in a way that remains nutritionally sensible.

The balance matters, especially when fresh foods make up more than a small portion of the diet, because substantial additions can change the overall nutrient profile.

How will I know if the fresh-food diet is working well for my dog?

Many owners notice improvements in overall appearance, energy, muscle tone, and body condition. Even when calorie intake and body weight remain about the same, dogs often become trimmer, leaner, and better muscled after transitioning to a correctly balanced fresh-food diet made from high-quality, less processed ingredients.

For dogs with medical conditions, follow-up veterinary exams, blood work, or other diagnostics may also be important for evaluating how well the diet is supporting the individual dog.

What if my dog has trouble tolerating the new diet at first?

It’s rare that fresh food isn’t well tolerated, but some dogs do need a slower transition, especially if they have a sensitive digestive system or are making a major change from their previous diet.

If you notice digestive upset, poor appetite, or another problem after starting the new plan, let me know rather than making changes on your own. I can help determine whether the transition simply needs to be slowed down or whether something in the plan needs to be adjusted.

What if my dog has never eaten fresh food before?

If dogs could talk, the answer would likely be, “What took you so long?”

No previous experience with fresh-food feeding is required. Your Feeding Plan and Custom Diet Handbook provide the instructions you need for shopping, preparation, storage, portioning, and feeding, and I’m available for questions during your included support period.

Preparation & Everyday Feeding

There will be groceries. You will have to prep them.

Will I have to prepare food every day?

No. My fresh-food plans are designed as weekly plans, so most clients can shop and prepare food in batches rather than making meals from scratch every day. Prepared portions will be refrigerated or frozen for later use.

How much preparation time is involved depends on the recipe, the amount of food you are preparing, your kitchen setup, and how handy you are with food preparation. I will work with your preparation requirements and time constraints within reason and can often adjust ingredient choices or preparation methods to make the plan more practical for your household.

Preparation also tends to become quicker once you are familiar with the recipe and have an established routine.

Monthly plans are also available by request.

Do I need special equipment to prepare a fresh-food diet?

Only two things are mandatory: a food scale and a set of standard measuring spoons, so ingredients and supplements can be measured accurately.

Beyond that, most plans can be prepared with ordinary kitchen equipment. Some additional equipment can make certain preparation tasks easier or faster, but it is not mandatory.

Your Custom Diet Handbook includes additional information about useful kitchen equipment, food preparation, storage, and other practical aspects of preparing your dog’s diet.

Are the ingredients in your fresh-food plans easy to find?

In most cases, yes. I try to use practical, readily available foods and supplements whenever they are appropriate for the dog. Some cases may require a more specialized ingredient or supplement.

Clients receive a detailed shopping list with their plan, so they know exactly what to purchase.

If a food ingredient later becomes unavailable, replacing it will usually require reformulation because changing ingredients will likely affect the nutritional balance of the plan. If a simple supplement product becomes unavailable or is discontinued, I can usually help you identify an appropriate replacement at no additional charge.

If you’re unsure, ask before making a substitution.

Can you work within my budget?

Yes. Budget is one of the practical considerations I take into account when developing a feeding plan. Ingredient choices, food variety, supplement use, and preparation style can often be adjusted to make a fresh-food diet more affordable.

I will work within your preferences as much as possible, but I will not compromise the nutritional adequacy of the finished plan simply to reduce cost.

Because food prices vary considerably by location and retailer, I cannot predict your exact local cost.

What if I have more than one dog?

Each feeding plan is formulated for one individual dog. Even dogs in the same household may differ in calorie needs, life stage, health, body condition, or nutrient requirements.

Reduced rates are available in many cases when I formulate plans for multiple dogs of the same life stage in the same household at the same time. I can also streamline ingredients, shopping, and preparation where appropriate so the plans work together as efficiently as possible.

I only formulate for dogs I have personally evaluated. Please mention all dogs in your service request, and I’ll give you a quote based on the number of dogs and services needed.

Will my dog’s feeding plan need to be updated over time?

Sometimes. A plan may need to be adjusted if your dog’s weight, activity level, health status, medications, diagnostics, or nutritional needs change. Sometimes ingredients no longer work, or products are discontinued.

For healthy adult dogs with stable needs, updates may be infrequent. Puppies, senior and geriatric dogs, dogs with medical conditions, and dogs whose circumstances are changing may need more regular review.

Existing clients can request a Review Only consultation if they are unsure whether their current plan still fits their dog. If the review shows that adjustments are needed, the Review Only fee will be credited toward the cost of reformulation.

Puppies, Seniors & Active Dogs

They grow. They age. Some of them have jobs.

Do you work with puppies and senior dogs?

Yes. I formulate diets for dogs of all life stages, from puppies after weaning to senior and geriatric dogs, with adjustments based on the individual dog’s nutritional requirements, health, body condition, and activity level.

When is the best time to transition a puppy to fresh food?

During the growth phase, puppies are building the body they will live in for the rest of their lives. One of the very best things you can do to support long-term health is to feed a correctly balanced fresh-food diet and start as early as possible.

A puppy can transition to a properly formulated fresh-food diet as soon as they are fully weaned. Some breeders and veterinarians recommend waiting until a certain age, sometimes even until one year old, but there is no valid reason to wait.

What about working, hunting, show, and sport dogs?

I work with working, hunting, show, and sport dogs as well as companion dogs. Their nutritional needs can vary considerably depending on the type, intensity, and duration of their activity, training schedule, body condition, recovery needs, and the individual dog.

My own experience includes training, hunting and working with my terrier, trialing in dog sports, and showing in conformation, giving me a practical understanding of feeding dogs whose nutritional needs extend beyond ordinary daily activity.

Commercial Food & Supplements

Sometimes dinner comes with a label.

Can you help me choose a commercial food instead of a fresh-food diet?

Yes. Better Dog Care offers both Better Kibble for healthy dogs needing straightforward conventional dry-food recommendations and Commercial Food Guidance for broader help with commercial food options, fresh-food toppers, and targeted nutritional supplements.

You do not need to feed a fully homemade diet to work with me.

Do you have a list of dog foods or supplements you recommend?

Not as a universal list. What is appropriate for one dog may be a poor choice for another, depending on individual nutritional needs.

The same applies to supplements. I recommend them when they serve a specific purpose and make sense in the context of the complete diet.

If you need help choosing commercial foods or targeted supplements for your dog, Better Kibble or Commercial Food Guidance may be the appropriate place to start.

Does my dog need supplements if I feed commercial food?

Maybe. A commercial diet with a “complete and balanced” claim does not automatically mean additional supplements aren’t needed or couldn’t be beneficial.

About Sabine

Serious about nutrition. Less serious about sounding serious.

What are your qualifications in canine nutrition?

I describe my work as canine care and nutrition consulting. My educational background includes eight years of biology and six years of chemistry, followed by a 2½-year professional apprenticeship in Germany that included nutrition and dietetics as part of the curriculum and state examinations.

I later completed the Animal Care Certificate through the University of Guelph, including coursework in animal nutrition.

Beyond formal education, I have been investigating the commercial pet food industry since 2001 and formulating individualized fresh-food diets since 2005. More than two decades of hands-on formulation experience, including work with healthy dogs and dogs with complex medical needs, are an important part of the background I bring to each case.

Do you work with rescues?

Yes. I have worked with rescue organizations as well as individual rescue dogs, including dogs with unknown or incomplete histories, starvation and neglect cases, nutritional deficiencies, digestive problems, weight concerns, and other special needs.

Reduced rates may be available for qualified rescue organizations and foster cases. Please contact me or submit a service request with some information about the dog or dogs involved, and I’ll help determine the most appropriate way to proceed.

Do you work with clients outside the United States?

Yes. Because consultations are completed online and by email, I work with clients internationally as well as within the United States.

DON’T PANIC.
Bring your towel. Don’t throw it in.