Pack Leader Canine Training

06/02/2026

05/23/2026

🤮Why this "prescription diet" along with all dry kibble should be the last thing you feed your dog.

The first ingredient is a filler ingredient that is a carbohydrate. A by - product of the rice milling process.

Whole grain corn: another carbohydrate, one of the most common allergens for dogs, low nutritional value.

Chicken meal is a rendered product, meaning it's cooked at over 4️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ degrees Celsius to remove moisture, fat and any form of nutrition that may have initially been in it. This process will degrade many of the natural nutrients found in fresh chicken, particularly heat-sensitive vitamins and amino acids. Manufacturers might use this ambiguity to include lower-quality meat by-products.

Pea protein
Pea protein is a plant-based protein that doesn't provide the complete amino acid profile that animal proteins do. Dogs, being primarily carnivorous, thrive on animal proteins that offer a full range of essential amino acids necessary for their health. It is also generally less digestible for dogs.

The term "egg product" is quite vague and doesn't specify what part of the egg is being used or how it has been processed. Egg also refers to eggs that have been processed. It might just be the shell.

🤦‍♂️Corn gluten meal-more corn.
Corn gluten meal is often included in dog food as a cheap way to increase protein content of the food. Corn gluten meal is a by-product of corn processing and has a lower biological value compared to animal-based proteins. It is a potential allergen.

Including "chicken liver flavor" on the label is misleading. It gives the impression that the food contains nutritious chicken liver, but in reality, it may only contain a small amount or an artificial version of the flavor.

Ground Pecan Shells: A cheap way for them to increase the fiber in the diet. The fiber content is why a dog's diarrhea might improve with the diet, but the gut microbiome will be in worse shape afterward, causing the diarrhea to likely recur.

Synthetic vitamins and minerals : the trouble here is the potential of accidental overdosing ( in 2019 Hills pet food killed hundreds, if not thousands, of dogs by overdosing vitamin D in their diets).
Synthetic vitamins and minerals are also absorbed less efficiently than their natural counterparts.

I could go on but I think you get the gist...

There is NOT one ingredient in this diet that actually supports a dog's gut microbiome or gut health.

🤦‍♂️Yet millions upon millions of pet owners continue to trust their Veterinarian…

04/18/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CeMHHG6oJ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

04/03/2026

Spring into training. Classes and private sessions will fill up fast. Lock yours in today.

02/16/2026

Some brands passed and some brands failed: a new investigation by the Clean Label Project tested 79 of the most popular pet foods and found that dry kibble consistently had the highest levels of heavy metals, plastic-related chemicals, and acrylamide, a compound formed during high-heat processing.
Compared to fresh and frozen foods, kibble contained:

• ~21× more lead and mercury
• 13× more arsenic
• 6× more cadmium
• 24× more acrylamide, with one product testing at 780 ppb

Plastic-associated chemicals like BPA, BPS, and DEHP were also highest in dry food and lowest in fresh and frozen products.

Researchers note that because many dogs eat the same dry food every day for years, long-term exposure and accumulation of contaminants in organs like the liver and kidneys may contribute to chronic disease and potentially increase cancer risk.

Link in comments to read more about which brands passed and failed:

02/16/2026

Titer testing doesn’t have to be expensive

💉 Vaccine titers should be a standard part of veterinary care, in my opinion.

🩸 A simple blood test can tell you if your pet is protected and prevent the overuse of vaccines.

✖️We know that protection from core vaccines can last much longer than what’s stated on the reminder card from the vet, yet “annual shots” is the norm.

✅ If your vet doesn’t offer vaccine titers, or they quote exorbitant fees, you can use:

Hemopet - https://tinyurl.com/2w4edhtu

Kansas State University - https://tinyurl.com/3xd59kpw

Healthy Dog Workshop - https://tinyurl.com/2tnsf9we

Nayked Pet - https://tinyurl.com/3phtb2xa

10/15/2025

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_6EEGV8wssQ&fbclid=IwRlRTSANb6vhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHlo5ujfsvaoOpk4q9WX5KbKGcqGL8lRyKxWYuR1AmEWcJHu2k3pl3vzDWd_k_aem_IIDKW2OgOFlwCegSlD08ZA

Learn how to read pet food labels. What's really in there??Catch episodes live at http://www.justin.tv/claytonvetnj on Sunday evenings at 6PM EST!http://www....

07/20/2025

Preventing unwanted litters is a goal we all share—but it's time to rethink the surgical approach. Hysterectomies and vasectomies, which preserve hormonal balance, can safely be performed as early as 8 weeks of age, making dogs sterile without disrupting their natural hormones.

In this study, researchers looked at whether the age at which dogs were spayed or neutered, meaning how long they were exposed to their natural s*x hormones, affected how healthy they were in old age. They studied a group of long-lived pet dogs to learn what helps dogs live longer, healthier lives. Dogs with the fewest age-related health problems were considered the most “robust.”

The results showed that both male and female dogs who kept their hormones longer (i.e., were spayed or neutered later) were 3 to 10 times more likely to be healthy in old age compared to those altered earlier. Once hormone exposure and age were taken into account, there was no difference in old-age health between males and females.

This study highlights how important s*x hormones may be for staying healthy later in life and shows that early-life decisions—like when to spay or neuter—can have long-term effects on health.

07/18/2025

This is a great way for mental stimulation for those working breeda

06/22/2025

Please remember to keep your pets hydrated and cool during the summer.

This weekend might be a scorcher; here's a reminder to keep our pets cool. Check out our infographic to learn the signs of heatstroke and what to do if you suspect the heat is getting to your pet.

Heatstroke is fatal, early action is key. Seek veterinary care immediately! 🔥☀️