About

I’m pretty sure I was born a dog lover, but if I wasn’t, I became one the day I met Tawny, the gentle Rottweiler who would love and protect me for the first decade of my life. From then on, it was doggie everything—from treasured toys and trinkets to favorite books, movies, and TV shows.

But it wasn’t until I became responsible for one headstrong border collie and one sweet and sassy rescue that I thoroughly investigated the industry charged with keeping them “healthy and happy.” What I found was disappointing, alarming, and, in some cases, devastating. My conclusion?

Loving my dogs wasn’t enough.

I needed to do my homework and see beyond clever packaging and marketing schemes. I couldn’t blindly trust that any bag of dog food was healthy, or even safe. To be a truly responsible guardian, I had to know exactly what Loki and Ruca were eating—and the impact those products had on the rest of the world.

After lots of homework and a healthy dose of soul-searching, I finally discovered the brighter side of dog food. Buried beneath the bad, there are better ways to provide for our pups than what we’re used to or what we’ve been told.

By now, Loki and Ruca are the healthiest they've ever been, and I feel good about the way their food affects everyone else. But my journey wasn't easy. I spent so much time, energy, and even money just getting to the bottom of the dog food industry, before I could even start the uphill climb to better food choices.

I don't think your journey should be so hard.

That's why I created this blog, to translate everything I've learned into content you'll find easy to digest and fun to read. From kibble and canned to completely homemade, I'm here to help you navigate today's world of dog food the healthy, ethical, sustainable way. When you visit Conscious K9, you’ll learn the ins and outs of:

• Store-bought dog food: Ingredients, regulations, and labeling, plus the best products and brands to consider
• Homemade dog food: Complete and balanced food recipes, tasty treat recipes, nutrition, meal prep, cooking, and storage
• Sustainability: Shopping locally, reducing waste, and more ways to lessen your environmental footprint
• Animal welfare: Factory farming vs. small-scale farming, feeding trials, advocacy organizations, and product certifications

Plus, when I’m not talking food, I have plenty to share about achieving a happy, active lifestyle with your pup by exploring, socializing, and being creative together.

So, what’s the outcome of all this?

Whether you make a few small changes or a total transformation, I promise that your dog will be noticeably happier and healthier, and you will have a positive impact on countless other animals, people, and the planet. Loki and Ruca are proof of just that.

It’s time to repay our dogs for the love and happiness they’ve brought us for centuries, and why not do a little good along the way? I’m thrilled that you’ve joined me on this journey, and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together!

With love,

Lauren Paige