Can anyone tell me whether there are forums/chat groups for people with questions re. feeding BARF (i.e. other than Billinghurst's site where you have to pay money to take part!!!)? Also, I want to grind my meat+bones (I know, lots of people feed raw bones whole, but I don't want to do that) and if anyone else does the same, can they please tell me where they bought their mincer from that can handle the bones? The ones I've seen advertised are nearly £500 (for a 600W electric mincer). There's one on Northern Tools website for £198+VAT too (750Watt).
Kate

Hi Kate you can try these they are all on Yahoo Groups
BritBarf
rawdiet
k9health
k9nutrition
Can`t help on grinders as mine get bones & all but they were discussing grinders a while ago on britbarf so some one there should be able to help.
Christine2

I am sure there was a cheaper one at nothern tools that I heard was OK.

Pam

The cheaper one from Northern Tools was priced at £78.13 including vat and carriage. Apparently it states that it is not for bones but quite a few people on BritBarf said they regularly used it for bones with no problem at all.

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

I have been thinking about switching to Barf for ages now but I'm finding it difficult to get on and just do it ! I think my main stumbling blocks are lack of time (both to shop and prepare) and a worry that I won't know if the dogs are getting the right balance of protein/minerals etc. I have been trawling through a lot of the info on this board and seem to remember someone asking if a 'complete' barf product was available in frozen packs. I think someone replied that Ian Billinghurst had produced something on these lines. I just wondered if anyone had anyone managed to obtain any ? If so, what did they think of it ? Other details, such as price, availability etc would also be very useful.
Thanks,
Joyce

Anglian Meat products have brought out a freeflow Barf range, but I don't know the prices. Unfortunately you need to order a minimum amount £35 worth to get it deleivered, and I don't have the room in my freeezer. I think I will try and get my dad to take me to their Bristol depot, and see if I can't buy smaller quantites.

Hi Joyce, I think if you give them a varied diet over time you shouldn`t have to worry about nutrients & protein. Why don`t you join the groups & read what others do & maybe ask any questions you have first to see how others manage.
Christine2

Hi Joyce

I think we have been *brainwashed* by the dog food companies to believe that our dogs need a balanced meal at every meal

Humans don't require this and if you believe a what is available in newspapers etc then the opposite is the case in some instances. We probably balance our nutritional intake over months rather than hours, days or weeks so why should we not do the same for our dogs. Nor do we (most of us anyway) check that we are having all the foods, vitamins and minerals apparently necessary to our health every day.

Christine

Totally agree Christine.

I have been buying NatureDiet and Nature's Menu - not BARF but pretty much as near as you can get. Loads better than all the very commercially hyped foodstuffs I feel.

I also add apples, carrots, sardines etc.....

Sometimes the dog's dinner looks better than mine :p

Lindsay

I have looked these products up on the net, Lindsay, and must say I am quite impressed. Are they very expensive ? I think the one I'd opt for would be the NatureDiet as I think it might be easier to obtain. Could you give me an idea of prices ?
Thanks
Joyce

HI Joyce

I must say I do feel very happy using them!

I get mine from Pets at Home, they are just above the freezer section. About 59p a packet, and my 22kg BSD eats 1 and a half, to 2 packets a day, depending on what we are doing.

(She does also get fed tripe plus a carbohydrate such as brown rice, several evenings a week)

Do give it a go and see what you think

lindsay

LOL Lindsay. My feller says that nearly eveytime he sees the dogs dinner
Christine2

If I run out of pulped veg, I pour fresh carrot juice over the meat in the bowl .
if I have neither the veg or the juice I just let them have the meat and bones ,
I gIve vit e caps and kelp three times a week or every second day .
If I run out of fresh meat there is always a bag of good guality food and butchers tripe on hand .
You know when you start something new you go by the book and as the months pass by you find your own way or what suits your dog best .
I really dont see why it should be a worry just . FEED THE DOGS .

Hi Mari thats the tip you gave me a while (veg juice) ago & thats what I do now as well!
A case of when you cook for yourselves, just do another plateful for the dog.
Christine2

Yes Christine and also do not waste your leftovers . give them that as well.
Really the best food you can give your dogs is enough food .
I agree with the barf diet but I also think variation is good too.
I mean in the wild foraging turned up all sorts of food from raw to cooked and I do not think dogs refused to eat something just because it was not raw .
So Stick to the barf by all means but try to be sensible and compromise when necessary. I do , and so do many others .
Oh and by the way hunger is the sweetest sauce for a fussy dog .
Mari

hi just seen your reply and i,m very interested where do i get it from is it frozen or fresh orwhat?

whhat is nature diet and natures menu? fresh or frozen and where can i get it from?

hI Carol,

See above reply to Joyce

Best wishes
Lindsay

It does puzzle me a bit though when I read statements like this one which I found on Ian Billinghursts site :

'While nothing can replace a healthy, wholesome diet, BARFPlus supplement offers the benefits of a concentrated source of nutrients that foods alone may not.'

This seems to imply that that even when you feed meaty bones and raw food, you still need to add supplements. So a balanced diet presumably is important ?

I think I'll consider joining a group, Christine - as you say, it gives the opportunity to ask all these questions.
Thanks to both for advice.
Joyce

Joyce , Brainless.. Hi.

I am at my work just no so don't have all details with me but AMP products are also Prizechoice products which you can pick up at Focus pet section and Pet world etc.

I was in both at the weekend and they all stock the free flow tripe, chicken etc
I also have the price list at home so will e-mail you some details if you like.

You can call them also and get advice.

In my honest opinion I think the books are great and you get a wealth of knowledge but do not have to do things by the book just pick and choose what suite suits you. Remember you are feedign them like they would in the wild so they would not have got the same balance as some are trying to achieve.

I gve my 2 chicken wings, carcasses nearly everyday, one day a week they get a bit of liver, 1 or 2 days they get the freeflow tripe. Supplements they get 2 or 3 times a week or not if I forget.

I get spinach leaves and roll garlic tablets, evening primrose and kelp in them then roll them in a piece of cold meat. My 2 sit waiting on their "Kebabs " I make up. As I say their is no rule about how much you should give you know your dog best.

I have beem ding this no for about 10 months so getting the hang of it. Their diet is cheaper now than before also.

Pam

PS about the prices some are really reasonable and some I think not but I pick and choose so will give you details later.

pam

A price list would be appreciated. I oly have a Pets At Home anywhere near here!

AMP do have a depot in Bristol, so would try and get my Dad to give me a lift, if they will sell smaller amounts direct.

Hi Joyce it can seem complicated at first but if you try & remember that hte basic principle is a varied diet over a lifetime rather than a balanced diet every day it gets easier. I try &give mine not to much of any one thing over a long time & the only exception I make to that (at the mo) is a clove a garlic per dog daily as I have found with my lot it has kept the fleas away. The other day sardines were on offer so I bought 12kl & froze it, before that they had been expensive & hadn`t had any for a few wks. Last month beef was on offer & I did the same with that. Last nigh they had a real mixture of what I had in bits & pieces & that was beef,chicken wings,rabbit,pork & they had a trotter each earlier in the day. I do supplement with VIT E &C
as my dogs have had probs with their coat but I am slowly reducing this. I do the same with veggies & I also puree them & I am slowly reducing them as they have been getting them daily as well.
Whats in season, whats on offer at the shops or market & how flush I`m feeling all plays a part as well & I don`t pay much mind to any kind of commercialism over any thing.
Christine2

Many thanks for all this info. I am not a lazy person but, in my heart of hearts, I really don't think I could keep this up for very long - by 'this' I mean the buying and preparing of the food etc. Shopping and preparing meals are not my favourite pastimes I'm afraid. So I don't want to start something and then have to give up because it all gets too much. On the other hand I do want to do my best for my two dogs. This is why I was quite interested in the NatureDiet as it appears to be the closest thing to Barf and has the added convenience of being pre-packed.