Breeders, Puppies and Breeding Dogs
Nutrition guidance for breeders, litters, and new puppy owners.
Why Breeders Choose Inukshuk
This page is designed to support professional breeders who raise litters on Inukshuk and want clear, consistent tools for feeding, weaning, and sending puppies home. Predictability matters when you’re raising litters. Inukshuk’s fixed-formula diets stay identical from batch to batch, giving breeders a consistent feeding base for mothers, pups, and growing dogs.
Both 26/16 and Marine 26/16 are AAFCO-approved for All Life Stages, including growth and reproduction, so the same food can carry a dog from weaning through adulthood without digestive resets.
Feeding Through the Breeding Cycle
Pregnancy
Feed 26/16 or Marine 26/16 throughout gestation.
Keep regular portions until the final three weeks, then increase food by 10–15 %.
Offer two smaller meals instead of one large serving to maintain appetite and comfort.
Lactation
Energy needs double or triple after whelping.
Continue 26/16 or Marine 26/16, or move to 30/25 for extra calories.
Many breeders free-feed during peak milk production or for dogs that will over eat, feed many smaller meals throughout the day.
Ensure constant access to clean, cool water.
Weaning for the Dam
Reduce the dam’s food gradually over a week to taper milk production.
Weaning Puppies Onto Inukshuk
Weaning practices vary between kennels, breeds, and litters, but the goal is always the same: steady digestion, safe growth, and a smooth transition from milk to solid food. The timeline below reflects common working-dog weaning patterns and pairs well with Inukshuk 26/16 and Marine 26/16.
Most breeders already move puppies to whole kibble by the time they leave at eight weeks. This guideline supports that process while giving new owners a clear and consistent starting point.
3 to 4 Weeks: First Introduction to Food
At this age, puppies are ready to begin exploring solid food in a very soft form.
Start with a mushy gruel made by blending water with Inukshuk kibble.
Aim for a texture similar to oatmeal.
Offer in a shallow dish so pups can lick instead of chew.
Breeder Tip:
Jordan Stone of Sheet Water Kennels recommends blending Inukshuk kibble with warm water to create a smooth, even mush. This method keeps the texture consistent and easy to digest during the first week of weaning.
5 to 6 Weeks: Gradually Thicker Meals
As puppies become more confident eaters, you can slowly thicken the food.
Feed up to four meals per day.
Gradually reduce the liquid so the food becomes thicker.
Add soft chunks of kibble to encourage early chewing.
This stage bridges the gap between licking and proper eating.
6 to 8 Weeks: Moving to Softened Kibble
By this age, most working-line puppies adapt well to solid food.
Reduce added water and transition to softened kibble.
Many litters are fully weaned by seven weeks.
Puppies staying longer for training can shift to dry kibble only once they’re eating confidently.
By eight weeks, the majority of Inukshuk-raised puppies can handle dry kibble with no trouble when the transition is gradual and consistent.
Feeding Amounts: Match to Weight and Age
Each puppy should eat according to the Inukshuk Feeding Guide for their current weight and age group. This keeps growth steady, prevents overfeeding, and gives new owners a clear reference point to continue at home.
Puppy Feeding Guide for New Owners
This guide keeps puppy feeding consistent after they leave your hands and prevents the common issues caused by sudden changes in diet. Provide each new owner with a printed copy of the Puppy Feeding Guide or send them a digital PDF. This resource gives families everything they need to continue what you started in the litter.
The guide includes:
How to buy Inukshuk and typical shipping timelines
Where to find resellers and how to order online
Feeding amounts based on weight and age
Stool and body-condition guidance
Why Inukshuk works for growing dogs
Our ethos and approach to affordable, high-performance nutrition
This ensures new owners receive consistent information and understand how to keep their puppy on track from day one.
What to Send Home With Each Puppy
Give each puppy a smooth and consistent start by including:
Details about the formula the puppy is eating, with your link to order or find a local reseller
A supply of Inukshuk, such as a full bag or several days of 26/16 or Marine 26/16, to bridge the gap until the owner can restock
Your contact information if you are an Inukshuk Trusted Reseller, along with your preferred reseller in the area
An optional customized breeder card, available by emailing marketingteam@corey.ca
Does Inukshuk Have a Breeder Program?
We get this question a lot, and the answer is simple. Our mission has always been to make high quality nutrition accessible at a fair price for everyone. To do that, we do not build marketing budgets, rebates, or kickbacks into the cost of the food. Keeping the price low for all customers is a core part of how Inukshuk operates.
We do not run a traditional breeder program and we do not charge extra to fund “retail puppy packs.” Instead, we offer the same consistent pricing structure to every customer, including breeders.
Anyone can purchase a full pallet of 65 bags at our wholesale rate.
Pricing is based on region, not membership, enrollment, or volume commitments. This keeps things fair, transparent, and affordable for every working kennel and every owner.
While we do not provide branded puppy items, we do offer practical tools you can include with your litters, such as our Puppy Feeding Guide. These resources help new families start off strong without raising the cost of their dog food.
