Quote: Sarah_Morris

I wish I could have seen the expression on his face, Sue. He picked it up, turned his back to us and went at it until it was gone...

Yep, I love that obvious sign of a high-value food item.

A dog who will laze over a bowl of kibble will see his first real RMB (like a chicken back) and immediately turn all business. Suddenly all I see is dog-butt as he hunches over his prize, turned away from prying eyes and possible food-thieves....... Crunch-crunch-crunch......

I did watch my most recent adopted guy eat his first RMB. He licked at it for a second and then looked up at me with big round surprised eyes. I burst out laughing. He didn't hesitate after that one lick, though.

 Quote: connie sutherland

his first RMB. He licked at it for a second and then looked up at me with big round surprised eyes. I burst out laughing. He didn't hesitate after that one lick, though.

I feel like I was there with you Connie cause I had the same scenario with my King Charles when we first fed him Raw, his big round eyes looked up at me as if he was saying "all for me?"

 Quote:

Suddenly all I see is dog-butt as he hunches over his prize, turned away from prying eyes and possible food-thieves....... Crunch-crunch-crunch......

Connie, were you hiding in a tree in my yard? LOL...That was EXACTLY what he did.

Another thing we noticed last night was that True was wired for sound...just bursting with puppy energy at an hour when he's normally pretty mellow. I know my fiancee needs meat when he feels his energy is slacking and he attributed True's mania to the real meat he got for dinner.

Those chicken backs are powerful stuff

I've hit a minor bump with True.

I'm trying to move away from the pre-made patties so yesterday morning he had ground beef and an egg for the first time. He lingered over that a little longer than he has since beginning raw. His food is usually gone in 30 seconds. Last night I offered pork RMBs which he refused outright.

I offered the pork again this morning...no go. I then tried ground beef and again...no go. I've topped both meats with a little cottage cheese to tempt him but he simply does not want to eat. His energy level is fine and he isn't acting sick. Actually, he is acting hungry until he sees what's in the bowl.

I've now got a freezer full of varied meats that I'm wondering if he'll even eat and I'm wondering how long I can keep the food he has refused in the fridge before I have to pitch it. With kibble this wasn't even an issue...if he refused to eat the bowl was simply put away until the next feeding time.

Has anyone else experienced fussy raw meat behavior with a dog? Should I just keep forcing the issue until he gets hungry enough to eat what I give him?

Any advice (or reassurance ) is appreciated.

Thanks!

Sarah, I'm sure he's still in the initial stages of adjustment from kibble, then premade patties. How about mixing a little trial bowl of the patties and the ground beef, chunks of each in the same bowl. I've kept hamburger meat in the fridge for at least 5 days for my pup; it can also be refrozen (something I wouldn't do for my consumption).

Or try little chunks of stew meat. I'm sure the meat in your freezer will be consumed shortly

The pork may be a bit much initially. The flavor/smell won't be anything like the premade patties or kibbles he's used to and his turning it down wouldn't faze me at this point. It's probably got a stronger flavor than beef. In fact, I'd hold off on the pork until he's into the diet a bit longer.

Do you feel up to trying a chicken wing? I think poultry is probably more delicately flavored compared to beef and maybe he needs something like that to kick start the natural instincts

Hi Sandy,

True LOVES chicken so I can always give him that with no problem. He's a gulper, so at Yuko's suggestion I've been giving him a half chicken in one piece. Wings and backs seem to disappear in seconds.

Mixing patties and ground beef is a great idea as is the stew meat. I think he's getting enough bone from the half chicken that the stew meat wouldn't hurt.

Thanks for your help, Sandy