Keep the Tail Wagging is supported by pet parents. I occasionally earn a commission (at no additional cost to you) when you click through an affiliate link to one of my favorite products. Thank you for your support. Read More
If you're interested in feeding a raw food diet then you may be weighing the difference between homemade and store-bought raw dog food. Homemade raw dog food is less expensive but comes with a learning curve. Store-bought raw dog food is expensive – period.
Choosing Between DIY and Commercial Raw Dog Food
This year, I've decided to work on reducing my raw feeding budget. And now that we have five dogs, it's essential that I keep our budget under control and my goal is to get to under $200/month. I'm unsure if this is possible with five dogs, but I will try.
The first step was to stop feeding commercial (store-bought) raw dog food. Even when I buy it through the co-op, it's more expensive than homemade (DIY) raw dog food. There are some exceptions, which I discuss below, but let's start with the difference between store-bought and homemade raw dog food.
Commercial Raw Dog Food
Store-bought or commercial raw dog food is where many people start (it's where I started). Commercial raw is expensive, but there is a good reason for the higher price. We're paying someone to handle the sourcing, balancing (more about this below), and packaging. And, in some cases, the brand will deliver it to your door.
DIY Raw Dog Food
DIY raw dog food is less expensive than commercial raw because we do everything ourselves. The more you do, the more you'll save. My friends hunt (or get meat from hunters) and spend significantly less than I spend. I'm not ready to hunt for my dogs' dinner or raise animals for slaughter, so I buy in bulk (we have two freezers in the garage) and mix everything once or twice a month.
Balancing the Diet
The downside to DIY raw dog food is that we must ensure that our dogs get all the nutrients they need, which isn't easy for everyone. Working meal formulation software, a canine nutritionist, or using a base mix lowers the learning curve but comes with additional costs.
Keeping the Kitchen Clean
DIY raw feeding is also messier than store-bought raw dog food. I'm thawing, grinding, and mixing raw a couple of times a month, and when I'm finished, I have to clean the sinks and counters, mop the kitchen floor, and throw my clothes in the laundry. Not everyone has the time to make raw or the desire to deal with a messy kitchen. It's not THAT bad, but it's part of the job.
Additional Supplies/Equipment
And finally, I have purchased many things to facilitate DIY raw feeding. Please note that these aren't required purchases. The following has made DIY raw feeding easier for me:
- Two freezers (purchased used/refurbished locally)
- Stainless steel mixing bowls
- Mixing spoons
- Measuring spoons
- Meat grinder
- Freezer-safe storage containers
Which is Better? Commercial or DIY?
When it comes to deciding which is better, it depends on your lifestyle and budget. I want to save money, and I love learning how to feed a balanced diet, so DIY raw feeding is perfect for me. But that doesn't mean that it works for everyone.
- Homemade raw dog food is less expensive.
- With homemade raw dog food, I can control the ingredients.
But, when it comes to DIY raw feeding…
- I have extra freezers because I save more when I order in bulk.
- I think that it's a good idea to learn which nutrients our dogs need to balance their diet better.
- Since I'm making the food, I need the tools, like a meat grinder, to feed ground raw.
Feeding DIY Raw Dog Food on a Budget
To feed a homemade raw diet to my dogs, I've found that I have had to reduce the number of proteins I order, and this is okay because I still have a great list of affordable proteins: duck, pork, beef, pheasant, venison, and fatty fish.
Supplements and Base Mixes for Dogs
Supplements can make raw feeding expensive. I stopped supplementing to balance my dogs' diet and now focus on supplementing to meet my dogs' nutritional needs. There are several supplements that I alternate in my dogs' diet, but three that cover what I need are:
- Gussy's Gut DAILY
- Daily Dawg by Real Mushroom
- YuMove Joint Supplement
I use a base mix in my dogs' meals to balance my dogs' diet, alternating between Dr. Harvey's Raw Vibrance and Paradigm. Starting with an 80/10/10 blend so my dogs get the bulk of their nutrients from raw meat, organs, and bone.
Long story short, I think homemade raw dog food is better than store-bought food; however, store-bought is great for people who are:
- new to raw feeding
- have the budget to afford premade raw
- have limited access to proteins for DIY raw diets
- have limited time to prepare DIY raw diets
