Snap Posted December 3, 2006 Share Posted December 3, 2006 have wanted to feed my dog a BARF diet ever since I heard about it. I was planning to feed chicken necks, human mince, vegetables, fish, eggs etc. But I just got an email from my breeder regarding this: Thepuppies will need a puppy growth biscuit for at least six months - DONT skimp on cheap foods at this stage - you mentioned the BARF diet previously - many vets do not recommend this for growing pups - how do you know what vitamins are lacking n what you are feeding. Puppy bikkies are formulated so pups dont lack anything. if you want to had some homecooked food the recommended mix is 3/4 dry formula and no more than 1/4 meat,chicken - scraps etc. NEVER feed only meat this will encourage a picky eater. My cavs are eating Purina small breed bikkies currently. My advice to you is BARF diets require careful planning every week, whilst you will rely on your parents to help, feeding with a good quality commerical food takes the worry out of this planning and has all the nutritional needs of your growig pup. Do you think it's ok to feed BARF to a puppy? And with the dry food I would prefer to feed Innova or supercoat, well really anything other than Purina. What do you think? Thanks in advance Emily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tiggy Posted December 3, 2006 Share Posted December 3, 2006 The BARF diet is the best thing you can feed your pup . I feed my dogs raw meaty bones and the commercially produced BARF patties from pup to adult and their in excellent health. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snap Posted December 3, 2006 Author Share Posted December 3, 2006 Thanks for the advice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas Posted December 3, 2006 Share Posted December 3, 2006 (edited) mmm I don't think BARF is the best for all puppies? I'd definately go with what your breeder is feeding when the puppies leave them. Edited December 3, 2006 by sas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoemonster Posted December 3, 2006 Share Posted December 3, 2006 Ed got fed barf as a pup and he's now 16 months and very healthy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog_Horse_Girl Posted December 3, 2006 Share Posted December 3, 2006 It sounds as if your breeder has been 'sponsored' by that company? IMO there is nothing wrong with a well-researched BARF diet for a pup. I feed my own dogs on raw, whole foods (and have discovered they like the BARF patties available commercially, so use those occasionally), but my fosters on higher-end dry food. I believe my dogs do better on their natural diet than do the fosters on commercial dry foods. People who are scared of natural diets will say anything IMO to frighten others off them too. As long as you're prepared to research and follow a proven method for feeding a raw diet, your pup will grow into a healthy adult animal assuming all other variables are optimum as well. :D As always, JMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gretel Posted December 3, 2006 Share Posted December 3, 2006 Yep as Lilysmum put it a 'well-researched BARF diet'. You really do need to go into it properly to ensure your growing pup has all they need. It's not just a bit of this and that. Ian Billinghurst's books are excellent. And here is a webpage that outlines BARF well and this lady breeds Cavaliers http://www.nidracavaliers.com/barf.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snap Posted December 3, 2006 Author Share Posted December 3, 2006 Thanks for the advice everyone I'll take it all in! :D And thanks Gretel the link is great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickyp Posted December 3, 2006 Share Posted December 3, 2006 If the breeder currently has the pups on Purina then you will need to start off on that and gradually change your pup over to whatever you decide to feed, whether it's high end kibble or BARF. I doubt the breeder is getting kick backs from the company. It's only prudent to give you the name of what the pups are eating to help you with the transition. If you swap straight from one food to another you're risking an upset stomach that could be very unpleasant and messy and not a great way to introduce a pup to it's new home. 'Well researched' is definitely key with feeding raw. You need to know what you're doing. Committment is also important. I've fed my dogs on raw at different times and I've currently gone back to kibble as I just wasn't keeping up with it and was spending far too much money buying commercial substitutes when I ran out. One of my dogs definitely does better on a raw diet, but I'm not unhappy with her condition on the kibble so I don't feel she's suffering. And I will probably give raw another go down the track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas Posted December 3, 2006 Share Posted December 3, 2006 BARF is a great well balanced food if all the ratio's are correct, if it's not it may very well do more than harm than good. As for the breeder being sponsored by a kibble company.....that was a very laughable comment.....LM are you sponsored by BARF? I'd always be going for what the breeder reccomends, they know their breed the best. i.e. some breeds need to grow very slowly and BARF may not be suitable for these breeds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gretel Posted December 3, 2006 Share Posted December 3, 2006 <I'd always be going for what the breeder reccomends, they know their breed the best.> Hi Sas, I posted the link for a website of a breeder of Cavaliers who has been feeding BARF for years. She swears by it. I've fed my adults BARF but been too lazy to go the whole way with litters of pups and generally puppy buyers are going to want to feed a commercial diet so found it easier to feed the pups a good dry food and send them to their new homes with a bag of it. I use Advance - though my new pup came to me on Royal Canin and she is doing very well on that. I agree it is important to feed the pup what it is used to when you first bring it home or you will be in for tummy upsets! You can change it over gradually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas Posted December 3, 2006 Share Posted December 3, 2006 Yep, well if that's what the breeder reccomends. I think my think with BARF is that you have to get the ratio dead on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curlyking Posted December 3, 2006 Share Posted December 3, 2006 I raise my litters on a BARF diet and have found it excellent. Have to admit though it is a lot of work and it is not cheap. I probaly increased my feed bill by 3 or 4 times when I switched to BARF because all those odd bits from the butcher or supermarkets that used to be classed a rubbish and were priced accordingly have become quite expensive. Get a copy of Billinghursts book Grow Your Pup With Bones and then look into changing to bARF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougal Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 One my dogs was raised on BARF, the other I switched over from around 14 weeks. They are both healthy and look great. Dr Billinghurst's book is a really good read if you want to feed the BARF diet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snap Posted December 4, 2006 Author Share Posted December 4, 2006 Thanks again for all the replies I will look out for the book from now on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tiggy Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 Working out the ratios of what to feed isn't rocket science. Raw meaty bones should be the bulk of the diet and the rest should be made up of offal, vegie slop and any supplements you wish to feed. I choose to feed Dr B's BARF patties as I find it too time consuming to make them up myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeB Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 Could anyone suggest where I would get a copy of one of these books, particually 'Grow your Pup with Bones'? I assume they wouldnt be something you would come across in Angus and Robinson at your local shopping centre. Would somewhere like Pet Cafe in Brisbane sell it? I will call them tomorrow to ask, but just in case they dont any suggestions would be appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curlyking Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 (edited) Have a look here http://www.drianbillinghurst.com/index.html I include a copy of The BARF Diet or Growing Your Pup With Bones in my puppy pack for new owners to read. However, I send it to them when possible before they collect their pup, usually when they pay a deposit Edited December 4, 2006 by curlyking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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