By Anita Rabidou-Milligan

Editor's note: This is Part 2 of Anita's Raw Feeding series. Part I, which was printed in November, is available here.

      Last month, the various styles and methods of raw feeding were presented, along with a sampling
of some of the many resources available for pre-made diets. Now it’s time to explore the homemade version
of raw feeding.

The diet is becoming common, and there are several opinions on ways to properly feed raw, which could be debated all day. If you have a belief about what your dog should or shouldn’t eat, that’s perfectly okay. Ultimately, it's about what you are comfortable with.
 

Photo courtesy Anita Rabidou-Milligan    Above: Cow tongue and other fresh ingredients Anita uses in her dogs' food.

One of the problems I discovered when I began switching to raw was that the “recipes” seemed to be tailored for small dogs or cats, or “a” big dog. There was nothing for “several” big dogs. I did not find anything that had a breeder in mind, let alone a breeder with a large breed dog, who has to consider the cost of feeding many large dogs. The recipes that follow offer the solution: Although they apply to four categories of people (ironically, I think I have belonged, and can relate to, each category at one point or another in the past), they all have the large dog breeder in mind. (Click to open each recipe.)
 

            1) Ready to try it and are open to everything

2) Ready to try it but don’t want to have any grains (but are okay with fruits and vegetables)

3) Ready to try something – just not raw meat

4) Not ready for big changes and can’t break away from the traditional kibble diet

Additional tidbits you should know: Once you become comfortable, you can switch out different ingredients. The recipes are a starting point – by no means an end point. Add variety. Let your dog be your guide. Soon your dog will be excited and looking forward to what’s for dinner.
            With regard to how much to feed: Start out with 3 cups per dog. If your dog maintains its current weight, leave it there. If he starts to gain weight, reduce it by 1/2 cup at a time until you find a balance. The same is true if you notice your dog losing or not putting on weight.

Be aware that many dogs are most likely to slim-down initially because they are building muscle and losing fat due to eating less junk. (Compare it to someone who lives on McDonald’s and then suddenly starts eating from the salad bar; they will lose then plateau into a natural weight.)

            If you fall into the category of uncomfortable feeding raw meat and you improvise by cooking the meat, that’s fine. However, do not give your dog cooked bones. Raw bones are very pliable and chewy. Cooked bones are hard and splintery. Also, do not feed onions, grapes, raisins or chocolate. If your dog has arthritis, avoid peppers and eggplant.

            When you are ready and comfortable with expanding your variety, check out the suggestions for substitutions of different foods, as well as money-saving tips. Bon Appetite!
 

Anita Rabidou-Milligan is a contributing writer for The German Shepherd by Design. She can be reached at anitaar@juno.com.

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