I attempted a raw diet with my dog over 6 years ago and failed. The problem was the diet I was trying to incorporate included some grains and vegetables which he had absolutely zero interest in and would actually nose around the bowl and only eat what had not come in contact with them. He only wanted the RMBs. After two weeks of trying to get him to eat the veggies and grains; I gave up and switched to Flint River Ranch kibble.

Well I was food shopping a few days ago and there was an unbelievable deal on turkey necks and before I knew it, my carriage was filled and Thor is back on raw. I had been thinking about it and researching more and am now comfortable that if all he does, is eat the RMBs and other assorted meats and fish he will be fine.

All excited to begin, I serve him up his dinner of turkey necks and was disappointed when the nosing in the bowl begins, and he gingerly picks up a neck hides it in his mouth and stands at the back door whining like he needs to relieve himself. I know he wants to go bury the neck out back. When I don't let him out he goes to his bed drops the neck out of his mouth starts pushing it around with his nose and whines. After a few minutes I pick the neck up put it back in his bowl where he proceeds to do the same thing. I ended up having to hand feed him and he did okay.

Day two, he now picks up each neck, takes it to his bed lays down licks at it and treats it like a recreational bone. When he finally finishes chomping he goes and gets another one. I want him to eat at his bowl but don't know how to make him do this.

Today I tried chopping up the necks to bite sizes and he ate at his bowl, this took forever since every knife in the house has the sharpness of kiddie safety scissors. I could possibly do this(I saw a good axe at REI) but it seems to defeat one of the reasons I'd like him to eat raw is for the teeth benefits.

I'm not ready to quit but could use pointers on how to get him to see this is his food, and is to be eaten at his bowl.

On the plus side, no digestive incidents and formed BMs.

Good for you starting again!
I had to force feed two dogs that refused for days to touch that damp and mushy stuff! After stuffing some ground turkey down their throats for 2 days they finally decided it was good and went at the RMBs with gusto.
I have a newly acquired 3 year old Chi with 10 year old plaque on his teeth. It is dissolving starting at the thinnest parts, not chipping the big gobs off, so I would say the improved gut helps more than the chewing.
If you want him to eat at his bowl put him on a down stay or tie him there, or just feed him in a bare crate.
I use a big heavy meat cleaver to chop chunks for my little dogs. If the block is low enough (about hip high) the cleaver does most of the work. I tried an ax and didn't like it as well.

Sheila, any reason why you don't want him to eat the turkey necks outside? That's what I do with raw meats served on the bone (chicken quarters, game hens, turkey necks, etc). I don't want him eating those in the kitchen. I think it's expecting too much for a dog to eat those things in or over their bowl. Especially since with a meal like meat on bones, dogs prefer to lay down to gnaw on them.

Eat out on the lawn, no cleanup. Heck I even put those type meals on a paper plate, he grabs off the plate, takes it to the lawn, no dog bowl to wash.

 Quote: Sandy Moore

Sheila, any reason why you don't want him to eat the turkey necks outside? That's what I do with raw meats served on the bone (chicken quarters, game hens, turkey necks, etc). I don't want him eating those in the kitchen. I think it's expecting too much for a dog to eat those things in or over their bowl. Especially since with a meal like meat on bones, dogs prefer to lay down to gnaw on them.

Eat out on the lawn, no cleanup. Heck I even put those type meals on a paper plate, he grabs off the plate, takes it to the lawn, no dog bowl to wash.

I certainly do expect my dogs to eat in and around their bowls. They are fed in their crates for that specific reason. And an RMB is not meant to be gnawed on for any length of time - 20 minutes and the dish comes up. A recreational bone, perhaps, but dinner is meant for eating, not lollygagging around in the yard taking a piece or a bite here and there.

To me, mealtimes are scheduled and rather rigid - eat and no playing games. The dogs know this and unless there is a tummy upset somewhere, mealtime is a breeze.

JMO.

Jan, nothing of what you said applies to a dog with high food drive, not my dog. He doesn't spend minutes eating his chicken quarters or turkey necks and lollygagging around in the yard taking bites here and there don't apply to most dogs with hunger.

Certainly he doesn't play games while eating either. I'm not sure of the point of your post.

Edited to add: what the heck is the harm in a dog laying down on the lawn to eat a meal that consists of meat on bone?

 Quote: Sandy Moore

I think it's expecting too much for a dog to eat those things in or over their bowl. Especially since with a meal like meat on bones, dogs prefer to lay down to gnaw on them.

This was my point. To me, gnawing is something done to a recreational bone. Chewing is done to rmbs. My dogs don't take the time to lay down while eating; they are too busy chewing.

Sorry if I misread or misunderstood.

Jan, really...gnawing is chewing :wink:

I have two dogs who, to my knowledge, have no food aggression whatsoever. Why would I take the unnecessary risk of finding out later that I was wrong by feeding them anywhere they wanted? My dogs are fed separately, in their crates, at a certain time and for a certain time. It works for me.

I believe the OP wants her dog to eat from his bowl. I was suggesting that I, too, expect my dogs to eat from their bowls and not take their food and go lay in the yard, on their beds, etc.

Also, if she ever brings another dog into her family and her first dog is used to being free-fed in the yard or wherever, it could possibly pose some serious problems that could have been avoided. A little hassle now about teaching him how and where to eat may save a lot of trouble in the long run.

I feed RAW same way as Sandy. It's a heck of a lot easier & no clean up! If I'm at my in-laws who have other dogs, I feed in the crate.

I am so bad, I put meals in stainless steel dishes since I have 6 dogs....(well 2 of them are on all-natural kibble, but they do get Recreational bones and supplements)

All of my dogs eat seperatley in their kennels, crates or day runs.

My Bloodhound takes his time to eat his meat w/bone and that is just fine with me. I do not want him scarfing food since I am paranoid about bloat.

The other dogs take about 5 to 10 minutes to eat, although with the pups, they seem to need to learn how to eat raw and take longer.

My Lab did not do well with raw at all, vomiting, diarrhea and lack of energy....it was wierd and I tried all kinds of combos for about 5 months.
So he is on Canidae, Chicken Soup and Innova (I switch my kibble foods from time to time).

I found the best thing to cut up turkey necks was a small pair of tree-trimmer from the hardware store (be sure to wash them really good and get any oil off of them before using)....snaps them right into pieces.