A scientific and practical guide for formulating raw, cooked and pack recipes.
Built on the nutritional science foundations taught in the RFN Full Course.

The RFN Introduction to Formulation Course teaches you how to analyze, select and combine ingredients together to build a recipe based on your dog’s specific nutritional requirements. This course builds on the foundations in nutritional science covered in the Full Course, taking nutritional theory to practical formulation strategies.

Learn how to set up nutritional goals outside of basic nutrient requirements, how to assess and select ingredients based on their nutritional strengths and weaknesses, and the ideal way to build a recipe from the ground up. Several formulation example videos are included, which review different types of formulations (raw, cooked, pack, low calorie, single ingredient) from start to finish.

Canine Diet Formulation Course with Certificate- $200

This course includes course content, graded quizzes and formulation assignments so you can make sure you are on the right track. Students who display proficiency in formulating and applying nutritional concepts will receive a Certificate of Completion at the end of the course.

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Audit Canine Diet Formulation Course- $50

For those who do not want to participate in graded assignments and quizzes, this is an audit version, which includes all course materials without any feedback, quizzes, or assignments. You may be able to upgrade to the graded version pending available space at the time of upgrade.

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Course Overview

Introduction

Introduction

Unit 1: Setting Formulation Goals

Lessons:

  • Energy Goals
  • Macronutrient and Fiber Goals
  • Other Formulation Goals
  • Setting up the RFN Sheet: Pet Profile
  • Quiz (Not available in audit version)

Unit 2: Formulation Order

Lessons:

  • Base Ingredients
  • Raw Meaty Bones
  • Nutrient Boosting Ingredients
  • Plant Matter and Supplements
  • RFN Sheet: Building Your Recipe
  • Quiz (Not available in audit version)

Unit 3: Additional Formulation Thoughts

Lessons:

  • Variety
  • Supplements vs whole foods
  • Health and Life Stage requirements
  • Pack Recipes
  • Toppers Recipes

Unit 4: Formulation Examples

Lessons:

  • Example 1: Raw Recipe
  • Example 2: Cooked Recipe
  • Example 3: Single Protein (Pork) Recipe
  • Example 4: Low Calorie Recipe (Senior Friendly)
  • Example 5: Pack Recipe
  • Example 6: Balancing 80/10/10 Blend
  • Assignment (Not available in the audit version)

Appendix

Lessons:

  • Appendix A: Adjusting RFN Sheet for Very High Energy Dogs
  • Appendix B: Common NRC Ingredients
  • Appendix C: Fish with Thiaminase

RFN Sheet Setup from Start to Finish

This course is designed around the RFN Sheet and includes tips for setting up your Pet Profile, bioavailability settings, and even creating estimations for ratio grinds in the RFN Sheet.
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Variety of Formulations

This course is a practical guide for formulating a variety of diets, including those for raw or cooked, weight loss or allergy diets and for sport/working dogs and seniors. With this course, you will be able to confidently tackle new types of formulations and build recipes that are complete and balanced.

Common Concerns for Homemade Diets

Are you worried about adding variety? How many supplements does an NRC recipe need? What nutrients should be considered for sport dogs, seniors, elimination and allergy diets? What about feeding partial homemade (raw or cooked) and kibble?

This course reviews each of these topics and discusses practical applications for formulation strategy. It will address myths in the raw feeding and home cooked world, and how to navigate topics like carbs and yeast and accurately assess allergies with nutrition science rather than urban myths.

Financial Assistance Available

The purpose of RFN is to provide accessible nutrition education for everyone. For those who may need financial assistance, there is a scholarship program.

Scholarships are only available for audited courses. For more information, please contact Jenny (jenny@bettercellsnutrition.com)

Financial Assistance Available

The purpose of RFN is to provide accessible nutrition education for everyone. For those who may need financial assistance, there is a scholarship program.

Scholarships are only available for audited courses. For more information, please contact Jenny (jenny@bettercellsnutrition.com)

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this course teach me how to formulate for puppies, kittens or clinical conditions like kidney disease, IBD, etc?

No. This is an introductory canine formulation course and only covers diets for proactive (healthy) adult dogs. We offer a separate course and RFN Sheet for puppy growth, available here. We also recommend advanced courses such as the Canine and Feline Nutrition course at SIU for advanced therapeutic diets.

Is there a cat formulation course?

Not at this time but it is in the works.

Is there a deadline?

If you are auditing the course, there is no deadline and the course material is available to you as long as you need.

If you are taking the certificate (graded) course, there is a 1 year deadline to complete assignments. After 1 year, you will still have access to the course materials but you will not be able to submit assignments for grading.

Do I need to use the RFN Sheet?

While this course is written and tailored specifically to the RFN Sheet, you can use any diet auditing tool or software you like. The formulation concepts covered in this course are universal, and the course will teach you formulation strategies that are not limited to a specific tool.