Oh for sure, Swarthy, I aint having a go, lol! I know what I believe and have long declined 'shoving it down folks necks' as the 'best' way to feed. If people ask I am willing to share and help. But as I do keep saying, I am also a firm believer in freedom of choice. I also know that to feed raw properly and safely you need knowledgeo f a dogs nutritional needs and a dogs digestive system too - it aint as simple as popping down the supermarket and buying a couple of chickens, lol!

__________________
Fere libenter hormines id quod volunt credunt

Very interesting thread. i am due my first litter this week and I raw feed my bitch. I am struggling with how to wean as I am well aware that probably the majority of buyers will not feed raw and I worry about the pups' transition from raw to kibble.

I tell people if they wanna change, they do it gradually, over a week or more. TBH, you might be surprised at the amount of people who will wanna continue doing what you have done - I would hazard a rough guess that more than 80% of my buyers still feed raw

I tell them to ring us about anything at all - including changing the diet - that way you are kept in the loop and can advise accordingly.

__________________
Fere libenter hormines id quod volunt credunt

Swarthy -
No she can't eat kibble!!!!! Ziwi peak is effectively dehydrated raw and she tolerates that fine (she's eaten it maybe 3 times) I don't what it is in the kibble but 1 and she is a very sick dog why anyone would want to risk that I do not know. She came to me on RC and was sick as anything how her 'breeder' didn't notice god only knows but raw fixed everything and I am a firm believer in it's because it's what she is designed to eat. I won't choke people with my beliefs but I don't appreciate being told I should wean onto kibble I have asked what people use merely out of interest.

I would always stay in contact with puppy buyers if they want to and would always be there for advice whether it be nutritionally or breed related. If they change that's their prerogative I'm not going to go knocking their door down, one would hope they see the positive differences.

I am well aware that raw fed wrong can make dogs very sick. I'm not a new raw feeder btw... I am well aware of dogs digestive tracts, the percentages and how it doesn't always work the same for each individual dog. I have had to tailor things to my dogs. Bacteria etc. Rather than assuming I'm an amateur because I asked a question out of interest maybe it would of been better to ask why I asked the question?? The reply would of been because I'm nosey and might find new ideas. People learn something new every single day. No one knows everything.

I was merely asking a question I didn't expect oh no don't wean pups onto raw etc I didn't shoot anyone down I just said I didn't expect the thread to become a kibble vs raw arguement.

I've never once said that kibble feeders don't care about their dogs!! Who am I to judge?? I don't know what people do and frankly as long as they are healthy, loved and have a roof over their head I'm happy. It's not my business anyway.

__________________

Www.heychihuahuas.com

Just a quick note inbetween dashing about, both my chocolate girls came from a breeder who raw fed, and the reason she didn't/doesn't wean on to raw, was to make life easier for those who wanted to feed kibble. Most dogs I know are keener to eat raw than kibble, so it may be making life that little bit more difficult for a fussy pup, who will turn their nose up at bland dry biscuits, and wait for new owners to tear their hair out in frustration before giving in and offering a chicken wing. Then you've got the job of ensuring that puppy buyer is going to raw feed properly, and not just give them trays of chicken wings, and that's if they even tell you what they're feeding or you happen to be as nosey as I'm likely to be if I ever breed, and subject them to the spanish inquisition about how the pup is, how's it eating, what's it eating etc, etc.

I hear your points, and this is why I give five pages of feeding info in my puppy pack, explaining the whys and wherefores, as I explain verbally too, and show them visually the food and feeds when they visit. We also encourage lots of follow-up contact and always ask about diet and feeding, even if they dont. I still have one owner, nearly 4 yrs down the line asking questions now and then about raw feeding, lol! some owners really take it seriously and educate themselves thoughrily and begin to tweak things to suit themselves, I have no problems with that. Others simply choose to follow our feeding guide for life, without really learning anything further, no problems really, I cant force people to learn, one owner laminated my info and has it hanging up on the back of a kitchen cupboard door, lol! We were surprised actually, at just how many owners do continue to feed raw. Anyone changing to complete that has had problems, we have tried to help and advise how to do it and its generally worked, even though it goes against what I believe in, I am obliged to help my buyers and I do so.

You could say that folks who feed omplete do it blindly at times, feeding whatever is on offer at the supermarket etc, putting all their trust into a manufacturer who promises that the food contains everything the dogs needs on a daily basis, while those with a bit more knowledge know that isnt always the case either.

I am not having a go at anyone here, each to their own, pros and cons to any feeding regime, feed what you like - its your dog

__________________
Fere libenter hormines id quod volunt credunt

All my pups are weaned onto Royal Canin, they all have lovely shiny coats and good firm poo's they also have raw minced beef/tripe/chicken wings....by doing this I am giving their new owners the option of what to feed, rather than saying 'if you don't feed RC you can't have one of my pups'

If I didn't feed raw i'd go for a top quality kibble and wet food combined. What I hate to see though are the many people who walk around the supermarket with Bakers/Iams/Webbox in their trollys - I know I wouldn't be wrong in saying what I feed is far superior to those brands but I have nothing against other ways of feeding as long as it isn't going into my dogs as I personally prefer a raw diet, as I did for the pups too.

I agree with Ceearott in as much as many people tend to stick with raw as long as they have the information and support to hand and just looking at the amount of people who have switched to raw on here since I have been a member is quite extraordinary.

__________________

Flynn - Kali - Britches - Bruce - T-Bo - Marty



"For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack"