Would you consider a dog nutritionist?

[cows2doggies]

Hi all, I am having a bit of a not quite midlife crisis and would like you all to tell me if I have lost the plot or not.

Some background I have a BSc in Animal health, welfare and behaviour and a MSc in Livestock Nutrition, I have worked in the livestock nutrition industry for 5 years and I love it but DP is ultimately the breadwinner and as we plan for children I am probably going to need to take a step back and am hoping going self employed would allow me more flexibility. So I have been considering setting up as a pet nutritionist, I have found a 5 month long PGc course with a US university or a course with the British college of canine studies which I would take to refresh and increase my knowledge while still working however part of me is worried this is mental, animal nutritionist is not a protected title and people will just assume I am some nut who did a 1 day course and now considers myself an expert in something they could just ask their vet for free.

As people will likely ask free lance as a livestock nutritionist is hard, most farmers will be allocated one by whoever they buy their feeds from (this is my current job) I would still offer such a service on the side but I can't see demand being high enough for it to be worthwhile hence thinking I could do dogs aswell and expand my client base a bit.

I am not expecting to make my millions here, DPs income can sustain us entirely if needed but I am not sold on the idea of being a housewife or SAHM so ideally i'd manage to bring in at least a part time equivalent income.

Absolutely not. But I’ve had a lot of dogs and I know where to find information on food for various issues for my current dog, if it proves necessary.

If I was a breeder or ran kennels (greyhound racing or working pack), maybe but I imagine you know better than me if that’s a thing or not.

OTOH, there’s many people these days with, what they consider, ‘fur babies’ and more money than sense, so who knows, maybe there is a market in certain areas.

I’m not dismissing you btw, good on you for wanting to expand your knowledge and range, but just saying, as a pet owner it’s not something I would ever consider.

While I wouldn’t consider one at this stage in my dog’s life - she’s still quite young with no allergies or food issues - I know some people who would.

I understand your dilemma about people thinking you only did a one-day course. Could you put your other titles next to your name or job title? Even though the MSc is in livestock nutrition, it still shows you are qualified and capable - definitely not a nut - and most people will understand that you’ve simply changed direction a bit.

It sounds pretty niche - so I mean, depends whether you could get business in that market.

What would the average pet owner need one for?

I have to admit that I wouldn't; professionally or personally.

Breeders very often provide advice for free on what food they recommend for their dog or why. And if there are serious issues with a dog eating (running poo, vomiting or just being off food) then people should and do go to a vet and get advice from them - if only to rule out other issues.

Have you considered stables and riding schools? Might be more of a market than with dogs? And I guess would cater to your existing qualifications?

Personally, no. Because I know my own dogs very, very well and am able to do my own research. Sorry.

There probably is a market for it with less experienced dog people though.

@TheCrenchinglyMcQuaffenBrothers agree that it’s a particular demographic who would likely be interested in this. Probably based in London, other big cities, or city people who moved to the countryside over COVID.

The clients would probably largely be the same people who need a personal stylist to tell them what to wear.

No I wouldn't - I raw feed and it works really well for him, plus the shop I buy it from is owned by a really knowledgeable woman whose advice I trust. I think it would be too niche. What about just doing behavioural training with a nutrition as an added specialty to try and keep broad but with additional value? There seems to be a big market for the really good ones.

Unfortunately as my dog is a 4-legged food hoover, I would not find it useful to try to shape his nutrition habits as he would continue to eat everything he can find that appears vaguely edible.
I can see there might be a demand for this sort of advice for dogs with more sensitive stomachs where the vet has ruled out medical issues

No!

No and I’ve had 2 dogs with allergies/food intolerances.

It's not something that's ever crossed my mind to be honest.

I picked a good quality acceptable cost brand, the dog eats it, his poos are fine, and we rotate between flavours because he gets bored and doesn't like the fish one. Not really sure what I'd want you to change tbh.

Given your BSc in Animal health, welfare and behaviour, I wonder if you've any interest in dog training and behaviour? There's a big shortage of properly qualified professionals, and depending on where you graduated from your degree may give you a headstart towards CCAB accreditation.

Hmm

I’m currently wearing slightly holey leggings and a jumper with a unicorn print on it 😐🤣

I guess I’m not the target market for that either then

Thanks for all the honesty, it would definitely be aimed at people with fur babies or new dog owners or those struggling with weight management, allergies, pancreatitis etc, I also feed my 4 dogs a mixed raw and cooked diet so perhaps people wanting to transition away from comercial food.

The point about behaviour is a good one, it’s not something I hugely enjoyed at university which is why I never continued down that path but perhaps it would be a more realistic option with nutrition on the side while I test the waters.

Horses are another good suggestion but there isn’t an abundance of them near us and despite being livestock their digestive systems are very different to cows and sheep which I specialised in so it would still need more study before I’d be comfortable offering advice.

I also wonder if you're limiting yourself in terms of ongoing business if you just focus on nutrition? Presumably you would consult, recommend a food or dietary change, and then hopefully the situation would improve? If not, I imagine you would then refer to a vet - so that might be 2, possibly 3 consults at most? If you went for behaviour training then that would be over a few sessions, and there's scope for much wider recommendations as far more people have a need for a behaviourist or trainer than a nutritionist?

I run a dog park so know a little about customer spend within that demographic. Some spend £100+ a week on field hire.

Vets round here style themselves as canine nutritionists, frustratingly this seems like a money making scam to sell overpriced kibble.
Anyone genuinely interested in their dog's diet goes down the raw route and the local suppliers are super knowledgeable.

In general my customers will spend on pet photography, custom made harnesses for lurchers and animal behaviourists.

Real shortage of good trainers and a never ending supply of dogs in need.

Yes to animal behaviourists! I’ve used two at different times and also been to two different lots of group training classes. For the same dog. I also used to hire a secure field.

I wouldn't. The farm shop, where our dog food comes from, has a very experienced manager who is brilliant about nutrition in dogs and horses and sorted out my Lab's chicken sensitivity. You sound as though training or behaviourist might be better, with your qualification.

Nope.

A friend of mine does canine nutrition and offers allergy testing too - but it's very much a side business that barely earns her a penny.

Behaviorist or even dog trainer would be much more lucrative and marketable. Some of those make a mint round me. Behavior problems are more acute and more distressing for the humans than are dietary issues … and there are fewer off the peg solutions to try for behavior than diet.

plus, I wouldn’t pay for a nutritionist for a human, let alone a dog. Like you say nutritionist in the UK is just an unregulated profession and id have no asssurance it wasn’t complete woo bollocks.

Ugh autocorrects for behaviour, I am in the UK, not North America…

Actually that’s not true about raw feeding. I’m interested in my dog’s diet but the scientific evidence for it is pretty poor, so those people who opt for raw feeding are actually being marketed at, somwhere along the way.

Exactly @Messen - raw feeding is just another way of marketing 🙈

Veterinary nurses are trained in companion animal nutrition and most practices will offer free clinics with their nurses.

No. If I had show dogs I might, but not just for a pet.