It is funny you ask that.

On a different dog forum I am a member of, newbies are treated like garbage. They are teamed up on and literally insulted to the point of tears in many situations. When confronted, the bullies say things like, “they need to grow some skin” or “they were idiots to start with and could not be helped” or “it is ok to insult others, and I find these people to be leaders…”, stuff that would never be said in real life. It breaks my heart and the only reason I stay is to try to give advice in a non-threatening way that may actually be of assistance. I regularly refer people her.

This forum is full of very knowledgeable people that share a passion, and because of our wonderful moderators, keep it on a fair and even tone. The greatest thing is watching people who are new learn and grow and then start giving advice of their own.

Also, I think the fact that our true names are attached to every post causes people to really think about what they say, you can’t hide behind anonymity.

I love this forum, and form my experience; you will not find a better source of training, nutrition, and health anywhere on the internet, or with a better attitude. These people are great!

Welcome Sam!

 Quote: jessicakromer

... I think the fact that our true names are attached to every post causes people to really think about what they say, you can’t hide behind anonymity. ...

Well, that plus we are pure and good.

Sam, you have received great pointers about not mixing up one possible system-stressor with another. I too want the dog to be comfortable and have perfect poops before any changes are made, so you can assess what the change does and not wonder which change it is.

One thing I didn't see (might've missed it) is that I always make the first couple of meals on the new food small. Small as in half of what I think the dog really will need. One reason is that new raw feeders seem very often to over-feed at first (a big diarrhea trigger) and the other is just that it's easier for the system to "switch over" on small amounts. Then as soon as you see a good poop, you can start adding to the quantity gradually over a couple more meals.

I'd start with backs, with the skin peeled off for those first couple of meals.

Most dogs are just fine with all-at-once variety and all the normal fat, but the few who need gradual immersion make it worth while, IMO, to start slow. It won't hurt the dogs who don't need it, and it can save a lot of gut upheaval for those who do.

Thank you for yet another great advice, Connie!
So, if I get the pup at 2 months old plus a week on Iams, and say, she's 20 lp at that point. Then instead of giving her 5% = 16 oz of backs a day, I should give her 8 oz or so for a while, divided into 3 meals?

Jessica,
That was exactly the feeling I got after reading this forum for a while.
Re: other forums, I don't mind being called an idiot if I really am being an idiot, but to jump on new people asking for help, to humiliate them just to stroke one's ego is disgraceful, IMO. Not to mention that it would keep them from asking vital questions in the future, and that would certainly be counterproductive if it's really the well-being of dogs that's the primary concern.

Sam, I just want to chime in with my two cents worth from the good and pure pew.

I am not an experienced handler/trainer. I have a small house pet. I am an older gal and have had dogs all my life.

Prefaced with the above, I raw feed my ankle biter and have for about a year and a half and I learned with the help and advice from all these nice folks here.

My dog was about six months old when I got her so she wasn't a "little" puppy. She had been kibble fed and had no interest at all in her dog food.

I went cold turkey, but I gave her first few meals ground beef. I think it was the yuck factor for me more than anything else. If I could have a re-do, I would give her chicken backs and necks.

I now chop her off a hunk of whatever and just don't worry about it.

When I switched her, the hardest part for me was probably over feeding her. It is such a much smaller amount of food than commercial dog food whether that be in a can or kibble.

Soooooo, I became an expert poop examiner.

Go slow and light with her first meals as you have been advised. You can always give her a little more.

Also, after making a few mistakes (as in runny poop/hard poop, etc.) Connie advised me to keep a log of what, how much and when I fed her. It is so easy to give a little more or something and not realize it was just the last feeding before last, or was it day before yesterday, etc.

This helped tremendously. I would advise a log or diary at the beginning and also, you may even want to invest in a small kitchen scale until you are familiar with the amounts. It is amazing how much less the raw food is compared to kibble.

Of course, the weight of the meat is printed on the label usually if you don't want/need a scale.

Happy feeding, welcome to the board, and please feel free to ask anything.

Very Truly Yours,

A member of the Good & Pure Pew!

The consensus here is to go "cold turkey". I guess I go against the grain a little bit. When we switched foods on our dog, cold turkey, he'd throw up. So we do the switch gradually, over three or four days. We would go half old food half new food for a few days then switch to all new food. That worked for us and eliminated the vomiting. Your mileage may vary.

 Quote: rich pallechio

The consensus here is to go "cold turkey". I guess I go against the grain a little bit. When we switched foods on our dog, cold turkey, he'd throw up. So we do the switch gradually, over three or four days. We would go half old food half new food for a few days then switch to all new food. That worked for us and eliminated the vomiting. Your mileage may vary.

I agree with this protocol for all but kibble-to-raw.

Are you maybe talking about kibble-to-kibble? In that case, yes indeed, that would be my recommendation too.

The small meal recommendation in the switch recommended earlier is a way of gradually familiarizing the system to the new food without having to combine kibble and raw.

Connie,

We've made kibble to kibble, kibble to raw, raw to raw, and raw to kibble changes. If we tried to change him cold turkey he'd throw up. Usually on the carpet if we couldn't get him outside fast enough.

If we get careless and leave food out, he gets into it and eats it. Then he vomits it up onto our carpet and I have to clean it. A few weeks ago my wife left a few almonds out on the coffee table. The next morning the almonds were gone and I had a mess on the carpet to clean up.

 Quote: Rich Pallechio

... If we get careless and leave food out, he gets into it and eats it. Then he vomits it up onto our carpet and I have to clean it. A few weeks ago my wife left a few almonds out on the coffee table. The next morning the almonds were gone and I had a mess on the carpet to clean up.

My dogs are the canine version of foodies too.

Sounds like my vacuum cleaner of a 13 year old dog.

 Quote: Scott Garrett

Sounds like my vacuum cleaner of a 13 year old dog.

I have a senior who vibrates when the food dishes are being prepared.

I've known more than one senior who lives for his dinner. I am always very happy that I have been able to give them the food that they were designed to eat, and that they love so much.