Specialty in Canine All Life Stages Formulation

Sp. ALS℠ Certification Track | Audit Track

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Specialty in Canine All Life Stages Formulation (Sp. ALS) is a specialized study in canine growth and reproductive nutrition, designed for those seeking a deeper understanding of diet formulation for developing puppies and breeding dogs. This program bridges science with practice, guiding students through real-world case studies to refine their formulation skills. With a strong emphasis on both theoretical foundations and hands-on learning, students will assess developmental requirements, fine-tune formulations for different growth phases, and support optimal long-term health. Built with the same rigor as Professional Canine Formulation, this course focuses exclusively on the unique nutritional demands of puppies, gestation, and lactation. While designed as a continuation of Professional Canine Formulation, qualified students may enroll with a prerequisite assessment.

ACAN Graduates

Why ALS?

Mastering Formulation for Critical Life Stages

This course is for students with a strong foundation in nutrition science and experience in adult canine formulation (required for the Certificate track, recommended for the Audit track). Building on Professional Canine Formulation (PCF), it explores how developmental changes impact nutrient needs and the challenges of formulating safe, balanced diets for growing puppies and breeding dogs.

With a focus on real-world application, students will engage in hands-on case studies to refine their skills, learning not just why key nutrients—like calcium—are essential, but how their formulation differs from adult diets. The course will also cover the unique risks and considerations of whole food formulations for growth and development, common foods that pose challenges in developmental diets, the practical difficulties of feeding homemade diets during critical life stages, and strategies for supporting healthy growth.

By the end of the course, students will have the confidence to create tailored, evidence-based diets for dogs in key developmental stages.

Develop A Specialty: Formulating for growth and reproduction isn’t just about meeting nutrient requirements—it requires a deep understanding of the unique challenges, risks, and adjustments needed to support healthy development. The All Life Stages Formulation course provides the specialized training necessary to create safe, effective diets and confidently support clients through every stage of their dog’s life and support long-term health. Students will gain the knowledge and skills to confidently create safe, balanced diets that support healthy development.

Comprehensive Training in Raw and Cooked Foods: The All Life Stages Formulation course is part of a unique curriculum that emphasizes scientifically formulating raw and cooked diets. Students will gain both scientific and practical understanding of the role of whole foods in growth and reproduction diets – the challenges, risks, and benefits that affect key nutrients and health.

Learn from Industry Leaders: Gain insights and mentorship from experts in the science-based homemade diet field—professionals who actively work with both private and commercial clients. Our instructors bring extensive firsthand experience and stay at the forefront of industry trends, ensuring you’re equipped to tackle real-world challenges with confidence.

 

What You Will Learn (Key Skills and Knowledge)

Key Nutrients for Growth and Development
Dive deep into the essential nutrients that drive healthy growth and development, understanding their long-term impact on a dog’s health. Students will develop strategies for balancing these key nutrients in real-world scenarios, including accommodations for puppy training, without compromising nutritional balance.

Breed and Size Considerations
Growth rates and nutrient requirements vary significantly depending on a dog’s breed and adult size. Students will learn how these factors influence dietary needs, how to track growth patterns, and how to set nutrition goals that reflect best practices for special breeds.

Consultation Skills Specific For Development
Supporting healthy growth requires more than just the right formulation—it also involves effective client guidance. Students will gain practical tools and strategies to help clients monitor and maintain proper growth, and learn strategies for identifying and correcting growth issues before they become long-term concerns.

 

Who Will Benefit from All Life Stages Formulation?

Nutrition students, recent graduates, and current nutritionists looking to specialize in life-stage formulation, consulting, or expand their expertise in growth and reproduction diets.

Veterinarians and veterinary professionals seeking practical knowledge on raw and cooked food diets for life-stage nutrition.

Nutrition and industry professionals pursuing continuing education or a refresher on specialty formulation concepts.

Pet owners who want to understand formulation principles to support their puppy’s or dam’s nutritional needs.

 

What is the training like?

Course Length: This course is self-paced. Typically, the course can be completed in 3 months, with 2 hours a week dedicated to readings and assignments, and up to 2 hours of additional reading for recommended or supplemental materials. Course access lasts for 6 months from the time of enrollment.

Flexible Learning: This course is 100% online, and available internationally (written in English). Every lesson includes audio recordings of the course text.

Required Texts:

  • Small Animal Clinical Edition 5 (available online for free)
  • FEDIAF Nutrition Guidelines (available online for free)
  • All other required readings will be from Sp. ALS course text that is included with enrollment.

Course Overview

Self knowledge checks are included at the end of each module.

Course content is provided in written format with images and charts. An audio recording is available for each lesson.

Module One

Growth and Reproduction Nutrition

In module one, students will explore the unique nutritional demands of growth and reproduction in dogs, with a focus on how these needs differ from adult maintenance. Lessons cover critical distinctions in feeding strategies for puppies of various ages and breeds, especially large breeds, emphasizing the importance of balanced daily nutrition to prevent long-term developmental issues. Students will also examine key nutrients, such as protein, calcium, zinc, and essential fatty acids, and learn how their roles and requirements change during growth, gestation, and lactation.

Module Two

Formulation Considerations

In module two, students will build on foundational knowledge by learning how to calculate energy needs and apply nutrient standards from NRC, AAFCO, and FEDIAF specifically for growth and reproduction. They’ll explore how to translate these standards into practical formulations that ensure key nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, iron, and essential fatty acids are supplied at safe and effective levels. The module also covers real-world considerations such as raw meaty bones, supplement selection, and adjusting for treat usage and client preferences. By the end of this module, students will be equipped to create accurate, compliant, and balanced formulations tailored to puppies and breeding dogs.

Module Three

Growth and Reproduction Cases

In module three, students will learn how to apply their formulation knowledge in real-world settings by working directly with clients and commercial products. The lessons address common client concerns, such as fear of imbalanced diets, and provide guidance for integrating commercial foods like kibble, raw, cooked, and canned diets into customized nutrition plans. Students will explore practical strategies for addressing overfeeding, growth disturbances, and the challenges posed by unbalanced or incomplete commercial diets. By the end of the module, students will feel confident navigating client expectations and building flexible, evidence-informed formulations that support healthy development. Module three also includes the final projects.

Appedicies

Appendices: ALS Resources

The appendices provide practical tools and reference data to support accurate formulation and feeding plans. Students gain access to estimated nutrient profiles for a variety of raw meaty bones, helping guide safe inclusion in home-prepared diets. Additionally, downloadable growth and reproduction feeding chart templates allow students to calculate energy needs and serving sizes using NRC equations, streamlining their formulation process for real-world application.
Complete Course Plan

Course Introduction

Course Handbook Overview

Module 1: Growth and Reproduction Nutrition

  1. Introduction
    1. Pre-requisite self-knowledge check
  2. Lesson 1: Growth and Reproductive Nutrition Differences
    1. The Importance of Growth Nutrition
    2. Growth Nutrition for Large Breeds
    3. Transitioning from Growth to Adult Maintenance
    4. The Importance of Reproduction Nutrition
    5. Required Reading
  3. Lesson 2: Key Nutrients
    1. Protein and Amino Acids
    2. Fat and fatty acids
    3. Minerals
    4. Vitamins
    5. Carbohydrates
    6. Required Reading
  4. Self-Knowledge Check

 

Module 2: Formulation Considerations

  1. Introduction
    1. Pre-requisite self-knowledge check
  2. Lesson 1: Energy Requirements
    1. Growth
    2. Reproduction
    3. Setting Energy Factors
    4. Other Factors That Influence Energy Requirements
    5. Required Reading
  3. Lesson 2: Nutrient Standards
    1. NRC, AAFCO and FEDIAF
    2. Notable Differences Between Standards
  4. Lesson 3: Formulating for Key Nutrients
    1. Minerals
    2. Fatty Acids
    3. Vitamins and Macronutrients
    4. Energy: Accounting for Treats and Snacks
  5. Self-Knowledge Check

 

Module 3: Growth and Reproduction Cases

  1. Introduction
    1. Pre-requisite self-knowledge check
  2. Lesson 1: Considerations for Formulation Services
    1. Common Types of Growth Services
    2. Monitoring Growth and Troubleshooting
    3. Common Types of Reproduction and ALS Services
  3. Lesson 2: Working With Commercial Products
    1. Nutrient standard differences for growth and reproduction
    2. Food types and their effect on growth and reproduction
  4. Self Knowledge Check
  5. Formulation Simulations (Final Projects)
    1. Growth Formulation
    2. Reproduction Formulation
    3. Growth and Reproduction Nutrition Case Troubleshooting

Course Conclusion

Appendices: ALS Resources

  1. Raw Meaty Bone Nutritional Profiles
  2. Growth Feeding Chart Template
  3. Reproduction Feeding Chart Templates

Project One

Growth Formulation

Students will create a complete diet formulation for a growing puppy, applying course principles to meet developmental needs. This project emphasizes accurate energy calculation, nutrient balancing, and real-world skills through client simulation. By the end, students will be able to deliver a fully developed nutrition plan tailored to a young dog’s growth stage.
*Unavailable in audit version

 

Project Two

Reproduction Formulation

Mirroring project 1, students will formulate a diet for a breeding female dog during gestation and lactation. They’ll learn to meet the changing energy and nutrient demands of reproduction, while building confidence in designing practical, balanced diets for this critical life stage.
*Unavailable in audit version

 

Final Project

Troubleshooting Formulations

Students will evaluate and adjust an existing diet for a dog experiencing a nutrition-related issue. This case will build their problem-solving skills, focusing on how to assess concerns, make targeted dietary changes, and support clients through practical, evidence-informed guidance.
*Unavailable in audit version

 

About the Instructors

This course is written by Jenny Ryoo and is taught by Jenny Ryoo and Savannah Welna, companion animal nutrition professionals with fresh food diet expertise and years of practical experience in client-based formulation, mentoring, and industry-leading educational programs. You can read about the instructors here.

Certificate (Sp. ALS) Track

Who This is For:

  • Nutritionist students or recent nutritionist graduates seeking life stage specialty formulation and consulting knowledge before entering the field
  • Current nutritionists wanting to learn formulation concepts for growth and reproduction cases
  • Veterinarians who want practical knowledge on navigating raw or cooked food diets for life stage nutrition

Fees: $450.
There is a $15 discount available for those in the US who pay by ACH. This is only available for US students. Please contact us to set up payment by ACH.

Prerequisites:
This course requires one of the following prerequisite paths:

Applicants who have not completed the Professional Canine Formulation Course must demonstrate a strong foundation in canine nutrition science and formulation concepts through an application and assessment process.

Graduates of the All Life Stages Formulation Course Will:

  • Receive a certificate of completion and the use of the designation “Sp. ALS”
  • Be featured in our professional directory
  • Access to ACAN logos to use in marketing or promotional materials
  • Access to ACAN formulation resources

Grading: Pass/Fail. If students receive a passing grade, they will receive a certificate of completion.

Course length: 6 months, self paced.
If students need an extension, a six month extension may be available for $100 USD.

To Apply or Register

PCF Graduates

Graduates of our Certificate PCF program may register for the program directly. New students or audit students should submit an application (see “New Students” section”).

To Enroll

PCF Graduates can register for the course here. No assessment is required.

PCF Student Benefit

Students who are currently enrolled in, or have previously completed, the PCF Course will receive audit access to the PCF course for the duration of their enrollment in the All Life Stages Formulation Course.

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New Applicants

Prerequisites

Applicants should have prior education or experience in:

  • The function and metabolism of essential nutrients in dogs
  • Basic canine anatomy and physiology

Applicants must have a strong understanding of formulation concepts for proactive adult dogs. Applicants should have previous formulation experiences (professional, educational or personal) that:

  • Meet nutrient requirements (NRC, AAFCO or FEDIAF)
  • Tailor a diet to owner preferences
  • Include homemade, cooked, or raw diets

The Raw Fed and Nerdy Full Course and The Professional Canine Formulation Course are examples of qualifying prerequisite courses for nutrition foundation and canine formulation. Other prerequisites can be:

  • Formal education (degrees, certifications, relevant coursework)
  • Informal learning experiences (self-study, mentorships, etc.)
  • Personal experience with nutrition science or formulation

If you are not certain whether your previous experience or education qualifies, please contact us, and we can advise.

To Apply

Applicants should submit an application here. Applicants will receive a link to take the prerequisite assessment, which consists of two parts:

1. Canine Nutrition Science Foundations: A multiple-choice, auto-graded test.

2. Canine Sample Formulation Submission. Applicants may either:

  • Submit a formulation from their portfolio for a proactive, adult dog
  • Complete a formulation for a provided test case

There is a $50 USD fee to access and complete the prerequisite assessment.

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Audit Access

Who This is For:

  • Nutritionists seeking continuous education or brush up on specialty formulation concepts
  • Veterinary or industry professionals seeking to expand their general knowledge
  • Pet owners who want to understand formulation principles for their puppy or dam

Fees: $225.

Prerequisites: We recommend that students complete the Professional Canine Formulation (PCF) Course before enrolling in this course. Alternatively, students should have prior coursework or education in canine nutrition and anatomy, such as the RFN Full Course. Additionally, students should have a strong understanding of canine formulation practices and hands-on formulation experience in creating balanced diets, such as the RFN Formulation Course.

Course length: 6 months.

PCF Student Benefit
Students who are currently enrolled in, or have previously completed, the PCF Course will receive audit access to the PCF course for the duration of their enrollment in the All Life Stages Formulation Course.

To Enroll: Audit students can enroll in the course here.

Upgrade: Audit students may upgrade to the Certificate Track. Contact admin@academyofcompanionanimalnutrition.com r for more information.

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