Our Core Editorial Principles
DougsDogHouse was founded on a simple premise: dog owners deserve the same quality of nutrition information that veterinarians give their clients in the exam room — not watered-down, ad-driven content built to rank. Every editorial decision we make flows from four commitments:
- Accuracy over timeliness. We do not publish until Dr. Sterling has reviewed every claim. If that means a topic takes longer to cover, so be it.
- Transparency about conflicts. We disclose affiliate relationships on every page that contains them. Affiliate revenue never influences our recommendations — our editorial assessment is completed before any affiliate arrangement is considered.
- Primary sources only. We cite peer-reviewed studies, AAFCO/FEDIAF guidelines, WSAVA nutritional guidelines, and veterinary textbooks. We do not cite other pet content websites as sources.
- Regular updates. Dog nutrition science evolves. We revisit all articles at least annually and update them when the evidence changes — always with a visible "Last Reviewed" date.
Who Creates Our Content
Content on DougsDogHouse is created in one of two ways:
- Written directly by Dr. Maya Sterling, DVM. All calculator methodology, breed guide frameworks, and core nutrition articles are drafted by Dr. Sterling herself based on her clinical experience and research review.
- Written by a trained health writer, reviewed by Dr. Sterling. For supporting content, a writer with demonstrated animal health knowledge produces a first draft with full citations. Dr. Sterling then reviews every sentence, corrects clinical inaccuracies, and approves the final version before publication. Only content she approves carries the DougsDogHouse vet-reviewed badge.
Our Step-by-Step Review Process
Topic Selection
Topics are chosen based on reader questions, Google Search Console data showing high-impression queries, and gaps in the current evidence-based literature online. Commercial intent never drives topic selection — reader need does.
Primary Source Research
Every topic is researched using PubMed, the FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines, AAFCO Official Publication, WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines, and peer-reviewed veterinary nutrition textbooks. We do not use other pet websites as source material.
First Draft with Citations
The first draft is written with every factual claim linked to its primary source. Claims that cannot be sourced to a primary source are excluded or framed as Dr. Sterling's clinical opinion.
Veterinary Review by Dr. Sterling
Dr. Maya Sterling, DVM reads every word of the draft. She checks clinical accuracy, removes misleading simplifications, adds nuance where the evidence is contested, and rewrites any section that does not meet her clinical standard. She then approves or rejects the piece.
Publish with Transparent Dating
Published articles include both a "Published" date and a "Last Reviewed by Dr. Sterling" date. These are never hidden. If we update an article, the review date updates too.
Annual Review Cycle
Every article is queued for annual re-review. If major new research publishes before the annual cycle (e.g., a significant FDA advisory or new WSAVA update), we review and update immediately.
Affiliate Disclosure Policy
Some pages on DougsDogHouse contain affiliate links to dog food brands and products. If you purchase through one of these links, DougsDogHouse may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Our affiliate policy is strict:
- Affiliate arrangements are never agreed to before editorial review is complete. We assess a product on its merits first — independently of whether we have or could have a commercial relationship with the brand.
- Brands cannot pay to be featured, to improve their ranking in a review, or to have negative findings removed.
- All pages containing affiliate links include a visible disclosure banner at the top of the content section.
- Products we recommend without an affiliate link are evaluated by the same criteria as those that do carry links. We recommend based on our veterinary assessment, not our earning potential.
Calculator Methodology
All calculators on DougsDogHouse use validated veterinary formulas:
- Calorie Calculator: Uses the RER (Resting Energy Requirement) formula — 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75 — with MER (Maintenance Energy Requirement) multipliers sourced from FEDIAF 2021 Nutritional Guidelines and the WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee guidelines.
- Body Condition Score Calculator: Based on the Purina 9-point BCS scale, validated in peer-reviewed literature (Laflamme 1997; German et al. 2006).
- Raw Diet Calculator: Uses the BARF model ratio framework (80% muscle meat, 10% raw bone, 5% liver, 5% other secreting organ) as outlined in standard raw feeding literature, with adjustments for life stage.
- Fish Oil Calculator: Dosage targets are based on published omega-3 guidelines for dogs, including WSAVA recommendations for EPA+DHA supplementation by body weight.
- Puppy Weight Calculator: Uses published breed-size growth curves and the standard formula for predicting adult weight from puppy weight at known ages.
All calculator methodologies have been reviewed and approved by Dr. Sterling. They are tools for general guidance and do not replace a consultation with your veterinarian.
What We Do Not Do
- We do not publish sponsored content disguised as editorial review.
- We do not alter star ratings, rankings, or written assessments based on commercial relationships.
- We do not use AI-generated content without human editorial review and veterinary approval.
- We do not cite other pet content websites as primary sources.
- We do not make specific medical diagnoses or replace individualized veterinary care.
Corrections Policy
If we publish an error, we correct it quickly and transparently. Corrections are noted at the top of the affected article with the date and nature of the change. We do not silently edit articles. If you believe you've found a factual error, please contact us — Dr. Sterling reviews all correction requests personally.
Contact Our Editorial Team
Questions about our editorial process, a specific article, or a correction request should be directed to hello@dougsdoghouse.com. Dr. Sterling reviews all editorial correspondence.