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Root-Cause Healing

Canine Health, From the Gut Up

Health is built on the foundation of species appropriate, whole food nutrition. Despite their diversity, as facultative carnivores, dogs have the same basic nutritional requirements, which should be met with a diet that resembles the wolf. The holistic approach to sharing our lives with animals begins with how we see them. We let go of the view of these animals as our possessions or "ours" in any true sense. We are instead their guardians. They are our chosen companions, who walk with us only a short time. It is up to us to make the best choices for them to give them the best life possible, keeping foremost in our mind THEIR inherent nutritional, mental, and physical needs, not OUR wants or desires.

The ancestral diet of the wolf is comprised of 85-90% meat, primarily whole prey, which includes flesh, fur, bones, organs, and glands, small amounts of fish, and 10-15% grasses, nuts, berries, and other vegetation, most coming from the stomach contents of their small prey. This diet equals 49% protein, 44% fat, and 6% carbohydrates(not grains or starches, but stomach contents of other animals, berries, and nuts). Typical dry dog food contains 25% protein, 32% fat, and 43% carbohydrates.

The closer we get to feeding dogs a diet that resembles their natural prey, the happier, healthier, and longer their lives will be. Guardians must educate themselves about the numerous diets that meet their dogs' nutritional requirements and learn to tailor it to their specific dog's needs. I hope to help you understand the diets, their building blocks, and how to make feeding real a simple and streamlined part of your routine.


About me

My name is Sharon Ellender, I am a Certified Professional Canine Nutritionist, Pet Master Herbalist, Pet Homeopathic Educator, and Animal Assisted Therapy Professional.

"Blessed is he who plants trees under whose shade he will never sit.” I believe our animal companions teach us much that we may not necessarily understand fully in their lifetime, but it will change us, and if we are honest with ourselves, teach us to dare to think to their benefit and to the greater benefit of the next animals that come into our lives. It is also these animals who inspire us to dare to know more, to never stop learning and strive to be better than who we were yesterday. Animals walk with us for only a short time, giving us their best each and every day. It is up to us to give them the best we can, and continue to learn what will make them live the best possible life with us.

Winter Wren was most inspired by two incredibly special dogs who touched my life, and without whom I would not be who I am today. Haven, my soul, and Hawkeye, my heart. These two inspired the start of my journey on the holistic path, and though they did not walk with me long enough on it, I hope to honor them with every step taken on this journey. I look forward to learning about your canine companions and helping you to give them the best foundation for health and longevity.

“When we provide our companion animals with considerations of health and healing that meet their needs and not just our own, we are in effect healing ourselves as well. In fact, we are healing one of the primary causes of earth’s greatest ills, humanity’s disconnection from nature.”

Our Philosophy

Healing from the Inside Out

Your dog's body inherently knows how to heal when provided real, bioavailable nutrients and targeted plant medicines. We map out the rest together.

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