I have been reading about the merits of raw feeding and it seems like a sensible idea.  We don't have a dog yet, hopefully will have a standard poodle puppy in the summer, so i'm just researching.

However i have a question - can one mix raw feeding and kibble/non-raw feeding?  I was hoping to use those dog puzzles (various sorts available) to avoid boredom when i am busy or out (only ever for a few hours at a time, but i'm concerned an unstimulated poodle will wreck my house if not left SOME sort of suitable entertainment) and I hoped to give a proportion of the daily food as rewards during training/play.  I don't really fancy giving raw mince or bones in either situation!  Unless someone can tell me how i can make a pouch full of mince less horrible to use for training (i read something about "liver treats" - are they something one makes from raw liver?)?

So does it work out if one feeds some kibble type foods and some raw?  Or do people use specific sorts of raw food for these sorts of things?

If anyone could refer me to good balanced sites about raw feeding i'd be grateful.  A lot of what google throws up are people saying all kibble is deadly poison and vets saying raw feeding will kill your dog with malnutrition!

Many TIA.

I have only fed 'raw' with our first hound, many moons ago - and even then clearly it wasn't a complete raw diet - I used breast of lamb or offal with terrier meal.    Once we had numbers, and even more because I didn't feel confident enough that I'd get a properly balanced raw diet (it's more than just feeding raw meat), I have always used a good quality complete food.   And fact is the majority of my hounds lived well beyond the norm for the breed.   In any case, from what I've read, mixing raw with a commercial food for different meals, isn't good for the dog.  It should, I understand, be one or the other.    And I don't think I'd be feeding a puppy a raw diet either, unless he is already on one in which case his breeder should help you with what, how much etc.   A lot of vets don't like raw feeding and I suspect this is because very few people know how to feed a properly balanced raw diet.   Plus (cynic in me) vets are paid to promote some commercially made feed!

As for leaving him alone - hopefully you won't be doing this for more than 1 hour (perhaps 2 if your puppy will sleep on) at first.   There is no substitute for his family and once away from siblings and breeder, and everything familiar, any puppy will be bewildered about what's happened to him if he finds himself alone.    You will be tied to home for some time, once you take on the huge needs of a puppy.

ps    A good quality kibble, one that lists meat or fish as the main ingredient, is NOT deadly poison for dogs.   If this were true, that company would soon be out of business

I do wish there wasn't this culture of raw against kibble all the time, both are acceptable foods for dogs and those that feed kibble shouldn't be made to feel they are feeding their dogs poison and are totally responsible for everything bad that happens to it.
I feed kibble and have done for all my dogs as this is what suits us and our rather nomadic lifestyle throughout the year, apart from winter. However I'm happy to give Isla recreational raw bones from time to time and even the odd raw meal. She also has veg and fruit added to the bowl, all of which she enjoys as much as the kibble. Feeding a good quality kibble is fine especially in a busy household where forgetting to get stuff out of the freezer in time is a common problem.

My dogs have been fed raw for almost two years now, since I got Tayo from a breeder who fed raw. My vet had been pushing me to change to raw feeding for several years before this but, as I camp at agility shows in a tent, I was worried it wouldn't work well. They don't have a complicated diet, various minces, chicken wings, sardines, offal and occasionally lamb ribs or fish. Just make sure there is a variety. They appear fit and healthy, competing in agility. For treats during training etc. they just get small quantities of ordinary dog treats. I call this their junk food, everybody should be allowed some. Natures menu, who produce raw food also produce treats that are cooked and so not messy to use.

I have fed raw for 9 years and don't use kibble and wouldn't go back as far as I can imagine. I think raw is much better and healthier and for those reasons wont feed kibble
. There are two schools of thought on the mixing one says no never due to the different digestion rates and the need for the stomach acid to be stronger for digesting raw. This change wont happen properly if you mix the two and may cause prooblems Once you are fully raw the digestive  juices will become naturally more acid mixing the two causes difficulties with this so bone may not be digested as well and fermentation of the kibble can also occur. The other is that many mix raw and kibble successfully and are quite happy with the idea.
I am happy to use odd bits of kibble for training but prefer to use higher value natural or at least more natural  items such as dried liver or other meats, liver cake pilchard cake that sort of thing. Some people once raw wont go near anything that isnt entirely natural. I don't subscribe to that and they do occasionally have some some sausage or cheese as  treats for training
Personally whatever you choose to do I wouldn't leave part of meal with a odd when I am out but to leave items suitable  for chewing such as hooves and  maybe fallow deer antlers as they are softer and  stuffed kongs although the jury is out on the safety of that. mine were crate trained and left with one of the above including a kong with some frozen mince in it. not much  but enough to keep them interested.
I would recommend if you want to feed raw  and are on fb then join a couple of the groups for info.( barf uk, rawfeeding uk ) there are plenty of others too Raw is easy but you do need to understand what you are doing and trying to achieve and how to pick up wihen changes are needed , you need at least 4 proteins , including offal and bone as minimum. Just to say re feeding non raw fed puppies raw. tow of mine were changed within a couple of weeks straight to raw and havnt looked back. my pomx I didn't change for 6 months mainly because people were telling me how fussy and hard to feed they were an dthat they are likely to have hypo attacks through blood sugar lows. 6 months of a fussy dog ,no hypos as it happens, having to hand feed to get her to eat and then I bit the bullet. fussy went at the first meal and now she will eat a chicken carcass along with my 44kg gsd ( size appropriate of course ) If you decide to do raw change as soon as possible. less poo , poo that does smell so much and is easier to clear up are some of the benefits your end. Mamabas you are right about the vets :) once you raw feed you just have to develop a thick skin to deal with it . most vet training on nutrition is minimal

There is no evidence to support that the mixing of kibble and raw would be detrimental to health- as far as I'm aware.

If you wanted to be really strict you could use dehydrated meat treats in interactive toys.

I wouldn't be worried about a bit of kibble whilst you're out, but also remember that ideally you want to be teaching the dog to relax whilst you're not there rather than finding the fun.

My dogs are raw fed and get the best I can give them, they aren't vaccinated and I'm very 'anti-chemical' with them, just to give context to the following....

As far as treats for training.... My dogs compete in sports and my youngest also works in the field. The benefit of high value, varied rewards in my training outweighs the potential unhealthiness of the treats. So if you want to be strict as I say, you can get dehydrated liver, chicken, fish treats etc etc with no grain and added stuff in- or dehydrate your own, or you can be a really bad owner like me who uses cheese, hot dog, kibble, delicious processed stinky garlic sausage and move on with your lives enjoying training :p

> There is no evidence to support that the mixing of kibble and raw would be detrimental to health- as far as I'm aware.<br />

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/04/15/raw-food-diet-part-3.aspx

The information in this article may be helpful?   Note the bit about digestion under GI issues.

As for not being vaccinated (same post) much as I don't do worming unless a fecal says it's needed, if we all stopped vaccinating our puppies, and boostering within the new perameters (3-yearly) I have a feeling those diseases we don't see very often these days, would become commonly seen again.    I would add I have never boostered mine beyond about age 8.

My dogs are titre tested with excellent immunity. It was only an example of one way I try to minimise harmful chemicals going into my dogs, rather than an attempt to start up an anti-vax debate, before I then went on to say that high value rewards may be rubbish but the potential for 'damage' is far outweighed by the drive they create in my dogs.

I changed to raw about 10 months ago after doing LOADS of research into different ways to help my Elkie with inoperable tumours.   I strongly believe it at least kept her fitter (if not extended her life by a few months) & even for an Elkie - food addict lol - vastly increased her pleasure in eating - not to mention the improvement in her teeth, weight and fitness (OK it can't cure cancer ).  
I also changed my small (8kg @ 13 months) x breed pup who'd be about 3-4 months and kibble fed.   He's a fussy eater but, with a lot of support from Barf & Raw Feeding UK I'm now quite chilled about it and he looks great - loads of muscle, lean not thin.  He loves his food, especially green tripe & rabbit, but self-regulates (Don't know about you, but I don't eat exactly the same amount at the same times each day) so some days he doesn't eat so much/will not eat a meal.  This was very worrying for me at first buut, as I've said - it's all working out reallyy well & I know where to go if/when I'm worried.
Talking of being worried  I've had a Papillon puppy for nearly 3 weeks (on Monday) Despite being comfortable with what I'd fed Heidi, and how I'm doing with FuussyPup, I went into panic mode He's the tiniest dog I've ever had too, to add to my insecurities.  I've been on the Fbk groups and again had loads of help - with no criticism/condemnation/sarcasm (well maybe a little-friendly remarks that help me get out of my panic lol).   Anyway, so far he's had tripe, turkey, chicken, lamb, beef, mackeral, duck & trying rabbit tonight.  I'm getting a bit obsessive about giving different proteins lol. I've had him weighed at the vets and his breeder is very happy with his weight gain - he's not fat but gaining well.

Sorry for going on - I just love feeding this way - even if only for the enjoyment they get out of it - sitting in the kitchen listening to them contentedly chomping on a raw meaty bone is such a simple pleasure.  I do strongly believe that it is much healthier for them & building strong immune systems gives them strength to fight off parasites and infections.

agree debbo198 , we are on the same groups :) having got my 3 including shrimp pom xchi the advise on there is great. As for mixed feeding ( sounds like a child lol) there is loads of information about it to read on the internet and most falls into the best not camp. in the end yo have to make your own choce . I did 9 years ago and don't regret a minute. well except meal time has got nosier as they are so excited

FurrieFriends - I'm glad you agree and I'm  not talking complete rubbish.   I've wondered if this  was you - if you know what I mean.    Those groups have just been wonderful.

Lol its me !