Coming Soon: Nutrition & Enrichment Programs!

Change Your Dog's Quality of Life

Personalized plans to help your dog thrive through better nutrition and engaging enrichment.

Join the Waitlist

DIY Dehydrated Dog Treats – Free Guide!

Make healthy, homemade treats your dog will love with this step-by-step guide.

Free Guide

Transform Your Dog’s Behavior from Anywhere!

Personalized, play-based virtual training designed to fit your schedule and your dog’s needs. Get expert guidance, daily feedback, and real results—all from the comfort of home.

Free Consult

Helping Dogs Thrive Through Nutrition & Enrichment

For over 30 years, I’ve worked hands-on with animals as a vet tech, pet sitter, dog walker, and trainer, gaining deep insight into canine behavior, health, and well-being. My journey with dogs—especially with my own high-energy, reactive pup—showed me firsthand the power of enrichment and nutrition in shaping a dog’s overall health, behavior, and happiness.

Many pet parents struggle to find the right balance between exercise, enrichment, and nutrition, leading to common challenges like restlessness, digestive issues, behavioral struggles, and frustration. Often, what dogs eat and how they engage with their world directly impacts their energy levels, ability to focus, and overall happiness.

Why Nutrition & Enrichment Matter

While I’ve always been passionate about enrichment, diving deeper into species-appropriate nutrition opened my eyes to just how much a dog's diet directly impacts their daily life. Seeing the overwhelming amount of misinformation about pet food and health, I felt called to take my knowledge to the next level and become a Certified Professional Canine Nutritionist (CPCN).

Dogs thrive when their nutritional and mental needs are met in a way that aligns with their natural instincts. This means feeding them in a way that supports optimal health while incorporating activities that stimulate their mind, reduce stress, and encourage relaxation.

Now, I’m combining my expertise in nutrition, enrichment, and training to create customized programs that help pet parents like you optimize your dog’s life.

Feature something

What's a product or service you'd like to show.

Join the Waitlist

Who These Programs Are For

These programs are designed for pet guardians who:

🐾 Want to improve their dog’s nutrition but feel overwhelmed by the options and need clear, practical guidance.

🐾 Have a picky eater or a dog struggling with allergies, digestive issues, or low energy and want to explore species-appropriate feeding and supplementation.

🐾 Need affordable ways to improve their dog’s diet—without breaking the bank on unnecessary supplements or expensive food brands.

🐾 Are looking for engaging enrichment strategies to help reduce stress, increase calmness, and improve behavior.

🐾 Want expert guidance on feeding, play, and training in a way that’s easy to implement and truly supports their dog’s well-being.

How These Programs Work

This is a 1:1 personalized program where we’ll work together to develop a customized plan that fits your dog’s individual needs. Every dog is unique, and their nutrition and enrichment plan should be, too.

As a Certified Professional Canine Nutritionist, I’ll guide you through species-appropriate feeding, supplements, mental stimulation, and play-based engagement—all designed to help your dog thrive.

What You’ll Get:

✔ Personalized Nutrition & Enrichment Plans tailored to your dog’s breed, age, activity level, and overall health.

✔ Guidance on Feeding & Supplementation – Learn how to choose the best foods and supplements to support your dog’s immune system, digestion, and long-term health.

✔ Play & Training Strategies – Discover how mental enrichment can improve your dog’s focus, reduce anxiety, and create a calmer, happier home life.

✔ Support from a Certified Professional Canine Nutritionist & Trainer – Have expert guidance every step of the way to help you feel confident in making the best decisions for your dog.

Welcome to Straight Up Dog Talk, where pets come first!

My passion for nutrition and enrichment started with my own dogs, Toby and Fitz.

🐶 Toby—my senior boy—was diagnosed with pancreatitis, which forced me to take a deeper look at what I was feeding him. Even though I thought I was making good choices, I realized that many commercial foods were too processed and lacked proper nutritional balance, which can be especially dangerous for dogs with underlying health issues.

🐶 Fitz, on the other hand, seemed like a picky eater—or so I thought. He would refuse kibble, show little interest in meals, and sometimes leave food untouched. At first, I assumed it was just his personality, but the more I researched, the more I realized that dogs aren’t naturally picky—they just know when their food isn’t serving them well.

These experiences led me down a deeper path of investigation into species-appropriate nutrition, enrichment, and feeding practices. Through careful diet adjustments, I started incorporating dehydrated treats, fresh whole foods, and ultimately transitioned to raw feeding. The results were incredible.

✨ Toby is thriving, with improved digestion and better management of his pancreatitis.
✨ Fitz is no longer "picky"—he’s excited for meals, has more sustained energy, and is thriving on a fresh, balanced diet.

Seeing how much nutrition and enrichment transformed my own dogs' lives, I knew I wanted to help other pet parents navigate this journey—without the stress and confusion that often comes with it.

Join the Waitlist

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at straightupdogtalk@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

What if I can’t afford a fully raw diet?

No problem! My programs meet you where you are and provide affordable ways to supplement or improve your dog’s diet without requiring a full switch to raw.

Is enrichment only for high-energy dogs?

Not at all! All dogs benefit from enrichment—even senior or low-energy dogs. It’s about engaging their mind and body in ways that work for them.

How do I know if my dog’s food is meeting their needs?

If your dog is experiencing digestive issues, itching, low energy, or behavioral changes, their diet may be missing key nutrients. I’ll help you assess and optimize their food choices.

What if my dog is picky and refuses to eat raw or fresh food?Question

Many dogs labeled as “picky” are actually avoiding food that doesn’t make them feel their best—just like Fitz did! I’ll help you troubleshoot picky eating behaviors, introduce better options gradually, and ensure your dog enjoys mealtime again.

Does this program only cover raw feeding?

No! While raw feeding is a fantastic option, this program is designed to help ALL pet parents improve their dog’s diet—whether you feed kibble, home-cooked, or raw. The goal is to meet your dog’s individual needs in a way that works for you.

What kind of enrichment is included in the program?

Every dog is different, so enrichment recommendations are customized based on their energy levels, personality, and needs. Some enrichment strategies include:
🐾 Puzzle feeding & slow feeders for mental stimulation
🐾 Scent work & sniff walks to engage their natural instincts
🐾 Dehydrated treat activities (like licking mats & frozen treats)
🐾 Play-based training for fun, stress-free learning

Will this program help with behavior issues?

Yes! While this is not a behavioral modification program, many behavioral issues stem from boredom, frustration, or nutritional imbalances. By optimizing your dog’s diet and daily enrichment, we can reduce stress behaviors and create a calmer, more balanced dog.

Can I still join if my dog has medical conditions or dietary restrictions?

Absolutely! If your dog has health concerns like pancreatitis, food allergies, or sensitivities, I will work with you to create a safe, appropriate diet plan that meets their needs while keeping them healthy and happy.

Coming Soon: Nutrition & Enrichment Programs!

Change Your Dog's Quality of Life

DIY Dehydrated Dog Treats – Free Guide!

Transform Your Dog’s Behavior from Anywhere!

Helping Dogs Thrive Through Nutrition & Enrichment

Helping Dogs Thrive Through Nutrition & Enrichment

Why Nutrition & Enrichment Matter

Feature something

Who These Programs Are For

How These Programs Work

What You’ll Get:

Welcome to Straight Up Dog Talk, where pets come first!

Join the Waitlist

Frequently Asked Questions

Connect With Us

This website uses cookies.