From Poorly Puppy to Healthy and Happy: Max the CockerPoo

Leo adopted Max the CockerPoo at six months old. Before joining Leo’s family, Max was the only dog in his previous home and spent most of his time in a crate. He had no canine social skills to speak of, no dog friends, and was timid and fearful of new people, places, and things. He was also in poor health, experiencing regular episodes of digestive upset, amongst other issues, all of which were very worrying, especially for a pup so young.

Fast forward to a year and a half later, and Max is now thriving. He has the boundless energy a young dog should have, a healthy, shiny coat, and his digestive health is much improved. Leo credits this change to a loving home (which includes an older sibling), help from some fabulous trainers and canine behaviourists, and switching Max’s diet to ProDog Raw.

Leo learned about ProDog Raw by chance, not yet knowing much about canine nutrition. Upon mentioning Max’s health troubles to a friend, they shared their positive experience with raw feeding and offered Leo some of their own dog’s ProDog raw dog food to try. Max responded so well to the new diet that Leo decided to switch him to raw permanently, and he and Max became official ProDog customers.

Leo started Max on ProDog’s 80/10/10 raw dog food formula, which Max loved; especially the beef, tripe, and chicken varieties. According to Leo,

At one point, Leo began to wonder if Max was getting all he needed from his 80/10/10 meals. Whilst he knew the benefits of a raw, species-appropriate diet for Max’s health, he thought there might be more he could do to meet his nutritional needs.

At that point, Leo reached out to the helpful staff at ProDog Raw’s distribution centre and shop in Highbridge, Somerset, a place he and Max often visit. They suggested that he try offering Max Boost, ProDog’s vitamin and mineral supplement, for additional nutrient support.

As Leo soon found out, Boost was the perfect choice to complement Max’s diet.

Alison Frost, ProDog’s canine nutritionist, explains,

“Boost is our all-in-one vitamin and mineral blend. It helps to bridge nutritional gaps with powerful antioxidants, essential vitamins and minerals from science-backed, health-boosting ingredients like hemp protein, pumpkin seeds, Reishi mushrooms, and green-lipped mussels. Vet-approved and irresistible even to picky eaters, Boost also packs in probiotics for gut support, making it a complete solution for total canine health – from the inside out.” 

Max’s life has vastly improved since he and Leo started their raw food journey. Once shy and unsocialised, Max has become quite the confident little man. He adores his 17-year-old sibling, Lola, and though she can’t keep up with his puppy energy, she loves Max as well.

Leo, Max, and Lola live close to the beach and often holiday in Cornwall, which is great for water-loving Max.

They also love popping into ProDog’s distribution centre and shop, where they stock up on their food, natural dog treats, and supplements – and Max gets all the attention! Leo says,

From a poorly, shy, unsocialised puppy to a thriving, happy, confident little dog. That’s the magic of a loving home, positive reinforcement training, and a healthy, species-appropriate diet!

If your dog needs a pick-me-up and you’re ready to explore how a menu change could help, we’ve got you covered. Dive into our beginner’s guide to raw feeding, our puppy raw feeding guide or our beginner’s guide to dog supplements, for all the info you need to get started with a more natural approach to your dog’s diet.

For personalised advice, ProDog’s canine nutrition team is on hand, along with Caroline Spencer, our canine behaviourist, who’s a pro at turning fussy eaters into food lovers.