About Me

My name is Vicky and I am the owner of Nook on Lyne Labradors and founder of Canine Nutrition at Nook on Lyne Labradors.

I am a fully qualified and insured Canine & Microbiome Nutrition Consultant with additional training in the canine microbiome, including the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) Veterinary Microbiome Certification. I provide individual, one-to-one nutritional support to dog owners across the UK and beyond.

I have shared my life with dogs for over 40 years. Dogs have never simply been pets in my life; they have been family, companions and the constant thread running through everything I do.

Over the four decades I have lived alongside dogs through every life stage, puppies, adolescents, adults and seniors as well as dogs with more complex nutritional and health considerations. That practical experience, combined with years of formal education and ongoing professional development, underpins the work I do today.

My journey into canine nutrition began with one simple but important question:

How can I give my dogs the healthiest, longest and happiest lives possible?

That question developed into a passion for understanding the relationship between nutrition and canine health and ultimately led me to undertake formal study in canine nutrition, microbiome health, immunity and behaviour.

My Approach

My mission is to use nutrition as a tool for lifelong health, supporting dogs as individuals rather than fitting them into a one-size-fits-all feeding model.

Every dog is different.

Age, breed, life stage, lifestyle, activity level, body condition, health considerations and sensitivities can all influence their nutritional needs.

I work with owners using a variety of feeding approaches, including commercial diets, raw, gently cooked, home-prepared and mixed feeding.

My role is not to judge what you currently feed or promote one particular way of feeding. It is to provide clear, practical and evidence-informed nutritional guidance to help you make appropriate choices for your individual dog.

I believe owners should understand not simply what they are feeding, but why.

Education is therefore an important part of my approach. My aim is to give owners greater knowledge and confidence so that the decisions we make together remain useful long after the consultation has finished.

A Collaborative & Ethical Approach

I work within a clearly defined professional scope and recognise the importance of collaboration with veterinary and other suitably qualified canine professionals.

Nutrition can be an important part of supporting a dog’s overall health and wellbeing, but it is not a replacement for veterinary care.

I do not diagnose medical conditions. Where a dog has an existing medical condition, concerning symptoms or requires veterinary investigation or treatment, I encourage owners to work alongside their veterinary team.

At Canine Nutrition at Nook on Lyne Labradors the individual dog and their welfare remain at the centre of every decision.

When seeking nutritional guidance for your dog, I believe it is important to know that the person advising you has undertaken appropriate education and continues to develop their professional knowledge.

I have formal education encompassing canine nutrition, microbiome health, immunity, behaviour, breeding and welfare.

Education & Training

• APNC - Level 4 Consultancy Award in Canine Nutrition
• North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) Veterinary Microbiome Certification 
• Ofqual Level 4 in Canine Microbiome, Immunity and Behaviour
• Ofqual Level 4 in Principles of Canine Nutrition
• Ofqual Level 4 in Research in Canine Nutrition
• IPET Network Ofqual Regulated Level 3 Diploma in Canine Nutrition
• IPET Network Ofqual Regulated Level 3 Certificate in Dog Breeding, Litter Socialisation and Welfare
• IPET Network Ofqual Regulated Level 3 Certificate in Canine Behaviour for Breeders
• IPET Level 2 Certificate in Canine Body Language
• Advanced Puppy Profiling
•  Level 4 Diploma in Canine Adolescence (Ongoing)
• Canine Nutrition and Behaviour
• Monthly Continued Professional Development (CPD)

Alongside my canine nutrition qualifications, I have completed the NAVC Veterinary Microbiome Certification. This additional training informs my approach to digestive health and how I consider microbiome information alongside a dog’s diet, health history and veterinary findings when providing nutritional support.

Why APNC Membership Matters

Canine nutrition is an unregulated industry, which makes professional standards and accountability particularly important.

As an Associate Member of the Association of Pet Nutrition Consultants (APNC), I am required to hold appropriate recognised qualifications, work ethically and within my professional scope, maintain ongoing education and follow a professional code of conduct.

For clients, this provides an additional level of reassurance that the nutritional support they receive is being provided within an accountable professional framework.

Professional Associations

As well as APNC, I am affiliated with:

• College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies (CIVT)
• International Association of Animal Therapies (IAAT)
• Pet Professional Network
• Professional Dog Businesses UK (PDBUK)

These memberships, together with continuing professional development and appropriate insurance, reflect my commitment to responsible, ethical and evidence-informed practice.

Qualifications provide the scientific foundations of my work. The individual dog determines how that knowledge is applied.

Individual Nutrition Support for Your Dog

There is no single diet that is right for every dog.

Owners contact me for many different reasons. You may simply want reassurance that you are feeding appropriately, feel overwhelmed by conflicting information, want to introduce more fresh food, or have a dog with more specific nutritional requirements.

I can provide nutritional guidance in areas including:

• Sensitive digestion and gastrointestinal concerns
• Fussy eating and poor appetite
• Food sensitivities and dietary intolerances
• Skin, coat and recurring ear concerns, including dogs prone to yeasty ears
• Weight management and healthy body condition
• Nutritional support for joint health and mobility
• Nutritional support alongside veterinary management of conditions such as kidney disease
• Nutrition, the gut–brain axis and its potential relationship with behaviour
• Nutritional support during adolescence, including changing energy and feeding requirements
• Gut health and the canine microbiome
• Diet selection and nutritional guidance
• Reviewing an existing diet
• Changing foods or feeding approach
• Fresh-food additions and toppers
• Home-prepared diets
• Nutrition throughout different life stages

Packages Offered

All consultations are provided online, supporting dog owners across the UK and globally.

Healthy Dog Nutrition Consultation - £75

For owners of healthy dogs seeking professional guidance, clarity and reassurance.

Whether you feed commercial food, raw, gently cooked or a mixed approach, I will assess your dog’s current diet and provide individual recommendations.

What’s Included

• Detailed health, diet and lifestyle questionnaire
• Assessment of your dog’s existing feeding plan
• 30-minute online consultation
• Written nutrition summary outlining the key points and recommendations discussed
• Guidance where appropriate on commercial foods, ingredients, supplements and fresh-food additions
• Two weeks of email support

Personalised diet formulation is available separately see below.

Complex Dog Nutrition Consultation - £150

For dogs with more complex nutritional needs including but not limited to gastrointestinal problems, food sensitivities, itching, arthritis or weight concerns associated with an existing health condition.

What’s Included

• Detailed health, diet and lifestyle questionnaire
• Assessment of your dog’s existing feeding plan
• 60 minute online consultation
• Communicate with your vet practice where appropriate 
• Written report outlining the key points and recommendations discussed
• Guidance where appropriate on commercial foods, ingredients, supplements and fresh-food additions
• Four weeks of email support

Personalised diet formulation is available separately see below.

Complex Dog Nutrition Support Package - £250

Everything included in the Complex Dog Nutrition Consultation plus two further 30 minute follow up consultations within 6 months to review your Dog's progress and adjust the nutritional plan where needed. One week email support after each additional consultation. 

Personalised diet formulation is available separately see below.

Follow Up Support - £65

For existing clients who have had a consultation within the previous 12 months. Ideal for reviewing progress or making changes to your dog’s nutritional plan.

What’s Included

• 30-minute Canine Nutrition Consultation to review progress 
• One week of email support

Fresh Food & Personalised Diet Formulation - £125

Fresh and minimally processed foods can form part of a nutritious canine diet, whether incorporated appropriately alongside a complete diet or used as part of a fully home prepared feeding approach.

Feeding fresh food doesn’t necessarily mean replacing your dog’s entire diet. For owners who would like to introduce fresh ingredients while continuing to feed an appropriate complete food, incorporating a smaller proportion of fresh food can provide a practical and more affordable option.

However:

Fresh does not automatically mean nutritionally balanced.

Dogs require appropriate amounts and ratios of protein, fats, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and amino acids, and these requirements can vary according to factors including age, growth, activity and life stage.

For owners wishing to feed a home prepared diet, I offer personalised formulations using professional Animal Diet Formulation software.

Recipes can be formulated using gently cooked or raw ingredients and are designed in accordance with FEDIAF or AAFCO nutritional guidelines. If applicable your dog’s microbiome results can also be considered alongside when formulating their diet

This provides the flexibility and ingredient transparency of home prepared feeding while ensuring that nutritional balance has been properly considered.

Recipes may be fed as a full meal or used as a topper at no more than10% of your dog’s total daily calorie intake helping to maintain nutritional balance and avoid deficiencies or excesses when added to your dog's current diet.

What’s Included

• Detailed health, diet and lifestyle questionnaire
• One complete and balanced home-prepared recipe tailored to your dog’s individual nutritional needs
• Personalised diet plan, including daily feeding quantities and calorie requirements based on your dog’s age, activity and body condition
• Written guidance on introducing and preparing the diet
• Comprehensive PDF report containing ingredient quantities, recipe instructions, macronutrient analysis and a full nutritional breakdown of vitamins, minerals, fats and amino acids
• A handover call of up to 20 minutes to explain your dog’s diet plan and answer practical questions

Additional Personalised Recipe Formulation - £75

For the same dog, available to existing diet formulation clients within 12 months of using the service.

Understanding Your Dog’s Gut - Microbiome Test Kit - £180

The gut microbiome is the complex community of microorganisms living within the gastrointestinal tract.

Research continues to explore its relationship with digestion, metabolism, immune function and communication between the gut and brain through the gut–brain axis.

When the microbial ecosystem becomes disrupted often referred to as dysbiosis, factors including diet, illness, medication, environment and stress may all contribute.

A microbiome test can provide additional information about the composition and balance of your dog’s gut microbial community.

It is important to recognise that microbiome testing is not a diagnostic test and does not replace veterinary investigation or treatment. Instead, it can provide another piece of information to consider as part of the wider nutritional picture.

What’s Included

 • Detailed health, diet and lifestyle questionnaire 
 • At home canine Microbiome test
 • Detailed 27 page gut Microbiome report
 • Information about your dog's microbial community 
 • Supplement recommendations based upon the report

Personalised diet formulation and a nutrition consultation are not included in this service and can be purchased separately. If you would like individual nutritional advice based on your dog’s report please book a nutrition consultation.

Building Foundations for Life

Nutrition during puppyhood isn’t simply about feeding a growing dog.

Puppyhood is a period of rapid physical and neurological development. The skeleton, muscles, organs, immune system, gastrointestinal system and brain are all developing, while nutritional requirements change as the puppy progresses through different stages of growth.

A puppy is therefore not simply a smaller adult dog.

Appropriate energy intake and nutritional balance are particularly important during this period.

For large-breed puppies, careful management of energy intake and minerals such as calcium and phosphorus is especially important because inappropriate nutrition during rapid growth can interfere with normal skeletal development.

The aim isn’t to make a puppy grow as quickly as possible. It is to support steady, appropriate growth and development.

Early Nutrition & the Developing Gut

Puppyhood is also an important period in the development of the gastrointestinal microbiome.

There is growing scientific interest in the relationship between early-life nutrition, the developing microbiome and health later in life.

Research from the University of Helsinki has reported associations between feeding patterns during puppyhood and adolescence and later health outcomes, including allergy/atopy-related skin signs and chronic enteropathy.

https://www.helsinki.fi/en/news/dogs/puppys-diet-seems-be-significant-factor-development-allergy-and-atopy-related-skin-symptoms

https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/health-via-nutrition-epidemiology-and-disease-detection-dogs/news-and-happenings/puppyhood-and-adolescence-diet-may-have-impact-on-dogs-gut-health-later-in-life

These are observational associations and do not prove that a particular feeding approach prevents disease.

However, this developing area of research contributes to our understanding of why nutrition during early life deserves careful consideration.

Introducing Fresh Food

Introducing fresh food does not necessarily mean completely changing your puppy’s existing diet.

For some owners, appropriately selected fresh foods can be incorporated alongside a suitable complete puppy food.

Others may wish to explore a fully home-prepared feeding approach.

Whichever approach is chosen, nutritional balance during growth remains essential.

Fresh food does not automatically mean complete food, and simply combining healthy-looking ingredients does not guarantee that a growing puppy’s requirements for energy, protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals are being met.

My role is to help owners incorporate fresh food appropriately while taking account of their puppy’s individual stage of growth.

Where complete diets are formulated, these are designed in accordance with FEDIAF or AAFCO nutritional guidelines.

Nutrition That Changes as Your Puppy Grows

A puppy’s nutritional requirements are not static.

Body weight, calorie requirements and feeding quantities can change considerably throughout the first year.

This is why I offer three Puppy Transition & Growth Support Programmes, providing different levels of ongoing nutritional support according to how long you would like me to work alongside you and your puppy.

Support can be tailored to your chosen feeding approach, including complete commercial diets, fresh feeding or a combination of both, with a personalised recipe where included or appropriate.

🐾 Foundation Start Programme
First 4 Weeks Individual Nutrition Support - £165

A structured, supportive start during your puppy’s transition into their new home, with individual guidance on feeding type, food selection, feeding amounts and establishing good nutritional foundations.

Includes

• Personalised four-week transition plan
• Individual calorie requirements and feeding calculations
• Bespoke puppy nutrition plan
• One stage-specific gently cooked recipe/topper
• Calorie and feeding adjustment at the end of the four-week programme, based on your puppy’s current weight and development
• 30 minute online consultation
• WhatsApp nutritional support for brief questions throughout the programme

🐾 Growth Essentials Programme
4 Months of Individual Puppy Nutrition Support - £325

Ongoing nutritional guidance through two important stages of puppy growth, with feeding and calorie requirements reviewed and adjusted as your puppy develops.

Includes

• Support across two growth stages
• Individual calorie requirements and feeding recalculations
• Bespoke puppy nutrition plan
• Two stage-specific gently cooked recipes/toppers
• Monthly calorie and feeding adjustments based on current weight
• Two 30 minute online consultations 
• WhatsApp nutritional support for brief questions between scheduled consultations throughout the programme

🐾 Signature Growth Programme
10 Months of Individual Puppy Nutrition Support - £650

My most comprehensive puppy nutrition programme, providing continuity and individual support throughout your puppy’s first year, with regular nutritional reviews and feeding adjustments as your puppy grows.

Includes

• Support across all three growth stages
• Bespoke puppy nutrition plan
• Three stage-specific gently cooked recipes/toppers
• Monthly calorie and feeding adjustments based on current weight
• Five 30 minute online training consultations 
• WhatsApp nutritional support for brief questions between scheduled consultations throughout the programme

Supporting the Puppy You Have Today and the Adult Dog They Will Become

Not every puppy owner requires the same level of support.

Some owners simply want professional guidance during the first few weeks at home. Others would like someone alongside them as their puppy grows and their nutritional requirements change.

These programmes allow you to choose the level of support that suits you while maintaining the same underlying principle:

Nutrition should develop alongside the puppy.

Good puppy nutrition isn’t about perfection or following a particular feeding ideology.

It is about providing appropriate nutrition for growth, monitoring the individual puppy and making informed adjustments as their needs change.

The nutritional choices made during puppyhood don’t simply feed the puppy you have today, they help provide the foundations for the adult dog they will become.

Online puppy nutrition support is available throughout the UK and beyond.