One Question I Hate to Be Asked One question I truly hate to be asked is, ‘What is the lowest you will take?’ or ‘Can you go any lower?’ It is incredibly insulting because people don’t see the immense amount of work, heart, and soul that goes into what we do at Duty Danes. They […]
How to Calculate Your Dog’s Resting Energy Requirement (RER)
How do I calculate RER to determine proper feeding amounts? To determine proper feeding amounts, you must first calculate your dog’s Resting Energy Requirement (RER) to establish a baseline of the calories they need at rest, and then calculate their Daily Energy Requirement (DER) to account for their specific growth stage and activity level. Step […]
From Failure to Success: Lessons Learned in Dog Breeding
Lessons from the School of Hard Knocks The School of Hard Knocks has been one of my toughest teachers. Losing litters to something as devastating as parvo felt like a total failure at the time, and those disappointments were incredibly hard to handle. However, those moments forced me to dig deeper into the science of […]
Understanding Overnutrition Risks in Large-Breed Puppies
What are the risks of overnutrition in large-breed puppies? Based on the provided sources, the risks of overnutrition in large- and giant-breed puppies are significant and primarily involve Developmental Orthopedic Disease (DOD). While owners often worry about malnutrition, veterinary experts state that dietary deficiencies are of “minimal concern” in modern commercial diets; rather, the potential […]
Bridging Human and Canine Connection: An Autobiography
Autobiography Opening Statement My life truly began when I realized my purpose was to bridge the gap between human need and canine loyalty, starting with a Great Dane named Tovi, who showed me the way of healing hearts one paw at a time.
Understanding Nutritional Needs of Large Breed Puppies
Why do some breeders recommend adult food for large puppies? Some breeders recommend feeding large- and giant-breed puppies adult dog food because they believe puppy food will cause the dogs to grow too quickly and their joints to suffer. They suggest using adult food to safely manage the puppy’s rapid growth and prevent developmental orthopedic […]
Vital Equipment for Raising Healthy Puppies
Three Objects I Could Not Live Without When thinking about the kennel and my work, three things stand out as tools I rely on every day. First is my whelping kit. It represents the start of everything, containing the supplies needed to ensure a litter begins life safely. This kit is a reminder of the […]
Safe Puppy Food Transition: A Step-by-Step Guide
How do I safely transition my puppy to a new food? To safely transition your puppy to a new food, you generally want to follow a gradual process to prevent gastrointestinal upset. However, the method may differ slightly depending on whether you are doing a routine switch or correcting a developmental orthopedic issue. The Standard […]
Growing Through Chaos: Lessons from a Dog Kennel
Life Growth and the Kennel Managing a full litter while keeping up with school at Unity Environmental University is a major challenge that forces you to grow. The late nights and constant demands of the puppies, combined with a heavy study load, teach you a level of patience you just can’t get any other way. […]
Guidelines for Joint Supplements in Puppies
When is the right time to start joint supplements? Based on the provided sources, the recommended timing for starting joint supplements varies depending on whether the goal is prevention in a healthy dog or treatment for a specific developmental issue. For Healthy Puppies: Wait Until Adulthood Veterinary nutritionists and experts generally advise against giving joint […]