FAQs About Wolfried.

THE NITTY GRITTY

  • Much of the pet health space is shaped by opposing dogmas. On one side, conventional and pharmaceutical models reduce health to isolated mechanisms, often mediated through highly processed feed framed as “science.” On the other, parts of the holistic space selectively invoke scientific language while relying on trends, anecdotes, or incomplete interpretations of data. Both sides frequently reference science; fewer apply the scientific method in a way that genuinely supports informed decision-making.

    Wolfried operates outside this divide to not only support the dog’s health, but also guardian-informed care. We recognize that evidence is not limited to datasets alone, nor is experience sufficient without critical evaluation. As thinkers such as Erich Fromm emphasized, understanding does not arise from empirical data or observation in isolation.

    Scientific inquiry generates structured evidence by testing observations formulated as hypotheses. However, that evidence cannot remain abstract or self-contained. It must be taken back into a real-world context and examined again through observation, weighed against evidence on both sides of the ledger. It is this continuous exchange between measurement and observation that allows knowledge to approach reality as closely as possible, and, in turn, support more predictable and desirable health outcomes for dogs and their guardians.

    Our work integrates empirical research, clinical insight, and lived biological context, always returning to the dog in front of us. Not ideology. Not a trend. Reality.

  • Wolfried offers clarity and restraint in a field often defined by a lack of guardian support, noise, shortcuts, and oversimplification.

    • We are guided by training, research literacy, the dog-guardian unit, and structured judgment, not by marketing narratives or performative Science™, employed by both the conventional and holistic pet health industry.

    • We work from individualized frameworks, informed by evidence-based European traditions and select global adjuncts, rather than applying fixed templates or trend-driven solutions.

    • We treat biologically-appropriate food as the foundation, not as a vehicle for fillers, additives, or unnecessary supplementation.

    • We apply phytotherapy and mycotherapy with precision, using clinically informed, evidence-supported approaches — deliberately and purposefully, not as decorative or habitual additions.

WHO WE ARE

  • Wolfried was founded by Marie-Luise Smith, a Certified Professional Canine Nutritionist (CPCN) with advanced training in phyto- and mycotherapy, rooted in scientifically backed European monastic medicine.

    Marie holds two science degrees and has worked in clinical research, medicine, and the pharmaceutical field. That experience shaped her ability to separate evidence from marketing and to see where both conventional and holistic approaches fall short.

    She was raised in Berlin, Germany, where her father, Dr. med. Schilling practiced medicine in the second generation with humility and precision, always putting patients first — a standard that guides Wolfried today.

    That’s why every Wolfried protocol is transparent: you’ll see the reasoning, the evidence, and why popular ideas don’t always hold up. The goal isn’t to follow trends or create photogenic bowls. The aim is simple: dogs that thrive through guardian-informed care.

GUIDING CONCEPTS

  • Wolfried is built around the interconnected dog-guardian relationship, seen as a unit required for canine health.

    Our approach begins with the biological reality of the individual dog — its species, life stage, environment, and current context — rather than with ideology or fixed protocols. Food is treated as the primary foundation. Additional support, including evidence-based phytotherapy and mycotherapy, is considered selectively and only when it serves a clear, rational purpose.

    The goal is not to replace veterinary care or to apply blanket solutions, but to provide guardians with structured, physiology-informed frameworks that support long-term health with restraint, clarity, consistency, and guardian challenges in mind.

  • A species-appropriate diet honors the biology of the dog in front of you, not the convenience of the industry or the hype of the moment.

    At Wolfried, that means:

    • Fresh, minimally processed food built around animal proteins, organs, and fats.

    • Bone or natural calcium sources to support balance.

    • No fillers, no grains, no guesswork.

    We design protocols around what dogs are physiologically built to digest and thrive on — not around headlines or wishful thinking. A single study showing an interesting result doesn’t mean that ingredient belongs in every or any bowl. Too often, it’s people bending the data to fit a trend, not the science itself.

  • Traditional European phytotherapy has its roots in monastic medicine, where plants were catalogued and applied with precision for centuries. In the U.S., this tradition was largely abandoned — partly due to the historic rejection of medical gate-keeping, but also because access to many of the plants was simply not possible.

    Today, those plants and knowledge are accessible — and the need is greater than ever in a market overflowing with vague “herbal blends” and no clear standards.

    At Wolfried, we revive this tradition for dogs:

    • Pharmacopoeia-grade herbs (coming soon)

    • Precise dosing

    • Applied only when needed, to support specific systems

    If we suggest supplementation, we mainly draw from Traditional European Canine Phytotherapy. The reason is that TECP is backed by centuries of tradition and modern evidence. Moreover, it is geared towards short to mid-term use. With our approach, you don’t need to guess or, whenever possible, put your dog on a lifelong supplement regimen.

  • A better question might be, ‘How does Wolfried approach dogs’ health ?’

    At Wolfried, we don’t believe in dogma, we believe in dogs.

    Our motto is ‘Feed your dog, not dogma.’

    Our foundation is always nutrition first: fresh, functional food tailored to the dog in front of us. Additionally, we incorporate phytotherapy (Traditional European herbal medicine) and mycotherapy (medicinal mushrooms), both of which are supported by evidence and tradition.

    Wolfried does not diagnose, prescribe, or replace veterinary care. We practice canine health and guardian-informed consulting. Our primary role is to support dogs through nutrition and natural medicine, not to treat disease.

    That said, we also recognize that some situations require more than herbs or diet alone. In those cases, we will never leave an animal to suffer in the name of “purity.” After careful consideration, we may recommend that caregivers seek conventional interventions when they are the safest and most effective path forward.

    We call this approach Wolfried’s Realistic Holistic™ Method: rooted in food, strengthened by plants and fungi, and responsibly open to conventional tools when the situation demands it.

    Because guardian-informed care isn’t about choosing sides, it’s about choosing what supports the dog best.