by Kay Laurence
published 2011. printed booklet
Raw feeding is sometimes considered the "modern diet" when in fact it is the original diet, and the "modern diet" is that which arrives in a bag. There are many excellent books that can give you an in depth explanation of canine nutrition and how raw feeding meets their biological and behavioural needs. This booklet is purely intended as a practical guide to get you started.
The diet is often known as "BARF" which can either stand for Bones And Raw Food, or Biologically Appropriate Raw Feeding.
I have fed my dogs a raw based diet for over 15 years, after 20 years of sincerely believing the marketing that kibble based provisions were superior. I have since changed my mind. In those 15 years, if I count the age of each dog that has lived on raw food it totals 85 years. In that time we have had 6 litters of pups rearing 33 healthy pups.
I do believe diet is the cornerstone of good health. Longevity is one of the side benefits of the diet, and even in their last few weeks my oldies still manage to put away a healthy portion of chicken wings - those raw food nurtured teeth can do the job.
This is my opportunity to share a few of the practical elements of feeding a raw diet, changing over dogs fed on commercially prepared diets and rearing puppies.
The interesting aspect of raw feeding is the complete lack of any marketing promoting the diet. It has spread by word of mouth, the internet and from trainers and breeders to new puppy owners. At our training centre probably 80% of the training enthusiasts feed raw. No funding has ever been pumped into promoting this food, it is the health and enjoyment of the dogs that has made the selling point - with a healthy dose of common sense.
I applaud the growing intelligence of dog owners, long may we not be susceptible to marketing for outrageous profit.
"What an informative, and concise book, made easy for people who have never feed raw food like me. I have read a number of books on the subject of raw feeding, all packed with the information you would need to give your dogs a healthy raw diet, but all leaving me still too nervous to try. It seemed to be just so complicated.
Kay's no nonsense style left me feeling safe in the knowledge that all would be well.
Thank you Kay, your book has given me the confidence to get on and do it.
Sue Hanslow
