Welcome to Dog Food Coach! Here are some of the things my beloved clients have told me, followed by some background on how my path evolved. Contact me for assistance or visit my Services page. ~ Sarah
We are very grateful for your help. It really changed everything for Finn.” ~ L. Marsh
I can attest that the best thing I have done for my dogs is to learn to cook for them. I have seen them come back from compromised health to a much better promising place for a longer life.. That is why I love what you do and have the utmost respect and am so happy for your success! I wish you more and continued success. – Pat
Nelly is a long-coat Dalmatian that I bought from a breeder who was not good. She had issues as soon as I got her when she was 8 weeks old. They at first thought it was a taurine problem. At six months, I brought her to be spayed. The vet gave her an EKG before the operation and her heart was going wild!! The vet told me it was so bad that she could have a heart attack running around the yard. Went to a specialist and it was decided she had a heart issue. It was at this time that I found your name at the vet’s. I had a consultation with you and you prescribed a diet for heart health. Fast forward 3 and 1/2 years. Turns out she did not have heart disease but a viral infection. I still prepare her food according to your recipes and she is a healthy and happy dog. Thank you. Thank you. ~ Carole
Thanks so much for checking in and helping our clients! I will continue to send people your way because everyone seems happy including me! ~Dr. L.
We can’t thank you enough for helping us to turn our dog Boomie’s health around. He was showing signs of pain, symptoms of arthritis and joint discomfort, and was even having trouble getting out of the house. We always tried to make the best choice on his food, sparing no expense, looking for the best brand. Dog food recalls always had us concerned. We started making his food, based on your recipes, and we noticed a difference almost immediately. We believe in what you are doing, and hope that others will learn what we have from you to help their pets live long and happy lives. ~ Cynthia & Mike PS – See Boomie’s story here.
Just wanted to check in and let you know Finley is doing much better with the allergies and diet. She doesn’t itch like before and no more bumps or red skin. ~ Katherine
Thank you so much for your kind words, it’s really appreciated. You have been nothing but a bright light and encouraging while I lost hope for my boy. You always helped to keep him as healthy as possible. He ate and looked forward to eating up to that last morning. He loved your recipes so much. ~Tina
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
The first time I saw Mikey was December 27th, 2018, he weighed 13.7 lbs. He was brought to me for a third opinion about his condition. He had been diagnosed with severe Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). About 6 months prior to his visit with me, he started to have bloody diarrhea, 5-6 bowel movements per day, losing weight and was eating his own stool… read more about Mikey and how homemade food helped. ~ Dr. B.
I cannot even begin to express how kind and compassionate Sarah has been since first contacting her…she was able to guide me to kidney healthy foods, guide and support me through the process of “home cooking” my dog food. Before Sarah I had spent hours and hours reading about dog foods and chose a kibble that I thought was better than all the others. Today, I wouldn’t touch it. ~Jill
About Me & My Passion Project – Dogs and Nutrition!
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:
- 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 loves good food, and lounging in the snow.
My next addition to the family, Autumn, is almost 10 years young and still loving her walks, playtime and FOOD!
And then Wynter
Wynter (Wynnie) arrived in 2021.
Wynnie still acts like a pup at almost 5 years of age.
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