Raw feeding a Great Dane Puppy explained

Disclaimer  I am not an expert nor a vet, just a raw feeder. I can only advise,

 but you should research all about raw feeding first and not do this on a whim for your Great Dane. 

Culseandanes raw feeding 

Raw feeding it isn't all complicated its raw feeding and you can do this for your puppy. They will love you for it. Don't overthink it either as you will worry yourself silly. 

From the day and hour your puppy was born (s)he got the special milk from his/her mum called colostrum as in the first milk. Then her good milk which there is loads of for them. We do supplement only if a big litter of over 10 as there isn't enough boobs for all of them. All smaller ones are given boobs first so they can catch up. Then topped up if needed. 

We wean at 3 weeks of age only because of size and teeth. Mum is our cue here as she will barf back some of her's or throw in a chicken back or bone for them but mostly its barfed back so we know when to wean. Yes, we allow her to do this, so it isn't for the faint hearted thats for sure when weaning a litter of pups. 

Mum is in with pups for boobs when we wean till she is ready to stop not us forcing her out of the whelping box before she is ready. So she will at 7-8 weeks still give them odd slurp. Even the fully weaned ones like mama for an odd drink now and again. Once 8 weeks comes she usually doesn't want to nurse them so she sits on her boobs to stop them or doesn't venture in the nursery. Yes some want finished at 4-5 weeks and again this is all normal for the dam. 

We grind up the meats as in chicken and beef for your puppy and yes there is bone in it. 

They wont choke but might get greedy and barf it back allow them to eat this. I know its disgusting but this is what they would do if in the wild. Its that or the others will nick it from them. 

I chose one meat for 4 days and go with that and then add in another meat the next week. I watch the red meat as its rich and can cause poopy bums. Also for some tripe can be a bit rich too. Keep an eye on the back end and don't worry about ratios. Rule of thumb is runs give in a wing or two less minced meat. To dry add in some beef. 

3 weeks ground up minces is given mainly chicken and turkey in the beginnings.

4 weeks smashed up chicken wings and backs these are only whacked a few times with a mallet and are given along with tripe minced.

5 weeks Chicken wings, backs, legs are given along with tripe and beef mince. The bones are not crushed at this age in fact at 3 weeks I throw in wings to see if they'll have a bash at them.

Whole eggs with shell crushed.

6 - 8 weeks, Anything they want raw is given.

Watch that liver if giving them it as its very rich so only a very little amount once a week this is usually about a few tablespoons and build as they get older to their adult weight as this is only 5% of it all every week.

So for a 60kg Dane 530 grams of liver per week just over a pound so not a lot is it. Some love it some don't dont worry just mix in with other meats and they eat. Do no fry it if you can as you are taking all the goodness out of it.

At 6 weeks now we add in kidney and heart to the diet we usually mix this with other meats to begin with and then give alone after only a week. None have refused this by the way. 

We try and leave bones in the nest/nursery as well for them as long as mum doesn't mind this and doesn't get possessive over them. Its fun for them to gnaw on and for the practise for their teeth. 

Loki and Bella's, very white teeth from eating raw. They have never had their teeth cleaned by the vets or ourselves for that matter ever.

Now when you get your chosen Dane home. (s)he will be eating a variety of meats.

This is my ratio but all dogs are different in the beginnings I dont worry about the ratios as I let the back end tell me. but for the numbers they are below. 

70-80% meat

10-20% bone

10% organ meat (Offal)

5% liver is to be given as this is for vitamin A as they need it 

Organs (offal)  are, liver, kidney, spleen, testicles and brain.

Muscle meats are stomach/tripe, tongue, heart, gizzards.

Court is still out on tripe but I believe it is both a meat and offal you decide what you believe as it really doesnt matter as long as the meals all balance by the end of the week/month

Now this is a list of what we give when and if we can source it. 

Chicken 

Turkey

Rabbit if sourced right we like to leave on the fur too and have whole more so for the adults.

Tripe

Fish of any kind with heads and tails on. 

Veal

Horse

Beef

Heart

Tongue

Liver

Veggies (if they'll eat them)

Pork 

Duck

Pig (heads) 

Pig trotters 

Whole Eggs with shell. 

There are suppliers out there that have this all minced for you and you can  if this is what you want to do. Saves you on the chopping and bagging.   

Veg isn't mandatory as dogs don't usual eat these in the wild unless its from the belly of an animal as its has been  digested by them. If giving veg make sure its pureed. Please read the banned veg list as its toxic for them or causes a build up of gasses and a Dane can clear a room when farting hahaha

Plus adding to the dogs food isn't necessary at all as again they would source this in the wild.

I do add but this is for me personally garlic to the diet for fleas/wormers and whole rabbit with fur on for a natural wormer at least once a month if not more when I can get them in abundance. 

Blenders/Mincers are your friend but do buy one for the dog only so you don't mix them up along with the dogs own chopping boards and knives. 

Please also make sure you wear gloves or if handling raw meats to take the same safety measure you do for yourself when prepping meats. Common sense really. 

DO NOT MIX THESE UP OR YOU WILL END UP WITH AN UPSET TUMMY 

Now for the menus and amounts.

8 weeks old (s)he will be on average weight wise 15-30lbs, So you can feed between 1 to 1.5  pounds. Weigh your Dane weekly as (s)he will gain steadily and increase/decrease accordingly. 

Meal intake

8-10 weeks                           8 -   10%  of bodyweight

10-16 weeks                         7.5 - 8.5% of bodyweight

16-20 weeks                         6.5 - 7.5% of bodyweight

20-24 weeks                         5.5 - 6.5% of bodyweight

24-36 weeks                         4.5 - 5.5% of bodyweight

36-56 weeks                         3.5 - 4.5% of bodyweight

56-68 weeks                         2% - 3.5% of bodyweight

Rule of thumb is your eye if he looks thin give more if he looks fat give less. Also what comes out of the back end is an indication of how everything is going too. 

If not sure I do have books I can recommend that I have read too.

I can be contacted or if you want you can leave a comment as well asking for information I shall do my best to help. 

When you get your Dane home he or she has been fed on chicken legs and wings and necks, turkey, tripe, beef mince, chicken mince and fish salmon and cod, liver, kidney, heart. 

When introducing new food do one at a time every 4/5days,  so not to overwhelm your Dane and watch the amounts and what kind of meats it is. Red meat is rich so can cause poopy bums so don't give lots of it in the beginning. 

Typical Weeks Menu

For an 8-12 week old Dane

Then you adjust the amounts, as your Dane does not stop growing till over 18 - 24 months.

All amounts are half a pound per meal for weight wise of your Dane till 12 weeks and then increase and feed 3 times a day. On average I go with 8% of body weight till 9 months and then feed as an adult. You may leave your Dane on 3/4 meals a day throughout their lives if you wish.

Some do 10% but I find it makes for a fat pup and you don’t want to be putting a puppy on a diet.

If in any doubt ask your breeder if they raw feed that is or ask a raw feeder you may know. 

Tripe seems to help them sleep I have no idea why but I keep doing it for supper time because if I don’t they will be awake at 5am. I am a grumpy sod if woken if I have managed to get a kip of course.

Once adults they don't seem to need the supper time tripe again I believe its to do with melatonin production as it gets better for sleep as they get bigger. 

If you have a smaller Dane or even a bigger one you can adjust the amounts to suit your Dane.

Amounts are pound unless stated otherwise. We are looking at 8% for a puppy here. Decreasing as puppy gets bigger. 

Day 1

Breakfast

Chicken Wings 3 

Lunch

Salmon either in steaks or minced

Dinner

Beef minced

Supper

Tripe and liver 

Day 2

Breakfast

Chicken leg

Lunch

Rabbit in natural state or minced 

Mind to gut first no stomach allowed as it contains parasites unless already done for you or minced.

Dinner

Lamb

Supper

Tripe

Day 3

Breakfast

Chicken Mince

Lunch

Cod

Dinner

Turkey leg if bigger lighter supper unless she eats it all at supper time of course. 

Supper

Tripe and liver mixed equally. 

Day 4

Breakfast

Sprats

Lunch

Rabbit

Dinner

Tuna

Supper

Beef Mince and liver 

With a whole egg and shell thrown in. Smash the shell for easier eating

(She will eat this)

Day 5

Breakfast

Chicken carcasses

Lunch

Chicken wings 3 of

Dinner

Liver and Lamb mix 

Supper

Tripe

Day 6

Breakfast

Lamb and heart 

Lunch

Chicken Mince

Dinner

Turkey wings

Supper

Tripe

Day 7

Breakfast

Beef Mince

Lunch

Chicken Mince 3/4 with a 1/4 liver 

Dinner

Rabbit

Supper

Tripe

At 12 weeks reduce to 3 meals a day.

At 6 months reduce to 2 meals a day.

This is what I do but you dont have to you can leave them on 4/3/2 meals a day this is after all personal choice.

Remember to increase the amounts fed and weigh your Dane monthly so you have an idea of ratios if still weighing.

Once doing this for awhile you'll know what is what and won't need the scales.

I still do on occasion only because I have two on a diet.

Now about that poo.

It should be compact and a lot less as in a small well form lump once a day usually.

green/black                 too much tripe in the diet.

runny                          not enough bone in the diet or to much red meats. 

white & chalky           to much bone in the diet. 

           

Do remember you dog is different from any other dog even ones living together so trial and error along the way helps here. One may need more bone some less. Some can tolerate more offal than another etc , etc.

As they get older introduce more items to the diet. Pig trotters are a hit in this house as is pig heads too and they need chopping as they be big and will do 4-6 meals. If defrosting they will keep in a container in the fridge. In fact most of the dogs meats can and will keep nicely in a fridge for 3 days.

Now all you have to do is find a nice freezer for your dog and a supplier of raw and you are set. 

There are books out there that I have gleaned information from and have read also. I do recommend these below. 

The Dogs dinner - Anne Ridyard. 

Raw Dog Food 101 - Feeding Your Dog A Natural Raw Food Diet

Williams, David 

Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats - The Ultimate Diet

Schultze, Kymythy

What should I feed my Dog? - Dog Nutrition for Health and Long Life

Carrole, M.A.

If you research about raw feeding you will find a minefield out there. Go with your gut no pun intended and do what you feel is right for your Great Dane. 

I still research to this day as you learn new things all the time. 

I am open to learning as you should be too and I hope my blog has helped with all of that. 

If in doubt ask. 

Research is key for a happy Great Dane and owner.
Even established raw feeders research it still. 

Now for links I use frequently 

 rawfeeding rebels Facebook

rawfed myths web