Here at Retrievers Etc. we have been feeding a Biologically Appropriate Raw Food diet since June of 1999. Our dogs coats, teeth, and over all health have shown tremendous improvement, compared to our previous experience feeding the dogs premium kibble.
April 2007
In light of the recent recalls of contaminated pet foods, here at Retrievers Etc. we are even more committed to feeding a natural diet.
It is a great relief to me to know that I do not have to worry about contamination of the food our dogs are consuming, because it is served to them in a natural form, no processing, no chance of unknown ingredients.
Email list for raw feeding questions:
Where I buy my raw meaty bones
I first began supplementing our kibble fed dogs with a product called Missing Link. And after 3 months or so you could definitely see an improvement in their coats. This was about 1997. Missing Link was supposed to contain vital living nutrients not found in processed dog food. It made sense to me. Following this train of thought, I began reading and researching more natural feeding methods.
In 1998 I read a book called Beyond Obedience by April Frost. She had a very logical argument for a home cooked diet for your dog. It was a combination of fresh vegetables, grains, and meat, supplemented with bone meal. I moved one of our older dogs to this and did see definite improvement. This diet I cooked, and did not feed raw.
In early 1999 I came a crossed the book Natural Nutrition for Cats and Dogs: The Ultimate diet by Kymythy Schultze. Her arguments for raw food were very strong. I felt I had to attempt the switch to raw. We started with the addition of a raw chicken wing at breakfast time. I watched them as they ate every meal. My fears of choking were soon calmed. They crunched chicken wings with great enthusiasm.
In June of 1999, after reading Grow Your Pups with Bones by Dr Ian Billinghurst, I donated the last bag of dog food in the house, to a local rescue group. And our dogs have been on BARF since then. I will continue to read and research the concept of Biologically Appropriate Raw Food, and modify their diets as we go, but I cannot deny the obvious improvement in over all health, that I have seen so far. Their teeth are white and shiny. Coats are thick and rich. Energy levels are way up, with tremendous muscle tone, in our working dogs.
2004
The Journey continues! I find that I have now moved even further toward and natural diet for my dogs. Influenced by the book Raw Meaty Bones by Dr. Tom Lonsdale I am now feeding more of a prey model diet to our dogs.
2007
3 more years have past, 3 more litters of puppies. Still feeding a prey model diet and weaning pups on to raw meaty bones. Our litters have been large, 10 - 13 puppies, all of which survived. We start the weaning process at 4 weeks, by introducing turkey necks into the whelping box. The pups start to gnaw on the necks, mostly using them as teething toys. But by 5 - 6 weeks they are eating chicken necks and backs, turkey necks, chicken legs and beef heart and liver. Mom finishes weaning them somewhere between 9 and 12 weeks.
Our oldest dog is now 13 years old and has no health problems, she has never had her teeth cleaned and they are still pearly white. She moves well, and does not seem to have any arthritic problems.
Works Wonders is a link to a copy of Dr. Tom Lonsdale's book in PDF format. It can be downloaded for free.
2008
This years sees only minor changes in diet. We have increased the amount of muscle meat we are feeding daily. If the raw meaty bones we are feeding do not have a lot of meat on them, ( chicken backs and necks) we add ground beef trim and heart to the meal. We have also gone back to a bit of vegetables in the diet. About a quarter cup of lacto-fermented veggies per dog per day. Lacto-fermentation helps to increase the vitamin b and c in the vegetables as well in increase their digestibility. Link below will take you to a site which discusses the use of Lacto-fermented veggies in the canine diet.
Please, before you attempt to switch to a Biologically Appropriate Raw Food diet, educate yourself.
We recommend the following books as a good place to start. Follow their links to order them on line.
Grow Your Pups with Bones by Dr Ian Billinghurst
Give Your Dog a Bone by Dr Ian Billinghurst
Natural Nutrition for Cats and Dogs: The Ultimate Diet - Kymythy Schultze
Works Wonders - Dr. Tom Lonsdale
BARF Frequently Asked Questions
Please check out Timberwolf Organics for your dog food and supplementation needs.
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Visit Sojourner Farms, and learn more about their fresh foods program for dogs and cats, and how you can make all-natural, homemade pet food in minutes. |
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The Diet for our 60 - 80 lb dogs.
We feed once per day to adult dogs, and twice per day to pups, pregnant bitches. Lactating bitches my get up to 4 meals per day.
Raw meaty bones, about 2% of the dogs body weight per day.
3 times per week organ meat, Liver, heart, kidney etc.
Feed a variety of Raw meaty bone,
Chicken leg quarters
Pork necks
beef ribs
Turkey backs and necks
Whole chickens
Venison
(Extra ground beef trim/heart if there is not a lot of meat on the raw meaty bones, in a days meal.)
We are also feeding 1/4 cup of Lacto-fermented Vegetables to each dog, everyday. They love them and Lacto-fermentation makes the vegetables more digestable.
I do continue to supplement with fish body oil - about 6000 mg per day. As well as Vitamin E. and Nuvet Plus Vitamin Supplement
This web site is intended to be a source of information on the Raw diet. This site is for educational purposes and to help you make decisions regarding your pet's health. We hope that you will find the information helpful.
We cannot diagnose nor prescribe for your pet. This information is what we do with our dogs. It is offered only as a tool to help you make responsible choices. We do not accept responsibility for use of this information in lieu of the services of a veterinarian.
I feed this vitamin supplement as an insurance policy, just to make sure the dogs aren't missing anything.