I have been using Oscars Large Breed Growth for my 6 month old Briard puppy, but am not completely happy with it as my puppy has developed very dry flaky skin. It is wheat and gluten free. As you cant buy it in the shops I was hoping that someone on the forum knows just how good or bad it is. He was weaned on JWB, but was always very loose. I have wanted to change his food for a while now and have researched different ones, but the choice is endless! The other possibility is going BARF, but this will take much more research. I have the book Grow your Pups with Bones, and have read it but it frightens me incase I get it wrong. His breeder feeds raw only and swears by it, and I do mix some raw freeflow into his meal, but that is as far as I have taken it. Any advice appreciated.

Julia

Hi Julia
You will see if you read my post 'Denes Option complete food' that I too am having a similar problem. I also don't want to get the raw feeding wrong as I am inexperienced in this field, but I'm sure that a lot of helpful CDer's will keep us on the right track so we don't let our dogs miss out on the essential elements in their diets:-)
I'd be interested how you get on if you do go onto the raw food diet, as I am trying it out, but as I said, very tentatively where the raw chicken bones are concerned.
Good Luck
Anne

Hi both of you ...raw is only daunting till you've tried it lol.If you do a search on here for barf or raw you will find loads of ideas...but its NOT a science...everyone has their own ideas and ways of doing things...but none of our dogs have died from it yet!:d
If you're wary od bones you can feed minced chicken or lamb that contains bone.... but your dogs will love you if you go for the real thing!!
Archer

Barney has been having complete and natures menu frozen, raw freeflow since he was weaned. His breeders only feed a raw diet. He had chicken wings from 6 weeks, but I only did that a couple of times after I got him home. My main concern is that my children are small, and with raw chicken around, that worries me! My mum's Briard has just survived bloat and is fed purely complete food, and being a deep chested breed and am now worried about Barney (I am assuming that the risks are reduced with the Barf diet?). Such a dielmma! Will have to read Grow your Pups with Bones again.

I too was very aprehensive about feeding completely raw, not about the raw product, but my ability to get the balance right. But Bailey had really sensitive skin and I was also about to wean my pups, so took the plunge completely.  Within 3 weeks Bailey skin had de-sensitized and pups were sucking raw meat rolled into balls from my fingers, and watching them having bare-knuckle fights with a chicken wing was hilarious.  All my dogs are thriving well on raw.  I have to admit the pups are slower growing and seem more balanced than Tia and Bailey, who on complete, reached their full adult height and weight at just over 5 months. IMO this is too much too quickly.  I am more pleased with the pups development than I have been with any of my other dogs. I do understand that you feel there is a risk of bacteria but, if you yourself are having chicken and are thawing it from frozen you would still have the same bacteria on surfaces, hands etc. Simple good hygene applies in all cases. I have read 3 books on the subject, but it has been Tohme's endless advice to people that has made it plain sailing for me :D

Hope you don't mind Julia, I'm going to tag onto your thread, as we are going for the same thing.
I don't have any children around anymore, he's 21 LOL, so thats not my concern. Its the fact of feeding chicken bones, albeit they are raw, its just getting my head around that they are safe to give. I know when I have given them they do actually get crunched up a lot before they are swallowed, so that must tell me they are fairly soft really.
I'm pleased with the way things are going so far today though, with the scratching. she hasn't been nearly as bad today, as she has been. So thats good.
Soooo, am I right that I can give any bones, even chop bones, as long as they are raw?
Thanks Anne

I have fed all of my dogs, including my Briard, on BARF,  for a very long time and the difference in coat, skin and temperement was remarkable.

He has tripe for his breakfast and one of the many other options for his dinner. I like to vary his diet. (not that he cares :D)  Chicken wings and raw chicken in general, do not last long enough to ever be a health hazard in this house ;) Could you not feed him outside with the chicken or somewhere that is easy to wipe round? The one thing that I had to be careful of when he was very young was lambs kidney/liver as they gave him the squits. So I introduced them a little at a time when he was a bit older. My mistake totally. We call him iron guts now.

My breeder also feeds raw and it was never an option for me to feed any other way. Diet is also a contributing factor to behaviour so it may well be good to swap and moniter the difference. I also steam some vegetables for him and he has these about 3/4 times a week. Oily fish is also very good for dry flakey skin, I feed about twice a week.  I have a freezer that is only for the dogs and that is where all of their food goes when I buy it from the butcher/wholesaler and also the steamed veg. It saves me having to go out every day and buy it and is a real convenience to me.

I wouldn't personally mix anything else in with a complete dog food as it alters the balance. An all in one is meant to be just that. You could start introducing a little, say, as a snack and then when you are confident build it up if you are happy you are going the right way.

Barf is looking promising at the moment. I agree that the complete food should be fed alone, and the fact that this does not seem right to me (I cant bring myself to feed just dry kibble) means only one thing. I do reduce the amount of kibble each meal as I am adding extras. He is lovely and lean (albeit 27kg at 6 months) so I am confident that I am not overfeeding him. Anyway, I have been searching for suppliers, but still have lots of the freeflow natures menu in the freezer. Barney had a nice raw chicken wing this morning and gobbled it up within a couple of minutes so I know he will love the diet. I really just need to get my head around it as I dont think, should there be any problems, that I will get much support from my vet (they seem not to advocate raw feeding). Im sure that the breeder and people on this site will help with any teething problems I have. One other concern is supplementing (vits and minerals etc..). I know some people do and others dont. Just how important is this?

Julia

Hi,
I am afraid I had a different experience when feeding raw and natural diet, my little dog become very poorly and most of her coat fell out.  The vet discovered she had a terrible vitamin defiency, I added keepers mix and limestone flour and I think something else but it still happened.
Put her back on a complete food plus vit tabs on advise by the vet and she has not looked back,  Her coat is lovely and she looking lovely.
She does have severe food intolerances and is now on Wafcol Salmon and Potatoe and doing very well too, doesn't need the extra vits anymore either.
I know it works for many but do beware it is not suitable for all dogs.

bev

Bevb  i would be very interested to hear exactly what you fed your dog to get a reaction like you explained,Like everyone has said feeding raw is not rocket science but neither is it throwing just some meat into their bowl.Feeding home prepared food gives us the options and choices to feed *exactly* what we want plus a huge *variety*.
Yours is the first negative experience i have heard from someone feeding barf(uggh i hate that word,so last decade!!) It is usually the opposite unless there was a serious definciency in the diet that the owner had overlooked  :(

Hi Rose,
I varied the meats and it could be chicken wings, fish, tripe, liver etc.  I  added a mixture of different veg, some wholemeal mixer.
Then also gave keepers mix, a little limestone flour and garlic. Twice a week i would also add a little Safflower oil, sure there was something else too but for the life of me can't remember.

Bev