Ok so I have finally heard enough & have to get this off my chest!
This post is not directed at any one person, I have a TON of friends that feed raw, actually most of them do!, it is just something I need to say.
I am so tired of people that feed raw calling down dog owners that don't. I know that there are horrible things happening out there & horrible things being put into dog food. But...give us kibble feeders some credit for doing research & actually finding quality manufactures of high grade kibble! Not every kibble is bad, come on!!
I talked to a breeder who feeds her dogs raw, I may get a puppy from her one day, I asked her what she thought of me feeding kibble, & would she still be willing to sell me a puppy. She said that she would rather I fed a good quality kibble then feed raw & feed it wrong.
Why do raw feeders think they are right ?? Why can't you believe that there is good kibble out there? Personally it makes me feel as if you are looking down on me...shame on me for poisoning my dogs!!...seriously !
As you can see I feel very strongly about this...raw feeders, keep your opinions to yourself please...I don't argue with you about feeding raw do I?? , even though I think it is gross....I keep my feelings to myself, well, until now :))
You do with YOUR dog what you like & I'll do what I like with MINE!
16 comments:
I have been feeding raw for over 10 yr. It is a lot of work the way I do it. I probably won't change but I do tell people that one thing I found out since feeding raw is that kibble fed dogs live just as long (or longer), don't appear to have more health problems and end up having a lot more training time with their owners. One thing I had a problem with, feeding kibble , was the huge amt of choices there were out there...I was always changing kibbles.
thanks Judy for your support :))
You go girl! :)
thanks Wendy :))
You have every right to be annoyed. I feed raw but generally do not talk about it unless someone specifically asks what I feed my dogs. (Most people think it is weird and I have had a couple people tell me I am killing my dogs). I have had several people interested in feeding raw ask me about it, and I give them the information, but I always stress that it is a lot of work and planning to get it right. You can mess up a raw diet, and unless someone is committed to feeding properly, a good kibble is a much better way to go. Just because I feed raw does not mean it is the right choice for everyone. There are many good kibbles out there, and many happy healthy dogs who have only ever eaten kibble. My dogs eat kibble occasionally, I just read labels to avoid some ingredients that I don't care to feed my dogs. If I ever decide not to feed raw, I know that there are some very high quality kibble that I am sure my dogs would thrive on.
exactly Kim!...I educate myself, I do not feed meat by products, animal digest, meat or bone meal, I don't feed food with fillers or preservatives, yet alot of raw people lump all the kibble manufactures & kibble feeders together, they never talk about the "good" companies like Acana....just annoys me to no end !
I am right there with you Jo. I would NEVER feed raw food to my dog but I know lots of people who do and swear by it. I guess each to their own but the "raw" people shouldn't try and ram it down us "kibble" people's throats and make us feel bad when our dogs are thriving on the "kibble" we give them. I am so thankful for Orijen as with Zack's dicky tummy it has worked wonders.
wait a minute, WigglyZack...didn't you just do the same thing to raw feeders that they do to you? By saying you would NEVER feed raw, it comes across that it is below you...not good enough for your dogs.
I am a raw feeder, and have been for about 9 months now. I agree with all of you though, and even though I am a member of some of the raw online groups, I rarely participate in them because of the "holier than thou" attitude towards kibble feeders. Calling kibble poison, etc, is just dumb.
I have nothing against a quality brand kibble...I feed raw because my dog does better on it. Period. I don't necessarily think its better for them in general, but I do think it has some benefits that kibble doesnt have (for example, clean teeth from feeding raw meaty bones) but that same benefit can be achieved by giving a kibble fed dog a raw bone from time to time as well.
I also feed raw because I can get it for less than I would buy a quality kibble for. If that changes one day, I might have to make a switch back to kibble, and as long as that kibble isn't 'dog chow', I wont have any problem doing that.
For now, I say...feed your dog what works for him/her. Make intelligent, educated decisions about the dog food you feed and don't feel like you have do defend that decision.
Murphydog's Mom
I don't necessarily agree with the idea of healthier longer living dogs on raw .... I've seen very overweight dogs on raw who get no exercise. I think like people, fitness plays into the longevity of dogs, and most people who take the time to feed raw would take that into account i would think. and what about treats? I think the same thing applies as far as what we feed them as far as quality, artificial dyes, words with more the 8 syllables. What is the point of feeding a good kibble or raw when people feed them junk food treats? what I am saying is diet is a part of it, but so is health and fitness. it IS about choices. my guys gets bones and about 40% of their week is raw. Pete won't do raw, but I happily do, so that is our compromise, and we feed what i HOPE is good kibble :)
There is an elitist group of people who feed raw, but the good friends I know who are passionate about it are not like that at all! Stick by those people and ignore the others :P
From the first time I heard about raw, about 10 years ago, I have been researching raw feeding. I read the book "Give Your Dog A Bone" and many magazine articles and websites on the subject, and I even joined an online raw community for a while. Everything I heard was so one sided that it reminded me of religious zealots preaching the 'good word' but with no real comparitive evidence of raw vs kibble. In the end I came to the conclusion that although I think raw CAN BE a good way to feed, I do not think it is the ONLY way to feed and get healthy dogs. So I feed a very high quality kibble (consistently given top ranking as one of the highest quality kibbles available) as I think it is the best food I can provide for my dogs at this time. I might change my mind in the future but for now, this is my decision.
What I find interesting is that many of the most loud-mouthed raw enthusiasts (just the ones I know of course) from 5-10 years ago have now switched back to kibble. Not all, but some of the most vocal ones that were shoving it down my throat back then have switched back. Their reasons are varied but the fact that they switched to kibble after being so vocal about raw gives me a little chuckle.
I agree with what Murphy dog has to say, make the choice that is best for YOUR dog & yourself, don't try to ram your way of thinking down anyone's throat, to each his own....
and Sarah you are so right, we also must make informed decisions on the treats we feed as well. Exercise is of utmost importance for a healthy dog, you can feed which ever way you choose, but if your dog lacks exercise & outside stimulation he is basically just rotting away in the back yard.
Thanks to everyone for your opinions, I am enjoying reading them!
Hi Jo,
I had to go back to the original source of your anger and really didn't get it. It wasn't my impression that that was being shoved down kibble-feeders throats, but maybe I need to re-read it? I guess I'm just out of touch...hahaha!!! It's ok if you want to feed kibble. I'd still come and visit you. And, I'll leave most of my stuff home too!! But, I'll bring Squishy if that is ok and some RMB's for him!! And we'll drink Merlot. Don't be mad. It's not worth it.
oh no Diana, this is just what I did NOT want to happen...I am not blaming any one person....just as a whole I feel like I am looked down upon by the die hard raw feeders....I have no problem at all with people feeding raw, I actually looked into it for Kort as he has such a sensitive tummy....the point I wanted to make is, that I don't judge raw feeders, so why does the majority judge kibble feeders? , saying that we are hurting our dogs by not feeding them "right"
There really are some good companies out there that are trying to do the right thing, but reports always seem so one sided.
I realize this is a super sensitive issue for everyone & perhaps this was not the best spot to air my opinion, but it is just that "my opinion" :)), so I did not want anyone to take it personally. Just thought it was a good time to spill my guts, that's all !
Oh, & I would hope Squishy would be coming !!!!!!, but don't forget the Squishy Merlot :))
Squishy Merlot ~ I'm working on it!
I am a great fan of Monica Segal's books. She has diets for cooked as well as raw food .I think she makes us conscious of what we are feeding, and how much. I have found that the majority of my problems with my dogs tummys have been overfeeding. Why should they eat twice as much as us unless they are REALLY working hard.
I agree with Sarah...you also have to look at what is in the treats that you feed
icI get you. There are are 3 groups in particular on yahoo that are horrible towards kibble-feeders. I can understand to a certain point how they feel - but not about two particular brands which I think are valuable, decent, caring brands - HALO, and Orijen. Their foods are so clean and good-smelling. Our cats are fed raw, and our dog is on Orijen. I'm sorry to blow people's minds, but it's cheaper than raw - and her stools have been the same miniscule size as with raw meals, amazingly. I'd like to switch her because it's better for the teeth (and better than just a recreational bone, which can possibly cause tooth chipping) and because of the water content in the meat that provides an easier digestion - less work for the tummy, I think. One thing that makes me fed up is how some raw feeders shove, "ALL kibble is KRAPPLE, and raw is way cheaper and better!" in one's face. Oh, yeah? Then share your cheap sources! You ask, and they're not willing to tell you because they don't want your competition for sale prices and skirt the question. Hypocrisy! :P
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