Raw feeding

[Snowden]

Question to all breeders. Why do you or don't you feed raw? What have your experiences been raising puppies and adults on a raw diet.

I would really like to hear all opinions. Especially for those of you that show and breed often.

And if you don't mind I really want to know what you all feed and why

Thanks Lindsey

 

[Capri]

We feed raw and breed and show our dogs . We've only got good experiences from raw feeding. The only "negative" would be that the pups don't mature in our opinion as fast a kibble fed pups (which means that they don't do as well as youngsters with some judges in show rings as they are not ready yet, until they reach 4 years of age, then they bloom ), but I think it's only a good thing them growing slowly. Our lines in general are slow to reach maturity (i.e. the true mass and volume in the body, not body fat, that we avoid ).

 

[Snowden]

Fantastic that was what I was thinking as well. That they mature slower. Your Website is great BTW! I love the food and grooming links very informative!

 

[Cascadians]

Snowden, that website got me hooked as well! And to think they speak lots of languages. Wow.

The veggie mash they make is beautiful and so pure and chock-full of nutrients. Just looking at it exudes health. I am starting to look into this diet and scout out where I can get the meaty bones, meat, organs, fish, fruit, veggies, etc at good prices.

I watched 2 of their Newfies on Skype eat raw chickens and the dogs were so well mannered and polite, just took the carcass in their mouths and crunch crunch crunch carefully vacuum ground it up, didn't even drop any on the floor, didn't fight, totally calm and happy.

This diet is opposite what I learned raising collies as a kid so I'm re-learning everything, lots of questions, bought 2 books about it. It makes supreme sense considering a dog's digestive system, genetics, ancestry, science, and how available everything is in today's modern world.

My goal is to eat as healthfully as my pup Orka does! LOL

 

[Capri]

Fantastic that was what I was thinking as well. That they mature slower. Your Website is great BTW! I love the food and grooming links very informative!

Thanks! We try to add new articles and make it at informative as possible, that way all the possible info that you might need is always in the same place and easy to find .

Are you looking into changing to raw feeding?


More about breeding: Our girls births have been easy. I think the raw fed puppies bite less as youngsters when changing teeth than kibble fed. After/during puppies the mum's coat stays on much better with raw feeding compared to kibble, they also get better/quicker back to their normal physical condition.

Could you tell this girl (4,5 years old) had 8 puppies 9 weeks ago:

 

[Capri]

I don't think even we eat as healthy as our dog. LOL. But I'm totally up for recommending raw feeding, we've actually already turned quite a few newf ppl into it, and they all say they'll never change back to kibble ! It's easy (even for puppies and pregnant bitches as long as you know what you're doing), good for the dogs, and well healthy!

 

[Snowden]

I fed raw to Van gogh the last 9 months of his life and also feed my corgi rescue pups raw. I love raw!!! As we speek the corgies are eating pig hearts and the cats are eating duck neck and hearts

My new pup's mom is 5th generation raw fed and my pup has been raised on raw. I plan on feeding raw to this pup. I was asking because I had another breeder tell me not to feed raw, it would ruin her for show, and if she was high enough quality she would never be breed or have complications. It scared me because this is someone who's opinion I value. However I feel like raw is the every best I can do for my dogs and I wanted some raw experts feelings on this. I love that you have not had any conplications and your girl looks incredible... So do the pups

 

[Capri]

I fed raw to Van gogh the last 9 months of his life and also feed my corgi rescue pups raw. I love raw!!! As we speek the corgies are eating pig hearts and the cats are eating duck neck and hearts

My new pup's mom is 5th generation raw fed and my pup has been raised on raw. I plan on feeding raw to this pup. I was asking because I had another breeder tell me not to feed raw, it would ruin her for show, and if she was high enough quality she would never be breed or have complications. It scared me because this is someone who's opinion I value. However I feel like raw is the every best I can do for my dogs and I wanted some raw experts feelings on this. I love that you have not had any conplications and your girl looks incredible... So do the pups

Well you'll always get people (who don't really know about it) saying raw is bad for the dogs, so I wouldn't be worried about it. Especially since your breeder has had good experiences from breeding the lines she does have with raw.
You sould ask the other breeder why they said it was bad for showing (probably the slower to mature -thing?).

 

[Snowden]

She said that she has just seen the dogs "go wrong" ...Like mouths off, hind legs funny, ect. But I wonder if it was just the dog. I also think that could be done with any food if fed incorrectly.

 

[Capri]

She said that she has just seen the dogs "go wrong" ...Like mouths off, hind legs funny, ect. But I wonder if it was just the dog. I also think that could be done with any food if fed incorrectly.

I'd say they were just the dog. I've unfortunately seen&heard plenty of dogs "grow wrong" even with kibble. The most visible thing feeding influences is making the legs curvy and twist wrong ways, though that can be accomplished even with kibble feeding. The dog's bite is not influenced by feeding.

 

[Snowden]

Thank you so much! I am feeling much better hearing your success with raw feeding and having my pups breeder's success as well.

I think I will just have to agree to disagree regarding feeding with the other breeder (who I really do love).

 

[Capri]

Thank you so much! I am feeling much better hearing your success with raw feeding and having my pups breeder's success as well.

I think I will just have to agree to disagree regarding feeding with the other breeder (who I really do love).

Well the best friends are always those who you can talk to and ask for guidance, input and opinions, even though you don't necessarily agree with them. Maybe the other breeder will see how well your girl grows and will change her mind.

 

[Kelridge]

Feeding Raw was the Best decision I ever made with my dogs! They are healthy - full of energy - bright shiny coats - White teeth - and I cannot say enough about "Raw Poop" <g> The difference is AMAZING!

And Yes, there are many Raw fed dogs that are being shown - and WIN! I do not show my Newfs - but I was breeding and showing my German Shepherds for many years and not only had I finished dogs championships, but had a Select Champion - ALL being Raw fed!

Usually the people who are negative about the Raw feeding have never fed Raw...but have either read, or heard other people who may have 'read' that it causes this & that problem. Do your research - join some of the great Raw Breeding forums that are available out there - there are tons of people out there who LOVE to talk about their dogs! Most of our dogs eat BETTER then WE DO!!!

 

[Peter Maniate]

I believe that the best possible diet for a Newf is raw as long as it is their ancestral diet which they evolved on, i.e. cold water ocean fish. Whenever it is available locally I feed whole uncleaned frozen fish such as mackerel or herring - this is a perfectly balanced diet and nothing else need be added.

When I can't get the whole fish then my objective is to keep my Newfs on a fish diet. Currently my breeding stock are getting Orijen 6-Fish and two cans of sockeye salmon per day. My 12 year old retired brood bitch gets two cups of Orijen 6-Fish and is supplemented with 12 capsules of unrefined sockeye salmon oil - Mary is in super health.

 

[Peter Maniate]

I always caution raw feeders with respect to calcium and phosphorus levels. Unless you are feeding the strict ancestral diet or a pre-packaged commercial raw food, then the food you are feeding is unlikely to have been laboratory tested for input amounts and ratios. Since most raw feeders tend to vary the diet, often on a daily basis, laboratory testing would not be feasible. The answer is simple - just have the blood tested for calcium and phosphorus levels, initially on monthly basis and then quarterly.

This regulation of calcium and phosphorus is especially crucial for growing pups up to 14 months of age (when all of the growth plates are closed) coupled, of course, with limiting initial growth rates to the standards for giant breed.

 

[R Taft]

We feed RAW........and reading some of this, I am now sort of realizing why Katy looks so different to all the other pups, She is very lanky and not stocky like a lot of the pups. She looks like a misfit in the line-ups . Though the Judges have liked her and she has done well. But I worry about her being so different. She does seem calmer than most puppies of the same age we have met and has not chewed one item she has not been given.
Our vet did some blood works on her and said they were all fine. But I think she will be a late developer, though very large. I cannot figure where that comes from.

 

[Snowden]

I always caution raw feeders with respect to calcium and phosphorus levels. Unless you are feeding the strict ancestral diet or a pre-packaged commercial raw food, then the food you are feeding is unlikely to have been laboratory tested for input amounts and ratios. Since most raw feeders tend to vary the diet, often on a daily basis, laboratory testing would not be feasible. The answer is simple - just have the blood tested for calcium and phosphorus levels, initially on monthly basis and then quarterly.

This regulation of calcium and phosphorus is especially crucial for growing pups up to 14 months of age (when all of the growth plates are closed) coupled, of course, with limiting initial growth rates to the standards for giant breed.

What levels would be correct for a growing pup. The testing is something I would do. For the Corgi pups I do currently feed fish daily. I mix the evening feedings up. Usually tripe, beef, chicken, turkey, duck, or lamb.

 

[Snowden]

We feed RAW........and reading some of this, I am now sort of realizing why Katy looks so different to all the other pups, She is very lanky and not stocky like a lot of the pups. She looks like a misfit in the line-ups . Though the Judges have liked her and she has done well. But I worry about her being so different. She does seem calmer than most puppies of the same age we have met and has not chewed one item she has not been given.
Our vet did some blood works on her and said they were all fine. But I think she will be a late developer, though very large. I cannot figure where that comes from.

I think your right. Maybe they develope slower. I would think this is good for their joints and I have never seen a fat raw fed dog always lean. Van gogh was 32 inches and 160 at 22 months old. large and lean. He still had not filled out. He suffered from pano at 6 months old but when I switched him over to raw it went away( he was prob around 9 monthd old 120 28 inches). It was much more a steady eddie kind of growth on the raw.

 

[Peter Maniate]

What levels would be correct for a growing pup. The testing is something I would do.

The levels will be in the chart results that you get from the vet. Ideally your dog's results will be in the middle bar and the numerical result will be in the numerical range shown on the test report. The example below is for a "geriatric canine". There are different settings for the various age groups including pups up to about eight months.

You should do a full blood profile initially so that you have a baseline on all factors for your Newf. After that you only need to have the testing for calcium and phosphorus for the monthly monitoring of the diet effects.

 

[Snowden]

Thank you Peter!