Feeding
In my care, puppies are weaned from their mother onto raw meat.
I have been feeding my Westie a raw diet for 11 years now, and over the years I have seen with my own eyes how beneficial this type of feeding is for him. He has a pollen allergy, as well as food allergies and a flea saliva allergy, so when he was young it was very difficult to find a commercial food that didn't make him itch or cause intestinal or ear infections.
He refused to eat hypoallergenic kibble altogether, so I was forced to look for another solution. For a while I cooked for him—which wasn't bad either—but the real breakthrough came with BARF feeding.
The best part was that I knew exactly what he was eating: no fine-print ingredients, no additives or unnecessary fillers—just meat, bones, organs, and a small amount of vegetables, with seasonally changing supplements.
The difference was striking: the itching stopped, he ate with a good appetite, he wasn't getting sick (which is no small thing for a Westie 😊), he became more active, and the amount of stool was significantly reduced.
B.A.R.F.
The goal of raw feeding is to reintroduce the foundations of a dog's natural diet.
The BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) diet consists of raw meat, meaty bones, organs, and fiber, supplemented when necessary with eggs, herbs, or dietary supplements.
Although dogs are carnivores and their bodies (short digestive tract, strong stomach acid, low amylase enzyme levels) are well suited to digesting raw meat, every dog is unique. Some tolerate this diet very well, others less so—or not at all—therefore it cannot be stated that BARF is the ideal choice for every dog. However, it is much easier to tailor to an individual dog's needs than commercial dog food.
Benefits of the BARF diet
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You can see exactly what the food contains – no hidden ingredients or additives
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A healthy, energetic dog
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Shiny, strong coat
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Good digestion and appetite
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A varied, well-balanced, customizable diet
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Disease prevention
Puppyhood – the most important period
The first year and a half determines a dog's entire life: during this time, the nervous system, skeleton, joints, and digestive system develop. In this period, it is especially important to provide high-quality proteins and fatty acids – which a raw diet supplies in a natural form.
Puppies adapt to raw feeding more easily, as their stomach acid is stronger and their digestion more flexible than that of adult dogs.
General BARF ratios:
40% muscle meat, 40% meaty bones, 10% organs (half liver, half other organs), 10% vegetables + fruit.
These ratios should of course be customized based on the dog's condition, age, and individual needs. Meat (muscle meat, trimmings, fattier and more sinewy parts) is the dog's primary source of energy and building material. It builds muscle, supports regeneration, provides energy—and most dogs love it!
After an elimination diet, it is advisable to rotate protein sources. The diet should include white meats (chicken, turkey, rabbit), red meats (beef, lamb, venison), and fish.
A variety of meat sources provides different amino acids and micronutrients, which is why it is not ideal for a dog to eat only one type of meat all the time.