RAW FEEDING FOR BEGINNERS
Raw feeding made simple
New to raw feeding? You don't need to work everything out on your own. Tell us about your dog and we'll help you understand how much to feed, which complete raw foods suit them and how to get started.
Start with the basics
Choose complete raw meals
Complete meals are the easiest place to start. They are made to be fed as a balanced everyday meal, so you are not piecing a diet together yourself on day one.
Know how much to feed
How much raw food a dog needs depends on the dog. Weight, age, body condition and activity all play a part, so it is worth getting a starting amount that is based on yours.
Keep the change simple
Settle into a routine that suits your dog and your week, then adjust as you see how they get on. Small, calm changes work better than a complicated plan.
What does complete raw dog food mean?
Complete raw dog food is made to be fed as a meal on its own. The balance of meat, bone and offal is already taken care of inside the product, so you can serve it as your dog's everyday food without adding anything else.
Complementary mince is different. It is designed to form part of a wider diet rather than the whole meal, so it suits people who are already confident building meals themselves. If you are just starting out, complete meals keep things simple.
How much raw food should I feed my dog?
There is no single number that works for every dog. Weight, age, body condition and how active they are all change how much food they need, and two dogs of the same size can be quite different.
The quickest way to get a sensible starting point is our personalised plan. Answer a few questions about your dog and it suggests a daily amount along with complete raw foods that suit them. It is a starting point rather than veterinary advice, so keep an eye on your dog's condition and adjust as needed.
Changing your dog to raw food
Most owners make the change straightforwardly: pick a complete raw food, feed a consistent amount at regular times and watch how your dog settles. Some prefer to ease across over a few days. Either way, keeping meals simple at the start makes it easier to see what suits them.
If your dog has a medical condition, is on a prescription diet, has a history of pancreatitis or significant digestive disease, or has any other special dietary needs, speak to your vet before changing their food.
Puppies can be fed raw too, and they generally eat more relative to their size while they are growing. See our puppy raw food range.
Storing and defrosting frozen raw dog food
Keep frozen raw dog food in the freezer until you need it. Defrost each meal in the fridge rather than at room temperature, follow the instructions on the pack and use it within the time stated there.
Treat it like any other raw meat in the kitchen: wash your hands, your dog's bowl and any surfaces or utensils after handling it.
Why start with Raw Dogs Dorset?
- Family-run Dorset business
- Two Dorset locations
- UK-sourced ingredients
- Local refrigerated delivery
- Nationwide frozen delivery
- Real raw-feeding support
Raw feeding for beginners: common questions
Ready to build their first raw plan?
Answer a few questions about your dog and we'll suggest how much to feed and which complete raw foods to start with.