Perhaps you could address the issue of food choice on your blog. I found it confusing to compare all the hype.....and am tempted to switch from Flint River Ranch's puppy and adult dog oven-baked kibble ,to your NSAC&R, if your choice is the result of your strong, professional preference.....Is the fact that chicken is the main ingredient significant? It's handy to be able to have multiple bags delivered to my front door, in the mountains, whereas it appears that NutriSource needs to be picked up from a store. (I'll phone them tomorrow). Do you cook the chicken backs?

I have fed many foods over the years and am not really wedded to any particular food as long as it is meat-based. I have not had a lot of trouble with allergies with my own dogs at home but I understand that many dogs, not just Bouviers do have corn, wheat and soy-based allergies so I tend to steer away from those foods. The Nutri Source has been locally produced in Perham, Minnesota and I've been feeding it for the last 4 years or so and have been happy with it. The dogs look good, have smallish firm stools, and plenty of energy. I haven't had problems with allergies or refusal to eat...however I would imagine Flint River Ranch is an excellent food as well and if you have been happy with it, I'd certainly give it a go. My friend Lynn feeds Honest Kitchen, my friend Doreen feeds Diamond Naturals; both supplement with raw food and all our dogs look great (well, mine generally look like swamp dogs because they're in the water so much!) No, I don't cook the backs -- they arrive here frozen in 10# bags; I thaw them as needed. Each adult dog gets 2 or 3 for one meal per day depending on the size of the backs and the dog. I am not giving them to the puppies since as you can imagine there are folks who do not approve of raw food for dogs for various reasons.

Also, as long as I"m online... if you would prefer that your puppy NOT receive their first vaccinations before leaving home, please let me know. There is considerable controversy regarding vaccinations in the dog-owning community; if you look on my briarleabouvier website to the link for vaccinations, my own puppy will get her first vaccination according to "Program B."

Finally, regarding registration -- I did get the individual registrations back from the AKC but it doesn't appear that it saves anybody anything. I would register them in my name first and then you would need to register them. It is a great thing for AKC but doesn't really make sense for the rest of us. I'll give you your registration document directly and you can send it off or if you'd like to register your pup online I can give you the code you need to do so.

Off to training this a.m.