Beginner's Guide to Fresh & Raw Feeding Dogs

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Fresh feeding has become increasingly popular among dog owners who want to take a more active role in their dog's nutrition. For some, that means feeding a completely fresh diet. For others, it means simply adding fresh foods to a commercial diet.

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Unfortunately, fresh feeding is often surrounded by confusion, strong opinions, and misinformation. Some sources make it sound incredibly complicated, while others oversimplify it to the point of being nutritionally inaccurate.

The truth lies somewhere in the middle.

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Fresh feeding can be a wonderful way to nourish your dog, but like any feeding method, it requires an understanding of basic nutritional principles.

This guide covers the fundamentals to help you get started. 

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What Is Fresh Feeding?

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Fresh feeding refers to feeding whole or minimally processed foods rather than relying exclusively on highly processed commercial diets.

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Fresh feeding may include:

• Raw diets
• Cooked fresh diets
• Commercial fresh food diets
• Fresh food additions to kibble diets

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Fresh feeding is not defined by whether food is raw or cooked.

It is defined by the use of recognisable, minimally processed ingredients.

The goal is not to follow a trend.

The goal is to provide appropriate nutrition.

There Is No Perfect Diet

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One of the biggest mistakes dog owners make is searching for the one perfect way to feed.

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Dogs are incredibly adaptable animals and can thrive on a variety of feeding approaches.

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Raw feeding is not automatically superior.

Kibble is not automatically harmful.

Cooked diets are not automatically deficient.

The quality and balance of a diet matter far more than the feeding label attached to it.

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The Golden Rule: Balance Over Time

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One of the most important concepts in fresh feeding is understanding that nutritional balance occurs over time.

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Wild canids do not consume perfectly balanced meals every day. Nutrients are obtained through consuming a variety of foods over days and weeks.

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The same principle applies to fresh feeding.

Every meal does not need to contain every nutrient.

The overall diet, however, should provide all essential nutrients consistently over time.

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This concept helps prevent the anxiety many beginners experience when trying to make every bowl "perfect."

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Understanding the Building Blocks of a Fresh Diet

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Fresh diets are typically built from several nutritional components.

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Understanding the role of each component is far more important than memorising percentages.

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Muscle Meat

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Muscle meat provides:

• Protein
• Essential amino acids
• Fat
• Iron
• Zinc
• B vitamins

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Examples include:

• Beef
• Lamb
• Kangaroo
• Chicken
• Turkey
• Pork
• Rabbit
• Venison

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A variety of protein sources generally provides a broader range of nutrients than feeding a single protein source exclusively.

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Raw Edible Bone

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Raw edible bone is primarily used as a source of calcium and phosphorus.

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These minerals are essential for:

• Skeletal development
• Muscle function
• Nerve function

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Examples include:

• Chicken necks
• Chicken wings
• Chicken frames
• Duck necks
• Rabbit portions

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Bones should always be size-appropriate and fed under supervision.

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Cooked bones should never be fed because they become more brittle and may splinter.

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Secreting Organs

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Secreting organs are among the most nutrient-dense foods available.

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Examples include:

• Liver
• Kidney
• Spleen
• Pancreas
• Brain

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These organs provide important nutrients including:

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• Vitamin A
• Copper
• Iron
• Selenium
• Folate

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Liver is particularly valuable and is often considered the nutritional powerhouse of a fresh diet.

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Because secreting organs are extremely nutrient dense, they are generally fed in relatively small amounts.

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What Is Not Considered a Secreting Organ?

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This is one of the most common beginner mistakes.

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Although heart is technically an organ, it is nutritionally classified as muscle meat.

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The same applies to:

• Heart
• Tongue
• Gizzards
• Green tripe

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These foods are excellent additions to the diet but are not counted as secreting organs.

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Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids

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One area often overlooked in homemade diets is omega-3 intake.

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Oily fish such as sardines, mackerel and salmon provide important omega-3 fatty acids that support:

• Skin health
• Coat quality
• Cognitive development
• Eye health
• Healthy inflammatory responses

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Including oily fish regularly can help improve the nutritional balance of a fresh diet.

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Eggs

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Eggs are one of the most nutrient-dense foods available.

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They provide:

• Highly digestible protein
• Essential fatty acids
• Vitamins
• Minerals

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Many dogs can safely enjoy whole eggs as part of a balanced diet.

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Understanding Feeding Ratios

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Many fresh feeders use feeding ratios as a starting framework.

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One of the most commonly used models is:

• 80% muscle meat and connective tissue
• 10% raw edible bone
• 10% secreting organs

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The organ portion is often divided into:

• 5% liver
• 5% other secreting organs

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These ratios can be useful because they help owners visualise the different components of a fresh diet.

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However, it is important to understand their limitations.

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Ratios describe food categories, not nutrients.

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A diet can meet an 80:10:10 ratio and still be deficient in certain nutrients.

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For this reason, experienced fresh feeders often consider additional nutrients such as:

• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Iodine
• Manganese
• Zinc
• Vitamin E

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Fresh feeding is ultimately about nutrients, not just percentages.

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How Much Should I Feed?

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One of the most common questions asked by beginners is how much food a dog needs.

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The answer depends on:

• Age
• Activity level
• Metabolism
• Breed
• Body condition
• Reproductive status

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The following percentages provide useful starting points.

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Puppies 8-16 Weeks

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Approximately 8-10% of current body weight daily.

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Puppies 4-6 Months

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Approximately 6-8% of current body weight daily.

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Juveniles 6-12 Months

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Approximately 4-6% of current body weight daily.

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Adolescents

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Approximately 3-5% of current body weight daily.

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Adult Dogs

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Approximately 2-3% of ideal adult body weight daily.

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These are guides only.

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Your dog will always be the best indicator of whether adjustments are needed.

Body Condition Is More Important Than Any Feeding Chart

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The most useful skill any dog owner can learn is assessing body condition.

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You should be able to:

✓ Feel the ribs easily

✓ Observe a visible waist from above

✓ See an abdominal tuck from the side

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A dog that is becoming overweight needs less food.

A dog that is becoming too lean needs more.

No feeding calculator will ever be as accurate as regularly assessing the individual dog.

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Common Beginner Mistakes

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Feeding Too Much Bone

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Excessive bone is one of the most common issues seen in new raw feeders.

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Signs often include:

• Hard stools
• White stools
• Constipation

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Feeding Too Much Liver

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Liver is beneficial.

Large amounts are not.

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Feeding One Protein Source Exclusively

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Variety helps provide a broader nutritional profile.

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Becoming Paralysed by Perfection

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Many owners spend so much time trying to create the perfect meal that they become afraid to start.

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Learn the principles.

Apply them consistently.

Improve as your knowledge grows.

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Final Thoughts

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Fresh feeding should not be viewed as a rigid set of rules.

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It is a method of feeding that focuses on whole foods, variety, and nutritional balance.

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The goal is not perfection.

The goal is to provide appropriate nutrition while continuing to learn and refine your approach.

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A successful fresh feeder is not the person who has memorised the most percentages.

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It is the person who understands their dog's nutritional needs and makes thoughtful decisions based on knowledge rather than trends.