Dogs Feeding Guide

Switching your dog to a raw diet is one of the best things you can do for their long-term health. Raw feeding mimics what dogs evolved to eat — whole proteins, fresh ingredients, and natural fats — without fillers, artificial preservatives, or mystery ingredients. This guide covers everything you need to feed raw with confidence, from working out how much to feed through to transitioning from kibble and rotating proteins.

How Much to Feed Your Dog

A good starting point is 2–3% of your dog's ideal body weight per day for adult dogs, split across one or two meals. Puppies need more — aim for at least 5% of their current body weight daily, spread across 3–4 meals. Use the table below as a guide, then adjust based on your dog's weight, energy, and coat condition.

These are general guidelines. Always adjust based on your individual dog. When in doubt, consult your vet or a pet nutritionist.

Transitioning from Kibble to Raw

Most dogs can switch to raw food without issue, but a gradual transition helps avoid digestive upset — especially for dogs who have eaten processed food their whole lives. Follow this simple plan over 7–10 days:

• Days 1–3: 75% kibble, 25% raw. Start with a single protein — Chicken is the gentlest option.
• Days 4–6: 50% kibble, 50% raw. Watch for loose stools and slow down if needed.
• Days 7–9: 25% kibble, 75% raw.
• Day 10+: 100% raw.

Some dogs — particularly younger, healthier ones — can switch cold turkey with no issues at all. If your dog has a sensitive stomach or a history of digestive problems, take it slower. It's also normal to see some detox symptoms in the first few weeks (loose stools, increased shedding, eye discharge) as their body adjusts — these typically resolve within 2–3 weeks.

Important: Don't mix raw and kibble in the same meal. They digest at different rates, so feed them at separate meal times during the transition.

Protein Rotation Guide

Feeding a single protein long-term can lead to nutritional gaps and, occasionally, food sensitivities. Rotating proteins gives your dog a broader nutritional profile and keeps meals interesting. We stock six Raw4Paws proteins — here's a guide to each:

• Chicken — The most popular and most economical option. An excellent all-rounder suitable for all life stages, and the ideal introduction to raw feeding thanks to its mild, highly digestible profile.
• Beef — Grass-fed and a rich source of iron. Suitable for adult dogs and puppies — particularly well suited to very active dogs, growing pups, and working or agility breeds who need sustained energy.
• Lamb — Pasture-raised and free from chemicals, grains, and antibiotics. A red muscle meat that's actually leaner than our Chicken recipe. Suitable for all life stages and a solid rotation choice.
• Turkey — The ideal alternative for dogs with a chicken allergy or intolerance. Suitable for all life stages with a clean, lean nutritional profile.
• Kangaroo — Wild-harvested Australian game meat, free-range and organic by nature. Microchipped and inspected for quality. The leanest protein we stock — ideal for dogs who are overweight and need to shed a few kilos.
• Goat — A novel red meat protein that's lean, low in saturated fat, and high in iron and protein. Well suited to dogs with food sensitivities or allergies. Note: not recommended for growing puppies due to its low fat content.

A simple approach is to rotate proteins every 1–2 weeks, or feed different proteins on alternating days. There's no single right way — the key is variety over time.

Feeding Puppies

Raw feeding is excellent for puppies — it supports healthy bone development, strong immunity, and a digestive system built for real food from day one.

• Start with Chicken. It's the gentlest protein and the easiest to digest. Beef is a good second introduction.
• Feed 4–5% of body weight daily, split across 3–4 meals. Little and often is key.
• Adjust as they grow. Weigh your puppy every 2–3 weeks and increase portions accordingly — during growth spurts they may need more.
• Avoid Goat while your dog is still growing — its low fat content makes it unsuitable for puppies. Hold off on Kangaroo until at least 6 months, once their digestive system is more established.
• Large breed puppies: Raw4Paws recipes meet NRC and FEDIAF nutritional standards for all life stages including growth. If you have a large or giant breed, speak with your vet about calcium-to-phosphorus ratios.

Most puppies take to raw feeding enthusiastically. If yours is hesitant at first, try warming the food slightly to enhance the aroma — it usually does the trick.

Storage and Thawing

Raw4Paws comes frozen. Keep it frozen until needed, then thaw in the fridge overnight. Never thaw on the bench or in hot water. Once thawed, use within 3 days and don't refreeze. Both 1kg tubs and 200g rolls thaw reliably overnight for most dogs' daily portions.

Shop Raw4Paws →