A study, two male litter mates Raw/Kibble diet and progress reports...

[Lauri & The Gang]

Raw fed puppies have a tendency to grow slower than kibble fed ones. This slow growth is GOOD as it puts less strain on joints.

[Verivus]

Having a variety per each meal versus having one protein per meal doesn't make a difference in terms of raw feeding. I've done both ways. Does it really matter how big each puppy is at 14 weeks? They grow so much during this stage anyway. I wouldn't really care until they're closer to the 1 year mark.

[lone Ranger]

Originally Posted by Lauri & The Gang

Raw fed puppies have a tendency to grow slower than kibble fed ones. This slow growth is GOOD as it puts less strain on joints.

Lauri, this is really no proof in any way, but interestingly in horses a grass and luscent (I think you call it alfalfa) fed horse will grow slower than a grain fed up one. Further, there is also some discussion that the slower growth is again stronger. They do it for the three year old Futurity horses, but like in a Quarter Horse they really grow a little till 5 or 6 y.o.

Laurie & The Gang, I am hoping this is true, what you say. It is a major motivation for me going Raw, never having done it, I want the "Love to Last"... So to speak..

Thank you Verivus, I am trying different things, and the different protein per meal seems to spark more interest from my pup. A full mix, and he picks out what is in fashion and leaves some of the rest.. I think it might even be easier to run all one type.. Thank you for your response, I am coming around to the Vet guess that "14 week X 2 plus 10 pounds" is out the window on Raw...

Kind regards from Oz

[lone Ranger]

Update:
The Breeder of my male "Wolf Caesar" brought his litter mate for the weekend. He was wider in the hips, longer in the snout and slightly more developed. While it could be the diet, it could also be the exercise as he has other dogs to play with hard. It could also just be chance or be just Genetics, but so far the Purist Raw diet is ahead. The lead may swap back and forth, I will report as noted..

Saw my new female pup yesterday, the mother is a strong Sable Police Trainers dog, and She is 48 kg and superfit at 8 y.o.. Father is the same, Defensive Attack Dog sort of 52 kg about 130 lbs, that is greatly respected in those circles. I put a deposit on what we call a bi-colour, Working Dog with Shutzhund background ancestors black with some gold highlights on legs and bum as there were no all black in the litter. I took the dog composition over the colour desires, as I was only lucky to get one of this bloodline. They are so strong, they are highly sought after..

We will continue the Study, as we both took female pups from a special Bloodline and will have two littermates of two matching Bloodlines each. I may use the kibble as a backup, or alternate meal once a week. Their Purist Diet littermate found a bucket of adult Nutro kibble, and went HOGWILD over it... I am inclined to think it is OK as an alternate meal or backup. Incidently Caesar had a dump today with Raw and Kibble, and now at 16 weeks seems to tolerate the mix. The dump was blackish Raw short sausage bits and one long brown log. He handled the mix just fine.

Will continue, hope it is a help, with two dogs of two bloodlines any consistances may be worth a little noting and interest.. Kind regards out "Dancing with Wolves" in Australia.

[lone Ranger]

Well, Wolf Caesar broke 50 lbs at 18 weeks... I hope it is true that the raw diet means slower growth, as I was hoping for a larger Dog than this growth rate indicates.. But I love him to death... Hoping to break the 100 lb mark.. We will wait and see.

So far he amazes everyone that sees him: At 18 weeks he Sits, lays down, stays, tries to herd, recalls very well, heels off leash, heel-stop-sit, knows spanish commands (spanish rare here for Australia) of OK it is good, leave it, here it is, Wolf Caesar is going well. I credit the RAW diet for his smart and calm response that makes for easy and quick learning, he is only a bit hyper-active after being given a kibble meal.

Here is my new puppy, his Breeding Partner hopefully, her Mom is a 110 lb Police Dog, Father is a 115 lb PPD Dog that has won some awards... Here she is at three weeks and I am in LOVE...



Now the Breeder of Wolf Caesar, not only nominated me for this puppy (all sold before they were born and I had "Pick Bitch" of the litter), anyway She took this Sable shown on the right.. She is the purist Raw person for this Thread Topic, where I am Raw backed with kibble. She took this Sable Female for her own breeding program, all the same reasons.. Aren't dey cute cute cute

This other female is the same bone size, biggest two of the litter, so we will continue with this long term study... In Your Best Interests...




Kind regards from the lone Ranger, in Australia....

[lone Ranger]

Well, I am 4 hours drive out west in Australia, with a horse and my Big Rig Horse Float with my Pup Wolf Caesar visiting his Breeder. They have five GSDs and a litter on the way, two very old rescue none GSDs they have saved with the RAW diet, and to cap off this progress report here are the results of the two "Litter Mates" size and development at 5 1/2 Months (almost)...

Caesar has caught up with his littermate Ollie. Both are gorgeous. Now their are on a strict RAW meat diet, Ox heart, beef, chicken, lamb, pork, a big variety, and they are real believers. To see their dogs, you would be too. Their dogs are more full bodied than normal, with good meat muscle coverage on their ribs, not fat, just large. Caesar and Ollie are both lean as they should be, all mock fighting in a big six dog "Wolf Pack" having a blast. Here are the final conclusions and decisions on my part:

Conclusions: Hundreds of pups, all very healthy long lived dogs, they DO know what they are talking about...
1) Kibble makes early growth, probably too fast for proper joint development. Raw diet slows that down a little, and they do not have dysplasia problems. Vets don't like them, as they are not regular customers with all their dogs.. heh he..
2) Good grade of kibble, is still bad for them, the fillers, preservatives, and quality of ingredients and fillers shortens their lives. I am convinced of this. I have saved the life of my 10 y.o. GSD Alpha Male, Testimonial in the adult RAW/Barf section...
3) Raw diet is potentially slower development, (I think so) but stronger joints. Further it gives them healthy teeth and strong bones and bolsters their immune systems.
4) I will use kibble, the best I can get, Nutro chicken or lamb and rice, but only as a backup when on the road, or extreme convenience sake.. Very little...
5) The dogs odour on Raw is near nil. Doggy smell is from the kibble. My pup on RAW, smells like a baby, good on the nose.. AMAZING... Even my 10 y.o. Alpha Male, stinky dog, complaints from Staff when I took him to work (I am the Boss), that he made the office to doggy smelling? Now near odourless on the Raw diet... No more complaints...
6) Longer term if you shop, get to know a Butcher, find your sources, RAW may actually be cheaper than the high grade of kibble.. Certainly in the long run as it is going to really cut down on Vets Bills and in some cases Chemotherapy..

7) And this is important, their 20 years of Breeding experience shows that you do not have to do twice a day feeding. Bloat they talk about on this Forum is primarily from kibble, a dry blockage as it absorbs water. These People only feed once a day from about 4-5 months, and no bloat or any problems in 20 years. They flatly state it has never happened on the RAW meat diet.. Boy am I glad of that as twice a day is a lot of work and clean up...

In conclusion, the RAW diet seems to make a healthier more long lived dog, with a better immune system, and does away with the cancer problems a lot of dogs have from 8-12 years of age. The Kibble kills our friends... My surrogate children now that mine are grown and gone.. The RAW meat diet IS BETTER. I am a Believer... No doubts now...

Kind regards, out on the "Last Frontier" in Australia, with horses and GSDs
"Dances with Wolves"

[lone Ranger]

Hello Fello GSD Lovers

Well, with this empirical study, real time between littermates, there are some interesting conclusions I have drawn:

Here they are, indistinguishable at birth except Caesar (right below) had a broader muzzle and seemed bigger boned, picked up on by my Breeder Authority... Here they are at five months, in the 60 + pound range, maybe 65 lbs..



Now here is the truth to that saying about 49 day old pups "What you see at 49 days, is what you get" about features and size... Caesar on the right was a heavier build (hardly could see it) now at 5 months his legs are 1 cm more in circumfrance measure in two places, above the elbow and above the fetlock, more than Ollie (on the left)... Caesar is likely to be a chunkier larger frame dog than Ollie.. Caesar was "Pick Male" of the litter...

I am 95% raw, don't know what to do with the puppy chow, I guess I will save it for a rainy day special need..

Here is the "Pick Bitch" of the other Working Dog line... I can do a similar study as the Breeder of Caesar took the second pick.. But I am sold, RAW is the way to go, stonger joints with slower growth, and I am convinced they will live longer... Kind regards, lone Ranger in Oz....