feeding raw - what treats to give

hi some of you may know from other posts I have a very odd little boy when it comes to food- he seems adverse to eating out of a bowl and the only thing I have managed to get him to eat with the least encouragement has been natures own raw mince off the floor

So I am going to look at trying him on a raw diet .. I have done quite a bit of research and think I am nearly there with his actual meals, but wondered what sort of treats to give him - he will be 9 moths next week and weighs 16 kg he is quite active ... I have seen cows hooves stuffed with mince, chicken necks and tracheas I just wondered what is best fro his age - he is not keen on bones..he isn't sure what to do with them ! so this is work in progress- starting with mince and then moving on to tripe and so on but would like to give him a treat in the evening .

At the minute he has a kong with kibble and peanut butter but would like to move away from using kibble - any ideas ??

Bones can take them a bit of getting used to sometimes but they do usually get the hang of them. Things like wings are good and, as you say, trachea is good too.

I'd give my guys anything from here, for example:

https://landywoods.co.uk/product-category/treats-chews/

(except the chicken's feet, coz we keep chickens). And they get rawhide chews.

There are various dried fish products too, although they stink! They love dried sprats (good value from Zooplus), and things like fish skin knots and stuff like that.

There's loads of choice, it's 'just' a question of finding what he likes!

Oh yes, fish skin rolls and knots are excellent as a treat and very good for their coat etc. We did try to feed raw many moons ago when we got our Lab as a pup but we just don't have the fridge or freezer space. A good starting point/treat are whole chicken wings, gets them used to bones and are a nice snack. If you like that kind of thing

Landywoods as previously mentioned is a good place, also try your local butchers for hearts, kidneys, livers etc which are also good as treats or part of a meal and would also suggest tripe (in moderation as it can put weight on quite quickly). Raw tripe is absolutely rank but you can get dried stuff or pressed sticks which don't smell and are good for a longer lasting treat.

Natures menu have a lot of good treats

We have a dehydrator that we use to make beef, chicken, and fish snacks. This way there are no additives and the cost is reduced.

Pigs ears/Trotters are good, also pork rolls, which is skin, dried and rolled. Stinks to high heaven but Maya loves them
Dried Liver/Tripe, Gravy bones...god i could go on all night

as for putting things in his kong you could make him a raw meal up put in a large kong and freeze or natural yoghurt is good for kong

thanks every one - he likes tripe sticks and went mad for trip mince from natures own but then decided he wasn't going to eat it 2nd time around - so we are back to tough love- 15 mins for him to eat or the plate goes back into the fridge - just hope it doesn't go on for too long before he eats - will cost me a fortune otherwise as it wont keep - going to have a chat with my butchers later today see what he can give me - hopefully my little fella will get the hang of it - never had a dog that doesn't want to eat before - all a bit odd...

Do you wait near him while he's got his food down? Have you tried putting the bowl down and then leaving the room completely?

liz- I have tried walking away and ignoring him but not actually leaving the room .. he is very odd - he had no dinner last night as wasn't interested- this morning he just woke up and said hello to us had a wee and went and sat on the sofa just looking at us - we prepared our breakfast and he showed no interest in our food - I put his dish down with raw lamb mince in , didn't even get down to see what was in it - called him over and gave him some from my hand he took it ate a bit and dropped the rest picked up a toy and went back to the sofa - husband went to work and he ran to the door stopping on the way for a mouthful -again half a mouthful ate the rest dropped .. I put some in his kong and will see if he has eaten it when I go home to walk him later this morning - I am at a loss as to why he has suddenly in the last month decided he just doesn't want to eat - I have stopped his treats in the hope that he gets so hungry he wont care what's in his dish but it just doesn't bother him.. vet has checked him and all is fine - strange dog...

I've just watched your killer bone video, Carol. One thought - watch it again and thing how the bone is working with him, so to speak. It's coming to get him, almost chasing him. With something he's already worried about because it's new, that makes it doubly worrying. Try going outside and getting him to play with you, then picking up the bone and play 'chase me', seeing if you can get him to chase the bone. He may well want it if you make it fun and hard to get.

hi Liz - I se what you mean .. I will try that - I am going to pick up some chicken wings from the butchers and will try with that maybe less intimidating than a large bone.. I tried your suggestion of putting the bowl down this morning and leaving the room - he ran up to it and then ran away within in 3 mins he had pulled cd's out of the rack and my OH coat off the chair and was happily playing with them... but I managed to get him to eat a bit from my hand and then picked the bowl up and held it side on and he ate from it.. even asked for more so gave him some more this time straight in the bowl on its side held level with his face and he ate with no issues.. not sure if its a one off but will try holding the bowl tonight and maybe slowly change the angle of the bowl until its flat - its a bigger bowl that my greyhound used- not sure if its the height of the bowl or an aversion to putting his face in something...will let you know

Be careful with chicken wings or necks as they are quite small for a dog of this age, I even have to pull a chicken wing away from my 8 week old. She had the whole thing (8cm) in her mouth and was gagging. I would possibly say try a half carcass?

hi Danny ok thanks will have another think.. what about tracheas they are bigger aren't they ? still a bit new to the raw feeding game..

I am possibly newer to it that yourself lol.
Is the trachea not the neck? (never paid attention in biology). Even they are rather small, I think they would be suitable as long as you are holding it until Buddy gets used to crunching the bones properly.

we live and learn will try and see what happens.. things we do for our dogs...lol

Trachea is the windpipe, no bones . Chicken/duck wings should be fine for Buddy's age. Millie's been having them since 3 months and we've not had a problem. Always supervise, though.

thanks Liz still learning all this stuff...

odd discovery but - if I stand Buddy's dish on its side up against something he will eat from it???- so seems an aversion to putting his head in the dish - have tried feeding him on the floor but he thinks its a game and spreads the food all round the room ( not good) .. any ideas how to get over this - he drinks water fine from the same type of dish...would a glass dish help do you think.. but as Liz said don't want to keep changing things - just concerned that the dish on its side will fall on him or make a loud noise when he is using it and then I will never get him to eat again !!

I wouldn't change things too much it isnt ideal the dish tilted but if hes eating, hope its a phase he grows out of . Bless him

Bless him... I will bless him that's for sure ! he is turning into a little teenager I think ! 9 months on Friday and today he is sooo naughty! has decided he wants nothing in is crate wants his blankets on the sofa and if he cant have them he will have my coat - or my bag , tipped all my flower pots over ...managed to pop a bottle of lemonade and don't ask about the poor cat .. all with a big staffy grin and a waggy tail - he is having great fun today !!!

Typical teenager im sorry carol can just picture him