Our Feeding Foundation

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All of our dogs are raised on a consistent base.

• Puppies and pregnant females: Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy (Lamb & Rice)

• Adults: Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult (Chicken or Lamb)

 

The important part isn’t just the brand. It’s that it’s a large breed formula.

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Giant breeds need controlled nutrition, especially when it comes to bone and joint development. You’re not trying to grow them as fast as possible. You’re trying to grow them correctly. While it's possible to get what you need for your dog in another way, the easiest thing to do is just buy a large breed kibble, that way you know it's already been formulated with your dog's needs in mind.

 

Why We Switch Moms to Puppy Food

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When a female is pregnant, we switch her from adult food to large breed puppy food. At that point, she’s not just maintaining herself. She’s building an entire litter.

 

Puppy food is formulated to support growth and reproduction, so it gives:

• More calories to help her hold her condition

• The right balance of nutrients for developing puppies

 

We learned early on that a female can lose more condition than you realize during pregnancy. You don’t always see it until after she gives birth, due to her growing belly and how many calories puppies are consuming. So now we stay ahead of it on purpose.

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Our Whole-Food Pregnancy Support

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The kibble we feed is complete and balanced on its own. But during pregnancy, we go a step further.

We’re not trying to reinvent dog nutrition. We’re just making sure the mom has everything she needs while she’s doing the work of growing puppies. And if she get's a little extra, that's fine, too.

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Our Whole-Food, Bioavailable Prenatal Support

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We used to use Dinovite powdered vitamins, but over time the availability changed. At the same time, I was going through my own fertility journey and learning how important truly bioavailable prenatal nutrition is. That led me to step back, research what actually matters, and build our own version of doggy prenatal vitamins using whole foods.

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We make a homemade whole-food casserole, portion it, and freeze it so it’s easy to use. It’s simple, consistent, and gives us control over what our females are getting during pregnancy.

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If we are what we eat, then the puppies we produce are built from what we feed the mother. So this is one area where we choose to be intentional.

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It includes:

• Eggs

• Canned pumpkin

• Nutritional yeast

• Ground sunflower seeds

• Kale

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We also feed:

• Canned mackerel

• Chicken livers

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Why These Ingredients Matter

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Each ingredient is in there for a reason. We’re supporting specific parts of development.

• Eggs
  → provide high-quality protein for muscle and tissue development, choline for brain and nervous system formation, vitamin A for organ development, vitamin D for skeletal growth, and essential fatty acids for cell development

• Pumpkin
  → provides fiber to regulate digestion and support nutrient absorption, along with beta-carotene for immune and tissue development, and potassium to support hydration and muscle function

• Nutritional yeast
  → provides B vitamins, including folate, a bioavailable form of folic acid that supports early cell division and plays a role in the development of the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord, while also supporting overall energy and metabolism

• Sunflower seeds
  → provide vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps protect developing tissues, along with healthy fats like linoleic acid that support skin, coat, and cell development, plus trace minerals that support overall function

• Kale
  → provides calcium for bone and skeletal development, vitamin K for bone health and normal blood clotting, vitamin C to support immune function and tissue development, folate to support cell division, and beta-carotene (a precursor to vitamin A) that supports eye and tissue development, along with antioxidants that help protect developing cells

• Canned mackerel
  → provides omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA and EPA, which support brain and eye development, along with high-quality protein for growth, vitamin D for skeletal development, and B vitamins that support energy and nervous system function

• Chicken livers
  → provide vitamin A to support organ development, especially the eyes and immune system, along with iron and B vitamins that support red blood cell formation, energy, nervous system function, and overall development

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We learned that three of our girls hate chicken livers. Lol. So although it provides many benefits, only Opal will eat them. All the dogs love everything else, though.

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A Note About Calcium

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We do not add eggshells to the pregnancy mix. Calcium balance matters, especially in giant breeds, and it’s not something we want to guess on during pregnancy.

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Instead:

• We save eggshells separately

• We may add calcium support after birth, when the mother is nursing

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Extra Calories & Support

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During pregnancy and especially during nursing, we increase calories as needed.

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We may use:

• Olive oil

• Karo syrup

• Hot dogs

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The dogs think they’re getting treats. We know we’re making sure they have enough energy to do their job.

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Whelping & Lactation Support

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When a female goes into labor, we keep extra support on hand.

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We use:

• Oral calcium support during labor

• Yogurt or ice cream if needed

• Pedialyte added to water for electrolytes

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After birth:

• We continue higher calories

• Continue whole-food support

• Add support as needed during nursing