Partial raw feeders?

[Fran101]

Any of you out there?
I was going to go 100% raw with future pup..but have come to the conclusion that partial is probably the best option. For freezer space as well as training (kibble is so much easier to work with)..

So what is your partial routine?
and what would you suggest for a puppy?

I am hoping to do kibble with plenty of RMBs

[cliffdog]

I'm only a partial raw feeder because I live with my parents. I take care of both my dog and my father's dog. They both eat a raw meal in the mornings and a kibble meal in the evenings, usually. Sometimes they get two kibble meals or two raw meals, or mixed meals (gasp!).

My dad thinks that dogs need kibble to survive, and so he won't let me feed his dog all-raw, although he agrees with the benefits and loves the partial raw diet... and so rather than feed my dog a 100% raw diet and his a mixed diet, I just feed them both a mixed diet. I'll switch Bonnie to all raw when I move out, and I assume he'll keep feeding Abbey partial raw. But the mixed diet is working really well for them so I'm not dying to switch over.

For a puppy, you might send a message to youtube user mmorlino. I've never raw fed a puppy (Bonnie was a year old when we started) but she weans all of her doxie puppies directly onto prey model raw. She is quite a helpful person, I'm sure she'd give you answers to any questions you might have.

Here's a video of a litter of her puppies eating their first raw meal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4Hx0ae-w30

[PlottMom]

I feed a mix because my freezer just melted down permanently... I don't really have much of a routine though. I feed a variety of raw food & then when I'm lazy/nothing's defrosted or I'm out of raw, I throw a few cups of EVO at them instead....



ETA: last time I raised a pup was autumn - I started her on EVO Turkey & Chicken, and started adding raw meaty bones in at 12 weeks or so... never looked back, and I'm pretty sure my ex keeps her on 100% raw.

[AdrianneIsabel]

I feed a mix, ill usually mix in the same meal but sometimes I alternate meals.

[Laurelin]

I alternate meals with whatever I feel like that day. Premade raw, dehydrated raw, canned, kibble, real raw. Just whatever I have. No real system.

[JustaLilBitaLuck]

My dogs get half kibble, half canned in the morning (along with supplements), and half kibble, half ground raw in the evening. They also get RMBs/recreational bones once a week or so, but that's in addition to their meal.

I rotate between a ton of different kibbles, cans, and premade raw brands - they're always getting something different.

I think you should figure out what works for you and the puppy. If it's easier for you to be spontaneous and just feed whatever comes to mind, do that. If it's easier for you to have a set schedule, then figure out what you want to do for each meal, write it out, and stick it on the fridge so you know when you're supposed to be thawing meat lol. I think the biggest thing to keep in mind for a puppy is get as much variety in the diet as possible!

[SaraB]

I feed all raw for meals, but use kitty kibble for training. If I could find dog kibble that tiny, I'd use dog kibble.

[FG167]

We feed partial raw. We're lazy though, we do it when we are for sure at home and are not going to be training (then we use kibble). Or whatever is on sale. We went through a period where we were getting chickens for really cheap so the whole pack ate that. Then Fromm came to a store near us super discounted and they all got that. Now we're training pretty frequently so they get premade and Cal Nat because the kibs are large.

[JessLough]

Originally Posted by SaraB

I feed all raw for meals, but use kitty kibble for training. If I could find dog kibble that tiny, I'd use dog kibble.

Fromm dog kibble is tiny... a lot smaller than the Acana/Orijen/Go/NV cat kibbles I feed the ferrets at least

[Whitewave]

I feed mixed for several reason. One- no reliable affordable source of raw. Certain times of year I can get more raw, but during the summer I can hardly find anything. Freezer died so no extra storage.

I give kibble base with either can/homecooked on top or add things like eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, canned mackeral several times a week.

Then when I find it on sale at grocery store or when my butcher gets a good load of animals in- I feed beef heart, liver, spleen and kidney, big raw meaty knuckle bones, pork necks and ribs. I get chicken quarters from a local place and I buy whole turkeys when they go on sale for Thanksgiving. Also get chicken hearts/gizzards/liver from Publix. Dogs think the chicken hearts are treats! And also feed venison when I can get it during hunting season.