Dogs - Raw Diet Update

[VatorMan]

Originally Posted by Gas Man

Yeah I'm sure. But with the pure size of Brinks, the undertaking this diet would be, is just a bit much for me at this point.

The one book I bought- the woman fed her wolfhound a half a turkey every day.

[azoomm]

Sadie is still doing tremendous. We are her pack, we hunt for her. I swear, that's how she acts.

She turns 14 in a month. Still doing really great. We've added a pat of butter and peanut butter to her breakfast, it's been so dry and this helped with her coat.

[Kaneman]

Originally Posted by Gas Man

Yeah I'm sure. But with the pure size of Brinks, the undertaking this diet would be, is just a bit much for me at this point.

He would probably eat around a half a chicken a day, so around $2. I'd expect Brinks to cost around $70 a month to feed with meat and add-ons like liver/peanut butter/scraps, etc. They actually require less weight when they eat raw vs. kibble.

I feed 3 large dogs raw, so you won't get a lot of sympathy from me. A 10lb bag of chicken quarters ($5.90) lasts two days for three large dogs.

As I've said, I think its cheaper or around the same price as kibble (unless you're feeding your dog Ol' Roy/Pedigree) but it's definitely more "trouble."

Originally Posted by azoomm

Sadie is still doing tremendous. We are her pack, we hunt for her. I swear, that's how she acts.

She turns 14 in a month. Still doing really great. We've added a pat of butter and peanut butter to her breakfast, it's been so dry and this helped with her coat.

The behavior changes they go through on a raw diet that you provide for them is what amazes me. Yea, of course they're healthier when they eat real food, that part is a given. But the way the bond with them increases is what really motivates me to continue feeding them this way. Well, that, and the fact that I only have to scoop poop once a week now instead of every day.

[azoomm]

Originally Posted by Kaneman

He would probably eat around a half a chicken a day, so around $2. I'd expect Brinks to cost around $70 a month to feed with meat and add-ons like liver/peanut butter/scraps, etc. They actually require less weight when they eat raw vs. kibble.

I feed 3 large dogs raw, so you won't get a lot of sympathy from me. A 10lb bag of chicken quarters ($5.90) lasts two days for three large dogs.

As I've said, I think its cheaper or around the same price as kibble (unless you're feeding your dog Ol' Roy/Pedigree) but it's definitely more "trouble."



The behavior changes they go through on a raw diet that you provide for them is what amazes me. Yea, of course they're healthier when they eat real food, that part is a given. But the way the bond with them increases is what really motivates me to continue feeding them this way. Well, that, and the fact that I only have to scoop poop once a week now instead of every day.

She now *talks* to us in the morning. I think she sounds like a wookie It's funny, I can have a conversation with her.

I don't think this is any more trouble than kibble. Sure, it's more work than putting your hand in a bin and scooping out the amount you need. But, I buy chicken thighs in bulk then split them up to two thighs to a tupperware and stack them in the freezer. Then, just have two in the fridge to thaw - open and drop in her bowl in the evening. Breakfast takes the most time - cracking an egg is the most time consumption.

But, you're right. The bond we have now is worth all of it. And, it's less work in the long run. I don't even scoop poo unless we are out on a walk. In the yard it turns to dust.

[Kaneman]

Originally Posted by azoomm

She now *talks* to us in the morning. I think she sounds like a wookie It's funny, I can have a conversation with her.

I don't think this is any more trouble than kibble. Sure, it's more work than putting your hand in a bin and scooping out the amount you need. But, I buy chicken thighs in bulk then split them up to two thighs to a tupperware and stack them in the freezer. Then, just have two in the fridge to thaw - open and drop in her bowl in the evening. Breakfast takes the most time - cracking an egg is the most time consumption.

But, you're right. The bond we have now is worth all of it. And, it's less work in the long run. I don't even scoop poo unless we are out on a walk. In the yard it turns to dust.

Wow that's actually pretty amazing to read. Our dogs all talk to us now in much the same way, whereas they didn't before being fed real food consistantly. They really put a lot of theater into it too, I always feel like they're so close to being able to say what they want you to hear....but they just can't quite vocalize it. I always thought I was just stoned.

[VatorMan]

We actually make a "glop" which is a bunch of raw veggies,eggs, yogurt, and a bit of molasses and freeze it. We have it sectioned out so its easy to just transfer a container of glop to the fridge to thaw before feeding.

I have beef and chicken sections separated into organs vs. Muscle so it's very easy to put a meal together for the dogs. We shop at the local Amish market so we get all fresh meat. We can get fresh duck and rabbit as well. It's fun to shop for the dogs as much as for us.

Lesson learned. Serve beef bones with marrow outside unless you want to mop the floor following feeding.

[Gas Man]

Are you guys running chest freezers or something?

I don't grocery shop more than once every 3 weeks. Simply don't hv time to do it more than that. Which is why I say I don't hv much time to dedicate towards something like this.

Let me give u another example. I don't have a free weekend at this point tt I'm not either working or priory engaged on till july. No joke. I have days off in there sometimes and have fun non working things as well. But when I tried to plan something today with my FIL it was insane to notice tt.

[Adeptus_Minor]

Originally Posted by Gas Man

Are you guys running chest freezers or something?

I don't grocery shop more than once every 3 weeks. Simply don't hv time to do it more than that. Which is why I say I don't hv much time to dedicate towards something like this.

I understand what you're getting at.
When I was raw feeding Lilly, I found myself doing more shopping for her than for myself.

[VatorMan]

Originally Posted by Gas Man

Are you guys running chest freezers or something?

I don't grocery shop more than once every 3 weeks. Simply don't hv time to do it more than that. Which is why I say I don't hv much time to dedicate towards something like this.

Let me give u another example. I don't have a free weekend at this point tt I'm not either working or priory engaged on till july. No joke. I have days off in there sometimes and have fun non working things as well. But when I tried to plan something today with my FIL it was insane to notice tt.

We have a stand up freezer, but it's only wife and I so lots of room for doggie stuff. I do have to say we upgraded to a professional food processor to deal with larger portions. All in all, I guess we figured we spend about an hour making glop and an hour shopping for 4 weeks of food.
I was a serious skeptic until we found out we had a local dog food store that specialized in raw diet (store named Bark!). We bought some of the food they had there to try it on the dogs. I highly recommend you find a similar store-because we did find that one dog HATES lamb.

So you can buy pre made food, but it will cost you an arm and a leg. Very expensive.

[Kaneman]

A freezer is almost a must for raw diet...otherwise you'd spend a ridiculous amount of time getting food ready. But with the freezer its a snap.