Mixed Breads And Our Founder

First and foremost, thank you for being here. 

Thank you for taking the time to learn about me, my story, and why I created Mixed Breads. Every visit, purchase, follow, and share means so much to me as a small business owner, and I truly appreciate you being part of this journey

Hi, I’m Steffi, the founder of Mixed Breads and a professional dog trainer since 2019.

My journey into dog training and eventually canine nutrition and enrichment started with a dog who changed my life: my Husky/German Shepherd mix, Luna.

I grew up around dogs and always thought I knew how to take care of them. When I was younger, my family had a Cocker Spaniel named Scooper. Like many families, we would often share whatever we were eating with our dog without thinking much about nutrition or whether his diet was actually meeting his needs. Over the years, Scooper became very sick and eventually passed away when I was around 16. Losing him was one of the hardest experiences I had ever gone through.

So when I got Luna, I was determined to do things differently.

Luna was my first dog, and I wanted to make sure I gave her the best life possible. I was especially afraid of making the same mistakes I had made with Scooper, so I believed I needed to keep her strictly on "dog food.

But Luna had a different idea.

She would eat her food for a few days and then suddenly refuse it. I constantly found myself changing her food just to get her to eat. At the time, I was also just beginning my education in dog training, so I was learning as I went. One thing I quickly realized was that nutrition wasn't  being discussed in my training.

Then, when Luna was only four months old, something terrifying happened.

She ate a large amount of rocks from our backyard and ended up needing emergency medical care after developing blood in her stool. She was extremely sick, and we were faced with a frightening situation that came with a significant emergency vet bill just to save her life.

That experience completely changed the way I looked at caring for dogs.

As I continued my journey in dog training I eventually got assigned to a dog trainer to start my "hands on" training.

Linda Goodman was the trainer assigned to me and she completely changed the way I looked at canine nutrition. 

Through my training and guidance from experienced professionals, I began learning much more about canine nutrition and the importance of providing dogs with a properly balanced, nutrient-rich diet.

And everything started to change.

Once Luna was finally eating a diet that worked for her, she became excited about mealtime. She began maintaining a healthier weight, and her everyday life changed in ways I hadn't expected.

But then we had a new problem...

She loved her food so much that she was eating way too fast!

That's when I discovered the world of slow feeders and lick mats.

What started as a solution to help Luna slow down at mealtime opened my eyes to an entire world of canine enrichment. I learned that feeding doesn't have to be something our dogs simply rush through. Mealtime can become an opportunity to engage their minds, encourage natural behaviors, and provide enrichment throughout the day.

In some cases, eating too quickly can even cause the risk of gastric torsion, also known as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) or bloat. This is a serious, life-threatening condition where the stomach becomes distended with gas, food, or fluid and may then twist on itself. This twisting can restrict or completely cut off blood flow to the stomach and surrounding organs, causing severe complications. Without immediate treatment, GDV can rapidly become fatal.

And that's what ultimately led me to create Mixed Breads. 

I've been working with dogs since 2019, and I'm continuing to expand my education in canine nutrition because I've learned something incredibly important along the way:

You can train a dog, exercise a dog, and teach them everything you can—but nutrition and overall well-being are part of the foundation that supports all of it.

Growing up with dogs, I thought I knew everything I needed to know. But I eventually realized there was so much I didn't know. And I know I'm not the only one. There are so many loving dog parents who genuinely want the best for their dogs but simply haven't been given the information or resources to know what that looks like.

That's why I'm so passionate about Mixed Breads.

My goal isn't just to sell slow feeders and lick mats. It's to share what I've learned, encourage dog parents to look deeper into nutrition and enrichment, and help make everyday life a little healthier and more engaging for our dogs.

Because our dogs aren't just pets. They're family. We want them to be happy, healthy, and with us for as many years as possible.

If something as simple as changing the way we feed our dogs can ultimately extend their lives, why wouldn't we give it a try?

Everything about Mixed Breads started because I wanted to give Luna the best life I possibly could. But as this journey grew, I found myself asking, why stop there?

If I had the opportunity to use my small business to help other dogs have a better life too, I knew I had to take it.

That’s why supporting rescue dogs became such an important part of Mixed Breads. We donate with every purchase and support rescue organizations that are working to give dogs in need a second chance.

For me, it only felt right to give back. Luna changed the direction of my life and taught me so much about nutrition, enrichment, and what it truly means to care for a dog. If her story could lead to something that helps other dogs, then I want to do everything I can to make that happen.

Every purchase doesn't just support my small business—it also helps us continue giving back to dogs who are still waiting for their chance at a better life.

Because this journey started with wanting to give one dog the best life possible I decided it was only right to help as many dogs as we can.

Thank you for being here and for supporting my small business, and mission on saving the pups.  Everything I do with Mixed Breads comes from a genuine love for dogs and a desire to help them live their happiest, healthiest lives.