A lot of dog owners are starting to move towards a raw diet for their dogs, believing that it is more biologically appropriate than the commercial kibble that most canines today are fed. Perhaps the most popular raw diet for dogs is the BARF diet which stands for biologically appropriate raw food (and bones.) Basically, the diet attempts to provide dogs with foods more similar to what they would be eating in the wild, believing this is better for the dog, and frankly a heck of a lot tastier than commercial kibble.

Of course, there are proponents for and against the BARF raw diet for dogs, with critics pointing out that domesticated dogs are not wolves, and do not have the same protein and meat requirements due to more sedated lifestyle. As we know too much protein in any species can be potentially damaging to the kidneys, resulting in serious health complications up to and including death. Also, there are those that would worry about bacteria in raw food, as while dogs do have a shorter digestive track and can usually ingest raw food without harm, should the raw meat not be stored properly it could become a potential bacteria danger.

Those are are for the raw diet would cite that many dogs these days are dying from cancer, as well as other diseases that may be attributed to the commercial dog food (further studies will need to confirm or deny this) that most dogs today are fed as their main food source. Furthermore, many who have fed a raw diet to their dogs have noted improvements in the skin, coat, energy level, and breath of their dogs, as well as a decrease in amount of stools. It is well known that higher quality foods tend to decrease the amount of bowel movements that a dog needs to have, as they also need to eat less food to meet their nutritional requirements. Another consideration is that many commercial dog kibbles contain corn and/or wheat, ingredients that many dogs are allergic to. Corn has no nutritional value to a dog and is unfortunately the chief ingredient in many lower grade dog kibble brands.

What exactly does the BARF raw diet for dogs consist of? The BARF diet suggest feeding dogs a diet that closely resembles that of what their wolf ancestors would have been eating in the wild. Raw meat including meat from muscles and organs, as well as raw animal bones (never give a dog cooked bones as they could splinter and cause internal damage and even death), and some amount of raw vegetables are generally incorporated into the raw diet for dogs. NOTE: When implementing a raw diet for dogs it’s important not to overlook the importance of adding raw bones into the dog’s diet as chewing bones is a great natural way to keep your dog’s teeth and gums clean and healthy.

NB: GoodDogBreeds.com does not endorse any specific canine diet and suggests that all dog owners do adequate research before deciding if a raw diet for dogs is best for their pets.