Fair enough! Thanks, Bev!!

Was going to stop around 6 months, too.

Texas Belle said,
“Hey welcome Roz!!! I was feeding EVO and loved it, but found another food that is not yet widely on the market that is awesome so I changed.”

Hi Belle. Could you please explain how any kibbled dog food is “awesome” when compared to another brand of kibbled dog food? What does that mean exactly? And, finally, how is any kibble (which is processed and cooked to the point most of the key nutrients are lost, and to where all of the natural enzymes are obliterated) is “awesome” compared to raw food items? For example, would it be fair to say that the nutrition value of a totally-cooked French fry is “awesome” compared to the wholesome, natural potato it once was? Or would it be more accurate to say that the processed and cooked French fry is, in fact, a totally-devalued relic of what the wholesome, natural potato started out as?

All kibbled dog foods are nutritionally-inferior to the wholesome, raw ingredients they originally started out as. Not only are they inferior, they are more expensive. If you do the math, Innova Evo and all the rest of these “designer kibbles” can be anywhere from $2/lb-$5/lb, which is far more expensive than any intelligently-planned raw diet. And not only are they more expensive, they are woefully-inferior in quality to a proper raw diet.

Feeding kibble simply unbalances a dog, for kibble is nutritionally bankrupt as well as bankrupt of life-giving water. Any raw feeder will tell you that their dogs hardly drink water at all … while any feeder of Innova Evo will observe their dogs scarfing-up water all day long, every day of their perpetually-dehydrated lives.

Texas Belle said,
“Raw is tough to feed because it is almost impossible to get the right proportions of vitamins, minerals, protein, fat, etc. especially for a high performance dog couple that with the time to prepare and every time I look at a raw diet I decide against it.”

This is a common misconception that is repeated by people who are essentially too lazy to feed raw. A properly-balanced raw diet is easy to feed, if a person but takes the time to educate themselves on the subject.

The truth is, every animal on this earth is biologically-designed to eat raw foods. Cows eat raw grass, birds eat raw seeds (insects, rodents, etc.). Wolves eat raw, whole animals. Etc., etc. You can plug-in whatever kind of animal you like, and it was biologically-designed to eat some specific food item (or set of food items) RAW.

Even when we humans cook our meats, we do not cook meat down to looking like bone-dry kibble. We cook our meat only enough to kill any parasites, but we leave it essentially with most of its moisture still intact. I mean, can you imagine feeding your children, or yourself, bone-dry kibbled pellets all their lives? Can you imagine cooking fish or chicken to a burned crisp, and then eating all meats like this, for life, and expecting to be healthy? Does anyone really think cooking your own food items to the degree dog kibble is cooked would be as healthy as eating fresh, raw foods? To suggest that this “may be so” is simply insane. And yet MOST people do this to their dogs … they feed them totally devalued, bone-dry kibble … and then they scratch their heads and wonder why their animals start falling apart with skin problems, thyroid issues, etc. at middle-age and beyond. Guess what? It's the food

.

Let me add some things you have left out Jack about feeding raw.  Not all dogs benefit from it especially if they have health issues, also healthy dogs can get sick from old raw food if you are not careful.

Your statement of you just do not want to take the time:  Well I tried it and let me tell you when you travel in a motorhome and your space is limited and you are feeding 4 big dogs and 2-3 adults it is not laziness it is a matter of reality.

With raw or making of your own food you still need to make sure that the dog is getting the essence vitamins it needs.

My solution is a combination of kibble & cooked meat.

What is great is that we all feed our dogs what we are confortable with and coming on here slamming people for doing what they are comfortable with really is not nice or called.

Well, fed my first raw food to the dogs tonight.  Maple the GSP and Wonder the lab both gulped the piece of chicken thigh I gave them without even chewing it I think.  Guess it should be a larger piece.  Then Splash the border collie who is much more wolf like definitely took his time, growled when any of the dogs got close and chewed his up before swallowing.  He needs it most.  His teeth show the most tarter as he will not chew on rawhide chews.  Whereas as Maple and Wonder love to chew on rawhide.

Will see how it goes with the chicken and will venture some from there.  I am still going to feed some kibble because on the road, it will just make it so much easier and well, they love the kibble too at least the grain free red meat Evo.

Texas Belle said,
"Black Book, not even worth a response beyond saying the proof IMHO is in the dogs health, how they look, how they feel, and how they perform."

My Response:
Hello again, Belle. If my post was not worth a response, why did you respond? Perhaps the truth is more like, you really have no factual rebuttal for my response ... because there is none. The facts are, quite simply, dried kibble is not as nutritious as the wholesome raw foods they started out as. The kibbling process destroys most of the food value.

Second, regarding performance and looks, I do agree that looks and performance can be an "indication" of health ... but so too in longevity. The true measure a quality diet is how long dogs are able to maintain their health, good looks, and ability to perform. For example, a genetically-superior person may look great early in life, even if s/he eats junk food, and their athletic ability may remain superior to a non-athlete on even the best diet simply because of their God-given abilities. However, in the long-term, the genetically-superior person will still fall apart, appearance-wise and health-wise, much quicker if they remain on a junk food diet than they would if fed optimal nutrition. Again, there really is nothing to debate about this, and this same truth holds for dogs also. Thus how a dog "looks" when the photo is of a young, vibrant animal can be deceiving. It's how long that animal can remain young-looking, healthy, and vibrant that matters ...

Texas Belle said,
"I still maintain that there are excellent kibbles out there and they are balanced with the right nutrients, minerals and vitamins which is hard to do with raw even if you are a nutritionist. So, you keep your opinion and I will keep mine."

My Response:
There is no kibble being offered that is as nutritionally-complete in its dry, finished form as it started out being in its raw, natural form. That is the simple truth that you apparently choose not to acknowledge. A person doesn't have to be a degreed nutritionist to understand this basic concept; all a person has to be is moderately-educated and honest. Dry pellets are simply not as nutritious as the raw foods they started out as. You seem to think this basic truth is a matter of "opinion," but it is simply a matter of fact.

Texas Belle said,
"By the way I have posted many pictures of my dogs on this forum and I have not seen one picture of your dogs. A dog's health can be measured by their looks to a good degree, so put your money where your mouth is and post some pictures and let us judge for ourselves."

Response:
I will gladly take that "Pepsi Challenge" with you or anyone else. I am not sure how appropriate that is on this forum, as my breed of choice is not the GSP, but since you asked here you go:

6 Weeks

8 Weeks

15 Months

5 Years (and after 4 litters)

6 Years

9 Years

12 Years

You can have a seat now about whose dogs look like what

Texas Belle said,
"Oh and please refrain from calling me lazy or not wanting to hassle with my dogs when you do not even know me. State your opinion if you want, but please keep the name calling and personal attacks to yourself."

My Response:
I am truly sorry if you feel I was calling you names, I didn't mean to do this in an insulting way. I try my best to deal in facts, and the fact is if someone chooses NOT to do their best (because of the time it takes to do so), and instead chooses to take an easier route that is not as good as the best methods (but they choose this anyway, simply because it involves less effort), then the fact is that person is lazy ... when compared to the person who does take the time and who does make the effort to do their very best.

Again, I honestly don't mean to offend, but this is simply a fact of life. What other word would you have me use?

Sincerely,

Jack

PS: I will now make the effort to respond to some of these other false statements and assumptions, so please bear with me ... thank you.

.

Therozypozy said,
"Well, I started this thread and I am afraid that 'Little Black Book' is just trying to sell his book. You seem to be an extremist and for me your opinion of feeding raw vs. kibble will be weighted as such. You say on your website you were taught the art of debate. Your response on this forum has been anything but artful."

My Response:
I am trying to sell my book, this is true. And I sell it as the best information available for true sporting dogs, and you are welcome to read the hundreds of testimonials regarding this fact. If you are implying that I am trying to sell anything but the best information I can, you are simply mistaken. I could just as easily recommend kibble, but that is not the best information on how to feed. The best information involves feeding raw.

And, yes again, I am an extremest. If you like half-measures for yourself, or for your dogs, then feeding "the same kibble every day' would be one of the many half-measures to express this about yourself. However, if you want to do the absolute very best you possibly can for your animals, then feeding a rotational raw diet is the way to go.

As for my "artfulness," I am not one to beat around the bush. I try my best to state the facts as plainly as possible.

Thank you,

Jack

.

I think you emailed me last week about this, and I tried to give you this information.

I do provide an example on my site, actually (under the "sample chapter" of the appropriate chapter) that is available for download. It is far too large to be put here, however.

I am also working on a "Sporting Dog Blog" where I will discuss such things in greater depth.

So I hope this helps for now,

Jack

.

Gsp-Fan
"Let me add some things you have left out Jack about feeding raw.  Not all dogs benefit from it especially if they have health issues, also healthy dogs can get sick from old raw food if you are not careful."

My Response:
All dogs benefit from being raw-fed. All dogs are biologically-designed to eat raw flesh. There is no dog alive that can "get sick" from eating raw food. If a dog is sick already, that is usually the result of a lifetime being fed kibble. I have fed hundreds of dogs, for more than two decades, and have never had a dog "get sick" by eating raw. However, in the beginning of my career (before I knew enough to feed raw), I watched many dogs "get sick" and break down due to eating dry, kibbled pellets---especially corn- and wheat-based kibbles. That is what started my quest on feeding correctly, which I later learned is a raw diet. The truth is, any dog who "gets sick" by eating raw was already sick to begin with. Raw food is not going to do anything but benefit a healthy animal.

Gsp-Fan
"Your statement of you just do not want to take the time:  Well I tried it and let me tell you when you travel in a motorhome and your space is limited and you are feeding 4 big dogs and 2-3 adults it is not laziness it is a matter of reality."

My Response:
As I said, feeding kibble is designed for human convenience, not canine nutrition. You simply prove this with your statement, as your story above isn't about optimal nutrition, it's about the inconvenience of feeding raw while traveling. Sure, some kibbles are better than others, but the simple fact is no dry kibble is as nutritious as the raw, moist foods it originally started out as. That is the reality.

Gsp-Fan
"With raw or making of your own food you still need to make sure that the dog is getting the essence vitamins it needs."

My Response:
Which is very easy to do, actually.

Gsp-Fan
"My solution is a combination of kibble & cooked meat."

My Response:
Partially-cooked meats are better than kibble, but the most nutritous meats are raw meats, especially organ meats. Remember though, feeding raw bones has to be done also. This is essential to maintaining the proper calcium:phosphorous ratio. Feeding meats alone is a no-no, raw or cooked. Dogs should be eating bones too.

As for your combo of "kibble and meats," this is like adding a McDonald's burger to an organic salad and meal. Such a combination may be better than eating processed McDonald's food alone, but it is still not as good as forgetting about the fast food altogether, and simply enjoying an organic meal.

Gsp-Fan
"What is great is that we all feed our dogs what we are confortable with and coming on here slamming people for doing what they are comfortable with really is not nice or called."

My Response:
If the subject of this discussion were "feed what you like to feed," then I do agree anyone can do as they please.

However, if the subject is optimal canine nutrition, and feeding the very best diet one can for their animals, then I respectfully disagree with you, and I submit that this is not a "matter of opinion" at all. It is a matter of fact that feeding raw is optimal.

In closing, I have said my peace on this subject and was only trying to help. It is a very passionate subject for me, and I take it very seriously. I don't mean to be unfriendly at all, I am just very serious about this subject  

Thanks and take care,

Jack

.

I'm not that familiar with pit bulls, but is it just me or do the photos from 15 months to 9 years old look underweight, have uneven muscle tone, and dull coats?