I switched Noah (our sheltie: http://www.flickr.com/photos/deagle/sets/72157594434032706/ ) to a raw diet about a month ago. Macy went to raw before he did, it's just the way it worked out I guess. Anyway, when I made the switch his coat was, in my wifes words, "Scraggly". It had no shine, and it was brittle and unpleasant to touch. He's about 1.5 years old.

He's been on raw for a month, as mentioned, and earlier today we're in the backyard and I my wife pointed out that he'd gotten softer. I hadn't noticed, but I went over and petted him and his coat is incredibly soft! Not only that, it's got remarkable shine. He could be with one of those models selling hair products! We've made no other changes recently that would account for the softness of his coat, it looks significantly better in just a few weeks of raw feeding.

Just wanted to share that experience. I wouldn't have switched to raw if I didn't think it was a better nutritional option after reading everything I could get my hands on. I was totally convinced that raw was the way to go. Still, seeing (and touching) evidence like this is so compelling.

I don't see why I wouldn't tell every dog owner I know.

I notice the same thing with my Giant Schnauzer's wiry coat, after less than a week on raw his hair was much softer.

Noah is gorgeous. It's good that raw food made such a difference in his coat, since he has a beautiful coat and it would be a shame if it weren't in all it's glory

I love Shelties, always have....as well as Collies. There's something about them - all that thick beautiful fur and of course their faces .

I looked through all Noah's pics on that site and wanted to ask you what beach you were at in the beach photos? I really miss the beach (used to live in Costa Mesa in the 70's) and would like to take Lear one weekend.

Hey Sandy,

It's the Huntington Beach Dog Beach ( http://www.dogbeach.org/ )

We take our pups really early in the morning when we go, we beat all the idiots (who show up around 11am, with their choke chains and their non-functional recalls)

 Quote: Sandy Moore

Noah is gorgeous.

Ditto...what a looker....I can see why you have the impulse to photograph him.

That's one of the biggest changes I've noticed in Bayley, her coat is soft and very shiny and very little shedding. Noah is beautiful and such a sweet face!!

Thanks for all the compliments. I'll pass them on to him. I'm really amazed at how much change I've seen in him just in the short time we've been doing it, amazed and very happy.

One would have to conclude that there are corresponding internal improvements as well, if something simple like dead strands of protein can show such a remarkable change.

Internal...yes...Now if only the raw diet had fixed his brazen naughtiness...

No, on second thought, he's the funniest animal I know, and I wouldn't change it.