I transitioned my dogs to a raw food diet in 2013 – 80/10/10 was considered a healthy raw diet back then, but not a balanced diet. As I learned more about canine nutrition and raw feeding, I learned that 80/10/10 is a diet deficient in nutrients like Omega-3...
I don't often write about dog training because it's “not my lane,” but occasionally, a topic of interest catches my attention. The above graphic came through my Instagram feed, and my first reaction was, “This is dangerous!” Without the context...
Dog owners understand the practice of raw feeding is an attempt to replicate the ancestral diet of dogs by combining muscle meat, organ meat, bones, and vegetation while acknowledging that our dogs have evolved to be pets, not wolves. We feed raw because fresh food is...
Tomatoes are a nightshade plant, and because of this classification, many people won't feed them to their dogs for fear of toxicity. But is this accurate? Over the years, I've seen raw feeders share meals that contain sardines in tomato sauce due to the beta-carotene...
I attended the 2023 Thrive Pet Expo, where I connected with friends, fellow pet lovers, and industry experts. Poppy Phillips, an animal naturopath for Equine Alternatives LLC and fellow Christian, posed an interesting question: “Does praying over dog food boost...
Are you interested in learning more about raw feeding and can't fit an online course into your schedule right now? Have you taken an online course and would love a few organized notes to refer to going forward? Have you heard of quick study guides? These quick...
The foundation of the diet I formulated for my dogs is 80/10/10 – 80% muscle meat, 10% bone, and 10% organ meat. 80/10/10 isn't a nutritionally complete raw diet, so I use a base mix and feed additional foods to balance over time. So, why must I know bone...
When feeding a homemade raw diet, it's essential to continue looking for proteins. Having alternatives keeps you covered when prices increase, or a source vanishes. In 2023, the price of quail went up 35%, and it's no longer a protein I feed regularly. I switched to...
As a raw feeder, monitoring dog poop is a daily task. I'm looking for color, consistency, and amount. On most days, I see exactly what I expect. But, occasionally, the poop is covered in mucus that can cause concern. In this article, I will share why dog stool may be...
One of the benefits of raw feeding is clean teeth and healthy gums. The belief is that dogs fed a regular diet of edible and recreational bones have cleaner teeth because the bones scrape away tarter, and the meat left on the bones flosses the teeth. While this may...
A fellow dog lover shared a video questioning the authenticity of the World’s Oldest Dog record set by Bobi, a dog living in Portugal. In summary, Dr. Cellini questioned the images of Bobi over the years, the genetic testing used to determine the dog’s age, and the...
Raw feeding can be expensive, with costs keeping dog owners from transitioning to raw and forcing others back to kibble. I nearly gave up on trying to feed raw when a local raw feeder introduced me to our local raw food co-op. I saved hundreds during my first month of...
I primarily feed my dogs a raw food diet. However, when Rodrigo was about 12 years old, he occasionally preferred cooked food. I fed him more cooked food than raw during his last year with me. The following is an easy DIY cooked recipe for dogs. I do not advocate only...
The summer is ending, and it's time to clean up my vegetable garden. I don't particularly appreciate throwing away food, and all my friends have gardens, too, so I can't give the excess vegetables away. So, I created an easy dog treat recipe that incorporates...
I'm swapping my capri pants for cozy sweaters in September, October, and November. I'm also getting used to rinsing off paws and drying dogs after a walk in the rain. I love burning Pet Safe candles and diffusing essential oils to rid the house of that wet dog smell...
I'm a passionate writer in the Pacific Northwest who loves all things dogs. I share what I'm learning as I attempt to crack the code to longevity. Keep the Tail Wagging is a blog dedicated to the dog who inspired this journey: Rodrigo Gauthier - March 2010 - September 2023.
