Melissa sorry if I offended you that wasn't my intent but the fact is a BARF diet prepared at home can actually be cheaper than Super Premium Kibble. I mentioned the prepared food because the question was about traveling, it's much easier to take prepared BARF than it is to make it while your on the road. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Jeanette the links Melissa posted are right I meant http://www.homemade4life.com they are partners with Auntjeni. Homemade4life has a lot of interesting articles. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Newbie BARF feeders stress over the diet too much. I have driven from Vancouver to North Carolina with my BARF dog, buying fresh chicken wings, and a variety of fruit and veggies along the way. No, it is not ideal, but if it is only for a week or two -- who cares? My Rottie will swallow her salmon oil caps, Vit. E & C on command so disguising the supplements was never a concern. I never noticed any loss of condition, weight, etc. The dog certainly didn't complain! The great thing about BARF dogs is that you can switch the diet whenever you fancy without any ill-effects (the runs, constipation, etc.). Generally, BARF dogs have stomachs of steel.

Hi All , Raw chicken for the rest of the dogs life is better than a kibble diet.With that said,
You have many optiona with the barf diet if you can manage them. You can go over feed one day and off the next Buy chicken at Wallmart for 37 cents a pound (legquarters). I feed them whole to my GSDs. Veggie mix and supplements can wait.

In the wild all they can get for a time maybe salmon or a deer or even a 21day fast.

for more on kibble go to http://www.wkyc.com/news/national/020513dogfood.asp

That's all fine and good IF your dog will eat chicken. One of mine will not touch chicken at all unless it's cooked. We tried to hold out, but he can go nearly a week without eating anything, then he'll eat one meal, and not eat again for almost a week. Even my holistic vet, who is internationally renowned, was getting worried and finally said to feed him whatever he wants, because it isn't going to hurt him. She told me to feed him absolutely anything he'll eat, except for chocolate or onions. So now, in additon to raw & kibble, he eats hamburgers, pasta, chinese food, cheesesteak, and pretty much anything from Taco Bell <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> If it's something spicy, he says all the better, cause that's what he likes! I didn't expect my new holistic vet to be ok with this, but guess what, he is.

Is an all raw diet better? Yes. Is the way I'm feeding my dog going to cause any significant harm or decrease in health? Not according to the vets. So I stand by what I said, and will continue to feed raw, cooked, kibble....at least until I hit the lottery and can afford to feed them the expensive types of meat that they like all the time <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Auster gets road food too. It's great, if there's a place where something is easily available. When I travel with Auster, she gets either a tostada or taco from taco bell. It's not long term (she'd get more variety if we traveled more with her), but for a day it's fine. In fact, I find it easier than digging the kibble out of the back of the car.

About Taco Bell, my mother has been getting the weekly 2 for $1 burritos and giving Auster a burrito every week for several months while I was at college. Auster's healthy so it's obviously not too bad (don't worry, I'm trying to slowly convert my family from kibble to raw for Auster). My consolation is that at least it's fit for human consumption <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> .

There are a lot of options for those with dogs that don't have any severe allergies or digestive disorders.

Deployment? I see what you are saying. What you want to do is get your hands on one of those FoodSavers. They rock! NO, I'm not plugging them because I sell them for a living, so don't ask.

For your kind of situation where there may not be a store around where you can pick stuff up, or if you don't want to mess with it, like me, you can use the toy to package single meals.

I mix my meals, package them with the FoodSaver and then freeze 'em. Stick those buggers in a small cheep styro-cooler, with a little ice (or dry ice) and then put them into another larger cooler with ice and your regular food stuff. (Deployment right, like camping?)

I have found that it takes a long time for them to de-ice. Days. . . and then you have a few days that they'll be good just chilled. 10 days is no problem. (also don't be getting into the cooler all the time or your gonna lose cool air)

It works nice for those road trips too. You could use a regular baggy, but then you don't get to play with the FoodSaver and your stuff will only be good in the freezer for a few months. With the airless and airtight seal you can freeze those suckers for a long ass time. And in theory it will stay fresh even longer under just chilled conditions.

That's a good idea VanCamp.. I'm likin that one... I also love this

Captain Correction

"compulsion with a smile"

I think quality in any food is the primary concern. If cooked food were all that bad, where would we be? We are all products of evolution and selected breeding. If you can't or don't want to feed a BARF diet, IMHO cooked chicken and other meats are just as good. Providing a well balanced diet with a variety of protein and veggie sources as well as some grains should cover many dietary concerns. Getting the dog used to a premium kibble and feeding that as well is a good idea, especially if you have to board, travel a lot, or have someone else feeding your dog some of his/her meals.

I have fed this way since my dog was 6 months old (he just turned 9 in April). He's never had a problem digesting his mixed diet. Poop Patrol lets you see how your dog is coping with his food and what is and is not being digested.

I spend a lot of $$$ on my dog's premium kibble (Wellness). I know he would much rather have an all natural diet (cooked or not) than kibble, doesn't matter how pricey, but that is not an option. He has many little tricks up his paw to get me to put "goodies" in his bowl of kibble if there isn't anything else in the house to eat. But from a dog who has tasted and drooled over filet mignon I would expect nothing less. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Awww, mommy pwease don't make me eat that <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Haha, my dogs do it too. That pitful, I-can't-believe-you-don't-love-me-enough-to-give-me-steak look <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />