Raw Fed Dogs

[Grizzle]

Any of you guys feed raw food?  My obedience trainer highly recommended it (Cascade K-9) and we've been having good results since switching a couple of months ago.  Here's Buckeye (8mo GSP) in midair enjoying his flying chicken breakfast at the Cle Elm rest stop.  He sure never got that excited about kibble. 

[Grizzle]

BTW I was hoping to compare notes on picking up some high quality protein and meaty bones at good prices, anywhere between cle elm and puyallup.  He eats 2lbs a day on a prey model diet (75% protein, 15% bone, 10% organs), right now that's costing $.75lb. 

[tbotts]

I feed my lab raw, after reading "Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats" by Kymythy R. Schultze.  From since he was appx 6 months old and he has done very well with it.  Usually chicken or hamburger that I buy from Wal-mart, but also some rabbit.  He really likes lamb the best, but it's expensive compared to chicken/hamburger, so that is a rare treat.

[wablkandtan]

im a hound hunter and a couple guys i know feed all kinds of raw meat.  they saw beaver is good for the dogs.

[oneezreiter]

I have a friend that swears buy it.  He feeds his a lot of ostrich.

[Grizzle]

Oneezrelter - where does your buddy get his ostrich?  Does he buy it retail or have a hook up with a rancher, something like that would be ideal.

I order cases through my butcher, Chicken backs are .75lbs a lb for a 40# case, and pig heart is 1.98lb for a 30# case.  Pepperoni makers drive the pig heart up. 

[oneezreiter]

Im not sure but I will ask him on Monday when I see him.

[Old Mule]

Sorry Guys but I don't think it's a good idea, Makes your Dog growly. Not trying to make anyone mad, Just my opinion.

[gasman]

Feed my dog raw deer and elk while we were butchering, but thats it so far.

[Grizzle]

Do you mean they will growl and defend their food? Few points I'd offer to that:

1. It doesnt say much for kibble that they dont bother defending it, eating little pellets all your life really can't be that great?  Canine teeth are meant to crush bone, not grind pellets.
2. If your dog growls at you when he's eating you have other problems, like he doesnt respect you.  Not sure how feeding him raw is much different then trusting him with a raw freshly killed bird in his mouth. 
3. Lots of people feed in the crate to give him private time.

There are a lot of myths associated with Raw feeding.   Here is list of most of them http://rawfed.com/myths/

An excerpt that's good for talking about growling:
"If you are concerned about your dog eating meat and then attacking your cats, children, or small pets, you do not need to worry. Feeding raw meaty bones is not going to turn your animal into this half-crazed bloodthirsty maniac. The dog should recognize the kids, the cats, and the small pets as a) part of its own family, and/or b) under the protection of the alpha leader (which should be you!). In all likelihood, you will see a calmer, happier pet that is more of a pleasure to be around—not only because he is not hyperactive from all the carbohydrates and additives in the kibble, but also because his breath will smell better and his coat will feel and smell softer and cleaner."

Definitely my experience.

[dontgetcrabs]

I thought it might make a hunting dog like the taste of raw birds to much and he might start snacking in the field? I was always scared to ruin a good hunting dog.

[Happy Gilmore]

Dom and Norene feed their dogs raw. They are top performers. Not many Chessies are better in the US. Their dogs are all great looking, friendly dogs. I'm pretty sure Norene said she and Dom have been feeding raw for 20 years.

http://www.nordomchessybayret.com/

[Grizzle]

Dontgetcrabs - yeah I hear you on that and I dont have all the answers but....sometimes we overthink things to.  Like for instance, they've been using hounds to hunt for a few hundred years, they sure didnt feed kibble in 1700.  So if pedigrees mean anything, I'm sure my pups ancestors must have been damn good bird dogs while eating raw. 

That said, I doubt I'll be feeding him pheasant 

[dontgetcrabs]

Good points.

[oneezreiter]

Grizzle, tooka while but talked to my friend.  He gets it as a hook up from a friend of his. Not for sale to the public.  Sorry.

[sisu]

I just would not do this at all. I've worked in labs during college and have seen my fair share of parasites. I have no problem feed the dogs cooked meat but nothing raw.

[gasman]

I asked my Vet last week when hemi was in for a check up and she is an advocate for raw food for dogs and cats.

She recomended me to "Mud Bay" pet food company. and i went to there local store to check it out. Cool little place but the raw (frozen) foods are a bit spendy.

My brother is a goat Farmer we talked about butchering up a goat for dog food. Freezing sandwich size baggies with raw meat in them and defrost as needed. His hearding dogs eat the dead ones as it is.

[Grizzle]

Freezing in baggies is a convenient way to go, that's what I do.   Easy way to easily mix stuff up, throw some organ meat, bone, fish on occasion.  You don't really even need to worry too much about it being totally thawed, they do fine with frozen meat.

My vet recommends raw feeding to.  My butcher makes up raw food and freezes it in meal size bags, I think its better than the commercial stuff.   

sisu - now if only those yellowstone wolf packs could find someone to roast their elk for them they'd be all set ;-)  I'm happy to report that mother nature figured out how dogs could safely hunt and eat long before we came along and saved them with kibble.