Raw Feeding Excellence Nourishing Your Pooch with Quality

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

Contributions sourced from

Feeding Guidelines for your Dog

Knowing how to best feed your dog to ensure optimal health is not always straightforward. Owners generally find it hard to decide:

How many times a day their dog should eat
How much to feed per meal
Whether to feed wet or dry diets
Whether their dog needs a special diet or not

Read on to learn a little more about best feeding practices.

How often we should be offering food

Typically, the frequency of feeding will depend on the dogs age. As a rule of thumb, we feed young puppies very regularly; at least four times a day. This is because they have small stomachs and are less able to regulate their blood sugars. Once pups reach about three months of age, we should be able to increase the portion they are given and taper their feedings down to three times daily. It is at six-month-old that it is usually advised that dogs are offered two meals and these should be given in the morning and evening. Some owners are comfortable continuing this pattern lifelong, while others may choose to go on to feed their dogs once a day. For an in depth guide for feeding puppies read our Puppy Feeding Guide blog piece.

Many small lap dogs are picky eaters as adults and will only want to eat once a day. However, a larger dog who is active may well need a couple of meals a day to keep them fuelled. This is especially true for working dogs and those who get a lot of exercise. Listen to your dog; they will soon let you know if they are hungry!

How much to put in the bowl

Every Pooch & Mutt diet has a feeding guideline which can be found on the packaging as well as online. The guideline takes into consideration the nutrient profile and calorie content of the food, as well as the dogs weight and age.

If you find your dog is constantly leaving food behind, they are likely being overfed. More often than not, this is because they are receiving their calories elsewhere; in the form of treats and dental chews! Remember, no more than 10% of a dogs diet should be made up of treats so it may be time to cut down.

Of course, a guideline should not be solely relied upon as each dog as their own individual metabolism. As well as following a guideline, keep an eye on your dog to ensure they are a good Body Condition Score. You may find you need to alter the recommended amount they are fed over time in order to prevent them from becoming over or under weight.

For over-weight dogs:

Dogs who are over-weight should not be fed for their current weight. So, if your dog weighs 20kg but should weigh 18kg, we should provide the amount recommended for an 18kg dog. Using a kitchen scales to weigh out food has been proven to be a lot more accurate than eyeballing the amount or using a measuring cup.

TOP TIP: You will achieve best results by feeding a diet specifically designed to help portly pooches such as Pooch & Mutt Slim & Slender. With ingredients that promote satiety as well as fat breakdown, you are guaranteed results.

For under-weight dogs:

Again, dogs should be fed for their target rather than their current weight. While your dog may only weigh 10kg, if they should weigh closer to 12kg, this is the weight we should feed them for. For those who struggle to put on weight, feeding their meals little and often may prove easier for them to manage.

Choosing a wet or dry diet

You may opt to offer only wet dog food, only dry food or a mixture of the two.

Wet Foods:

Are frequently preferred by dogs due to their texture and flavour profile
Provide lots of moisture which can be beneficial for those with kidney or bladder issues
May be easier for older animals and those with dental disease to eat

Can cake to teeth, leading to gum inflammation and tartare build-up, especially in the absence of tooth brushing
Can be messy, especially for those with long fur and beards such as Griffon Bruxellois and Schnauzers.
Can have a stronger smell which some owners may dislike

Dry Foods:

Are easy to weigh and measure out
Can be stored for a long time and in large containers
Are nutrient and calorie dense
Can improve dental health and reduce tartare build-up, which is especially helpful for those prone to dental disease such as Chihuahuas and Greyhounds.

Contain little moisture so may not be appropriate for dogs with kidney or bladder disease.
Are not always as palatable as wet foods so may be declined by very fussy eaters

What about Prescription Diets?

Animals with chronic medical conditions such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Chronic Kidney Disease or Diabetes will generally benefit from specific veterinary-formulated diets which are prescribed by their vet. These diets should not be started without medical advice.

For dogs who do not require prescription diets for medical diseases, owners might wish to take a look at Pooch & Mutts functional dog foods. These are designed for those with minor health or behavioural issues and include calming and sensitive stomach dog food. The ingredients are specifically chosen to benefit these dogs and help combat their problem.

How to choose the right dog food for your four-legged friend, according to vets

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As a key part of the family, chances are your dog gets a whole lot of love and attention. But, with that comes the responsibility of making sure theyre being fed the right food for them. With so many different dog food options available from dry and wet to grain-free it can be different to know which one is best.

The British Veterinary Associations advice is that any commercially manufactured pet food in the UK that meets the Pet Food Manufacturing Association guidelines has the complete nutritional requirements that your pet needs.

The best dog diets, however, will be a high-quality, complete, balanced diet designed specifically for your dogs life stage, says PDSA vet Anna Ewers-Clark. Diets that are complete contain all the nutrients that your dog needs, so will keep them healthy and happy, she adds.

When buying the right dog food for your pet, the breed, weight, body condition score, neutered status and lifestyle are all key things to consider, says BVA senior vice president Daniella Dos Santos. These factors will have an impact on their total daily calorie allowance and will determine how much they should eat, including treats, she says.

You should also look for something age-appropriate (puppy, adult or senior, for instance), says Sam Crossley, marketing director at Lilys Kitchen. Older woofers dont need as much protein in their diets as younger and more active adult dogs, and they will benefit from food that supports joint health. Puppies, on the other hand, need higher protein content to support their development while they grow into their paws.

There are a huge number of complete dog diets on the market, and there isnt one dog food that will suit all dogs. For example, some dogs like wet food, others prefer dry and often dogs will have a favourite flavour (or flavours) of food, notes Ewers-Clark. As for her advice, she suggests finding a diet that suits your dog and sticking with it, as changing your dogs food too often can lead to problems such as tummy upsets.

To help demystify the world of dog food, we asked leading veterinary practitioners to advise on what you should look out for when buying your pooch their food.

Puppy food

Its really important for puppies to be fed a food designed specifically for their age. When dogs are young, the balance of nutrients they need will be different to those of an adult dog, notes Ewers-Clark.

Its also a good idea to feed your puppy a product thats designed for their breed or size, as different dogs grow at different rates so feeding a diet thats tailored to small, medium or large breeds will make sure their nutrient needs are supported as they grow, she adds.

Continue feeding the same food that your puppy has had at their breeder initially, and when you do change, make sure you do so over a couple of weeks to avoid stomach upsets, says Ewers-Clark.

The PDSA recommends Royal Canin mini puppy food (19.49, Petsathome.com) for small, young pups. Its high in protein, which Crossley noted as being important for young dogs, and it contains probiotics so as to support digestive health.

If youre unsure of how much to feed your four-legged friend, theres a helpful table detailing how many grams you should give them based on their age and weight. The food is also available for medium (27.39, Petsathome.com), maxi (66.99, Petsathome.com) and giant (63.99, Petsathome.com) dogs.

Similarly, there are also options based on breed, be that french bulldog (from 23.29, Petsathome.com), bulldog (28.19, Petsathome.com), golden retriever, 12kg, (61.29, Petsathome.com) or german shepherd (23.19, Petsathome.com).

For another protein-rich alternative, try Barking Heads puppy days dry food (from 6.74, Barkingheads.co.uk), which is made with 100 per cent natural chicken and salmon.

If youd rather give your dog wet food, or a combination of both, the Barking Heads range also has puppy days wet food (from 18, Barkingheads.co.uk).

The age when your puppy can change onto adult food will depend on their breed and size, plus a number of other factors, for example, the timing of their neutering, says Ewers-Clark. Although its not possible to give an exact time for every dog, as a general rule small dogs will need to continue with puppy food until theyre around one, while large or giant breeds will need puppy food until around 18 months, she adds.

Dry food

Dry dog food comes in a variety of forms including kibbles, biscuits or pellets. There is no nutritional difference between wet and dry dog food, though in some cases a vet might recommend one over the other for specific reasons, such as urinary issues and specific types of allergies, says Dos Santos. But, its important to make sure the protein count is high. On this advice, there are a number of excellent options out there for dry dog food.

Ewers-Clark recommends feeding your pooch complete dog food, so turn to Harringtons, which produces all-natural scran where meat is the number one ingredient.

The kibbles (from 29, Harringtonspetfood.com) consist of 26 per cent chicken, meaning its a great source of protein and its also rich in omega 6 and omega 3. If youre looking for a subscription service, Harringtons is certainly one to know; sign up for a regular delivery and youll save money too.

For a dry dog food that has an even higher meat content, turn to Edgar Cooper its chicken dry dog food (from 7.29, Edgardcooper.com), for example, has 41 per cent chicken. While its lamb variety (from 7.29, Edgardcooper.com) is similarly rich in protein.

If youd like to trial Edgar Coopers food, it offers a try-it-now service (8, Edgardcooper.com) and youll receive a selection of its dog food, including kibble, wet food and treats, with zero commitment.

Wet food

This type of food comes in a thick gravy sauce or contains chunks of jelly, and tends to be more palatable for dogs because it's mainly made up of protein and fat. Plus, its high in moisture so can help to keep dogs hydrated, preventing the urinary issues Dos Santos noted. If your dog is partial to wet food, or you often do a mixture of both wet and dry, look out for high amounts of fresh meat, poultry and animal products.

Again wed recommend turning to Edgar Cooper for wet food thats high in meat. There are options to buy food according to your dogs age range whether thats for a puppy (from 3.09, Edgardcooper.com), adult (from 3.09, Edgardcooper.com) or senior (from 3.09, Edgardcooper.com) dog.

Whichever flavour you opt for, its high in meat and also contains a mixture of vegetables and fruit to make sure your doggo is getting the most balanced diet possible.

For a subscription-based service, its got to be Barking Heads wet dog food (from 10.99, Barkingheads.co.uk). Its pouches of wet food in lamb (from 24, Barkingheads.co.uk) contain 85 per cent grass-fed lamb and a mixture of peas, courgette and spinach. Plus, if you opt for the brands subscribe and save service, youll never be left short on dog food a real bonus.

Grain-free food

The majority of dogs dont needgrain-freedogfood, says Ewers-Clark. Dogs are omnivores, which means theyre able to eat both meat and plant-basedfood, so using a more meat-based diet which is often the appeal ofgrain-freefor owners isnt necessary to meet their nutritional requirements, and in a completelygrain-freediet, there will be carbohydrates in other forms to replace thegrain.

If you do suspect your dog is sensitive to grains, it is best to consult your vet for advice on their requirements. But its thought that cutting grain from your dogs diet could help if they suffer from allergies or intolerances.

Lots of dog food manufacturers offer both grain-free and grain-inclusive options to give pet parents the choice of what they would like to feed their furry friends. If you know your dog is sensitive to grains, wed advise turning to Lilys Kitchen, which is a certified B-corp: its a company that meets the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.

With a huge grain-free offering, theres something for every age range,including puppy (3.70, Lilyskitchen.co.uk) and senior (3.70, Lilyskitchen.co.uk) offerings. And if youd rather not feed your pooch wet food, or prefer a mixture, there is also dry food (from 10.50, Lilyskitchen.co.uk).

Raw food

If youre looking to feed your pooch fresh food, Alison Daniel, pet nutritionist at My Pet Nutritionist, recommends commercial delivery companies such as Different Dog or raw food companies such as Naturaw and The Dogs Butcher.

Different Dog offers a personalised service where you enter key details about your four-legged friend, including whether they have been neutered or spayed, how old they are and their weight. From this, your dogs tailored plan is created, providing information on the number of calories they should be consuming and allowing you to choose your recipes, which are delivered every couple of weeks depending on your dogs plan.

If youd rather not have a tailored approach but are interested in feeding your dog high-quality raw food, Different Dog also sells its dinners separately. So, whether your pooch is partial to a chicken casserole (from 3.49, Differentdog.com) or shepherd's pie (from 3.39, Differentdog.com), there are plenty of dishes to choose from to make sure your doggo is getting all the nutrients they need.

Alternatively turn to Naturaw for fresh, natural and raw food. A great option for those who are focused on sustainability, this eco-friendly brand uses sustainable and renewable resources where possible, ethically sourced ingredients and premium cuts of British meat.

Its raw food offering is expansive, from puppy- (2.55, Naturaw.co.uk) and senior-appropriate (2.75, Naturaw.co.uk) food to starter boxes (43, Naturaw.co.uk) and large food taster boxes (75.50, Naturaw.co.uk), as well as ingredient-specific options.