The Ultimate Guide to Raw Feeding: How to Transition Your Dog Safely

Thinking about making the switch to raw?

Raw feeding is about taking things back to basics - real ingredients, proper nutrition and food you can actually recognise. But if your dog is currently eating kibble or another type of food, it's worth making the change properly.

Here's everything you need to know about moving your dog onto a raw diet.

First things first: not all raw dog food is created equal. There's a big difference between feeding your dog some raw meat and feeding a properly formulated raw diet. Meat alone won't provide everything your dog needs. Wolf Tucker complete meals are formulated to provide complete and balanced nutrition - everything your dog needs to thrive. Just defrost, portion and feed.

Some dogs can move onto raw food quickly, while others benefit from a more gradual transition. If your dog has been eating the same kibble for years or has a particularly sensitive stomach, taking things steadily can give their digestive system time to adjust.

A simple transition could look like this:

Days 1–2: 25% raw / 75% current food
Days 3–4: 50% raw / 50% current food
Days 5–6: 75% raw / 25% current food
Day 7 onwards: 100% raw

Keep in mind that this isn't a hard-and-fast rule - the most important thing is to watch your dog. If they're getting on well, you may be able to transition more quickly. If their stomach is taking a little longer to adjust, slow things down.

If your dog is already happily eating a complete raw diet, you can usually move from one raw brand or recipe to another without a transition.

Changing your dog's diet can mean their digestion changes too. You might notice differences in the size, colour, consistency or frequency of their stools while they adjust to their new food. That's not necessarily a problem. Just like humans, changing what goes ‘in’ can change what comes ‘out’! Give them time to settle and keep an eye on how they're doing overall.

Seek veterinary advice if your dog has persistent diarrhoea, vomiting, blood in the stool, lethargy, or any other persistent symptoms that might not be associated just with a change of diet.

How much your dog needs will depend on their weight, age, activity level, metabolism and body condition. As a general starting point, an adult dog may eat around 2-3% of their body weight per day. So, for example, a 20kg adult dog might start with around 400-600g per day. But don't get obsessed with the calculator. Your dog is the best guide. Keep an eye on their body condition and adjust their portion up or down as needed.

Growing puppies have different energy requirements - we usually recommend between 6-8% of body weight for a puppy up to 6months - and then reduce this % gradually until your dog reaches adulthood (usually 1 year). Again, it is important to remember that this is just a guide and it will vary from dog to dog. The main thing is to keep an eye on your dog’s body condition.

New raw feeders often ask us about the safe handling of raw food. Raw dog food needs to be treated in much the same way as any other raw meat in your kitchen. Feeding raw isn’t complicated - just good hygiene.

Keep the food frozen until you’re ready to defrost it. Defrost in the fridge for 24 hours. Portion out what you need and pop the rest back in the fridge. Our tub and lid mean that you can store food safely in the fridge for up to four days. Make sure you wash all surfaces, dog bowls, utensils, and hands after feeding your dog. In the unlikely event that your dog leaves any food, make sure to dispose of it.