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$10 a day??? That's alot of $$$!!! I go to a butcher and they know that I feed raw to my dog and they came up with a great deal for me! I just got 10 pounds of "open food" from the butcher (very few bones) for $2.99. The butcher forgot I wanted bones, so he threw in a bunch for free. All I had to buy was the organs and that came to $15.00 and that will last me the ENTIRE WEEK. That's less that $20 for a week.

For those of you that are paying that kind of money, I really suggest that you find a local butcher, explain to them what you are doing, what you are looking for and see if you can make some kind of arrangement. They have loads of stuff that they simply can't sell for "human" consumption and there's absolutely nothing wrong it. The best thing?? You're getting something of EVERYTHING!!!!

Good luck,

Marion

My vet had us buying kibble for dogs with digestive problems and that cost us $120 for a 40lb bag, that would last for 3 weeks. I found a butcher that sells 3 chicken carcases in a bag for a $1, chicken backs $23 for 18kg, chicken quarters $36 for 18kg, smaller hens $2.......
I also found a place to buy lake trout $5 - $7, so when we worked out the cost to feed our 2 dogs, it actually cost less than kibble and they are way happier eating this, they actually take their time when eating!

I also pay less than kibble. I find the bargains from my butcher. he gives me all i need for 1.99 a kilo! that includes boned, meat, chicken, liver.. find a small market that has a butcher and explain what you need. He also gives me the bags of stuff that is a bit "off" and can't be sold for human consumption. The calcium in the bones will keep your dogs bones healthy. No milk required and like what was said before less water more protein. Your puppy will start it's life happy and healthy.

Good luck!

Lots of good info on here, Michelle, thanks for posting those links, will take a long time to read them and absorb all the info. I know a few hunters eager to take me out to train my pup (she is a bird dog) they will let me take home some of the spoils if she turns out to be real birdy. One of them also gets deer meat every year, and will give me some of his kill if I get a big freezer. Any hunters on here feeding game to their dogs? Obviously the cheapest way to go!! I'm really looking into it, and will try her on the raw this week, so my next post will be about that!

Again, thanks to all the awesome people on here eager to help out, I will look for your posts in future when I have questions pop up.

Timothea

Awesome Timothea ! Let us know how it goes!

Okay everyone, I have had my pup home since Saturday, so have been too busy to write back to update you all. i did read all your posts, and joined the yahoo feeding group, but haven't digested all the info there yet.
I have become familiar with the last day sales on meat, and have a freezer I'm filling with good deals. The first few days Charlotte was off her food, which is normal, but she started to get a bit thin, so I offered her food the way the breeder gave it and she turned her nose up at it! She definitely prefers raw, not ground, NO kibble. I did bring some kibble with me for a day trip, she ate 3 pieces, would rather go hungry apparently.
I have had no problems with her digestion, everything that is going in is coming out fine. Smelly but fine. Hope the puppy breath and smelly poo goes away soon. She did eat some mint leaves which she brought up right away, and she did gulp down some meat yesterday that came back up. She ate it again anyway, so no harm done.
I started giving her chicken now too, thought she could use a bit more fat as she is getting a bit skinny, but she leaves the skin and just eats the meat. She hasn't eaten any bones yet either, just chews and licks at them.
Did any of you start feeding your dogs raw as puppies, and if so, did they leave the bones? Or am I just not giving her enough time with them maybe?

not sure, just wanted to mention be careful with her eating mint as i know some plants are harmful to dogs, not sure about mint tho..

wheres all the "raw preachers" to help Timothea out?

We only started feeding Keymo Raw when he was 13 months old.
Yes, the bad breath and smelly poos will go away (that is like a detoxing thing that could last anywhere up t 2 weeks).
You should be starting with chicken as a meat, and yes, leave the bones there. She should be eating those, The reason to start with chicken, is , it's easier to digest and it's a little more bland thatn the other meats.

If she doesn't like the skin, try removing most of it and freezing it before you give it to her.

I'll try that with the skin. She was already eating beef at the breeders, mixed with yogurt and kibble and cottage cheese. It actually looked kinda good! I didn't want to take her straight off beef and onto chicken but have tried the chicken yesterday, as I thought the fat in the skin would help her. I also was making chicken for supper, and plan on just giving her what I'm having, just not cooked and within reason. I certainly don't plan on ever eating organ meats myself. Did Keymo eat the bones the first few times you gave them?

Abby did eat all her bones... She was about 7mths when I started her on RAW. Maggie my Yorkie doesn't eat many bones. But, she is only about 8lbs...I give a variety and figure we don't always get a well balanced meal anyways...

Glad to hear things are going well!