Dog owners want the best dog food for their canine companions, and the result is a booming industry in how to care for this wide range of animals. Specialized diet and nutrition has become a main focus of those tasked with taking care of America's dog population — and professionals caring for all of these dogs keep an eye on dog food suppliers to find out what's really good for canine care. The dog food business being somewhat lax in regulation, these individuals help owners find the best diet for a pooch.

Whether it's finding "wellness dog food" for a mutt, or pedigree dog food for a thoroughbred, those looking to become schooled in canine nutrition have many choices. A formal education can form the basis for a lasting business, and the web abounds with details that can help out, including:

1. University sites and pages offering course work and displaying the results of programs around dog food and care.

2. Other training schools for dog food and other canine care aspects.

3. Continuing education and other resources for groomers, dog walkers and anyone involved in the many products of dog food or dog biscuits manufacturers.

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Find dog food training info from colleges and universities

One resource on the web is from universities: dedicated canine professionals can find programs for formal training; others can evaluate field programs and find out more about advances in the dog food business.

I recommend: Check out this page at Cornell to see what kinds of applications its programs could have relevant to canine nutrition. Find out more at Pet Nutrition Consulting, which advises veterinarians and their owners.

Look for more dog food training from other schools and societies

Independent schools also offer resources for learning about healthy dog food. These institutions have helped many toward a career in taking good care of the nation's large animal population.

I recommend: Schools like the Companion Animal Sciences Institute offers courses in canine nutrition to learn about what kind of vittles best suit the pup. Find out more at the site of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Locate continuing education resources or info pages on dog food education

There's a lot more on the web, including even more formal education sources for finding out about the quality of wet or dry dog food or the products of a specific dog treat manufacturer by analyzing labels. These can be informative and useful as a springboard into a better knowledge of dog health for canine care workers.

I recommend: Kansas State University's Canine Care workshop provides an example of what kind of continued education seekers can find over the web for getting into some additional training on dog diets. Find more on programs that can be useful in canine dietary care from sites like Nature's Variety, where professionals in the Pet Nutrition Council display their credentials, along with info on what's going on in the industry.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Dog food education and training can be a mix of formal and research-based learning: talk to school and programs, but find the balance that works for your involvement in canine care.

Offering dog food that is healthy and affordable is important, whether you are starting a dog bakery or need supplies for your existing dog food business. From premium dog food to dry dog food, stocking a variety of dog food in your business is essential to maintain current customers and attract new clients.

Dog food suppliers can work with you to ensure you have the variety of dog food you need for your business. You can work with dog biscuits manufacturers to secure the quantity of treats you need at a price that is cost-effective for your business. When you prepare to stock your business with dog food, you should:

1. Partner with dog food suppliers and dog treat manufacturer companies who can work with you to meet your dog food needs.

2. Buy healthy dog food and pedigree dog food in bulk to secure bulk price discounts for your dog food business.

3. Stock a variety of wellness dog food and natural dog food to supply the demands of your customers.

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Partner with experienced dog food suppliers

Experienced dog food suppliers can offer you the best dog food products at affordable prices. They can work with you to determine your exact needs to ensure the ordering process is successful and cost-effective for your business.

I recommend: Use Canine Snack Shack as your dog treat manufacturer for wholesale dog treats at affordable prices. Partner with Champion Petfoods Ltd. to supply your dog food needs. They offer premium dog food at prices that are cost-effective for your business. Become a vendor for products for Super-Dog Pet Food
natural foods that encourage healthy lifestyles.

Buy dog food in bulk

Ensure that you have an ample supply of healthy dog food in stock to meet dog food demands. Dog food suppliers and dog biscuits manufacturers often offer bulk discount prices for large orders of dog food and dog treats.

I recommend: Use Barbara's Canine Catering for unique dog treats at bulk price discounts. Order from DogFoodDirect.com to supply the dog food you need for your business at prices you can afford.

Select a variety of dog food for your business

Dogs in various stages of development and age require unique nutrition to maintain optimal health and to thrive. Stock dog food for all types and ages of dogs and in different price ranges to ensure proper nutrition at an affordable price.

I recommend: Partner with Hills Pet Nutrition to supply your business with a variety of healthy dog food for your store. Register on the official website to order direct to your store. Order a variety of dog food from PetsWarehouse.com for the selection you need at affordable prices.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Offer dog food recipes to customers who would like to make their own to create a unique niche for your dog food business.
• •  Supply dog food recall information to your customers and if a recall does occur, remove all tainted dog food supplies from your shelves to ensure the health of your customers' pets.

Dog food containers are required to list certain information to help the consumer make an informed decision about what to feed a dog. Because most of the information is standardized, there are some key terms that you must understand to ensure that you are selling top quality dog foods to your customers. Once you understand what everything on the dog food label means, you can help your customers make an informed decision. That alone will put you a step above many dog food providers.

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Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) works with the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure that pet food meets federal standards. Foods that meet the AAFCO standards will bear an approval statement or logo.

I recommend: Paul's Pet Food offers an explanation of what the AAFCO oversees. It also offers explanations of the different AAFCO approval statements.

Guaranteed analysis

The guaranteed analysis on a dog food label serves to let the owner know what is in the dog food. It includes information concerning the amount of protein, fat, moisture and fiber in the food.

I recommend: The US Food and Drug Administration offers information about what purpose a guaranteed analysis serves. It also offers information on how to compare the guaranteed analysis for different types of dog food.

Preservatives

Preservatives are necessary to keep dog food fresh. Some dog foods contain natural preservatives, including ascorbic acid and tocopherols, both of which are considered safe. However, some dog foods contain ethoxyquin, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), which are less than ideal for dogs.

I recommend: Branford Miniature Schnauzers offers information about the function of preservatives in dog food. You can also find out the effects of various preservatives on this website.

Nutritional adequacy statement

A nutritional adequacy statement on a pet food label shows you that the dog food you are selling to your customers has been thoroughly tested and that it complies with federal standards.

I recommend: You can find information on nutritional adequacy statements on The Dog Food Project website.

Meal

When a dog food contains meat, chicken and other meals, it means that the meal products are heat-processed. By-product meal means that the dog food contains parts of animals that aren't eaten by humans.

I recommend: Pets for the Environment offers an in-depth look into exactly what is contained in "meal" ingredients in the dog food.

By-products

Meat by-product is an ingredient often seen on dog food labels. This may be listed as a single meat source, such as chicken by-products or as just meat by-products. These ingredients may include beaks, hooves, full heads, eyes, tongues, feet and tails.

I recommend: Precious Pets provides information concerning the types of ingredients that may be included in by-product listings.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Some words are used strictly for descriptive purposes. Senior, gourmet, premium, super-premium and natural are unregulated words that manufacturers use to describe the dog food.

If you're interested in opening a pet store, kennel or doggie day care, or possibly starting a dog breeding business, be sure to figure in dog food pricing and costs. Dog food prices will vary depending on the type of dog food you're planning on using, such as natural dog food, dry dog food, premium dog food, pedigree dog food or even homemade dog food.

Dog food pricing and costs also will be affected by brand names in the dog food business. You might pay more if you're going with particular dog food suppliers, dog biscuits manufacturers or a high-end dog treat manufacturer. Keep in mind, too, that dog food pricing and costs will vary if you're feeding puppies versus older or bigger dogs. Consider the following before determining dog food pricing and costs:

1. Compare dog food pricing and costs of different brands and premium, natural or other types of food.
2. Buy dog food in bulk to save as much money as you can.
3. Determine if you'll be buying dog food for puppies, dogs or both.

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See the differences in prices of different labels and types of dog food

Where you're buying your dog food, how much you're using and the brand name will affect dog food pricing and costs. For instance, you can purchase dog food at a grocery store for $5 to $10 less per bag than you will if you buy premium dog food.

I recommend: The Dog Food Project supplies a comparison chart showing the per pound, per cup, per bag and daily feeding cost of dog food when bought in grocery store brands, pet store brands and high quality dog food brands. Premium Pet Food compares the cost per cup and cost per day of several brands and types of dog food.

Shop wholesale or in bulk to keep dog food pricing and costs manageable

As with any product, you can save money if you buy dog food in bulk. Many wholesalers offer larger amounts of dog food that will cost less per pound than if you bought the same amount elsewhere. With the average cost of dry food per month between $15 and $20 when purchased at a grocery or pet store, you can likely save several dollars per month buying in bulk.

I recommend: Petside.com describes how much you can expect to save when you purchase dog food from wholesalers. PetPointe shows a comparison between buying five or six bags of a particular dog food, with the consumer paying less than one dollar more when buying six instead of five bags.

Realize that buying dog food for puppies will be different than buying for larger dogs

The feeding habits and even type of dog food changes as a puppy grows into a dog. Determine which stage you'll be caring for in your type of business and plan your dog food budget accordingly. It might cost up to $100 or more per month to feed a grown dog as it will to feed a puppy.

I recommend: PetPlace.com shows that feeding an adult dog can cost $50 more per year as compared to feeding a puppy. CostHelper explains that it can cost about ten times as much to feed a puppy or younger, active dog than it can to feed an older, less-active dog.