Nutrition is perhaps one of the most difficult and doubt – inducing questions for any dog owner. What is right? What is better? What is an absolute must, and what is strictly forbidden? We, as owners, often drown in a sea of articles, myths, and the fear of changing anything because, after all, "we have to do exactly what the books say."
But over the decades, dog nutrition trends have been changing almost as fast as fashion. What was considered absolute truth yesterday is already being questioned today. So, what can we blindly trust?
I want to emphasize right away: I am not a dietitian or an animal nutrition specialist. I am simply sharing my personal experience, observations, and discoveries – how we manage nutrition and what works best in our home.
My girls – Australian Shepherds Arka and Tonga – get almost everything, except for what is strictly forbidden and toxic to dogs. I am constantly learning and reading expert recommendations, but I don't accept them blindly; instead, I adapt them to our individual needs.
The Search for Kibble: Why the Most Expensive Isn't Always the Best
Our Arka has a slightly more sensitive stomach. When we first brought her home, we spent a very long time looking for the right dry food. Like many people, I was convinced that the best choice was as much meat as possible and as few grains as possible. Therefore, we tried a multitude of the most expensive, trendiest lines with high – meat formulas. Unfortunately, the results were not encouraging: the stool volume was obviously too large, and the consistency was runny.
Eventually, we understood the reason – it turns out that in those highly praised, protein-packed foods, the meat content was simply too high for her! Out of desperation, we tried shifting direction and chose a Super Premium class food based on a more moderate meat content and easily digestible grains. And that was our saving grace. This example perfectly proves that the most expensive food filled with an excess of meat won't always suit your pup. By finding this balance, we finally discovered what worked for Arka.
Although their base diet consisted of dry food, we constantly varied it with vegetables, fruits, yogurt, kefir, high-quality wet food, and small amounts of raw meat. Because of this variety, the girls' stomachs were used to different foods and tolerated everything perfectly.
True, it was precisely because of this experience with dry food that I later felt a natural sense of doubt and fear before transitioning to RAW. One thought kept spinning in my mind: "If she needed a lower meat content and grains in her dry food, how will her stomach handle a completely raw diet consisting only of meat and zero grains?"
However, as time showed, all those fears remained just fears. A dog's body digests thermally processed meat in kibble and completely fresh, raw meat in fundamentally different ways. Dry kibble is heated intensely during manufacturing, making such a mass of concentrated proteins a heavy challenge for a sensitive stomach. Meanwhile, raw meat is a dog's natural evolutionary food: it prompts the stomach to secrete an extremely strong acid, in which proteins dissolve almost instantly and are absorbed with nearly 95% efficiency.
That is exactly why natural, raw meat suits a dog's body perfectly and is ideally absorbed – even when you have to look for a lower meat percentage in their dry food doses.
Preparing for Motherhood: How RAW Came into Our Home
Knowing that we were planning a litters, we anticipated what awaited us. During pregnancy, future moms often become extremely picky about food, and everything becomes unappetizing to them. Therefore, we decided to prepare in advance – we didn't want a diet change to become an extreme ordeal during the most sensitive period, which is pregnancy.
So, we decided to introduce RAW (raw meat) feeding even before the girls got pregnant. I must admit, it was a little scary at first; we weren't sure how their bodies would react to a completely raw diet. However, we didn't just jump into this blindly – before starting to feed them, I did some serious homework. First, based on reviews and recommendations, I selected producers who make RAW food properly. Then, of course, I messaged them directly and asked absolutely every question I had: about the transition itself, feeding during pregnancy, future puppy nutrition, and how well-balanced the food actually is. All of this homework was done in advance so that we would have more than just a desire to change things, but also clear information on how to do it correctly and what benefits we would get from it.
Since we knew everything and did it gradually, the transition was easy, safe, and entirely smooth. From the very first portion, the RAW food was literally devoured! And when the actual pregnancy period arrived, we were already at peace, knowing there were no threats to our future moms' appetites.
Breaking Myths: Mixing Kibble and RAW Food
After transitioning to RAW, the dogs ate with great pleasure, but practical inconveniences arose when traveling (fresh meat spoils quickly), and we also wanted a more convenient feeding model for our future puppies.
For years, a myth has circulated that mixing dry and raw food is strictly forbidden. However, we decided to take the risk and adapt their diet to our lifestyle.
Our current recipe:
- Morning: A portion of dry food.
- Evening: A portion of RAW food.
The result exceeded our expectations – no diarrhea, no stomach problems. This model suits us perfectly. Since we are not nutrition experts ourselves and were afraid of incorrectly balancing the proportions of muscle meat, offal, and bones, ready-made solutions made our daily lives much easier. We discovered "Rafus.menu" products, which we love – the selection is large, everything is already professionally balanced and portioned out, so there's no need to overthink it; you just thaw and serve.
A Yard Free of "Landmines" – The Practical Benefits of RAW
Another thing that brings endless joy when feeding raw meat is the stool volume. It might sound very mundane, but when you have your own yard, it's absolutely fantastic!
When feeding only dry food, a fairly large "minefield" would constantly form in the yard. But with the introduction of raw meat, the frequency and volume of bowel movements dropped to a minimum because the body absorbs almost everything. While at first glance this might seem like an insignificant detail, in everyday life, this aspect makes things incredibly easier.
Puppy Nutrition: Preparing Little Stomachs for Variety
The puppies born in our kennel are also accustomed to a mix of dry and raw food right from the start. Why do we do this? We don't want to "tie" future owners to just one type of feeding. When they leave for their new homes, the puppies can eat both options, giving the new owners the freedom to choose what is most convenient for them.
While the little ones are growing up with us, their diet is very varied: they taste vegetables, fruits, yogurt, and cottage cheese. This is how we get them used to it from an early age, ensuring their bodies accept various foods so that no problems arise in the future. We have already sent off several litters this way, and this method has proven to be highly successful.
Weight Control, Endless Appetites, and Treats
When it comes to nutrition, especially when raising Australian Shepherds, another very important aspect is not to overfeed. Like true Aussies, mine are always hungry. If you let them, they would eat more than a day's portion in one sitting. I'll be honest: I still weigh their food to this day.
If the dogs get treats during a walk or training, I always deduct that amount from their main daily food allowance. Extra kilos are harmful not only to humans but also to dogs. Especially for such an agile and active breed, excess weight unnecessarily burdens their joints and internal organs, drastically increasing the risk of injuries and illnesses.
My formula: Love + Food + Smart Exercise (we do everything in moderation).
When it comes to treats, we choose only high-quality, as natural as possible products.
The Final Verdict
Kibble or raw? Maybe you don't always have to choose just one? You can try both! Of course, it is always necessary to evaluate your dog's needs, potential allergies, or food intolerances, and find what works specifically for you.
We found our recipe. My girls get a bit of everything because I want their diet to be complete, rich in fresh products and vitamins, and for their food to bring them true joy in life.