I've 'lost' my raw feeding book (loaned it out haven't gotten it back) and I'm having trouble getting reset on my feeding Hank.

Hank's 2 now, intact and we run anywhere from 4-12 miles a week. He's around 80-85 lbs and I can see a shadow of his last couple of ribs but he 'porks out' quick if I feed him too much.

One other weird thing he does that if I'm not feeding him enough he will barf bile in the morning (I'm starting to think I'm feeding him too soon in the evening).

So with this high speed pooch I'm having trouble figuring out how much to feed him per day. I've got a freezer full of chicken backs and I pick up breast meat/liver at the store every week with some heart/gizzard change up every once in a while instead of liver. With the some egg/veggies every once in a while, he's not a big veggie eater.
I'm trying to get the ratio's (RMB to meat) and amounts right and then I struggle with once or twice a day. He's so food driven that he acts likes he's hungry all the time. Are backs considered RMB? Help!
Thanks,Ken

Handsome boy.

1.3 - 1.7 pounds of raw food per day would get you in the ballpark, then just adjust as needed based on his weight.

A bedtime snack usually solves the morning bile urps. You could reserve a mouthful of his dinner as a snack, or just experiment with feeding the dinner later in the day.

1 or 2 feedings per day is up to you. I feed 2 meals. (if you do, divide the total amount in half, of course.)

chicken backs are RMB

ratio: about half (or slightly more) of the meal in RMB by weight, the other half (or slightly less) of the meal in muscle meat. Around 10% in organ meat. It doesn't have to be exact or perfect in every meal, but you'll know if you're in the right ratio by looking at his poop. Firm is good; too hard or crumbly means too much bone.

Hope this helps.

I agree with Tracy on the 2 meals a day & bedtime snack. I don't want to overlaod my dogs with 1 big meal. Especially with working dogs or extremely active dogs that are getting a larger quantity of food then the average amount, due to that extra level of activity.

The bedtime snack of a few treats or a dog 'cookie' worked for my female years ago...since then I always give the dogs something at bedtime.h

 Quote: Anne Jones

I agree with Tracy on the 2 meals a day & bedtime snack. I don't want to overlaod my dogs with 1 big meal. Especially with working dogs or extremely active dogs that are getting a larger quantity of food then the average amount, due to that extra level of activity.

The bedtime snack of a few treats or a dog 'cookie' worked for my female years ago...since then I always give the dogs something at bedtime.h

"I always give the dogs something at bedtime"

So do I. Like Tracey, I just save a bit of the supper. I have not had a single bile-vomiting event in years with this little routine.

I also give all dogs two meals a day.

 Quote: Ken Easterling

He's so food driven that he acts likes he's hungry all the time.

Haha - that's just a "correct" Ridgeback!

I feed my RR, Oscar (95lbs), 2X a day - he's not exceptionally active, but I worry about any strain on his digestive system in regards to bloat. I feed raw, and I really have no idea what the weight of his daily intake is on a scale, but after 7 years, I'm extremely good at eyeballing and weighing by hand. If he starts to chunk up, I just thin down each meal by a Tbsp or 2 of ingredients, and visa versa. Split into the 2 meals, per day, he eats about:

1.5 chicken backs
2 sardines (canned)
1/2 - 3/4 c ground muscle meat
and a chunk of liver about the size of half of my iPhone (weirdest measurement EVER, sorry, it's just the only thing sitting in front of me right now..)

I'll add a raw or hard boiled egg a few times a week, and Oscar does get veggies every morning - I grate a bit of fresh zucchini over his breakfast, and I've gotten back into the kelp and alfalfa powder Leerburg carries...

*and of course he gets salmon oil & vit E daily

I definitely second the "bedtime snack" suggestion to ward off early morning yak sessions, and I'd urge you to just pay very careful attention to your dog's weight and poop - these factors will help you adjust components of the diet that will be more specific to Hank than any guidebook (though guidebooks can give you a great starting point). It'll all become second nature to you at some point...

Hope that helps, for comparison. Hank sounds like he gets heaps more exercise than Oscar though, so while he's a little smaller, he may very well burn through more calories... Handsome fella too!

Nat so is that 1.5 backs per meal or per day? Just trying to get the portions right. Also how do you keep the sardines once you crack the can? Does it stink up the refrigerator?

Until you get the hang of it, I'd recommend weighing meals using a kitchen scale. I've been doing this for years and still weigh every meal, even though I could probably eyeball it now. Chicken parts vary in size. The backs I buy might be considerably different in cut/size from yours.

The sardines don't stink up the fridge. I dump the can into a zip-lock baggy after removing the first portion.

PS
I buy Trader Joe's spring water, no salt. Cheap!

 Quote: Ken Easterling

Nat so is that 1.5 backs per meal or per day? Just trying to get the portions right. Also how do you keep the sardines once you crack the can? Does it stink up the refrigerator?

1.5 backs per day - and Tracy makes a good point about the variation in back size, depending on your source... which is why weighing (with a scale, or by hand/eye) is best. I also have found a lot of variation in the amount of fat attached to the backs - past suppliers of mine have left a grotesque amount of fat on each back, which I trim off (no need for those extra calories for my dog - some might NEED them to keep weight on a high energy animal though).

I prepare meals for Oscar about a month at a time and just fill the freezer with individually portioned meals. This means there are never open containers of ingredients in the fridge - sardines get put into almost every meal, but they go into ziplock baggies along with all the other ingredients, so no smell.

Connie - thanks for the Trader Joes tip! I buy mine at Shaws, packed in water, but I bet they're cheaper at TJs!

They are about $1.20 at TJ's.