There are several ways to start your dog or puppy on a RAW diet. The process I will outline below tends to be the easiest way to make the switch for all ages and types of dogs, and will bring you the best results in the shortest amount of time.
Switch cold turkey!
Raw food is much easier for dogs to digest, so you can literally switch cold turkey (pun intended). There is no need to introduce raw food gradually to a kibble diet the way you would switch from kibble to kibble. Raw and kibble also digest at different rates, which could potentially cause your dog digestive upsets, and lengthen the transition.
Skip a meal
Skip your dog's last meal before switching him over to a raw diet. If your dog is ALWAYS hungry, and you're afraid he may go on a hunt for snacks (or expensive shoes) while you're away at work, you may want to skip his dinner feeding, and start raw the next morning. Do what you think is best for your dog, but take your schedule into consideration. For most people the weekend is the best time to start.
Play it cool
When you introduce the new raw food, play it cool. Don't hesitate or worry about whether your dog with eat it, like it, or turn his nose up at it. Dogs are able to sense even the slightest negative vibes, and if you're putting out those vibes your dog may feed off them and avoid the new food.
After skipping a meal, your dog should be hungry enough to just dig in. Some dogs however, need extra time to accept the new food. Just remember, it's a completely different kind of food...different smell, texture, taste, size, etc. It's not loaded with salt, sugar, or flavoring that your dog may be accustomed to, so don't lose hope if he doesn't take to it immediately.
Start with basics
The most common mistake people make is feeding too much variety too soon, which makes the transition mroe difficult, and results in mid-night trips outside with explosive diarrhea. Pick one protein source, and feed it for about a week or two (depending on your dog). The easiest food for most to start with is chicken because it's readily available, fairly inexpensive, and has all 3 components in one package; meat, bone, and organ.
Large dog? Start with skinless bone-in chicken breast. Small to medium dog? Start with a skinless whole leg. Toy breed? Start with a chicken wing or skinless neck.
When you notice your dog's poo is well formed and consistent, you can gradually introduce some skin and fat, and then organ meat.
Once your dog has adjusted to chicken, pick a second protein source such as beef (or turkey, lamb, pork, etc.) - similarly starting off sans fat or organs, and gradually introducing them. Then a third protein source, and so on. Building variety slowly is the key to success.
Grow a spine
Set the rules and stick with them. Just like in obedience or other dog related activity, he will call your bluff, and if you give him an inch he may very well take a mile! Put down a bowl of the new RAW food, and leave it out for 15-30 minutes. If your dog refuses to eat within that time frame, pick the bowl up, cover or bag it, and put it back into the refrigerator until his next meal. It may take a few skipped meals for your dog to "give in" if he is stubborn or is afraid of change. Don't feel bad for him and offer treats of alternative food if he refuses the raw food. Your dog will not starve himself.
Watch and learn
Make sure you supervise your dog's meals. Pay attention to the manner in which he eats, know how he chews bones or gulps meat. This will help you decide what to feed (and what to stay away from), when to feed, and how to avoid problems in the future.
Scoop poop
It may not sound like fun, but by keeping track of your dog's poo you will be able to spot potential problems before they turn serious. Poo is one of the first indicators of an issue whether digestive, medical, or dietary. General rule of thumb: white, crumbly poo means you fed him too much bone; pudding or black, tarry poo means you fed him too much fat, organs, or too much variety too soon.
*Note*
These are just some general steps to take when starting your dog on a RAW diet. If you have a toy breed, or a dog with medical problems, you may need to make some adjustments to the above. For best results, please email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with more information about your dog.
