You're not wrong. I cut my dog food budget almost in half when I started feeding raw, and I include supplements like salmon oil and E in that budget. It was yet another bonus

I was just in PA and trying to find my Mom an Acana dealer since she doesn't really have the budget for Orijen. EVen though no local store carried the fish flavor that she needs, all were willing to order it. Just FYI if you call a local good food dealer, they may be willing.

I feed Orijen for $64 plus tax for the almost 30 lb bag. And yes, it hurts a little to do it. :-) I would love to find a more economical way to feed. I have contemplated feeding raw, but was concerned about the quality of meat that was sold for less than $1 a pound. I have gone by the principle that if I won't eat it, I don't feed it to him. Of course I am not eating kibble either, but I like the ingredients and have emailed with the company to ask specific ?'s. I am pretty happy with it so far.

Does the quality of "cheap" meat concern you all? And that is not meant to be a smart-aleck ?, but an honest one.

It doesn't concern me. Everything I feed the dogs (with the exception of green tripe) is sold as food fit for human consumption. Just because I'm not interested in eating beef hearts or chicken backs, they are still perfectly fine foods.

If I was made of money, I suppose buying only organic, grass fed, humanely raised meat for the dogs would be ideal. But I'm not, so I don't. I cannot help but think the quality of ingredients I'm buying for the dog's food is as good or better than the ingredients most kibble makers use.

At the very least, I know every item that goes into the dog bowl. Ive handled it, smelled it and can assess its freshness and cleanliness.

Wysong Epigen claims to be a starch/grain free Dog food.

http://www.wysongepigen.net/

I actually like heart. :-) I even used to eat pickled beef tongue, but I can't have anything pickled anymore.

I buy Tanka clearance meat sometimes to use as a treat. I bought some beef and some pork awhile back at Wal-mart and he didn't want it. I tasted it and it was sooo salty, it was terrible. I guess they salted it when it got old. Now I don't buy any meat for him at wal-mart but at a smaller local market. They don't use any salt solutions on anything.

And what you are saying is very true. I actually have just recently found a local antibiotic and hormone free grass fed farm and we are planning on buying an eighth of beef there that will work out to just around $4.50 a pound. great price for what it is, but still a little pricy for Tanka food.

 Quote: Julie Sloan

I have contemplated feeding raw, but was concerned about the quality of meat that was sold for less than $1 a pound. I have gone by the principle that if I won't eat it, I don't feed it to him.

Does the quality of "cheap" meat concern you all? And that is not meant to be a smart-aleck ?, but an honest one.

My loose farm dogs will readily consume a wide variety of things that would make me vomit (cow and horse poop, decayed carcasses, intestines, grasshoppers, chicken feet and heads, and other gross things), and if they don't eat it they use it for perfume.

Several years ago I had a freezer that was turned off with some meat, fat and liver in it, it got pretty gross. I didn't want the dogs eating it. We don't have trash pick-up here, so I buried the slimy mess. The dogs accepted the challenge and started to dig it up. I put heavy stuff over the top and they did their best to move it so they could dig up the "yummy food".

I don't worry about feeding cheap meat unless it has been adulterated with salt, antibiotics, chemicals, or preservatives.

 Quote:

Does the quality of "cheap" meat concern you all? And that is not meant to be a smart-aleck ?, but an honest one.

Not really because it is all still human grade meat. Which is a more than can be said for most commercial foods out there. The only tihnk I stay away from is meats with solutions/additives. (ie, the ones that say "up to 15% of etc, etc, to enhance flavor)

We feed raw and while the hunting and gathering (butchers, supermarkets, etc) of it is primarily hubby's job, keeping our ears open and getting it out there that we will take almost anything (freezer excess from friends, last year's harvest, etc) keeps the quality at a fairly high standard.

There are definitely places we won't buy from (one butcher in particular) because of the quality and lack of care he puts into what he considers "dog food".

We're generally paying about 1.00/lb for their food. Sometimes a bit more, sometimes less. Like this week, hubby came home with 4 huge utility turkeys, from the supermarket, .89 cents a pound.

On a side note, I've had a bit of question for a while and this seems like a great thread to ask it. I don’t mean to derail anything and can certainly move it if that's the case.

We also always have at least a 15 lb bag of Orijen in the house. My boys love this stuff, it's one of their higher value treats and super simple to get into their treat balls.

I've read here many times that it's not a safe or recommended practice to feed raw and kibble, which I don't at meal times. But I think nothing of a training session prior to meals or an in between, afternoon treat ball snack full of kibble.

With Orijen being quite high in the protein department, I hear many times that some dogs don't do well on it, producing soft stools or diarrhea (and have no idea what causes this).

But with its high protein base, does this allow it to travel through their system quicker than some of the more grain based products? And are there certain kibbles that would be potentially "safer" to feed amongst raw?

Here is an interesting video on dog food that was posted on another board:

http://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/response-to-fda-pet-food-video.html

I, too, am a raw feeder. The meat I feed is usually averages about $1.25ish/lb.

I cannot afford to buy organic meats, but I have worked hard to find reliable sources.

For example, I literally speak to the poultry farmer who has raised the chickens I buy when I pick up food from him. Its a good feeling.

I am also working on phasing out all commercial treats. I am baking "biscuit types" myself. And I am really lucky that my mom recently started a company and is making dehydrated "jerky" meats for dogs. Sure beats having to worry about those made in China.

I buy the 3 that are fine on the cheaper kibble as a 'working dog' feed which doesn't have VAT on it, (taxes) saves 20 pc on a 17kg sack, the better quality stuff Kaiser is on for his yeast problem, is, of course, MUCH more expensive, but I get it through work so get it at cost, half the cost of retail, but doesn't have the 'working dog' loophole.

Just as a by the way, Kaiser has been on the Brown Rice and Chicken Burns for about 6 weeks, and the difference has been amazing, no more scratching, they are cool to the touch, and nice and pale pink; such a relief for him bless his heart, I am just going to suck up the cost.

Still haven't ruled out going back to raw for the Boerboels - that would be the best case scenario, just involves shelling out for electricity supply to the outhouse and a chest freezer, not out f the question though....