Customer Reviews

Raw Dog Food - Make it Easy for You and Your Dog

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've read just about all the other raw feeding books, but this is the one I NEEDED to read to start out! I've used it as my main guide to feed my three dogs "real food." I've now been feeding this way since October 2003 and my dogs couldn't be doing better. My oldest dog is a Labrador, about 8 years old. She's lost 15lbs and has more energy than ever. My other dogs are two Beagles, 2 yrs and 6 yrs old. They're also doing great and LOVE their new diet!!! And I got a new kitten for Christmas who keeps stealing the dog's food, so I guess she likes it too!

The book is easy and quick to read, but has a ton of really practical tips and very clear instructions. It made me realise this diet doesn't have to be complicated, it just makes sense! I had some additional questions about things that weren't in the book so I contacted the author through her website and she was very prompt and helpful.
I bought some extra copies to give to friends, too. Hopefully I can persuade them to start feeding their dogs a better diet too!

This book is a great reference and organised in an easy to follow style - it took me about an hour to read (it's short) but I felt I could go back & refer to it often, it's quite information-dense. I liked the casual writing style - some people might find it a bit TOO casual because there's no strict dietary guidelines to adhere to. But it seems that everyone feeds their dogs a little differently anyhow - as long as one stays within the basic parameters there is room for flexibility.
I did appreciate that MacDonald did not completely trash the commercial dog food industry - after all most people who love their dogs feed them commercial food and shouldn't be made to feel guilty! I do think it's important to be fully informed though, whether you are feeding your animals or your family.

I am not sure that vegetables (the author includes these in her diet) are truly necessary for dogs, but there seems to be a lot of dissent on this issue. Some experts recommend them, some don't.

It's not a book to read if you want scientifically referenced information - it is written from a layperson's perspective. There are other books on the market written by vets and people more schooled in canine nutrition. The author includes a bibliography if anyone's interested in further reading. But it's definitely a great primer on a raw food diet for dogs! I would highly recommend it to anyone curious about this concept.

I bought this book when I was thinking of making my dog's own food, including raw. I found the book easy to read and gave me a lot of information about feeding a raw diet. The author takes a fairly relaxed approach to the topic without omitting what's really important. The book has an index which makes it a useful reference. I am glad I purchased it.

This book was very helpful. Really breaks it down in a nonpretentious way! Easy to go follow and funny to read.

I found this a great book to use - I had never fed raw before, and like many people I didn't really know how to begin - or rather, how to go on! It was a pile of fun to read, unpretentious, humorous, and irreverent, and told me all I need to know to get started (and to go on, including some great advice about what books to read next). The book allayed my fears about various health-related issues, and uncovered some interesting and not very confidence-inspiring facts about the dog-food industry! If you want to get started feeding raw to your dog, or are even just interested in the idea, I think you should get this book.

- and even though I've been feeding my two Golden Retrievers a B.A.R.F. diet for almost two years, I still found this book useful, very easy to read, and I liked the relaxed style the author has of presenting the information. This is also the only B.A.R.F. book with photographs - including a photo of - how to say it politely - dog poop.
The author has no learned expertise in canine nutrition (which she makes no "bones" about) so if you want some detailed, authoritative info, buy this book along with Tom Lonsdale's (DVM) "Raw Meaty Bones."
All in all, an excellent primer on feeding raw, without the overly judgmental tone that some of the other authors take. I would recommend this book as THE best one for someone curious about feeding their dog a B.A.R.F. diet.

Carina's great, I've made her acquaintance on some internet pet feeding forums. She is a very intelligent, funny and well-spoken person who takes a moderate approach to raw-feeding for dogs (as opposed to being a zealot). I found this book to be very user-friendly in tone; it was kind of like, "Try this! Jump in! It's not so scary, trust me!" I've been raw feeding for two years now but I remember my trepidations at first, especially given all the conflicting advice that's out there. My own trusted vet wouldn't even endorse this diet. Still, my intuition told me it was the right thing to do for my dogs. I did some research, asked lots of questions and learned enough to get started and then to carry on. Same with Carina. She's been educating herself on this topic for quite a while and I trust her advice and judgement. I also like how she gives a thorough bibliography in the back of her book for further reading. I plan to loan my copy of this book to a friend in hopes that she'll stop feeding commercial dog food--ACK!

I didn't find this book to be very useful. The author is too specific to her personal experience, which is limited as just a long time dog owner. She has no experience professionally breeding or training dogs and no experience academically in canine nutrition. Her suggestions were oversimplified and had nothing backing them up, experience her own (limited) ideas. I ordered another book, Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs by Lew Olson, at the same time and much preferred it.

This is a great book for people just starting out with raw feeding. It is very easy to read and written in a way that keeps your attention.

This is a great book, full of insights into where in the evolutionary chain a real pet fits, expressing itself in fresh ideas presented in a wonderfully humourous and no-nonsense approach. In fact the only bull is in the diet! I got a copy in transit but believe it should be in the bookshops everywhere over here. Its easily digestible - buy it now!