There is no denying the fact that puppies are hard to resist. From their fuzzy coats, adorable faces, inquisitive actions and silly behaviors, puppies are a joy. But raising a puppy is not all fun and playtime; puppyhood is also critical in setting up the future for every dog’s physical, mental, and behavioral development.
Canine Caviar is able to be part of your puppy’s life from the moment your puppy is conceived all the way through their senior years through our different formulas of dry dog food. One of the ways we do this is through our Breeder Program.
Breeders in the Canine Caviar Breeder Program are able to purchase Canine Caviar food at a reduced price to feed to their dogs. Feeding Canine Caviar alkaline based dog food to their own dogs, including pregnant females, means that puppies in the Canine Caviar Breeder Program are able to benefit from the nutrients in our food from the moment they are conceived and as they grow inside their mother’s body. This also means that the nutrients in Canine Caviar holistic dog food are passed to nursing puppies through their mother’s milk.
Julie McVay, owner of Shadowmyst Labradors and Shadowland Kennels Obedience & Boarding in Oskaloosa, Iowa, is a longtime customer of Canine Caviar alkaline based dog food and a member of the Canine Caviar Breeder Program. She also sells Canine Caviar products through her store located at Shadowland Kennels.
Julie breeds Champion, obedience, agility and hunt titled Labrador Retrievers. She breeds responsibly for sound, sweet temperaments, sound bodies and intelligence. She is an American Kennel Club Breeder of Merit and trains and handles her own dogs in competitions including conformation shows, agility competitions, hunt tests and obedience events.
Julie feeds Canine Caviar to her own dogs, so all of her puppies start their lives on Canine Caviar from the moment their growth begins in utero. As the puppies are weaned their first solid food is the Chicken & Pearl Millet formula. Prior to the puppies going home, Julie provides her new owners with information about Canine Caviar. When the puppies go home at eight weeks old, Julie sells bags to take home at a reduced price so that owners can seamlessly continue to feed the puppy a good dog food.
“The reason I like this food is because it has the highest digestibility on the market and they use animal ingredients that have no hormones or antibiotics used on them” Julie explains. “There is also no soy, wheat or corn in the food and they have never had a recall on their dry food. It is also one of the very few low or no grain foods that does not use potato (which some dogs are allergic to and is a cheap ingredient) as a carb. I have been using Canine Caviar for over 10 years now and it has worked great for my Labs. “
Julie prefers the adult Chicken & Pearl Millet formula for her Labrador puppies because the protein, fat, calcium and phosphorous levels work well for large breed puppies. This helps the puppies avoid some of the bone and joint issues that large breed puppies can have during their high growth rate periods. She has successfully raised her puppies on this formula for over ten years. Julie mentioned, “I love that the dehydrated chicken guarantees a very high meat content which gives my Labs an optimal animal protein diet that is not outweighed by numerous grains.”
Julie told us that many of her puppy buyers keep their Labradors on Canine Caviar. Some live in areas where Canine Caviar is not easily found but they order it online so that it is shipped to them. Some have switched to something else, only to have less than optimal results and resume feeding Canine Caviar.
“I currently have one puppy buyer whose dog is ten years old now. His litter was the first litter that I used the Canine Caviar with. As he reached ten years old, his immune system was compromised and he developed some allergies” Julie explained. “He had lost a lot of his coat, was itching and was miserable. After many trips to the vet and after trying numerous treatments and various different foods, I convinced the puppy buyer to try the Chicken & Pearl Millet Canine Caviar. In a matter of one month the change was dramatic. His hair is growing back and he is not having any of the severe symptoms he had previously.”
If you obtain a puppy from a breeder in our Breeder Program they will have excellent advice on how much to feed your puppy when it comes home as well as during its first year. If you have acquired or plan to acquire a puppy through a breeder not in our program or from a rescue organization or shelter, they will also have good tips on determining the nutritional needs of your new family member. Different sizes and different breeds of puppies have different needs for optimal growth. The best food for a Great Dane puppy will not necessarily be the same as the optimal food for a Dachshund puppy. We also provide feeding guidelines on our bags of puppy formulas, both our Grain-Free Puppy Dinner and the Large Breed Puppy Dinner.
The most important part of feeding your puppy is to ensure that he or she has the nutrients needed to grow but is not overfed so that he or she grows too quickly and puts stress on their growing joints and muscles. Your puppy’s calories should be spread over three feedings a day until they are approximately six months old, at which point you can split their caloric needs into two feedings.
Along with all of the good dog food that they are eating, remember that exercise, training and mental exercise are also essential parts of your puppy’s development. As your puppy matures you can also include our natural dog treats, bully sticks and bones. Our dry kibble also makes great training treats. As always, supervise your puppy or grown dog whenever they have a treat and never allow them to enjoy them without an adult human present. Also make sure the type of bone is appropriate for their stage in the teething process so that they do not injure themselves.
Breeders who are interested in the Canine Caviar Breeder Program can contact us at 800 392 7898 to speak to the Canine Caviar Support Team. Certain criteria and requirements apply in order for breeders to be accepted to this program.