I've found halal butchers have good prices too x

well we have done a whole week now!!
yesterday was training day so i didnt feed her before we went and she got through about 100g of chargrilled chicken and a third of a block of cheese while we were there
and later in the evening i gave her about 2/3 of a block of chicken mince (so roughly 300g) with a bit of yoghurt....

this mornings breakfast was tripe

so now we have done a full week i thought i would put up the 'menu' we actually used for the week, as it differs slighlty to my original post

1)
am. 1lb chicken mince
pm. chicken carcass approx 500g
2)
am. 1lb minced green tripe
pm. 1lb minced chicken
3)
am. 1lb minced green tripe
pm. chicken carcass approx 50g
4)
am. 1lb minced chicken
pm. 1lb minced green tripe
5)
am. 1lb minced chicken
pm. chicken carcass approx 500g
6)
am. 1lb minced green tripe
pm. 425g tinned pilchards in tom sauce + whole raw egg
7)
am. 1lb minced chicken
pm. cooked chicken and cheese training treats + 300g minced chicken

things i have noticed since going for it.....
she seems a lot more 'content' sometimes she reminded me of a drug addict that was rattling!! lol like she couldnt sit still, NEEDED to cause mischief somehow!! but lately she seems just as content to sprawl out on the couch and have a cuddle
she enjoys EVERY SINGLE MEAL while on kibble, sometimes you could see she was eating it purely to survive, now she eats it with enthusiasm and thoroughly enjoys every mouthful
her ears....she has always had quite 'gunky' ears, not anymore they seem a lot cleaner and healthier looking

and the best bit???? THE POOOOOOOOO!!!! ha ha they remind me of large rabbit todds firm and at least half the size of kibble poop, and doesnt smell anywhere near as bad

soooo tonight we have a carcass in the fridge that needs eating so she will be having that for tea, then we'll have a boneless day tomorrow and then the turkey necks are coming out i will keep you updated, wether you like it or not

__________________

not updated for a few days so....
yesterday was supposed to be bone free day but due to me not keeping an eye on what was left in freezer i realised there was no chicken mince left in there, so she had tripe for brekkie and got introduced to turkey necks a day early
poop seemed normal this morning so hopefully turkey necks agree with her!

tripe again for breakfast, and i need to go to my SIL and restock my freezer so she can have a few bone free days i think

__________________

ok so i have neglected my diary a little bit had some issues at home last week, split up with the OH so been a bit preoccupied.

Kiva is still on the raw though and not concentrating on it as much as i had been has actually helped in as much that i am a lot more comfortable just giving her whatever is close at hand, without stressing too much about weights, ratios etc etc

her second week menu was pretty much the same as her first week other than turkey necks a couple of times instead of chicken carcass, she seemed to deal with them with no problems so thats the first introduction under our belt

yesterday was a bit of a weird day and without thinking too much i gave her one of the lamb bones for her tea she absolutely loved it and, fingers crossed, we have had no bum explosions ha ha
so along with the turkeys necks, she has also had one pork bone and one lamb bone over the last few weeks, it would seem with no ill effects.

we are on a bone free day today so she had tripe for brekkie and will be having chicken mince for tea, then tomorrow i think i may give her another lamb bone (a nice juicy ribby looking one ) and see if she deals with another one ok.

i am going to leave it another few weeks before i introduce any offal? and concentrate on getting the pork, lamb and turkey firmly on the go first

she has put a little weight on, but this last week or so i have been a bad mummy and not walked her as often but we are back in the swing of it now so i will give it another week and if she still seems to be putting weight on i will reduce her food.

soooo after 2 weeks my top tips would be...
freezer space!!!! sort it out before you order anything! the order i got filled 6 full sized freezer drawers and a fridge veg drawer
take it slowly it has been so tempting over the last 2 weeks to just throw her a trotter or a lamb bone, and although she has had a pork bone and a lamb bone she has only had 1 of each and that was at the end of week 1 and then the end of week 2.

but most importantly RELAX!!!!!!! honestly i have been researching this for months and months and months and turned my head to mush thinking, worrying etc.........ITS REALLY NOT THAT HARD

instead of trying to take everything in at once, start with the basics and take it a day at a time. tackle hurdles as they arise instead of trying to foresee them

and lastly, Kiva....she is bright as a button but cool as a cucumber! honestly there have been days over this last week where i have just wanted to do nothing but lounge on the couch and she has been perfectly happy to do that with me! bearing in mind we are talking about an 8 month old GSD here honestly, she is just so chilled out!

__________________

So sorry to hear about you and your OH splitting up. But from the rest of your post I guess it's not so bad?

__________________

Thank you but no it's not so bad, been coming for a while so although I miss the whole 'having someone there' and what we used to have, it is being outweighed by the reality of what we had and knowing I deserved better

And.......I still have my dog lol

__________________

She had tinned sardines and a raw egg for tea last night one of her favourites

we had a half firm and half mr whippy poop this morning, but i am putting that down to the pizza slice she nicked off my dozy teenagers plate last night!! she thoroughly enjoyed running into the garden and scoffing it, but i dont think her digestive system was as excited

so chicken mince for breakfast today, and them lamb ribs? for tea tonight, i may even take a pic for you all ha ha

__________________

Well this is what Kiva was doing while the advert for bakers (with noises for your dog) was on the tv tonight





Bakers?????? Pfffft ha ha

It looks like a chunk of lamb spine? But whatever it is she has been chomping for about 20 mins and still a fair bit to go! Been to 'junior playgroup' tonight too so I think she will be one chilled puppy this evening

__________________

Tripe for breakfast and chicken mince for tea today

Her poop was lovely and firm this morning, but then she had another small one on our walk that was a little 'kibble fed' like ha ha not runny but squishy? I am going to give her another lamb bone tomorrow I think and then see how her poop is the day after, maybe it was just because it was new?

Anyway, another bonus i have noticed......she is looking shiiiiiny and to say she is in dire need of a good scrub she doesn't really smell doggy

__________________

Aw glad it's all going well for her - and welcome to the poo-inspectors club!