FEEDING A LARGE BREED DOG

[Stitch]

I am looking for a way to feed a large breed dog that is affordable but healthy.  Currently I am feeding BARF but I am hoping someone here can recommend something that I can put with the BARF as feeding a large breed adult dog all BARF is quite expensive.  Problem is that I am not comfortable with the idea of combining the BARF with dry dog food but it might come down to that.  I am currently trialling mixing in some of the dog rolls but am not happy with the common supermarket ones and the vet/pet shop ones are just as expensive as feeding BARF.   Any ideas?

 

[persephone]

What about chicken frames/lamb offcuts etc ? may be different where you live..but it's fairly cheap here ...shopping bags full of lamb necks/flap pieces etc for about 6$ 

Edited November 12, 2019 by persephone

[Rebanne]

I feed 3 greyhounds twice a day. Raw minced chicken for breakfast ( was cooking it due to a health scare for one dog but back to raw now ) and dry for tea. The dry food I feed is a mix of what is on special at the supermarket or at Budget Pet Products. Supercoat, Optimum, Natures Gift or similar. Can be grain free or not.  I don't believe paying $100 for a dry food makes it any better then what I am already feeding nor do I have to feed less of it (according to the bag) because it's "better". My dogs also get raw duck necks or rib bones once or twice a week and whole raw carrots to munch on.

[Dogsfevr]

Feeding 1 large dog raw shouldn't be that expensive at all if your feeding the mixture of meat & veges unless your unable to source cheap meats or not searched .
 

[Stitch]

Quote

 

Yes Persephone I think I will be getting the chicken frames.  What age do you think is OK for a dog to start on them?  I worry about sharp bones with young dogs that don't chew their food.

 

[persephone]

Our Koolies start them at a few months  old ....semi freeze , or freeze  if you have a gulper . The bones of these meat birds are only 7 weeks old ... soft as butter really

[sandgrubber]

A vet once recommended not before 4 months....by then immune systems have developed to the extent that Salmonella won't be lethal. That said, I've fed much younger pups... but the risk is greater 

[sparkycat]

My giants get roo, beef, salmon, chicken ( frames, feet, necks, wings ) carrots, broccoli, rice, pasta for dinner and anything else one  in particular can steal off the bench In the morning they get dry - all my giants do well on CopRice - it's cheap and doesn't go through them.

 

I am lucky  there is a quality pet food shop in the next town which is fairly cheap - large salmon heads at 50cents each, chicken feet are couple of $ a kg, beef and roo is about $5 kg. I found prepared Barf was too expensive for me and I didn't like the mushy consistency.

 

[Stitch]

Thanks for the advice and great hints.   I think it will be do-able now with all those good ideas.