I am so glad to have seen so much interest on how we started on a raw/real food diet for our German Shepherd Dog.

It seems many of us can relate to health problems we have encountered while feeding our dogs dried processed dog food.  It was also amazing to read many recovery stories and complete turn of health by starting our dogs on raw/real food.

For me, feeding Boaz in this way helps me reflect on my own diet and what I’m feeding my family and how I can improve upon that as well.

In part 2 of a raw food, real food diet for our German Shepherd Dog, I’d like to share with you what I feed Boaz.  One thing I’d like to stress again and again is that this is what’s working for my dog.  He is 8 years old, so an older dog, and I was told he may have cancer.  Knowing this, I knew I had to focus on his bone health and at the same time stay away from all sugars and grains as cancer can feed on both of these.

I have taken bits and pieces and combined both a BARF raw diet with elements of the Weston Price Foundation Diet.

It’s been truly amazing to see him turn a 180 when feeding him foods God has intended for us to eat.

Boaz’s Diet

Since Boaz is an older, large breed dog, I feed him nourishing bone broth nearly every day. I want to make sure he’s getting the glucosamine, chondroitin and minerals extracted from the bones.

I also make sure to feed Boaz raw organ meats 2-3 times a week.  Organ meats contain nearly every nutrient including B vitamins, folic acid, minerals like phosphorus, iron, copper, magnesium and iodine. They also provide the important fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K.

Also important is making sure that Boaz is getting vegetables into his diet.  Every week in his own batch of broth, I include vegetables with dark leafy greens which he devours.

The calcium in his diet is coming from the raw beef and chicken bones and fermented dairy of yogurt and cottage cheese. (When feeding dogs bones, make sure they are always raw.  Never feed your dog cooked bones of any kind as they can splinter and cause intestinal problems.)

For his essential fatty acids, I give Boaz a teaspoon every day of fermented cod liver oil and cold pressed flaxseed oil.

Boaz’s diet consists of the following:

• chicken organ meats and necks
• beef liver
• raw chicken legs and thighs
• homemade beef and chicken broth
• cooked chicken
• cooked vegetables (carrots, celery, turnips, fennel, potatoes, kale, spinach, parsley)
• meaty soup bones
• grassfed “dog” bones
• homemade yogurt
• cottage cheese
• raw eggs
• cod liver oil
• flax seed oil

I wish I could say that all of the chicken and organ meats are from pastured animals. Unfortunately, it’s not. Since our farmers market hasn’t started yet this season, I’ve been unable to speak to different families to see if we could work something out.  As soon as the season starts, I do want to see if I can get some of these organ meats at a cost that will work for our family.

At this point, I purchase a “cage-free” whole chicken from Wal-Mart once a week at around $7 per chicken.

I purchase all of his organ meats at our local Mexican Grocer.  I enjoy shopping here because you can find every kind of organ meat behind the counter and if you speak Spanish, someone who can help you right away.  Every other week I buy three pounds of chicken organ meats (hearts, liver, gizzards) including the necks and two pounds of beef liver. I have them separate the chicken organs into three, one pound packages which come to about $1.50 per package.  The beef liver comes to about $1.50 per pound.

Although I wish these things were from family farmers, I think the benefits of even industrial raw food is currently doing my dog much better than dried processed kibble.

Boaz’s Day to Day

*Update – As of 12/16/2012 – We have increased the amount of food Boaz is eating.  It still consists of the same food, just in larger amounts.

Below is a sample menu of what I feed Boaz throughout the week.  I feed him about 2lbs of food once per day.  Once we get into the summer and he’s more active, I’ll keep an eye on his weight and adjust to his needs.

On one day early in the week, I cut the legs, thighs and wings off the whole chicken.

Boaz will eat that raw.  I then use the breasts and back of the chicken to make his broth, cooked chicken, and vegetables for the rest of the week.

His menu changes weekly as to what I feed him on which day and what vegetables I include in his broth, however, it should give you a general idea of how I feed my dog.

Sunday

• 1lb chicken organ meats
• 2 raw eggs
• 3-4 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup homemade yogurt
• 1 teaspoon cod liver oil
• 1 teaspoon flaxseed oil

Monday

• 1lb raw beef liver
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 3-4 cups beef broth
• 2 raw eggs
• 1 teaspoon cod liver oil
• 1 teaspoon flaxseed oil

Tuesday

• Raw chicken legs, thighs and wings including organ meats that came with whole chicken.
• 1 teaspoon cod liver oil
• 1 teaspoon flaxseed oil

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

• Full dog bowl of cooked chicken, vegetables and broth
• 1 teaspoon cod liver oil
• 1 teaspoon flaxseed oil

Saturday

• Raw meaty soup bones
• 1 teaspoon cod liver oil
• 1 teaspoon flaxseed oil

Throughout the week, I’ll also give him dog bones to snack on.  At $1 per 5lbs of grassfed dog bones… not bad!

I want to guess that we’re probably spending around $10-$12 per week on his food.  His vegetables comes from food that I’m already buying for my own family.  His yogurt and cottage cheese is also from what I’m already making for my family.

I may start clabbering some raw milk for him and making his own small batch of cottage cheese.

Tips for Saving Money to Feed Your Dog Raw/Real Food

• Talk to family farmers.  Many are throwing soup bones, tongues, and organ meats out.  You may score a deal!
• Visit your local Mexican market.  You’ll find better varieties on organ meats usually at lower prices.
• If you live in rural areas, visit a local meat locker.  They’ll usually give you large meaty bone scraps for free.  I was given at least 50lbs over the winter.
• Save your veggie scraps and put them into your broth for dog food.  One thing… don’t feed your dogs onions or garlic.  It’s not good for them.

This is what I feed my dog.  Again, he’s a large breed older dog with giant teeth that can gnarl through any bone.  If you have smaller or younger dogs you’ll have to make adjustments as to what they can and cannot eat.

This is what’s working for us now and my hope is that by visually seeing how I feed my dog, it will give you confidence and take away some of those un-necessary fears.

Resources on feeding your dog a raw/real food diet

Does this look similar to how you feed your dog?  Please share or ask any questions in the comments below.