Hiya, me again, i kind of started this in the behaviour section (sorry!), but would love to know what to feed our puppy which we get tomorrow to start her on her BARF diet and make sure she gets what she needs. The breeder has been feeding her four times a day with Iams or James Wellbeloved mixed with cooked minced beef or turkey and for one of their meals she's given them tinned ricepudding (no idea why). what is safe for puppies and what will make him grow properly (i know that iams and suchlike often cause erratic growth patterns (particularly with large dogs such as a leonberger like we are getting) so its important we get it right.

Would love some advice!!
thanks.

This is part of the information I give my puppy buyers when the pups leave - obviously I have already discussed the diet with them and most have bought books and/or studied for it before collecting their pups.  It may give you some ideas
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As you know your puppy is being fed a raw diet with four meals a day, no grains, cereals or cooked feeds have been given at all.   The aim of this is to cut down on the risk of cancers, skin and stomach problems, allergies and growth problems with bones during those early months when growth is so fast.  Keep your Dobermann on the slim side, it is better for a pup to grow slowly than to grow fast and fat.

Your puppy is being fed the following (and should remain on this for at least 2 weeks to lessen the risk of stomach upsets) If your puppy does get an upset stomach then skip one meal completely, give half for the next meal and see how pup is.  Often if you are feeding too much this will result in loose stools, just reduce amount a little.  If you ever see blood in stools then contact vet and take sample with you.

So far the meals have consisted of 4 meals a day (approx 8, 12, 4 and 8pm) and have consisted of two bone (known as RMB - raw meaty bone) meals and two mince/mince and veg meals per day.
1 chicken carcass OR 2 chicken wings OR AMP Turkey neck pieces OR Breast of lamb(with bones - get butcher to chop into about 5-6 oz portions for you)
AND
Approx 5 oz AMP mince with fruit/ vegetables OR approx 5 oz AMP Prize Choice mince (a raw egg can be added to this two or three times a week) OR Mince with pureed vegetables (if you do these in a liquidizer then remember to add water to aid the motor!)
AND
Also give liver/ heart/ tripe/ fish on at least a weekly basis - the books on raw feeding and the email groups give more information on this diet - these can all be added to the mince

The bone meals add the necessary calcium for bone growth and also have the added bonus of keeping teeth and gums healthy. To digest veg it needs to be pureed but whole carrots etc can be given as treats.  Your Dobermann will also eat anything it can scavenge  (or catch) whilst out - this is a quite normal, if unsavory to human, practice.

Give 4 meals a day until 14 - 16 weeks (when pup starts consistently missing one meal - add extra to other meals)
Give 3 meals a day until around 6 months
Give 2 meals a day for the rest of life or until old age dictates more
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Please do not start a new thread everytime you wish to comment. You already have a active thread on BARF.