RAW vs. RAW FREEZE DRIED

[Kate and Maci]

Okay I posted the other day about our pending trip coming up and wondering how I can keep Maci's raw frozen and got some great ideas. 

 

Little history here on Maci (or as some of our doodle friends haved dubbed her "HRH").  Although she is a 5th generation Australian Labradoodle, when it comes to food, she is completely poodle and no lab (LOL).  She is a medium (19 inches at the shoulder) and weighs in at 32 pounds.  I would like to put a pound or two on her but my vet says she is fine where she is at.  I struggle with her food - she just doesn't seem all that interested in food, be it kibble (we did Innova EVO before P&G bought them), then Orijen and I now have her on NV Medallions.  I have even attempted adding a little canned into her kibble, she almost turns her nose up at that.  If she had her way, she would live on her raw chicken 24/7/365 - that is normally her meal at night.  So in anticipation of our trip and not being able to keep her food frozen until we get to our final destination, I purchased a small bag of  Stella & Chewy's Duck/Goose freeze dried to see if she would like it.  OMG - it's like doggy crack for her.

 

My question is - are there any pros/cons on RAW vs Freeze Dried.  I know the one pro of the freeze dried is ease of traveling with it.  A couple of people have mentioned the freeze dried is expensive but my thought process on that aspect is - if she loves it and will eat it - I'm buying it.  I want her to enjoy what she is eating.

 

So from all of you wise raw feeders, let me know your thoughts.  Thanks again!!!!

 

 

[Renee Bogi]

I went through the same tourture untill I finally found a mixture that my 2 (siberian husky and standard f1b goldendoodle) would eat.  they are only 1 month apart and the husky would only want what the doodle ate.  my final verdict (although not approved of here was that they loved purina pro-plan shredded lamb which i did not want to feed all the time and natural balance synergy mixed with proplan selects puppy turkey poured 3 equal parts into the tub and then scooped out was a winner.  i am going to wean them off the puppy one soon (they are 11 and 1 year old now) and eventually feed less of the shredded until hopefully it is gone.

the only acceptable one .... recomended one from this site is the natural balance although synergy is very new to their line, and im not sure if it made it onto the list yet.

 

but, my 2 love stella and cheweys any flavor of the freeze dried.  although expensive also works great for training.  Another winner was the rolls of natural balance... they prefer lamb but will eat any type.  its easy to travel with (comes in different sizes)  its like a giant sausage from petco and specialty food stores. (not petsmart) the cheapest way is the super large roll... cut into chunks and frozen in baggies until the night before.  but a pain in the but to prepare in advance (all the cutting and bagging).  But, it also comes in smaller portions for meals on the go.  My 2 are free feeders and I usually send a baggie with them to daycare so I know they gobble up their food instead of going hungry.

 

Another option, baby food in chicken and turkey mixed with healthy kibble.  I decided in the end, although they were eating the healthy kibble.  I was going to go broke buying the good food and at a dollar a jar times by 2 dogs per meal... was too expensive an option but it worked. 

 

Hope this help..... and yes, i know my mixture is not recommended.  But, I made the decision based on their eating habits and will eventually switch them completely to natural balance synergy.

[Renee Bogi]

Also, Natural Instinct Raw diet was a definite favorite.  You can get free coupons on their site to try it.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm afraid we don't have many raw feeders here in TFG; quite a few people who give some of the commercial raw products, but no real "raw feeders", I don't think. I know the really dedicated raw feeders (what I think of as "hard-core", lol) don't seem to like any of the commercially prepared raw products, even things like the frozen raw medallions.

You might have better luck asking this question in the Raw Feeders Group.

For what it's worth, I don't see any problem with the freeze-dryed raw products. Stella & Chewy's is a very reliable company.

[Kate and Maci]

Thanks Karen - I'll post there too.  I know there are a few different makes of the freeze dried but was wondering if anyone thought the raw patties/medallions are any better than the freeze dried.

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

Hi Kate - I have 0 advice for you, but hope we can see you and Maci soon :)

[Kate and Maci]

Hi - it's always nice to hear from you.  Maci and I are leaving for Florida the end of the month until the middle of April but when I get back let's try to get together at OC or Sandy Hook.  Do you ever have Wednesdays or Fridays off?  How's Dexter doing?  Hugs from HRH and me.

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

Unfortunately I work everyday.  I do work from home on Wed so I could meet up around 4:30-5.  Otherwise we could go to OG on a weekend at the end of April.  Kirby can't go off leash, but we can do lunch and I can bring a long leash for him :) 

Dex is doing well.  He has a recheck on Wednesday.  He is putting a lot more weight on his bad leg and he has been so good about his crating.  Thanks for asking. 

Sorry I am hijacking your food thread :)

[Kate and Maci]

You're such a silly girl - you didn't hijack my post and if you did, it couldn't have been hijacked by a nicer person :)

[Jen]

I'm completely new to this, but have consulted with vets, nutritionists, breeders, etc.  I'm by no means an expert, but what I've been told there is no nutritional difference between freeze dried and "fresh" provided the freeze dried manufacturer is using the same ingredients you'd find in a patty or nugget.

 

 

I'm a vegetarian and was advised I might find the freeze-dried food more palatable for me to touch, serve, etc.  I was also told it has a milder odor than the "fresh".  

Since I do find raw meat kind of gross, I went with freeze-dried, but also bought some patties in case my puppy (who has been raised on raw) doesn't like the freeze-dried.  I can't say how either is working, as my puppy isn't yet home, but will be here in a week.

[Kate and Maci]

Thanks for your input - I appreciate it.  So are you getting a goldendoodle or labradoodle, boy/girl, color, names and may I ask where from?  Can't wait to see some pictures.

[Jen]

I'm getting a female small/medium labradoodle from a breeder in Maine.  We've named her Delilah. She's pictured in my profile pic at nine weeks old.  We're so incredibly excited to welcome her home next weekend!

[Kate and Maci]

She is adorable.  I have a friend here in Jersey who has a rescue whose doodle's name is Delilah - such a pretty name.  Is she an Australian Labradoodle?  I have a friend who has 2 doodles from Log Cabin Labradoodles in Maine - they are adorable.