This course is the foundation for all the others.

Here we learn about canine nutrition from the ground up, starting with digestion, nutrients and food sources, basic nutrient requirements of dogs, as well as an evaluation of feeding types (commercial diet, raw diets, and home-cooked recipes).

Part One is an examination of the essential nutritional needs of the domestic dog. We take a close look at canine digestion, and then go straight into nutrients – what they are, which foods provide them, how much of each an individual dog requires (using the National Research Council’s Nutrient Requirements of Dogs, 2006), and how nutrients interact, and affect the bioavailability of other nutrients. This information forms the very “basics of canine nutrition” and any study of the topic needs to start here.

It is tremendously empowering to know what an individual animal will need dietarily and how to provide it. If you don’t study the nutrients, you can’t go forward in nutrition.

Part Two builds on the knowledge you gained in Part One;  here we evaluate various methods of providing nutrients with an eye to what might work best for an individual dog.

Commercial diet, homemade cooked diets, and various forms of raw feeding are evaluated without bias, but a clear presentation of both pros and cons of each. We also look at feeding for life stages, and the basics of supplementation, although individual needs and supplements for health issues are explored more fully in other courses.

The Basics of Canine Nutrition Course is suited to those who have an interest in knowing more about canine nutrient requirements and digestion, reading dog food labels, identifying food sources of various nutrients,  deciding between raw, cooked, or commercial diets, and generally making sound nutritional choices for their dogs.

It will be of great value to those in the retail field, to veterinary assistants, breeders, behaviourists and trainers, TellingtonTouch practitioners, those involved in various sports and competitive work, and of course, anyone who simply loves and lives with dogs. It lays the groundwork for the Advanced Nutrition/Dietary Formulation programme and is an extremely important companion course to the Applied Herbalism course.

This is the mentored version (for the unmentored version, see Audit Option).  Course materials are provided; two text books are also required. These are Dog Food Logic by Linda Case, and Canine and Feline Nutrition: A Resource for Companion Animal Professionals, 3rd Edition.

There are sixteen modules, consisting of reading, research and written assignments.  For this mentored version, I mark the assignments, and am available for commentary, classroom discussion and support as needed in in our Facebook private group.

Upon completion, you receive a Certificate  of Completion. The course is open-ended, meaning you can take as long as you need to complete it.  I highly recommend sticking to a regular schedule of study if possible!

Timeline & Location

The course is done entirely online.

The course is open-ended and can be completed in your own time. I will be available at all times to specific questions as needed and to mark assignments and offer additional commentary and support.  A virtual classroom will be set up where people can discuss the material for each week and post questions for me as well. Class participation is optional, but readings will be mandatory. I will attempt to utilize as many reliable online resources for the basic course as possible.