Hi everyone,
First time posting and I couldn't find this question answered anywhere so hopefully it's not a duplicate. Anyway, I am interested in the RAW diet for dogs and am giving it serious consideration. I love the idea, but honestly it sounds pretty time consuming and not sure I have the time to dedicate to it. But, Honest Kitchen seems to be a pretty good alternative. I have been reading a lot about the ingredients in dog food lately and Dogfoodadvisor.com says HK is a good food, but a "Plant-based" dog food. Isn't that counter to what RAW is all about? I'm confused.

I would appreciate it if someone can clear it up for me and I'll continue to read up on RAW.
Thanks!

 Quote: Paul Anderson

Hi everyone,
First time posting and I couldn't find this question answered anywhere so hopefully it's not a duplicate. Anyway, I am interested in the RAW diet for dogs and am giving it serious consideration. I love the idea, but honestly it sounds pretty time consuming and not sure I have the time to dedicate to it. But, Honest Kitchen seems to be a pretty good alternative. I have been reading a lot about the ingredients in dog food lately and Dogfoodadvisor.com says HK is a good food, but a "Plant-based" dog food. Isn't that counter to what RAW is all about? I'm confused.

I would appreciate it if someone can clear it up for me and I'll continue to read up on RAW.
Thanks!

THK is dehydrated raw. ("Raw" is not an acronym ... no caps needed.)

THK (The Honest Kitchen) with add-ins is, IMO, a very good bridge to all-raw, or a very good base diet, with add-ins. But IMO, it's not perfect as is for many dogs .... that is, I think that THK with add-ins as directed (and here's a great place to add, say, actual raw backs, a very good starting RMB) is an excellent food. This would simplify your raw-food prep to the point of being almost nil.

Most of the THK versions as is ARE plant-based foods with a good amount of animal protein. Adding add-ins of meat as directed is not strictly necessary, since THK is a balanced diet as it (except Preference, which I'm not addressing here ... that's a special-use THK for adding novel protein to for an allergic dog, and it is NOT balanced as is). BUT again, most dogs (IMO) are going to be better suited to a THK-plus-meat diet.

THK is addressed many times on the board. A good search term is THK. Here I have used that term, in "advanced search," added my name (because I know that many THK threads have me in them), and expanded the date range:

http://leerburg.com/webboard/searchresults.php?searchin%5B%5D=all&search_terms=THK&termsin=subject_body&display_name=connie+sutherland&daterange=1&newerval=5&newertype=Year&olderval=&oldertype=Day&results=25&buttsubmit=Submit

Awesome. Thank you Connie for the info on raw (no caps). That helps.

BTW, Paul, welcome.

Here is a good overview of THK. (I order mine from LB. I generally need something else, like tiny training treats, and they ship fast.)

http://leerburg.com/honestkitchen.htm

There are FAQs that will help a lot.



Also, you may want to post an intro here:
http://leerburg.com/webboard/topiclist.php?forum_id=146

You could introduce your dog(s) too. :-)

Thanks Connie, I really appreciate the advice. There is so much info out there it seems a bit overwhelming but I'm slowly getting it I think. Or, maybe more accurately just scratching the surface of it.

I may post an intro in a few months when I actually have a puppy. It's been a few years since I have owned a dog but I recently put a deposit down on a German Shepherd puppy. I guess I am just getting excited thinking about the training, food, etc.

In the mean time I have plenty to read.
Thanks again.

Paul I know the feeling! Good luck with your puppy.

 Quote: Paul Anderson

Thanks Connie, I really appreciate the advice. There is so much info out there it seems a bit overwhelming but I'm slowly getting it I think. Or, maybe more accurately just scratching the surface of it.

I may post an intro in a few months when I actually have a puppy. It's been a few years since I have owned a dog but I recently put a deposit down on a German Shepherd puppy. I guess I am just getting excited thinking about the training, food, etc.

In the mean time I have plenty to read.
Thanks again.

Congratulations to you for reading up now and getting ready!

Oh, and when you have your GSD pup, or before!, this will be the place to learn about raw (or raw + THK or other food) as well as potty training and marker training.

Yeah exactly Connie. I really like this website. I have been reading almost everything I can about raw and marker training. And obedience, and protection work, and potty training, and health, and it pretty much just keeps going. All I need now is a dog!

And in an effort to not take this thread too far off the track, back to the subject of food. Do you recommend still supplementing food with vitamin E with salmon oil if the food already has vitamin E added to it? I guess it can't hurt.