Raw food and aggression?

[Kendrick]

I have been researching on a RAW diet for my GSD and my wife is being stubborn on the fact that raw meat for Mercedes will make her aggressive towards people and our kids. Is this true? I've read many myths but I am curious on if anyone has seen a change in their dog as far as aggressive behavior. Or any positive changes? Thanks!

[Elaine]

Yes, this is yet another myth. Dogs can become people aggressive for many reasons, but what they are eating isn't one of them.

[onyx'girl]

Absolutely false!!! If anything, raw diet will make the dog a bit calmer, because it isn't loaded with carbs or fillers that can turn to sugar.
Many dogs that transition to raw have a calmer attitude than kibble fed dogs.
And it won't make them more prey driven either. Their satisfaction to chew will be taken care of, so having chew toys out constantly isn't necessary either.

[Jax08]

What Jane said. ^^^^

[Verivus]

Raw food will not make your dog aggressive. Where do people come up with these things...

[Anja1Blue]

This topic has been raised multiple times, perhaps it should be a Sticky. There are so many benefits to feeding a raw diet - I can only believe that this old chestnut must have been started by a kibble company.
_____________________________________________
Susan

Anja SchH3 GSD
Conor GSD
Blue BH WH T1 GSD - waiting at the Bridge

[Dainerra]

I no longer feed raw (don't have reliable sources), but Rayden was fed that way for a large part of his life. His diet included rabbit....


Lauri has posted tons of pics of her dogs in other threads about this topic

[Kendrick]

Originally Posted by Verivus

Raw food will not make your dog aggressive. Where do people come up with these things...

I first heard this when I was younger to be honest. I have always believed it because my dad used to tell me all the time.. My wife brought it up last night and it just seems to stick to me every time I hear it. Mercedes is my only REAL dog I have EVER had. So I do my best to research as much as possible. (I love to research anyway.. Just for the heck of it.) My dad told me when he was younger, they, him and his many siblings, had a dog that they fed raw meat and gun powder too. Which this was back in the 60's and in Detroit Michigan, in the GHETTO. Since then, my dad has never allowed me to really have any pets but a bird... (My dad is allergic to a lot of pet dander which didnt help that situation.) So yeah. ANY WHO. He said it made the dog mean and vicious. Well, I am sure the way the dog was treated contributed to its behavior and the gunpowder for sure. But I don't know. Mercedes is spoiled and I am curious on changing her food because we have her dry food. But she will only eat it now if she has some type of gravy on it. She will tear up the canned food but the dry, or Kibble, is just something she will eat when she gets hungry. But I know there are a lot of beneficial reasons to feed your dog raw food. Cost is another thing I was thinking of too. Been looking for butchers in the area to see what the best deal is honestly......

[Kendrick]

Originally Posted by Dainerra

I no longer feed raw (don't have reliable sources), but Rayden was fed that way for a large part of his life. His diet included rabbit....

That made me laugh. But the rabbit would be dead already right? He wouldn't just kill them like, out of that basket would he?
What do you mean by reliable sources? Just trying to get as much info from as many people.

[Verivus]

Well, I commend you for doing some research because as you can see in this thread (and several others) raw is the most species-appropriate diet AND will not make a dog aggressive. It can be expensive though if you are mostly sourcing from grocery stores or butchers. Try to find a raw feeding group in your area and some processors who would be willing to give you parts they normally toss. Buying in bulk and having a dog-dedicated freezer also helps a lot. Good luck!