Note: this text is informative and does not replace veterinary care. Before changing your dog's diet — especially for puppies, pregnant or nursing bitches, or dogs with health issues — consult your veterinarian, ideally a veterinary nutritionist.
- A dog does not need one particular "type" of food, but a complete and balanced diet — all nutrients in the right proportions.
- Three main methods: raw (BARF), home-cooked and kibble. Each has pros and cons.
- The most practical and reliably balanced choice is quality kibble; cooked is good with supplements and a proper recipe; raw demands the most knowledge and hygiene.
When I started breeding, dog nutrition honestly confused me. Every "camp" claims its way is the only right one. So I sat down, read the expert sources and sorted it out. This is part one; in part two I write about feeding by life stage — puppies, adults, and pregnant and nursing bitches.
What "complete and balanced" means
Whether we feed raw, cooked or dry food, the meal must give the dog everything it needs each day: protein (muscles, skin, coat, immunity), fat with essential fatty acids (energy, a lovely coat, brain development), carbohydrates and fibre, vitamins and minerals, and of course water. The key is that these nutrients are in the right proportions — not merely present, but balanced.
That is why the term "complete & balanced" food exists: it means the daily meal covers all needs in the right amounts and ratios. The two most common slip-ups are an incorrect calcium : phosphorus ratio and a shortage (or excess) of some vitamin or mineral — which, sadly, often shows only after months.
The terms, cleared up
- BARF — a raw meal of meat, edible bones and offal, with BARF also including vegetables and supplements. The acronym means "biologically appropriate raw food" or "bones and raw food"; the approach was popularised by vet Ian Billinghurst.
- PMR (Prey Model Raw) — a raw variant mimicking prey; almost only meat, bone and offal, without plant food.
- Home-cooked — fresh, cooked food that we complete with supplements.
- Kibble — dry, extruded food (the most common form).
- Wet food (cans) and dehydrated/freeze-dried are in-between options.
Raw (BARF and Prey Model)
Advocates highlight a shinier coat, smaller stools, more energy and cleaner teeth. I should say, though, that these benefits are largely unproven — there are no long-term studies (Freeman et al., 2013).
The risks, however, are well documented: nutritional imbalance (in one European study 60% of home raw meals had major deficiencies), bacteria (Salmonella found in 20–48% of commercial raw diets — a risk to people in the household too), and bone injuries. BARF and PMR share the same risks; they differ in that BARF includes plant food and supplements, while PMR does not.
Home-cooked food
Cooking destroys most bacteria, so it is safer than raw, and you have full control over ingredients. The main trap is that most online recipes are not nutritionally complete: in a study of 200 recipes the vast majority had at least one deficiency (Stockman et al., 2013). So cooked food is done right only with vitamin-mineral supplements and a recipe prepared by a veterinary nutritionist.
Kibble (dry food)
Quality kibble from reputable makers is formulated to be complete and balanced for a given life stage — its biggest advantage — and it is practical, safe and usually the most affordable. Downsides: high processing, low water content and large quality differences between products. How to choose good kibble I cover in detail in part three.
With my own dogs I combine quality kibble with raw food — I use Platinum, with whom I also partner. Every dog is its own story, so discuss the right balance and choice with your vet.
A quick comparison
| Criterion | Raw / BARF | Cooked | Kibble |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balance (as usually done) | often not | only with supplements | yes (with statement) |
| Safety from bacteria | lowest | high | high |
| Practicality | demanding | time-consuming | easiest |
| Need for a nutritionist | high | medium–high | low |
It is not about a "camp", but about completeness, balance, safety and suitability to the life stage.
In part two I look at which food suits puppies, adult dogs, and pregnant and nursing bitches best. To be continued.
Our nutrition partner 🐾PLATINUM — natural food with at least 70% fresh meatI feed my dogs Platinum combined with raw food. See the products and offers at platinum.si →References
Freeman LM, Chandler ML, Hamper BA, Weeth LP (2013). Current knowledge about the risks and benefits of raw meat–based diets for dogs and cats. JAVMA 243(11):1549–1558.
Stockman J, Fascetti AJ, Kass PH, Larsen JA (2013). Evaluation of recipes of home-prepared maintenance diets for dogs. JAVMA 242(11):1500–1505.
FEDIAF. Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs.
NRC (2006). Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats. National Academies Press.
WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee. Global Nutrition Guidelines; Guidelines on Selecting Pet Foods.
VCA Animal Hospitals. Nutritional Considerations for Large and Giant Breed Dogs.
Purina Pro Club. Canine Nutrition During Pregnancy and Lactation.
The Kennel Club. Feeding mum from whelping to weaning.
Note: this text does not replace veterinary care; for specific decisions (especially calcium in pregnant bitches) follow your veterinarian's advice.
