Plus Shank

Questions for raw feeders...?

I would like to switch my dog to raw feeding and have a few questions. I've done a bunch of reading but i wanted to hear from actual raw feeders and many sites are giving different information and don't have an actual answer to the basics:

I've heard of gradual swap and "cold turkey" swap when changing from kibble to raw: which is best? And which is the best meats to start with - chicken, pork, beef? When do i add organs? How much and what would i feed my 18 pound schnauzer/poodle mix - leg, shank (i've heard NO necks)?

Plus where should i get my meat (taking into mind there are NO butcher shops, as such, within an hour of me - just grocery stores and wal marts?)

Cold turkey swap = The best.

Chicken is by far the best to switch on. Warning: You will get loose/soft stools for 3-6 days in general.

Don't add organs for a week or two, they won't suffer any vitamin deficiencies in that short amount of time. As far as not feeding chicken necks, that's the number 1 food in my kennel, for every dog 8 weeks and older. I've NEVER had a problem, although my adult chow hounds swallow them whole, but an 18 pound dog will probably have to chew. Besides, dogs are "designed" (naturally selected rather) to tear flesh into swallowable chunks and knock it back, NOT to chew and grind thoroughly. For a dog that size you'd need to feed exactly .54 pounds I'd round down to half a pound, if the dog loses weight, feed more, gains weight, feed less...I don't even weigh food anymore. Not hard to tell if you're feeding too much/too little, lol.

I order my food from a restaurant supply and have it delivered to my office. A lot of times I go grocery shopping for my house dogs, probably 80% of their food comes from Deimer's Grocery

Lastly don't over think it. You'll be fine

First pic: about a 20lbs pup eating a neck, no big deal as you can see.

Last pic: The little white specks on the crate floor = pieces of raw eggshell, great reason to feed them inside the crate!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45507559@N03/4275686823/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45507559@N03/4260453082/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45507559@N03/4260452850/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45507559@N03/4193579841/

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