All our puppies will be weaned with Raw Food and we strongly recommend their new owners to continue feeding them with a fully raw food diet. With the purpose to help the new owners, we've decided to provide them with the correct information needed.
All you need to know about the Raw Food Diet:
INTRODUCTION
Why choosing to feed your dog with raw food over kibbles?
Because the raw food diet is the species most appropriate diet for a dog (Canis Lupus Familiaris) and not even the most expensive brand of kibbles will reach the benefits of a well balanced Raw Food Diet.
Please watch Dr. Karen Becker's following videos to know all about the myths and truths of the Dog Raw Food Diet.
PLANNING A RAW DIET
Feeding a dog with a balanced Raw Food Diet is not that easy as opening a bag of kibbles and pour it in a bowl, you need a little knowledge, but I'll be a lot easier if you follow our recommendations.
How often should you feed your dog?
Our 8 weeks old puppies will be already used to eat three times per day (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner).
Between 3 and 4 months of age you can start feeding your puppy as an adult twice per day (Breakfast and Dinner).
How many grams of food should you feed your puppy per day?
You should always check your puppy bodyweight every week in order to calculate the right amount of food.
You should always make sure your dog has the right quantity of food, there are too many overfed obese dogs.
To calculate the right amount of food to give your dog DAYLY please check the guide below:
What types of meat can you give to your dog to make sure he gets all the nutrients needed?
To plan a balanced Raw Food Diet you have 2 options:
OPTION 1
The first option is the easiest, it consists in buying the ready frozen mix that you find in most of the pet shops.
The best brands have developed some quality Raw Foods with bones, offal and boneless meat all minced together (perfect also for puppies under 3 months of age), the only thing you need to pay attention is to not exceed with red meats (Beef, Oval, etc.) and offal (Heart, Kidneys, Liver, Green Tripe etc.). Also make sure they DON'T CONTAIN GRAINS.
I will link you below the websites of the best brands of Dog Raw Food, have a look for more information:
- NATURAL INSTINCT https://www.naturalinstinct.com/
- NUTRIMENT https://www.nutriment.co.uk/raw-dog-food
- COTSWOLD https://www.cotswoldraw.com/
OPTION 2
The second option is the one we currently use, it is only for dogs older than 3 months old (because there are also whole bones) and it requires more knowledge and commitment, but in the end it will be cheaper and the dogs will love to have the possibility to chew bones and organs like kidneys, hearts and livers.
It consists in buying meat from the supermarkets and pet shops in order to create a balanced menu for the week.
Important noteS: To avoid parasites the raw food must be frozen for at leas a week before to be defrosted for feeding your dog.
We don't recommend to feed your dog with raw pork meat.
Ingridients and where to buy them:
- FROZEN CHICKEN PORTIONS (you can find them in Sainsbury's and Tesco)
This is the food I use most as the Rustic Italian Volpinos are able to digest big quantities of meaty bones and these are the cheapest you can find and they are also human grade food quality. You can also buy them fresh everywhere else but you will need to freeze them and keep them frozen for minimum a week in order to kill any parasites.
- FROZEN LAMB LIVER, HEARTS AND KIDNEYS (you can find them in Waitrose)
We use only lamb's offal as they are usually grass fed.
Unfortunately the portions are for 3 meals so unless you don't have three medium size dogs you need to defrost, re-portion and refreeze. You can also buy them fresh everywhere else but you will need to freeze them and keep them frozen for minimum a week in order to kill any parasites.
Lamb Liver https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/essential-british-sliced-lamb-liver/860453-730044-730045
Lamb Kidneys https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/essential-british-lamb-kidney/769649-729996-729997
Lamb Hearts https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/essential-british-2-lamb-hearts/615328-729950-729951
- FROZEN MINCED BEEF NATURES MENU (you can find it in small and big pet shops like Pets at Home)
The cheapest frozen beef meat, very easy to portion and very quick to defrost at room temperature.
Not human grade, but perfect for dogs.
Frozen Minced Beef Natures Menu https://www.naturesmenu.co.uk/beef-freeflow-mince-ff-bf
Frozen Minced Beef Natures Menu from Pets at Home https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/natures-menu-just-beef-freeflow-mince-2kg-%28available-in-store-only%29
- FROZEN MINCED CHICKEN NATURES MENU (you can find it in small and big pet shops like Pets at Home)
The cheapest frozen chicken meat, very easy to portion and very quick to defrost at room temperature.
Not human grade, but perfect for dogs.
Frozen Minced Chicken Natures Menu https://www.naturesmenu.co.uk/chicken-freeflow-mince-ff-ck
Frozen Minced Chicken Natures Menu from Pets at Home https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/natures-menu-just-chicken-freeflow-mince-2kg-%28available-in-store-only%29
- FROZEN MINCED TRIPE NATURES MENU (you can find it in small and big pet shops like Pets at Home)
Frozen Minced Tripe Natures Menu https://www.naturesmenu.co.uk/tripe-freeflow-mince-ff-tpe
Frozen Minced Tripe Natures Menu from Pets at Home https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/natures-menu-just-tripe-freeflow-mince-2kg-%28available-in-store-only%29
- FROZEN FRUIT AND VEGETABLES NATURES MENU (you can find it in small and big pet shops like Pets at Home)
Very handy frozen cubes of raw blended fruit and veggies a cube per portion super easy to portion.
Frozen Fruit and Vegetables Natures Menu https://www.naturesmenu.co.uk/fruit-and-vegetable-nuggets-nmnvf
Frozen Fruit and Vegetables Natures Menu from Pets at Home https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/natures-menu-fruit-and-vegetable-mix-nuggets-1kg-%28available-in-store-only%29
- FROZEN WHOLE ANCHOVIES (optional)
EXEMPLE OF MENU
*CP = Chicken Portion
*MC = Minced Chicken
*V = Fruit & Vegetables
*MB = Minced Beef
*LL = Lamb Liver
*LH = Lamb Heart
*LK = Lamb Kidneys
*TR = Tripe