Rotation Feeding Raw Food with Raw Paws

Mr. N has insisted on eating raw for several years now but I'm always interested in finding new proteins and new things for him to try.

Raw Paws, a dog food company based in Indiana, offers a customized meal planning service so we tried it out to see what they would recommend for Mr. N. I was asked about what Mr. N was currently eating, our experience with raw and how much he weighed. Jamie gave me a list of recommendations for meals, raw meaty bones and treats/chews appropriate for Mr. N's size. 

Meals:

Complete Beef (5 lb chub)

Complete Turkey(5 lb chub)

Complete Duck (5 lb chub)

Complete Goat (comes in a 4 lb tub with a lid)

Complete Lamb (comes in a 4 lb tub with a lid)

Complete Beef Patties

Tripe Patties  

Freeze dried tripe treat (can be used as a meal or treat)

Freeze dried tripe topper (sprinkled over food)

Raw meaty bones:

Turkey Necks

Goat Meaty Bones

Goat Ribs

Beef Meaty Bones 

Treats/Chews:

6” Bully Sticks

Bully Stick rings 

Beef Liver Nuggets

It's hard sometimes finding the right size bones for Mr. N to chew (although he thinks there is no bone too big) so Jamie's guidance was helpful in determining what would be the best fit. I think this would be especially helpful for people who are just starting to feed raw. I know I was super confused at first.

We practice rotation feeding which basically means that we switch protein types on a regular basis. Different raw feeders approach it differently (balance achieved daily, weekly, monthly etc). I just switch proteins every bag which for Mr. N is every couple of weeks. He gets a wide variety of treats and chews though so I'm not too worried that he's missing out on anything vital by not switching more often. 

Why is rotation feeding important? It gives dogs a more balanced diet as each food has different nutrients and ingredients. It also creates more excitement around meal time especially if your dog is like Mr. N and gets bored with the same things. It can also reduce risks of food intolerance. Also it's helpful if a food is recalled so you have something you can switch to without worrying about if your dog is going to like it or not tolerate the food. 

Raw Paws sent us the raw duck food and duck jerky to try as Mr. N doesn't get duck very often. Duck is a little hard for me to source regularly. He gets a lot of beef, turkey, pork and some venison and rabbit among other things normally. 

The duck jerky was an instant hit and we used it up pretty rapidly for recall exercises and tricks training. It's on the harder side texture-wise but it's pretty easy to break up into small pieces (a little hard to break into tiny pieces) and Mr. N thought it was worth a speedy recall.

The duck food is a little messy to portion out especially as Mr. N eats pretty tiny portions (about 3oz). I thaw the chub, divide it into smaller chunks (two day's worth of food), separate them with wax paper and re-freeze. Usually we buy food that comes in nuggets or smaller portions. The chubs are more economical though especially for larger dogs.

It took a few days for Mr. N to get accustomed to the new food but now he eats it with gusto. He doesn't need any toppers in order to induce him to eat but I made up a special plate with a tiny bit of yogurt and cheese as a special treat. 

Do you practice rotation feeding with your dog(s)?

This post was sponsored by Raw Paws. They are not responsible for the contents of this article. All opinions expressed are our own. 

#MixItUp with Instinct® Raw Boost® Mixers. Mr. N Would Eat Them in a Box. Mr. N Would Eat Them with a Fox.

This post is sponsored by Instinct® and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Instinct® Raw Boost® Mixers but Tenacious Little Terrier only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Instinct is not responsible for the content of this article.

Armed with the results of our shopping trip to Petsmart, we ventured out for a hike with Mr. N's friend Sage on a rare sunny day. The Instinct® Raw Boost® is ideal for high value treat  rewards on hikes as they are light to carry, tiny, the dogs love them and they ensure a speedy recall. I took a trial bag of the beef with me and Mr. N dashed back to me at intervals to check in and receive his just reward. 

The mixers are high in protein which Mr. N really needs because he burns all the calories running around after Sage and keeping warm after wading in the water. I gave him several pieces after he went in the water and he wanted to know if they were really all for him. I reassured him that yes, they were all his! 

Sage thought it was the most unfair thing in the world that Mr. N was being given treats and she wasn't. I promised her some after the photos but she couldn't wait. I accidentally dropped two of the pieces and she tore apart a log looking for them. Mr. N's friend, Sage ardently believes in the concept of #notreatleftbehind. I sent her home with a trial bag of the chicken mixers as Mr. N is allergic and she has proved her liking for them. 

Mr. N thinks it's dinner time and kindly pointed out where the mixers are being kept. I think we all get the message.

Mr. N is currently eating his pork raw food with the lamb topper. No need to add water which he appreciates. I think he doesn't like the texture change. He gobbles it down and leaves behind a clean plate. It's super easy to add it to your pet's food. We keep the bag by his dishes and I toss in a few pieces with his regular food at meal times. It's especially handy for us when we forget to thaw his normal food.

Eating raw has proved to be a boon for Mr. N. He's always had a a bit of a delicate stomach and raw helps with his digestive issues. They haven't completely gone away but are much reduced in frequency. He also has all the energy. People are always amazed when I tell them he's not a puppy but seven. He was chasing after a half-grown Lab puppy once and the Lab owner suggested he might mellow out when he grows up. She then asked me how old he was. I told her and she was like oh, I guess it's too late for that then. 

You can check out Instinct's website HERE and learn more about Instinct on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you want to try it, Petsmart is running a sale on the Raw Boost until the 31st. 20 percent off the 14 oz bag and 3/$5 for the trial bags. 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Nature's Variety. The opinions and text are all mine.

#MixItUp with Instinct® Raw Boost® Mixers and Add Raw to Your Dog's Diet

If Mr. N were King of the Forest, he would decree that all dogs be fed raw. Sadly (for him anyway), he is not. He declines to eat kibble and has been thriving on raw food. Raw-fed dogs can experience benefits like better digestion, healthy skin and coat, and more energy and vitality. But feeding raw can be time-consuming and burdensome and take over all your freezer space. Especially if you don't have a separate chest freezer, even for small dogs like Mr. N.

This post is sponsored by Instinct® and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Instinct® Raw Boost® Mixers but Tenacious Little Terrier only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Instinct is not responsible for the content of this article.

If you want to try out raw food without sacrificing all your freezer space, Instinct® Raw Boost® Mixers is an easy way to add raw to your dog's diet. It is grain-free, gluten-free and can be used as a mixer or topper for your dog's normal canned or dry food. No need to add water. You can check out their website HERE. 

At Petsmart, Mr. N's nose led him right to the raw food section. The Raw Boost mixers are located with the other Instinct products, next to the freezer. It comes in three different sizes (1 oz, 6 oz, 14 oz). The trial-sized bags are great for picky pups like You-Know-Who and are 1.99 each or 3 for $5. The large bags are currently on sale for 20 percent off. The protein choices include chicken, beef, turkey and lamb for dogs and rabbit and chicken for cats. We picked up a bag of the lamb for Mr. N. I like to rotate proteins as much as possible and lamb is the hardest out of those to find.

We first started feeding freeze-dried raw as a convenient way to feed raw during travel. The Raw Boost Mixers are handy for travel as you just open the bag and serve. You store them at room temperature and they're good to go. Mr. N will taste test the food and give his gourmand opinion in a few weeks. I hope to train a new trick with them as well. 

Are you thinking about adding raw food to your dog's diet or do you feed raw already? You can learn more about Instinct on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Nature's Variety. The opinions and text are all mine.