Processed Dog Food Versus Raw Natural Feeding

Questions about Natural Feeding and Raw Diets

Questions

Question Comment 1: Currently I'm feeding my pups large breed puppy from Iams, which was recommended by the breeder I got them from. She said she has used Iams products for years for all her dogs, pups to old adults. I've never really been a huge fan of the processed food, but until the last couple years there hasn't been much info available about alternatives. So like many people I would try to pick the lesser of the processed food evils based on other peoples (and vets) experiences and thoughts. Recently I've been reading more about feeding natural foods like raw meats and vegetables and I think I'd like to switch, but I have quite few questions about it and I'm looking for your experiences, good or bad. Questions:

1. Can you just do the raw meat halfway or just sometimes, or is it all meat all the time?

2. Ounce you switch to a raw meat type diet can you switch back to the processed stuff?

3. In reality, what would the cost be for 2 pups at 10 months old, then continuing into adulthood?

4. Is maybe just adding some raw fruits and veggies a good compromise? If so, what should be avoided?

5. Bottom line, has anyone have or had enough long term beneficial results to make it worth it in the big picture?

Dog Crates

Comment 2: When I went searching for a new soft sided crate most of my friends raved about theirs. Some had dominant breeds, others not so. The crate that most of them had gone to was a NoztoNoz Model X not Model N2. I bought one for my akita and adore it. Its easy to set up, strong with many good features. They came in various sizes, I ended up getting the Model X-42 which is 42L X 28W X 31 H. If trainning and supervision are utilized it's a wonderful alternative. Prices are fairly standard but sales do exist occasionally I've had soft sided crates for several years now and I love them. The first ones I got were "It's a Breeze Too" by General Cage and I'm still using them. They have two poles that are in case on bottom of crate, open crate insert poles and you're done.

The last one I bought opens in front and on top, you open the top, join two pieces of pole together and you're done. I got this one at Big Lots can't remember the brand, but the large is big enough for my small golden. I have put my Akita in the It's a Breeze Too, but made sure someone was there at all times. He can move it if he lunges forward. The one problem a lot of people have is that most of them are easy to tip over, if dog moves around too much over they go.

Have to tell a funny story, I also have a couple of the "pop up" crates, that weigh hardly anything but work for docil dogs. Anyway, set one up in the motel, left the Akita in it while I walked the other dog and when I came back to the room the cage wasn't where I left it, he had manuvered until he ended up behind the door, gave me a little scare so we don't try that anymore.

Dogs and Crates

Comment 3: First, you should know that many shows do not allow the use of soft sides any more. I thought they would work for Akitas, and I have to say, I never had a dog actually try to get out of one, although I'm sure it would present no problem. For that matter, neither do the flimsy metal things we use at shows, the suitcase crates A determined dog can demolish one in seconds. My dogs were crated in soft-sides at a training workshop and caused a major shutdown and spectator laugh-in because they discovered the crates could be easily maneuvered from one place ot the other by rolling. IOW, they were the Akita equivalent of a hamster cage. This was revealed to us when our dog managed to enter the ring where off-lead healing was being conducted by several people. I guess he felt left out.

He was perfectly content to roll about the building, visiting from place to place; however, I'm pretty sure one sheltie was somewhat traumatized by what must have looked like a gray-green steamroller moving determinedly toward her. The Giant Schnauzer fell into a fit of barking, and displayed a great deal of suspicion for the rest of the weekend whenever he came anywhere near a soft side, even those which were not moving about. All in all, I deemed it an unsatisfactory experiment and went back to plastic crates. :-) Our dogs did put in their protests because I think they did relieve a lot of the boredom of just sitting and watching in a crate. The soft-sides gave them a chance to participate as well, but I explained that the didn't live in a democracy and so they didn't get a vote.