What Do I Feed My Dogs?

Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods

What We Feed Our Dogs.

We feel that the commercial dog food industry in order to compete with newer companies is taking a turn for the worst. In order to make more profits, they are sacrificing elements in food that makes a blend supreme. We do not believe that our dogs deserve food that just covers the basics of nutrition, our dogs deserve the best and optimum health. A lot of dog food companies with the more whole canine in mind, do a good job at making top quality diets, but my love for the kitchen and the belief that is shared by many dogs owners/breeders/fanciers and natural based dog food companies that homemade is best applies here. We make our dogs food ourselves. We have been doing it for a year now, with excellent results. Our dogs coats are shinier, their teeth are whiter, allergies that once prevailed are non-existent. Our dogs have a lot more energy, they are more attentive and you can clearly see the bright expression in their eyes.

This is all raw food, and must be raw in order to preserve the benefits of the food and for the safety of ANY dog. The ingredients are not listed in quantities, because a lot of the measurements I do is simply instinctual. However please use the resources at the bottom of the page to research the quantities of food you should be using for your dogs. This diet works well for my dogs, and may or may not work well for your own. I got my first diet from an acquaintance, which did not work whatsoever. The second diet I got was from Shenanigans breeder, which worked well so I kept it, and tinkered with it here and there. I also know that I am forgetting something in the list, so you may see updates!

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Why on Heaven's Earth would you feed your dog raw foods, especially raw bones?

Well people like myself realised that the current kibble sold by dog food companies is generally below our standards on what is acceptable for our dogs. As mass media and knowledge about our canine friends continues to grow, we have learned a lot more of what is and what isn't acceptable to put into our dog's systems. We have also subscribed to the law "You are what you eat". Meaning a healthy dog, must have a healthy diet. Health is so much more than keeping a dog in decent shape, it means keeping your dog in the best shape possible in order to give them a good fighting chance should a disease or accident happen. The BARF diet allows for that. Unlike most kibble, BARF only contains the chemicals you allow it to. You control the diet, and the intake. You also control the quality of the meats used. With even the best kibble companies, your dog's diet is still in their hands, and you can never be sure.

The BARF diet does include bones, and probably the best benefit in bones is that your dog loves them. They also drastically cut down on vet bills as they do the teeth cleaning for your dogs.They have calcium in them, which is good for your dogs bones, but at the same time, they have the RIGHT amount of calicum in them, taking the onus off of you, since calcium is a mineral that needs a lot of respect.

Aren't bones dangerous?

Cooked bones are definately dangerous, they are a serious threat to dogs because they are brittle and can puncture the digestive system! NEVER ever feed your dog a cooked bone. Raw bones are soft and they do not splinter, but rather break off in little pieces. And because they are raw, they are digested more easily by the dog's stomach.There is much to be said for caution though. I have heard of a mastiff wolfing down a bone and choking to death on it. As a result, I always supervise vigalently. Fortunately, my two aren't gulpers, they sit down their their bones and take their time.

Doesn't raw meat have samonella?

Dogs have a very short digestive tract. Dogs fed raw meat, do not keep food in the system for very long. In addition, their digestive juices are very very strong. Chances are if there samonella present in their food, the dogs aren't going to suffer from it. However most BARF owners take great care that the meat is handled sanitarily. I as a BARF owner have yet to hear of a case of samonella first hand. I have heard things over the Internet, but they are usually so far removed from the owner of such claims that I can only dismiss them as urban legends. My dogs have eaten raw bones and been around people with compromised immune systems and have not once given them samonella, and I have yet to even hear about that.

Is it expensive?

It is if you do not buy in bulk. Currently many BARFers can get about 50 pounds of meat for as little as $20.00. And depending on dog/s it can last a while. The vegetables are usually not expensive, especially when you buy in season and store them if possible. The supplements can be the most expensive part, but many BARFers have found good deals, and the supplements usually last a while, getting good value for your money. In general if you get the food in bulk, BARF costs considerably less than high quality kibble. In the long run, it also saves on vet bills.

Do the dogs just get meat?

When feeding your dogs BARF, you have to be aware of what your dog nutritionally needs. Then you work on what you're going to feed them. Most BARF plans I've heard, includes vegetables and fruits. My guys get a steady stream of vegetables including, but not limited to carrots, parsley, garlic, kale, parsnips, squash, bananas, apples, and berries. They also extras including, but again not limited to honey, a bit of wheat germ, some grains (not everyone who feeds raw agrees with this!) some goats milk, fish, raw eggs (crushed eggshells included), yogurt and molasses.

Doesn't it take an awful long time to make?

The longest time you'll spend feeding a BARF diet is researching. You want to be certain that it's the right thing for you and your dog. However the actual preparation of the food doesn't take long at all. A lot of people pre-grind/puree their fruits and veggies weeks in advance and just store them. Making about 2 weeks vegetables for two large dogs can take about an hour, and the majority of that is just storing the portions individually. There are a whole bunch of systems that people use to make feeding BARF efficient. Generally to make a meal of meat (already prepared into chunks or pieces) and unprepared vegetables, it takes about 5-15 minutes out of your day.

What are the risks?

The risks vary. Depending on your dog's immune system you dog may have a very difficult time adjusting to the diet. With any large item your dog chews on, there is the risk of choking. I imagine the is the risk of a bacterial problem, although I haven't heard of one yet. Perhaps the biggest risk is a nutritional deficiency. It's very important for BARF people to do their homework before switching and it helps a lot if there is support in terms of an experienced BARF owner, a BARF breeder, a BARF vet, or even an email list.

My vet is very much against feeding my dogs raw meat

Many veterinarians are against people taking their animal's nutrition into their own hands. To be fair, vets have a lot of reason to do so. They have seen many types of people and a lot of people are very ignorant and/or lazy. They have seen a lot of sickly dogs related to nutritional problems. Everyone's experience's help to form their ideals about situations. However as many vets have seen nutritional problems, not every single one of those problems are related to BARF. Truth of the matter is, that a lot of vets do not know the values of a raw diet, simply because, many vets are unaware of the canine nutrition needs. Many vets were taught in veterinary colleges, very short courses sponsored by PET FOOD companies about nutrition. Needless to say they have a little of a biased view and are thus teaching the vets to be biased in favour of the pet foods. It's no surprised to see in so many veterinary offices the same type of pet food in a general area being sold. Most popular seeming to be Science Diet. There are some vets who specialise in only natural health remedies and they may be a source of information. There are also some conventional vets who are in touch with the canine world and while they may admit to not knowing too much about BARF, they may have another vet to help you out. Talk to your vet, tell them that you are very interested in this diet and that you may be starting it. Hopefully the vet will be reasonable and at the very least offer you some information, if not, and you're still certain, plow ahead with the help of resource people, literature and lots of homework. Or if you feel completely uncomfortable, change vets.

Does BARF cause viciousness?

Some people have become convinced that feeding a dog raw meat and veggies makes a dog bloodthirsty. This is not true, and is often used as a scare tactic by people who are dead set against feeding raw! There are thousands if not millions of dogs being fed raw meat and veggies everyday, and they have not gone out and started killing people and children in the street.

Dog Food Companies have researched canine nutrition forever, they know more about it than any owner could!

This isn't meant to end the age old dispute of what is best to feed your dogs, but many dog food companies only have one thing in mind when it comes to their product, and that is Money! You do not even want to imagine what is in their dog food. There are several websites that explain what is in the dogfood, and it is not pretty.

Other dog food companies may be more well meaning, but base their diet is often made up entirely of grain products. While the argument may be made that dogs have evolved some to eat grains, the mere physique of a dog can tell you that they are exclusively grain eaters either.

Many dog food companies use harsh preservatives to preserve their food. Something you may not want going in your dog's system.

There are some dog food companies that recognise the dog for the being they are. They also focus on preserving with natural ingredients. Some kibble companies even recognise the values of BARF! BARF isn't for everyone, but I strongly recommend that dogs be put on a naturally based high quality kibble.

What are the benefits

Health health and more health.A healthy dog who will not be exposed to a lot of unnecessary chemicals, whose diet is of high quality ingredients and the satisfaction of knowing your dog is in great shape. Some of the first noticable results of the diet is shiny thicker coats, smaller stools, brighter eyes, more activity, clean teeth! Later on, you'll notice a stronger digestive system, stronger immune system, less skin problems such as hot spots, perhaps more weight on an underweight dog. In a breeding program, you'll notice a lot more. Healthier litters, healthier mothers, more vitality. There are so many benefits, it's impossible to list them all. Please check out the links section where there will be links to other BARF sites, and their experiences.

Where should I start?

Start by checking out my links page. It will link you to my selected favourite sites, web rings and email lists. Join an email list or two. There are many that are breed specific, but there are also general ones. Ask a lot of questions and make some friends in your area who are willing to help you out.

Visit an online bookstore, some titles to look for;

The Ultimate Diet, by Kymythy Schultze
Give Your Dog a Bone, by Ian Billinghurst
The Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog, By Wendy Volhard and Kerry Brown
Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, by Richard and Susan Hubble Pitcairn

Some of these books won't be in the regular bookstore, so check a catalogue for a pet supply company or the CKC book catalogue.

Do not do this on your own, it's a lot easier when you have the help and guidance of friends who have been there and done that. There are hurdles to face, and having an experienced ear to lend advice is priceless. Make sure you do your homework, enough research cannot be stressed enough especially to be certain that what you prepare will provide your dog with the right and enough nutrients to sustain a super healthy animal!

You Know You're a Raw Feeder When...


You no longer need a cup of coffee in the morning, the smell of fresh tripe is more than enough to wake you up!
You can accurately identify the inner anatomy of a cow.
Your dogs have a meal that you can take pride in. Your family on the other hand is eating fish sticks and Kraft macaroni and cheese!
Your vet is jealous of what your dogs eat. For that matter so are your friends, co-workers and family!
You've alienated 99% of vets in your area.
You've bored your family to death with the virtues of your dogs eating raw.
You drive past some roadkill on the highway and wonder if your dogs could eat it.
You've always condemned hunting, now you wonder if your dogs would like some tasty venison.
Half your kitchen equipment is devoted to making dog food.
You've scanning in pictures of your dog's dinner in order to lure in more converts!
You no longer buy cars based on how many dogs it can fit, but how many pounds of meat it can carry.
You have an extremely large freezer devoted solely to your dog's food.
You've tried to talk your butcher into getting involved with the air miles program. (might as well!)
You have more mileage racked up on getting bulk dog food ingredients than you for for work.
Touching raw meat is no longer a horrible chore.
Your dogs friends look at your dogs with envy!
All the people in your dog park have permanently labelled you as "That Whacko Who Feeds Their Dogs Raw Meat!"
You wear that label with pride.
You give lectures at the human supermarket when you see someone picking up a bag of Kibbles'n'Bits!
You show your 7 year old dog's teeth to everyone!
You carry a lamp with you to REALLY show how shiny your dog's coat is.
You have a whole cabinet of supplements and none of them are for you.
You have found a new creative use for sledgehammers, hacksaws and Ginsu knives!
You shove your dog's fresh stools under your neighbour's nose just to show them how small they really are!
You go to the Health Food Store and none of the things you buy there are for you.
When your mom cleans out your fridge, she throws out half of your weekly pre-prepared food.
Some of your greatest accomplishments include how many people you've converted from Science Diet to raw.
Your husband starts picking out raw bones from the supermarket freezer and asks if it's okay.
Your get some mighty strange looks at the checkout counter at your grocery.
You get into a technical debate about the nutrition value of organic cow pats.
Suddenly the thought your dog eating cow pats isn't so revolting.
Your good "non-dog" friends have started to resist your dogs kisses.
You pick fresh strawberries in 100 degree heat, knowing that half of them are being frozen for the dogs.

by J. Carder

ALERT! Why Raw Feeding is Bad for YOUR Health!!!

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