Like you I’m a total dog nut. My background includes a doctorate studying the effects of diet on animal behaviour and five years in Guide Dogs (Ireland and Australia) as a trainer and Pup Supervisor. For the last six years, I have been neck deep in canine nutrition, from making the food itself (ending with some success on Dragons Den in 2013) to conducting international nutritional seminars for vets, canine professionals and public alike. I’m now a dedicated advocate of fresh, natural nutrition and health for dogs and a better all round deal for squeezed pet owners worldwide. I’m proud father to Dudley, a slightly odd black and white Cocker Spaniel. What he lacks in brains and grace he makes up for with determination (though to be fair this could apply to the both of us).

More on Dr. Conor Brady here!

The current veterinary focus of treating symptoms with powerful, synthetic drugs whenthey pop up instead of treating or ideally avoiding the root cause of the illness is plain wrong. I can say with experience that the vast majority of stubborn, recurring health conditions in dogs (from recurring skin and gut conditions to organ disease and cancer) is more often than down to an inappropriate diet, largely a cereal-based dry food for what is very clearly a meat eater. A simple change to a fresh, biologically appropriate diet pays off instantly. It’s such a simple concept, a fresh protein and fresh fat diet, rich in powerful nutrition and taste and so, so easy to do, yet it’s rarely considered. Why do you think this is?

The truth is pet owners are a great market for rubbish products, from entirely inappropriate processed foods and “treats” such as dental sticks instead of a nice fresh, free meaty bone to chemical flea and worm control for dogs with no fleas and worms and annual boosters for animals already adequately vaccinated for viruses (Pasteur is rolling in his grave). The whole circus is fuelled by fear and rubbish science, all an attempt to make you hand over all your decision making and eventually your cash.

Dogs First’s mission is to change this. You guys need to do a little reading to the great benefit of your best friend. Spend ten minutes on my site and tell me I’m wrong. Our aim is that 25% of Irish vets recommending fresh ingredients for dogs by 2020. So far I think we have 7 on board. Only 3000 to go!

Everyone wants the best info and they always want it independent. I think most people believe they are independent, I certainly do and am happy to fully disclose all my revenue streams. So here’s how I can (just about) afford to write full time and keep the lights on while I do it:

After leaving guide dogs I began seminars on fresh canine nutrition that were poorly attended by the veterinary community. Disheartened, I tried a new approach and started a raw dog food company in 2010, a company I moved on in 2013 (producing it isn’t half as much fun as teaching it). Since then, I have been operating independently, effectively as a canine nutrition consultant. Like most others in my position, I have helped numerous fresh dog food companies get off the ground and sometimes I recommend them (e.g. amy Paleo Ridge UK ad in the header! Best dog food out there – ethical, outdoor meat only, organic where possible, what’s not to love!!! Ha ha). I am contractually bound to none and am still a free agent in every respect but, as I’m sure you’ll understand, there’s little point in me promoting these companies for nothing. I have kids to feed and still promote real, whole ingredients you can see over any pre-made product.

Other revenue streams include my seminars which luckily take me all over the world. I do the occasional nutrition consult for folks that didn’t find the answer from my site and some revenue is earned from the online sale of a few supplements, many of which I co-formulated. Also, within my health articles, if there is a product that I use or know would greatly benefit a dog, I will link out to the cheapest but best-reviewed products I can find on Amazon. I can get 8% on that sale. As you will find, I do not do this often and I always tell people they are heading there (more on Affiliate Disclosure here).