Raw Feeding for Dogs: A Beginner's Starter Guide (BARF Ratios)
The 80/10/10 ratio explained, how much raw to feed by dog weight, which bones are safe, and how to transition without upsetting your dog's stomach.
Raw feeding — often called BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) or PMR (Prey Model Raw) — means feeding a dog fresh raw meat, bone and organ instead of processed kibble. Done properly it's simple. Done carelessly it causes deficiencies. Here's the starting framework.
This is general information, not veterinary advice. Talk to your vet before switching, especially for puppies, seniors, or dogs with health conditions.
The 80/10/10 ratio
A balanced raw diet, by weight, over a week (not every meal):
- 80% muscle meat — raw mince, chunks, mince with a little ground bone
- 10% raw edible bone — raw meaty bones, chicken frames, necks
- 5% liver — the single most nutrient-dense organ; don't skip or overdo it
- 5% other secreting organ — kidney, spleen, pancreas, brain
"Secreting organ" is the key phrase — heart, tripe and lung are muscle for these purposes, not organ. See our pet offal range.
How much to feed
Adult dogs: 2–3% of ideal body weight per day.
| Dog weight | 2% (needs to lose) | 2.5% (maintain) | 3% (active / underweight) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5kg | 100g | 125g | 150g |
| 15kg | 300g | 375g | 450g |
| 30kg | 600g | 750g | 900g |
| 45kg | 900g | 1125g | 1350g |
Puppies: 5–10% of current weight, dropping as they grow — or roughly 2–3% of their expected adult weight. Puppies need it split across 3–4 meals.
Weigh your dog monthly and adjust. You're aiming for a visible waist and easily-felt (not visible) ribs.
Which bones are safe
Safe, raw only: chicken necks and frames, turkey necks, lamb ribs and flaps, brisket bones, oxtail. Match the bone to the dog — a chicken neck for a chihuahua, a lamb rib rack or brisket bone for a labrador.
Never: cooked bones of any kind (they splinter), weight-bearing leg bones of large animals (they crack teeth), or any bone small enough to swallow whole.
Always supervise bone time. Bones are a few times a week, not daily.
Transitioning
Two approaches:
- Cold turkey (most raw feeders): fast for 12–24 hours, then start raw. Works for most healthy adult dogs.
- Gradual (sensitive stomachs): replace 25% of the old food with raw, hold 3–4 days, increase. Over ~2 weeks.
Start with one protein — chicken or beef — for the first 1–2 weeks. Once stools are firm, add a second protein, then bone, then organ. Loose stool early on usually means too much organ or bone, or too fast a change.
Novel proteins for allergies
If your dog reacts to chicken and beef, kangaroo is the go-to novel protein in Australia — very lean, single-source, rarely triggers a reaction.
Handling and safety
Treat raw pet food like raw meat for people: keep it frozen, thaw in the fridge, feed within 2 days of thawing, wash bowls and surfaces, don't leave it down for hours. Our raw pet range is delivered frozen and clearly separated from the human range.
Browse raw pet mince, bones and offal.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 80/10/10 raw feeding ratio?
Over a week, by weight: 80% muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone, 5% liver and 5% other secreting organ (kidney, spleen, pancreas). Heart and tripe count as muscle, not organ.
How much raw food should I feed my dog?
Adult dogs: 2–3% of ideal body weight per day — about 375g for a 15kg dog to maintain weight, 750g for a 30kg dog. Puppies: 5–10% of current weight, split across 3–4 meals. Weigh monthly and adjust.
Which bones are safe for dogs?
Raw only — chicken necks and frames, turkey necks, lamb ribs, brisket bones, oxtail — matched to the dog's size. Never feed cooked bones (they splinter), large weight-bearing leg bones, or any bone small enough to swallow whole. Always supervise.
How do I transition my dog to raw food?
Either fast 12–24 hours then start raw (works for most healthy adults), or replace 25% of the old food at a time over about two weeks for sensitive stomachs. Start with one protein for 1–2 weeks, then add bone, then organ.
What's the best raw protein for a dog with allergies?
Kangaroo is the leading novel protein in Australia for dogs that react to chicken or beef — it's very lean, single-source and rarely triggers a reaction. We sell kangaroo pet mince and bulk kangaroo for dogs.
Is raw pet food safe to handle?
Treat it exactly like raw meat for people — keep it frozen, thaw in the fridge, feed within 2 days of thawing, wash bowls and surfaces, and don't leave it down for hours. Our raw pet range is delivered frozen and kept separate from the human range.