Are you just beginning to research the BARF diet for dogs – also known as “bones and raw food” or the raw diet? It can be confusing – I remember asking many questions when I started. How do you know how much to feed? What do you eat? Can you mix the BARF diet with processed foods? How long does it take to prepare raw foods? What does it cost to buy all the BARF products necessary? If you feed raw meat and vegetables? Well, the last question, only you can decide what is right for your dog, but I’ll answer the rest of your questions as best you can.

How do you know how much to feed?

In fact, depends on the weight of your dog. Most people recommend 2.5% of their body weight. Just make sure you know the weight of your dog before you start, and then watch their weight and adjust depending on whether you win / lose / maintain.

What do you eat?

Raw meaty bones like chicken necks and backs, for example. Beef bones are not. Organ meats, the lungs, liver, kidneys, etc. Some people also include raw vegetables.

Can you mix the BARF diet with processed foods?

It is recommended that processed food, or kibble, is digested in 10-12 hours, and raw foods at around 4-6. This can lead to serious health problems. That said, some people do it quite successfully – but I would not.

How long does it take to prepare raw foods?

If you buy ready-made for your dog BARF, just take the time to defrost and put on your plate. If you prefer the DIY (do it yourself) method, that depends on what you’re serving and how many dogs. Most people recommend pre-packing, once a week in the required portion size for your dog. You could probably safely count one and a half per dog, less if you can get your butcher to cut some for you.

What does it cost to buy all the BARF products necessary?

This also depends on whether you go with the DIY or buying packaged foods. DIY usually requires bargain hunting and can be time consuming. What I prefer to do (with only 2 dogs) is to buy my pre-packaged BARF from a reputable company and serve. It may be more expensive, but with our busy lives, I do not mind paying a little more money.