Hey guys/girls. I have been collecting information on trying to start a raw diet from this site.
Currently I'm giving taste of wild (bison & venison). I just bought a bag of this today.
I was using purina and pedigree can food. Yeah i know. not good at all.
I was reading a thread about calcium. I was unaware of the importance of this. I don't know how i missed this.
Tonight we made taco's and i used the leftover ground sirloin(it was cooked though) and mixed with carrots, canned red salmon, and an egg with no shell. I now realize there wasn't much calcium with that meal.
- I will be going to a Sam's club this week and I'm need the info on the stuff to stock up on. I think i know from reading through the threads
-gizzards
-chicken neck, backs, legs, etc
-ground beef, turkey, pork
-ground egg shells( wife is going to start saving them)
-eggs
-supplements...i need help with this.
-veggies
-liver (beef or chicken or both)
- Fish oil ( we have some. we just poke a hole in it and they are find with taking it)

My current Female GSD is 2 years old with Hip dysplasia. She currently is on Dasuquin. ( get it from the vet)
My next dog will be here towards the end of the year and i plan on starting with an all raw diet. I just need to make sure i have all my ducks in a row before starting this. I think this will help with my dogs allergie problems also. Have a shitzu also that has bad allergies.

Do you have a ton of freezer space?

You're probably going to want something to the tune of 200 1 gallon freezer bags, or so.

Supplement-wise, the only things you really *need* to give are Salmon Oil and Vitamin E.
I personally like the salmon oil that Leerburg sells here, in the pump.

Veggies are optional. Its a personal choice. I don't feed them, but we have members who do. There's no real *value* to veggies, other than novelty, and perhaps added fiber and bulk to the diet if you're trying to slim down a dog.

I would start out with whole, quartered chickens, if you can find them.
They perfectly replicate an entire animal, because they *are*.
If you can buy whole chickens in bulk, that's your best bet.

You're jumping the gun with such variety, so early.
Start with chicken. Just chicken.
You can add all the other stuff a week or two from now.

Have you gotten any books to help guide you through starting?

http://leerburg.com/books.htm#nutrition

I got this one to start with:
http://leerburg.com/935.htm

I also found (quite by accident) a cattle packing house that sells frozen fresh dogs bones by the box. She told my via the phone that it was $5/box. I was picturing a small box. Imagine my pleasant surprise when I picked up my first box - it was 44 pounds of meaty bones! Remind me NEVER to take the dog with me again to pick up bones, either lol Fun trip home. Now, all I need is a new freezer and I'm good to go.

Suppliments:
http://leerburg.com/healthcare.htm

Best wishes!!

i agree. I didnt feed her anything raw tonight. besides the egg i added. Everything else was cooked.I will gradually add other stuff in. We are looking into buying a freezer for the garage. So the chicken quarters will be good for all of her nutrients at the moment? I will gradually add chicken in with her kibble and keep adding more. When i get to a whole quarter, is that when i will start to gradually add some more things in? I just want to make sure she is getting the right nutrients. Thanks again for the help Aaron. You have helped me a ton. Along with the other members.

I will check into some of the local meat markets and see what kind of bones i can get. That is a great idea.

- Books i only own one. Schutzhund: theory and training methods by Susan Barwig
- I will be ordering everything Wednesday as far as DVD's and books.
-marker training video
-basic obedience video
- 8 weeks to 8 months ( Ed told me to wait about a month to get this because they are coming out with a updated version.)
- drive and focus video
- and whatever else you guys recommend.
- I will prob get the salmon oil to with the pump

I will check out those books and purchase one of them.. Its not cheap getting into this sport, but it will be worth it. I've already put in a ton of hours, and tons more to go.

The real win for me was finding a local butcher shop. They were far more willing to place special orders like 40lbs of chicken necks, and keep trim and organs set aside for me. They're also quick to call if there is a "special" cut like a head available that might tempt my dogs.

I wouldn't do chicken quarters to start. Skinned backs are much better and tend to be chewed a little better by the dog. I tend to err on the side of lots of calcium then adding in grind or mince until the turds look right. ^.^

Do you think it's ok to feed mainly beef bones vs chicken? That s what I have better access to. Thanks!
(I apologise if this is considered a hijack)

Nope Lisa...I need to know this also....

To all my friends on here.....Make it clear...My OCD disorder is what drives me with all the questions....I try to do things perfectly....Trust me...It drives me crazy also....Along with the wife.....hahahahaha.....Just thought I would throw that out there, I'm sure some of you guys were like...DAMN, this guy can talk.....It will def be good and bad when it comes to training..

LOL - I have CDO - it's the same thing you have, but in alphabetical order.
Thanks for sharing the thread.