Olie

For those that do any raw diets I'd like to know what some of your recipes are like, not real specific but what are your dogs favorite meat as well as whats the best for them?

Also do you believe in and or use suppliments? And was there a cost savings/increase? I am looking (just looking right now) at a couple different things but I am really a bit confused on some of it. Mainlt concerning the bones, as well as servings.

Thanks

Fluffyspoos

I'll be trying raw when I get my poodle, but I'll be doing prey model, so he or she will be getting a whole rabbit (or half in the morning and half in the evening.)

I've never done raw before, so it'll be a new experience.

bigpoodleperson

Riley eats a prey model raw diet. I buy meats and cut them up/"make" them myself. I dont feed veggies as dogs dont need them, and the only supplement i give is fish oil. 6 years later and no problems. I have never really done the math, but i would guess that in general it is either the same cost as a high quality kibble i would buy or cheaper. Depends on what meat/price i get. I feed chicken, turkey, pork, rabbit, venison, some beef, some fish.

I dont really go by a "recipe" so much as a guideline. I try and have an Average of 80-85% meat in the diet. I am not heavy on bone, and he gets some organs. By average, i mean every meal doesnt have to be balanced. There are many days he goes boneless, doesnt get organs, etc. We dont eat a balanced meal every day either.

As far as his favorite and whats best, it depends. Riley does not have a favorite meat. He will eat anything i put in his bowl willingly (unlike kibble, and except fish)! Is very excited for every meal! We had pickyness troubles on kibble, but he hasnt missed a meal since (except when sick). Whats best for them for foods is varitey. You cant feed just a chicken or whatever diet. I know people that argue that pork is the best food. I know others that Wont feed pork. I try and average out different meats. Im not saying that i wont go on a chicken kick if funds are low, but i try to get other sources as soon as i can. If you have hunting friends, great! Get their extra or freezer burned meat.

If you have the freezer space then buy bulk!! It is Way cheaper! My local butchers can get me good deals if i get 20-40lb cases of it. We have a chest freezer so this works out great. There are many wonderful books out there to help get you started, and many nice internet groups. I didnt start alone. After much reading and asking questions i gave Riley his first turkey neck. He took it into the yard, licked it for awhile and then chewed. We were off from there. You can ask here or PM me anytime if you have other questions. Good luck!

AgilityIG

I am one of those lazy folks that just get the premade stuff and feed that! I feed Nature's Variety and Honest Kitchen. I am thinking of getting a grinder to do some chicken for the kids. Yum!! I bought my freezer just for the dogs!!

960

I feed the prey model as well, I do add fish oil, sea meal, and sometimes a bit of plain yougert. I have been doing this for about a year now and they are thriving on it!! It's about the same price as high quality dog food and I also get good deals buying in bulk from the butcher. We feed mainly chicken, but have fed turkey, lamb, beef and rabbit. The more variety the better. They prey model is 80% meat, 10% bone and 10% organ meat. but as bigpoodle person said its dosn't have to be exact, it all evens out. I do sometimes add berries and some veg, but as I said on another thread we went to wolf haven and they feed raw prey model, no veg or fruit, no grain, no kibble so if it works for them..... The main thing is don't be afraid to try. The dog food industries would like us to think that we are too stupid to feed our dog properly and that they are the experts with their "complete and balanced" dog foods. Nothing could be further from the truth. Some of the foods out there are pretty good, some would curl your hair they are so bad, and some are down right poison. If I sould like I am up on a soap box it is because my dad was one of the people who lost his beloved Chow to the poison dog food a few years ago. It took out her kidneys, and broke his heart, now he won't even think about getting another dog.

960

The serving size guideline is 2% of your dogs body weight. then you adjust up or down depending on activity etc... I feed Chicken wings, Turkey necks etc... for bones. Raw of course. I stay away from the bigger harder bones. My friends Rottie broke a tooth on a buffelo bone. The smaller animal bones are a bit softer and more plyable. One of the benifits is great teeth, clean and white

jester's mom

Spoospirit and I feed a combo... kibble (in our case it is Diamond Brand for athletic dogs) and raw. I feed kibble in the morning and raw at night, spoo vice/versa. My dogs love any of the meats.. chicken, turkey, beef, pork, organ meat and whitting fish. Funny thing is, only Chantel will eat liver raw. None of the others will touch it unless cooked, and both Jade (my 8 yr old dobie) and Ivy are chow hounds so it really is odd...lol. They are fussy about what raw fish they get but they do love whitting and love to eat it frozen like a fish pop...lol.

I don't feed vegies as a general part of the diet, only occasionally, but they get organic kelp and flax daily, oh and also brewers yeast with garlic. They do get a combo of meat and bones normally everyday, with bone amount varying. They are doing great on this feeding, great coats and vigor, so I am happy with it. Right now with turkey going for 47 cents a pound, you can guess what meat they are eating this week, and I have more in the freezer. I also made up the satin balls - which is hamburg and molasses and total cereal and lots of other stuff, and they get that interspersed with the other raw meats. Oh, and they also get plain yogurt a few times a week.

I find that all of my girls have great energy levels but are not hyper at all. When taken out to work or play, they are attentive and energetic, but in the house they are not hyper at all. I like that!!

Olie

OK great now this is helping me process my thoughts more. So chicken theighs, legs, wings they eat bones and all............? I will look up satin balls. Honestly I have avoided this because I did'nt think I could handle doing the raw.........makes me a little ill at the thought BUT I am reading a lot of benefits on it and was looking at kibble for AM and raw for PM

Fluffyspoos

I was planning on doing this! I just can't decide which I want to do, raw in the morning or kibble. Have you and Spoo found a difference between the two?

bigpoodleperson

Both of your standards are Plently large enough to eat every part of a chicken. They would probably be fine with turkey as well. I dont feed chicken wings unless they are attached to the bird still. They are too small for most dogs, and they are extreamly boney, so they need an additional meat source fed with it. Just remember to do bigger pieces until you know what they will do. Sometimes when dogs have smaller pieces when they start out they tend to gulp them whole. Big means they Have to chew. I feed Riley one large meal a day at lunch. This allows his gut to rest inbetween feedings (wolves in the wild go days/weeks between meals, so feeding multiple times a day is not natural for an adult), and it allows me to feed bigger pieces of meat.

Can i ask why some of you feed kibble and raw? Is it mostly for convience, or is there another reason? I keep kibble on hand, and Riley eats it fine when we travel or if i run out of food (only a small bag as i rarely use it).