Our current litters (2023) are being weaned on to "Big Country Raw."
BCR is available at MOST pet stores across Canada.
BCR "dinner formulas" include raw meat, fruits, vegetables and supplements. They are considered "balanced" by the National Research Council, meeting the minimum nutrient requirements for dogs.
There is an overwhelming amount of information on the nutritional benefits of feeding a species appropriate diet to your dog. Now with the convenience of numerous premade options, we feel that there is no excuse not to feed a Raw diet to your dog.
That said, we do understand feeding raw is not for everyone or for every dog. The choice is yours to make!
At 7 weeks old, we do introduce the puppies to a kibble. We feed as a treat only, not full meals. Feeding just enough for the puppies to recognize kibble as "food."
We feed "Fromm Gold Puppy."
Fromm Gold is recommended by many fellow breeders. It is a grain-inclusive food with chicken as its main meat source.
Fromm Gold Puppy receives a 5 Star rating on Dog Food Advisor, a non-biased dog food analyzer, operating free of influence from the pet food industry.
Each puppy goes home with 4lbs of Big Country Raw dog food and 12 cups of Fromm Gold Puppy dog food. You can use this food, to help transition your puppy to the dog food brand of your choosing.
We believe dogs are primarily carnivores, who are
Scavenging Opportunists.
They will eat just about anything ;)
Scavenging Opportunists.
They will eat just about anything ;)
But, not everything is healthy for your dog. We feed our Miniature American Shepherds a species and biologically appropriate diet that includes raw meat, raw organs and raw bones.
We believe diet is the #1 contributor to overall wellness and longevity. Understanding canine nutrition will help you give your MAS the
Best Life possible!
Puppies can live solely off their Mother's milk for the first 3 weeks of life. Milk is the most nutritious food for a puppy. Milk also provides maternal antibodies that help protect the puppies from illness and disease. Our puppies are allowed to naturally wean from their Mothers, sometime around 8 weeks of age.
Poppy's Puppies nursing at
6 Weeks Old.
Whitney's Puppies nursing at
8 Weeks Old.
Between 3-4 weeks of age, puppies are given raw egg and raw goats milk as their first whole foods. Puppies are then offered different raw meats mixed with goats milk and egg.
As the puppies naturally wean, less milk is added to their food and as their teeth come in, we start offering meat blends, larger cuts of meat and whole prey.
Our Puppies are introduced to at least 13 different Raw meat sources before leaving Marsh's MAS
We encourage everyone to supplement their dog's raw diet with raw meaty bones.
Bones are full of beneficial nutrients and trace minerals.
They help keep teeth and gums healthy, jaws strong and they provide your dog with mental stimulation and the enjoyment to just CHEW :)
We understand that many people have mixed feelings about the safety of feeding Raw foods.
Here are some facts for feeding a Raw diet:
Raw food for your dog (and cat) can be conveniently bought - premade - balanced - ready to go, at ALL major pet food stores.
Using only top quality, human grade meats, you can feel confident you are feeding your dog the best premade food available on the market today! They offer their premium NUK line along with whole foods and bones, freeze dried food, treats and supplements.
Health Mutts is your 1-stop-shop for all your raw Food needs :)
Jolly Tails is a pet company with 3 store locations, located in the HRM. They sell a couple Premade Raw Foods.
We currently make our own raw dog food for our adult dogs.
Making your dog's food is not rocket science and can add so much variety and fun enrichment to your dogs diet and life.
To ensure your dog (or other carnivore) is getting all the important nutrients they need to thrive, you must follow a few guidelines. First, the term "raw food" can be broken down into 3 main categories: muscle meat, edible bone and organ meat. These are typically fed in the ratio 80 : 10 : 10.
Some people like to include fruits and vegetables as a 4th category, the most common ratio being 70 : 10 : 10 : 10.
*We've noticed each ratio can fluctuate a bit. Just like us, dogs do best eating a variety of fresh foods, balancing nutrients over time.
Here, I will break down how I match up ingredients to make raw meals.
40% - 50% of Diet
Raw, lean
muscle meats
Lean muscle meat makes up approximately 50% of the diet. Lean muscle can come from poultry (skin free), rabbit, small rodents and any other fat free cuts of meat.
25% - 40% of Diet
Raw heart and other red muscle meats
Red muscle meats, especially heart meat are full of taurine, an essential amino acid. Red muscle meats include: beef, pork, venison, goat, and mutton. Raw heart can be sourced from either small or large prey.
10% of Diet
Raw organs
Organs are any "secreting tissue" including: liver, kidneys, spleen, and testicles. Liver is the most nutrient rich organ and should make up 50% of the organ portion. If other organs can not be found, you can use 100% liver. Raw organs can be sourced from either small or large prey.
5% - 15% of Diet
Raw, edible bones
*Never feed cooked bones!
The Raw bone part of the diet provides calcium, minerals, enzymes and other essential nutrients. Edible bones can easily be digested by a carnivore and include: poultry bones, bones from fish, rabbits and bones of small rodents.
*5% - 15% of Diet
Fruits and Vegetables
Many raw feeders believe that commercial meats are deprived from some essential nutrients. Fruits and vegetables are full of antioxidants, vitamins and contain fiber. Adding some to your dogs diet can help ensure optimal nutrition. We personally do not add any plant matter to our adult dogs general diet. They do get our food scraps, AKA "human leftovers" and the occasional berry-treat!
Our first meat grinder was the Weston 8 It is small, so meats have to be cut up first to fit into the feeder. The price was affordable, so we did not mind the extra work. We used the same grinder for over 6 years before needing to replace a plastic gear. It works like new again! The grinder is capable of grinding chicken, rabbit and fish bones but not Turkey legs or larger bones.
We have since upgraded to this Big Bad Boy
We can now make hundreds of pounds of dog food almost effortlessly. Game Changer!
The only things we add extra to our RAW ground mixture is water (or bone broth) and iodized salt.
For every 5 lbs of meat mixture, we add approximately 1 cup of liquid and 1 tsp of iodized salt.
The dog food is then frozen for later use. 2lbs of raw food fits in a 1L mason jar and 5lbs of food fits in a Large Zip lock bag.
We currently make 230 gram patties for convenient individual feedings.
Other Food Items
Variety is key in making sure our carnivores are getting all their needed nutrients for optimal health.
Whole Eggs are a complete food source, full of essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Eggs can be offered a few times a week, either mixed in ground food or by themselves.
Sardines
Sardines provide a natural source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids and Coenzyme Q10. You can buy sardines whole, frozen, or canned packed in spring water. Sardines can be offered a few times a week, either mixed in ground food or by themselves as a treat.
Whole bones
**Never feed cooked bones!
Large cuts of bone with muscle meat should be offered to your dog a few times a week. Recreational bones help keep your dogs teeth clean and their jaws strong. We recommend supervising your dog when first introducing recreational bones. Some dogs with chew so vigorously they will make their gums bleed. Take the bone away when the meat is all gone or the bone is small enough to swallow.
Dogs LOVE Tripe! Tripe is the stomach lining of ruminating animals, (cows, goats, sheep, buffalo etc). Unbleached tripe "Green Tripe" is full of beneficial bacteria and digestive enzymes that help aid in proper digestion. It also has the desirable calcium:phosphorus ratio of 1:1, making it the perfect, nutritious whole food.
Treats
Offering high value food items is a great way to strengthen the bond between you and your dog. Treats can be given simply to say "I love you"! Treats make great rewards when teaching basic commands and other forms of training. Most commercial "treats" for pets are full of grains/ fillers, by-products, preservatives and are highly processed. All the things we try to avoid when feeding a species and biologically appropriate diet.
It is easy to make your own nutritious treats for your dog that can be fed everyday as part of their daily food requirements.
Dr. Karen Becker: The Best and Worst Foods for Your Pet
Dr. Karen Becker: Raw Meat Diet for Dogs and Cats
Dr. Karen Becker: Raw Food Diet #1
Dr. Karen Becker: Raw Food Diet #2
Dr. Karen Becker: Raw Food Diet #3