getting started - dogs & puppies

To ensure a raw diet is nutritious & balanced we need the diet to include the following components:

• MINCES – Containing muscle meat, organ & bone. Some mixes already contain tripe others need to have tripe added to the meal.
• RAW MEATY BONES – Appropriately sized bones that they have to chew on – not swallow whole. We will advise you which ones will be appropriate for your dog. Never feed cooked bones or heavy weight-bearing bones such as cannon bones these can harm your dog.
• GREEN TRIPE – This is an especially important part of a raw diet for dogs. Tripe helps acidify the gut to aid bone digestion.  It is also full of nutritious amino acids, vitamins & minerals. Tripe must be fed with a raw meaty bone meal.
• ORGAN MEAT – If organ meat is not contained within the mince mixes then it should be fed once or twice a week.
• FISH – Either whole fish or even sardines/mackerel from a tin (spring water – not oil) can be fed up to 3 times weekly.

A minimum of 3 different protein sources should be fed weekly including wild varieties.

To make life easier, and so you have less to think about, we stock mixes that have most of these components included. No having to think about ratios and add too many extra things in. Raw feeding made easy!

General Feeding Guides

Try not to mix feed your pet with both raw & processed foods.  This is due to the inability of your pet to be able to digest the combination of proteins & bone from the raw diet & the carbohydrates found in processed foods.  

To digest a raw diet, the gut needs to be very acidic. By adding processed food groups, especially those higher in carbohydrates & preservatives, it reduces stomach acidity therefore making it very hard for your pet to digest a raw diet.  This can lead to digestive issues for your pet including vomiting, diarrhoea, blockages in the digestive tract & inflammation. For further information in this see our section on gastric acidity & good gut health.

Feeding Amounts

On average, adult dogs should be fed 2% of their body weight daily. Active dogs may need closer to 3% of their body weight. Every dog is an individual though so we adjust to each individual's requirements.

Puppies generally require between 5 & 10% of their body weight.  The higher amounts are needed during growth spurts.

As each pet is different we recommend close monitoring of your pet's weight & body condition in the first few weeks.

Things you can expect when feeding a raw diet:

• A small amount of weight loss, usually due to the removal of carbohydrates from the diet – daily amounts may need adjusting.
• Dogs can appear very hungry to begin with – they are usually just loving their food – this will settle.
• Dogs may drink less due to the high water content now in their food.
• The bowel movements will be smaller & firmer.  They should be less smelly.  May need to watch for constipation in some pets.

A Guide to Raw Meaty Bones

Here is a list of the types of bones that can be fed to the different size dogs & puppies.  Again remember that all dogs are unique individuals so their requirements may differ.

Dogs 5kg:

• Chicken necks
• Rabbit shoulders
• Possum back steak nuggets
• Possum tails

Dogs 10kg:

• Small/medium brisket
• Chicken necks
• Duck necks
• Rabbit legs
• Possum tails
• Wallaby tails
• Small / medium chunks (possum / wallaby)

Dogs 20kg:

• Brisket
• Chicken frames
• Duck frames
• Turkey necks
• Medium / large chunks (possum, wallaby, goat, venison)
• Wallaby tails

Dogs 30kg:

• Brisket
• Chicken frames
• Duck frames
• Turkey necks
• Large chunks (possum, wallaby, goat, venison)

Dogs 40kg:

• Brisket
• Chicken frames
• Duck frames
• Large chunks (possum, wallaby, goat, venison)
• Turkey drums

NOTE: Not all dogs are suited to being fed whole bones, while it is a massive health benefit some dogs are unable to eat or digest them properly so for those dogs it is best to stick to mince mixes with bone included.

Generally, old, sick, pregnancy & lactating bitches, brachycephalic breeds or pets on medications may need changes made to their whole bone intake. Please discuss with a staff member if you are concerned your pet is struggling with whole bones or fits into any of these above categories.

How to Transition a Healthy Adult Dog to a Raw Diet

Stop all other foods including processed treats.

• Start with between 2 & 3% of body weight per day (see our feeding guide for help)
• Start with one mince mix (including tripe). Our Only Raw Lamb Mix is a great option to start the raw feeding journey.
• The use of bone broth can help settle dogs into raw feeding.
• Keep feeding the all inclusive mince mixtures (meat, bone, organ & tripe) for 2 weeks to allow the digestive system to adjust & settle into its new range of gastric acidity & health.
• If the digestion is nice & healthy & your dog is having no issues with the diet after 2 weeks we will start your dog on size appropriate raw meaty bones.  Use one variety at a time and include tripe when feeding bones.  As a rule of thumb the amount of tripe should be 1/3 the size of the bone.  This extra tripe is extra to any tripe that may already be in the mince mixes.
• Once we have added raw meaty bones to the diet we will continue to gradually introduce more variety of proteins through mince mixes and raw meaty bones.
• A minimum of 3 different proteins should be fed per week including some wild varieties to ensure enough balance in the nutrients.
• Raw eggs can be added (including the crushed shell) a couple of times a week
• Fish portions can also be added up to 3 times weekly

How to Transition a Healthy Puppy to a Raw Diet

Stop all other foods including processed treats.

• Puppies require between 5 & 10% of body weight per day.  Because we aren’t always aware of where our puppies are at in their growth schedule we suggest start feeding your puppy at 7% to 8% of their body weight and adjust as we need to depending on their growth spurts.  Monitor their condition & adjust as required.
• Start with one mince (meat, organ, bone & tripe).  Like with adult dogs our Only Raw Lamb Mix is a great option to start the raw feeding journey.
• The use of bone broth can help settle puppies into raw feeding.  Just add some to their meal.
•  The end of the first week of feeding raw is good time to bring puppy in for weight check. This ensures we have our feeding allowance right.
• We can also add in a new mince mix to add variety to our puppy’s diet.
• Keep feeding the all inclusive mince mixtures (meat, bone, organ & tripe) for 2 weeks to allow the digestive system to adjust & settle into its new range of gastric acidity & health.
• If the digestion is nice & healthy & your puppy is having no issues with the diet after 2 weeks we will start them on a size appropriate raw meaty bone - the softer bones are ideal.
• Raw meaty bones are important for puppies particularly to ensure that get the right balance of vitamins & minerals such as calcium & phosphorus in their diet for growth & development.  They are also great for dental hygiene & mental stimulation for dogs of any age.
• Use one variety at a time - we can assist you on what bones are appropriate for your puppy.  Include tripe when feeding bones.  As a rule of thumb the amount of tripe should be 1/3 the size of the bone.  This extra tripe is extra to any tripe that may already be in the mince mixes.
• Once we have added raw meaty bones to the diet we will continue to gradually introduce more varieties of proteins through mince mixes and raw meaty bones.
• A minimum of 3 different proteins should be fed per week including some wild varieties to ensure enough balance in the nutrients.
• Raw eggs can be added (including the crushed shell) a couple of times a week
• Fish portions can also be added up to 3 times weekly
• Feed puppies up to 12 weeks 3 times daily, 12 weeks to 6 months 2-3 times daily, 6 months to 1 year 2 times daily and adults 1-2 times daily.