BARF diet + raw dog food: A guide for beginners

What is a BARF food diet for dogs? 

BARF typically stands for ‘Biologically Appropriate Raw Food’. However, it can also be an acronym for ‘Bones and Raw Food’. The science behind the BARF raw dog food diet is based on the types of food that dogs would naturally eat in the wild.

Processed commercial food, like dry dog food, include many unnecessary ingredients, some that can be detrimental to canine health. Instead, a BARF diet includes species-appropriate raw ingredients, helping to enhance nutrition and maintain health. (1)

What is raw feeding for dogs? 

Raw feeding for dogs refers to the practice of feeding dogs on raw meat, bones and offal – often with a small amount of vegetables and berries included, to closely mimic the diet that dogs evolved to eat.

What is in raw dog food?

The 3 main components of raw dog food are:

• Quality protein, bone and organ/offal
• Veg and berries
• Superfoods

Each ingredient has a purpose and nutritional benefit that can help dogs to maintain great health.

Quality protein and bone 

The majority of your dog’s raw food will be made up of protein, as this is what they are designed to eat. 80% is the minimum you want to look for in a healthy raw dog food (just like Bella+Duke raw dog food).

Beef, duck, turkey, chicken, lamb, salmon, and white fish are common ingredients in a BARF raw dog food diet. Often these include:

1. Mince
2. Tripe Heart
3. Kidney
4. Trachea
5. Spleen
6. Liver

Packed with easily digestible proteins, consuming a variety of raw meats gives dogs access to a range of micronutrients, essential fats, vitamins, and minerals, without losing their goodness through cooking.

The best approach to protein in raw dog food is to use the whole animal. This ensures your pet is eating a full spectrum and wide variety of different nutrients, amino acids, quality fats, and vitamins, which they need to maintain good health throughout their life.

The role of offal when raw feeding a dog 

Offal or organ meats are the internal organs of an animal and represent some of the most nutrient-rich food on the planet. Offal is jam-packed not only with essential amino acids but also loaded with vitamins and minerals. This makes it a very important part of a raw food diet for dogs. 

Veg and berries

Raw berries and vegetables are rich in antioxidants, enzymes, and phytonutrients that are beneficial for dogs’ health.

Examples of berries and vegetables that can be part of a BARF raw dog food diet include:

• Carrots
• Raspberries
• Blueberries
• Broccoli
• Kale
• Brussel sprouts
• Cabbage

These can help dogs to absorb plenty of vitamins and minerals through their diet.

Apart from the antioxidant benefits, the soluble and insoluble fibres in the fruit and veg components help grow good gut bacteria and maintain gut motility. Fibre is a great way to help keep your dogs anal glands healthy too.

Superfoods in a BARF dog food diet

Superfoods that can be included in a BARF raw dog food diet:

• Kelp
• Turmeric
• Spirulina
• Ginger
• Black pepper

These nutrient-dense ingredients are high in amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, supporting natural immunity as well as keeping dogs’ digestive systems and joints healthy.

What is the 80-10-10 rule for raw dog food? 

80-10-10 refers to the ratio of meat, bone and organs that are typically used to make up a raw diet. Most people will aim for a starting ratio of 80% muscle meat (which can include things like tripe and heart), 10% bone and 10% secreting organs (half of which should be liver).

This is more of a guideline than a rule and can be adjusted to suit the individual dog. Some dogs, for example, may need less bone, but it is a useful starting point to ensure that the diet is broadly balanced.

What is the difference between 80-10-10 and complete?

While 80-10-10 gives us a useful starting point for a raw food diet, on its own 80-10-10 meals generally aren’t nutritionally complete, that is, they won’t provide all of the required nutrients at the required levels to be legally labelled as nutritionally complete. Often people using 80-10-10 aim for ‘balance over time’, that is, by providing a wide variety of different meats they hope that, over the course of a week or two, the dog will receive all the nutrients required for health. 

A complete meal will have been professionally formulated to ensure that all required nutrients are present at the required levels within each individual meal. Complete raw meals usually contain more than meat, bone and offal. Additions might include seasonal vegetables, berries, herbs, as well as a healthy source of omega-3. 

What are the guidelines for BARF feeding? 

When feeding a BARF diet for dogs, it’s important to ensure that you’re including muscle meat, bone and offal in the required quantities. It’s also important to ensure that a source of omega-3 is included.

Variety is also an important part of raw feeding. Each type of meat has its own nutritional profile and feeding a variety of different foods means that, over time, your dog is much more likely to receive the nutrients that they need. (2)

Feeding amounts are also important. Dogs shouldn’t be either over or under-fed. You can check a guideline feeding amount here – and this can then be adjusted as needed to suit your individual.

Is BARF a complete food?

It depends. Some BARF meals are nutritionally complete. Bella+Duke complete raw meals have been professionally formulated to ensure that every meal contains all of the nutrients your dog needs, and have been tested for nutritional completeness. All our complete meals are FEDIAF compliant meaning they are meeting FEDIAF’s nutritional guidelines. You can find comprehensive vitamin and mineral breakdowns of all our complete meals against those guidelines on our product pages, just like on our adult Grass-fed Beef raw dog food.

However, not all BARF meals will be complete, so it’s important to check labels to see if the food is labelled as ‘complete’ or ‘complementary’. Meals that are labelled as complementary don’t contain everything that’s needed to be considered complete. 

If you’re making your own BARF meals at home, it’s important to be aware that individual meals are unlikely to be complete. Most raw feeders who make their own food aim for ‘balance over time’.

Do you need to give your dog any supplements when feeding raw?

This depends on several factors. If you’re feeding a complete raw diet to a healthy dog, it’s unlikely that you’ll need to provide supplements. It’s not recommended to give supplements just for the sake of it, if they’re not needed. In many cases, it’s much better to get required nutrients from real food, rather than supplements. 

As with humans though, the need for supplements is a very individual thing. Some dogs may require them to target a specific health concern. For example, an older dog may need joint supplements.

If your dog is on a limited diet for any reason, allergies for example, or if you’re unable to source a variety of meats, you may also need to consider some supplementation. 

Is BARF free from grains?

As a general rule, raw food for dogs does not contain grains as raw feeders don’t consider these an appropriate ingredient for dogs. This includes grains such as wheat, barley, oats and rice.

It is important to be aware, however, that raw food will usually contain some ingredients that have themselves been fed on grains and this may be an issue for a few dogs who are extremely sensitive to grains. 

Is raw dog food good for dogs?

We believe that raw food is the healthiest option a dog can eat as it’s closely based on what they’ve evolved to eat. For any species, their evolutionary diet is the most appropriate, and healthy for them as that’s what they’re optimised to digest. (3)

Dogs fed on raw food tend to have smaller, firmer (and less smelly!) stools, which reflects improved digestion. Coats tend to be soft and shiny, a reflection of inner health.

What are the benefits of raw dog food?

There are many benefits to feeding your dog raw food. One of the first things people usually comment on is the smaller and less smelly stools as digestion improves. This also helps express dogs’ anal glands preventing blockages.

Other benefits include better weight management, shiner coats (4) and brighter eyes. The reduced carbohydrate in the diet also helps to maintain dental health. 

And benefits aren’t just limited to physical health. Many of our customers report calmer dogs, with better focus.

What age does a dog need to be to start raw feeding?

Dogs can start eating raw food at any age and puppies can be weaned on to it. Good nutrition is the foundation for health and starting a puppy off with the best food possible helps to protect their long term health.

At the other end, it’s never too late to start a dog on raw food, supporting an older dog with great nutrition can help to keep them as healthy as possible, for as long as possible. A diet high in good quality and easily digested protein can help to mitigate the muscle loss that’s often seen in older dogs. 

Is raw dog food safe?

Food safety is a common and valid concern when it comes to raw feeding and it’s something we take very seriously. In line with UK regulations, all of our food is tested before being sent to you. Bella+Duke ingredients are frozen at source to minimise bacterial contamination and are tested for harmful bacteria on arrival with us. They’re then quarantined in dedicated freezers, and will only be used in the food once results from the lab indicate that they are safe (anything that has a positive result for harmful bacteria would be destroyed).

Food remains frozen throughout the process and each finished batch is then tested again, and stored in freezers until the results are back and only sent onto you once results are back and we know that it’s safe (again, any food that tests positive will result in the batch being destroyed).

We’re very proud to be one of the first UK raw food manufacturers to have been awarded the RawSafe accreditation (5). Confirmation that our food is produced to the highest industry standards, and we’re the only UK manufacturer to be both RawSafe and UK Pet Food Raw Food Manufacturer accredited. 

Of course, it is raw meat so care in handling should be taken. Wash hands and utensils, and wipe down surfaces, pick up and wash bowls when your dog has finished eating and teach the kids not to touch the dogs bowl (unless they’re helping at mealtimes, under supervision)

What are the myths related to raw feeding?

You may have heard a number of myths related to raw feeding for example: 

• Raw feeding is messy: Yes, raw feeding can be messy, but it doesn’t have to be. Buying a ready prepared raw dog food keeps things simple, and means you simply have to defrost and serve. 
• Fussy eaters don’t like raw food: Because raw feeding provides variety, it can help to keep fussy eaters interested. And there are lots of tips to help if you do find your dog needs encouragement. There are some great toppers that can be added to raw food to help encourage your dog to eat as well. 
• Raw food makes dogs aggressive: You may have heard that raw food gives dogs ‘a taste for blood’ This is completely untrue. There are many reasons for aggression in dogs and we would recommend speaking with a behaviourist if this is something you’re struggling with. 
• Only certain breeds can eat raw food: You might have been told that only large dogs, or particular breeds, are suited to a raw food diet however there are options available for dogs of all shapes and sizes! 
• Raw feeding is expensive: While raw feeding can be expensive, it certainly doesn’t have to be and the cost can compare favourably with other types of dog food. Find out more about the cost of raw dog food.

How much raw food should you feed your dog?

The starting point for how much to feed your dog will be based on their age and weight. Adult dogs generally require between 2 and 3% of their body weight in raw food each day, and that percentage is higher for growing puppies.

As a general guidance, here’s how much raw food adult and senior dogs should be fed:

And here’s how much raw food should puppies be fed:

Keep in mind that recommended amounts are a guideline. Use them as a starting point, and then adjust the amount, if you need to, to suit your individual dog. 

You can use our calculator to check the recommended amount or you can go through our questionnaire to get a customised feeding amount for your individual dog based on their age, breed, activity level, and more. Start our quiz here!

Raw dog food vs kibble vs wet food – how do they compare?

Raw food compares favourably when it comes to recognisable ingredients, the amount of carbohydrates in the food (dogs have no nutritional requirement for carbohydrate) and high quality protein.

When compared to kibble, raw food is higher in moisture, recognisable ingredients and is much lower in carbohydrates. For a more detailed comparison, read our kibble vs raw dog food guide.

For some people, mixed feeding (feeding raw food alongside either kibble or wet food) may be the most suitable option and, if that’s something you think would work for you.

 The table below shows these comparisons:

What you should look for in your dog’s food	Bella+Duke	Kibble	Wet food
100% raw
Recognisable ingredients
Plenty of variety
Low carb levels
Protein packed to keep them fuller for longer
Bioavailable, easy to digest ingredients
Frozen for natural freshness

What is the best raw dog food? 

In many ways the best raw dog food is the one that best suits your individual dog. 

Bella+Duke raw dog food is the highest rated dog food in the UK on the All About Dog Food comparison site reflecting our commitment to quality ingredients and healthy recipes. This means that we’ve achieved the highest nutritional rating not only across raw food, but across all types of dog food. 

Why choose Bella+Duke?

There are many reasons to choose Bella+Duke raw food for your dog. As we’ve already mentioned, we’re rated highest on the All About Dog Food site and that’s just one great reason. 

Our subscription service makes managing your orders simple, with food arriving at your door when you need it, while our variety means your dog doesn’t get bored with the same food each day. And then there’s the health benefits. Who doesn’t want small, firm poos when it comes to pick up time? And that gorgeous shiny coat that you can’t help wanting to stroke. 

Not only that, as a Bella+Duke subscriber you get access to additional support: 24/7 vet support from Vidivet, access to our in-house nutritional advisor and vet nurses, and support from our expert team in our friendly, online community, The Pack. When you join Bella+Duke, you’re not just ordering dog food, you’re joining a family. 

References

1. Anturaniemi (o.s. Roine), Johanna & Zaldivar-Lopez, Sara & Moore, Robin & Kosola, Mikko & Sankari, Satu & Barrouin-Melo, Stella Maria & Hielm-Björkman, Anna. (2020). The effect of a raw vs dry diet on serum biochemical, hematologic, blood iron, B 12 , and folate levels in Staffordshire Bull Terriers. Veterinary Clinical Pathology. 49. 10.1111/vcp.12852.
2. Raw feeding in dogs and cats, Craig, J M, 2019/12/02, doi: 10.12968/coan.2018.0068, Companion Animal, 578. 584, 24, 11, https://doi.org/10.12968/coan.2018.0068
3. Heikkilä, T., Pernu, N., Kovanen, S., & Kivistö, R. (2017). Raw Meat-Based Diets in Dogs and Cats. Veterinary Sciences, 4(3), 33. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci4030033
4. M. Hemida, M. B., Salin, S., Vuori, K. A., Moore, R., Anturaniemi, J., Rosendahl, S., Barrouin-Melo, S. M., & Hielm-Björkman, A. (2021). Puppyhood diet as a factor in the development of owner-reported allergy/atopy skin signs in adult dogs in Finland. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 35(5), 2374-2383. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16211
5. RawSafe Accreditation https://rawsafe.com/