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Two Paths, One Goal: Raw Feeding Choices

Raising Healthier Pets Through Raw Nutrition

Raw feeding isn’t one‑size‑fits‑all. Families come to it with different lifestyles, budgets, and philosophies — but they all share the same intention: to give their pets the most natural, biologically appropriate nutrition possible. At our store, we see two main types of raw feeders, and both approaches offer meaningful benefits. Whether you’re all‑in or easing your way into raw, every step toward fresh, species‑appropriate food makes a difference.

 

1. The All‑In Raw Feeders: 100% Species‑Appropriate Nutrition

These families commit fully to a raw lifestyle — no kibble, no canned food, no processed treats. Their pets thrive on a diet built entirely around fresh meat, organs, bone, and natural moisture. This group often chooses raw because they’ve seen the dramatic improvements firsthand: better digestion, cleaner teeth, calmer behavior, shinier coats, and fewer vet visits.

Feeding With Intention

All‑in raw feeders follow structured feeding guidelines based on:

  • Body weight

  • Age

  • Breed

  • Activity level

  • Health conditions

They understand that dogs and cats need balanced ratios to thrive. Many follow:

  • PMR (Prey Model Raw) — the classic 80/10/10 ratio of meat, bone, and organs

  • BARF or “Facultative Raw” — raw meat plus small amounts of produce, eggs, or supplements

  • Commercial complete raw diets — where all the calculations are done for them

This approach mirrors nature as closely as possible. It’s simple, clean, and biologically aligned — and for many families, it becomes a lifestyle they never want to leave behind.

Supplemental Raw Pet Food Diet

2. The Supplemental Raw Feeders: Blending Raw With Everyday Convenience

Not every family can commit to 100% raw — and that’s perfectly okay. Supplemental raw feeders combine raw with kibble or wet food in a way that fits their budget and routine. Their goal is to elevate their pet’s nutrition without overwhelming their schedule or finances.

Flexible Feeding, Real Results

Supplemental raw feeders might:

  • Serve kibble in the morning and raw at night

  • Mix raw toppers into dry or wet food

  • Dedicate certain days to all‑raw meals

  • Use raw treats to boost nutrition without changing the whole diet

  • Add freeze‑dried raw for convenience and travel

Even partial raw feeding delivers meaningful benefits:

  • Better hydration

  • Improved digestion

  • Higher protein intake

  • Reduced filler consumption

  • More natural enzymes and amino acids

These families prove that raw feeding doesn’t have to be all or nothing — every bit of fresh food counts.

There’s a saying. If you want someone to love you forever, buy a dog, feed it and keep it around. OLIVER SANDERO

Why Both Approaches Matter

There is no “right” or “wrong” way to feed raw — only what works best for your family and your pet. Some thrive on the structure and purity of a full raw diet. Others find balance in blending raw with processed foods. What matters most is intention: choosing real, species‑appropriate nutrition whenever possible.

Both approaches:

  • Improve overall health

  • Reduce reliance on processed ingredients

  • Support better digestion and hydration

  • Deliver more bioavailable nutrients

  • Help pets thrive at any age

Raw feeding is a journey, not a competition. Whether you’re fully committed or simply supplementing, you’re giving your pet something priceless: food that honors their biology.

 

The Bottom Line: Raw Feeding Meets Families Where They Are

Raw feeding isn’t about perfection — it’s about progress. Some families jump in with both feet. Others take a gradual, budget‑friendly approach. Both paths lead to healthier pets, happier households, and a deeper understanding of what real nutrition looks like.

No matter how you choose to feed raw, you’re moving toward a diet that supports:

  • Stronger immune systems

  • Better digestion

  • Cleaner teeth

  • Healthier skin and coats

  • More stable energy

  • Longer, happier lives

And that’s what truly matters.

Transitioning Your Pet to a Raw Pet Food Diet

Whether your pup is a mile-a-minute, hyperactive Energizer battery on four legs or they just can’t handle those car rides or unexpected visitors, getting them to calm down is an invaluable skill. Keeping or getting your dog calm has many benefits, such as preventing possible accidents, fear-related behaviors, and reducing blood pressure. When a dog is going full force, they risk the possibility of running into traffic, disobeying, or otherwise getting hurt. Hyperactivity isn’t only a young dog issue; it can continue well into adult years. Some dog breeds are more energetic than others, so keep that in mind if you’re faced with a choice.

Dogs that are anxious or nervous run the risk of fear-biting or other dog fights, or just going through that terrible nervous feeling that elevates stress and that none of us appreciate. Anxiety can be something that a dog is born with or something that comes on due to an event in their life. Either way, learning how to calm them down will help them feel better.

Provide a Safe Spot

Few things feel better to a dog when they’re overwhelmed with excitement or anxiety than a dark, quiet spot. It helps remove distractions so your dog can focus on the task at hand. It also removes those scary or frightening stimuli to allow heart rates and blood pressures to drop. For dogs that are chronically anxious or hyperactive, try to keep that safe spot the same. Don’t switch it up each time they have to go there or it won’t feel comforting to them. Make it a kennel or a small room that they can access on their own if needed.
There’s a saying. If you want someone to love you forever, buy a dog, feed it and keep it around. OLIVER SANDERO

Train Them to Settle and Focus

All dogs perform better when they have a job. Sometimes that job can be as simple as listening and focusing on you. You are also the center of your dog’s universe, so use that to your advantage when trying to calm them down. Dogs that are anxious and those that are energetic can be trained to calm down in the same way.
  • Firstly, when your dog gets worked up give them a verbal cue that works to both catch their attention and provides them with something to do. That cue can be “sit,” “down,” or even “relax.” You just want to make sure you can use it consistently.
  • Secondly, use the word until your dog performs the behavior that you want, such as lying down, sitting at your feet, or even just stopping what they are doing and looking at you. You may have to show them what to do the first few times until they get the hang of it.
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