Starter Guide for Dogs

Introduction to Raw Feeding

First thing to keep in mind when starting your pet on a raw diet is to stop feeding kibble immediately as mixing kibble and raw can cause digestive issues as they digest at different rates. When deciding what meals/food to start on we recommend single species products to begin with as to easily identify allergies if problems arise, The most common allergies are beef and chicken so they are ones to watch out for.

When Creating a balanced diet the standard ratio to follow is 80% Meat, 10% Offal (Organ meat)  and 10% bone. Though every dog is different and their needs may differ which can be identified through the unfortunate job of checking their feces (More information on that can be found further in the page).

How much do I need to feed?

The amount of food your pet requires is typically measured by bodyweight but this can vary due to age and exercise.

A growing puppy will require more food to bodyweight in order to encourage a healthy growth whereas an adult will require less as shown in the chart below ↓

When it comes to Exercise that’s more of a tricky question as it can vary so much from working dogs to those with just a generally active lifestyle, we recommend personal judgement such as if the dog’s appetite seems to be high you might increase the portion but keep in mind if the dog is gaining weight unhealthily you may want to consider reducing portion sizes.

Completes or DIY

When feeding raw the task of deciding what to feed can be daunting, It’s easy to get lost the options available and the truth is every dog is different and it’s rare to find the perfect balance on the first try. But we have some useful tips to help you find what’s best for your four-legged friend.

If you decide to use complete meals these are a much simpler way of giving your dog all the nutrients they need but they’re not perfect for everyone, as mentioned every dog is different and may need slightly different amounts of bone and/or offal which is where complete meals may not be the right solution for you as they conform to the 80/10/10 ratio which is the standard guidelines which is the best starting point.

DIY Meals however offer much more flexibility if your not afraid to get your hands dirty as you can more precisely monitor how much Bone and offal you are introducing and find your pets individual needs. DIY meals also offer the benefit of variety with different textures and flavours which your pet will love.

In conclusion the choice is up to you as their is pros and cons to either method such as the simplicity of complete meals may be better suited to those with a busy lifestyle whereas the versatility of a DIY method will appeal to those who want to give their dog a bit of extra variety.