Several different feeding methods have been discussed in other articles. It is time to tie all your new knowledge of the essential requirements for your dog by developing a species-appropriate diet utilizing real, raw food. 

Several whole-food raw diet options provide your dog with species-appropriate nutrition, including BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food), the Ancestral Diet, Prey Model Raw,  and commercially prepared pre-mixed raw food. We will use the Real Ancestral 6X Diet™  as our guide, but you can adapt these principles to whichever diet you choose. 

There is no one-size-fits-all diet as every dog has unique requirements, and every dog parent has their food philosophy regarding how they want to feed their dog. It is up to the dog parent to educate themselves about these diets and choose the one that feels right for them and their dog. 

Raw diets are an alternative to commercially processed dog food. The raw diet is based on the idea that dogs are carnivores and should eat a species-appropriate diet, a raw diet containing a minimum of raw meat, raw meaty bones, and organs. The six components of the Real Ancestral 6X Diet™  are:

Muscle Meats at 63-65% of the total meal.

The raw meaty bone is at 10-12%  of the whole meal.

Other secreting organs are at 5% of the entire meal.

Fur or fiber is at 5%  of the entire meal. 

Each of the components adds vital nutrients to your dog's diet. Although there are several popular diets, we concentrate on the Real Ancestral 6X Diet™ for this article.

Protein is one of three macronutrients that make up food, along with carbohydrates and fat. The "macro" part refers to the fact that the body requires these nutrients in significant quantities, while vitamins and minerals are needed in smaller amounts. 

To prevent a protein deficiency in your dog, the Real Ancestral 6X Diet™ recommends that muscle meat accounts for at least 65% of your dog's diet. Protein should be provided using a variety of muscle meats, including: 

Red meat: beef, bison, lamb, pork, goat, elk, wild rabbit, venison, elk, ostrich, and wild birds

White meat: Chicken, turkey, farm-raised rabbit, partridge, pigeon, quail

Muscular organs and animal parts: heart, trachea, aorta, gizzard, tongue, lungs, green tripe

Whole raw eggs, with or without the shell, up to three times per week

Protein is the most abundant macronutrient in the Real Ancestral 6X Diet™. Seafood and the muscular organs such as the heart, gizzard, lungs, and green tripe are protein sources, along with muscle meats. The raw meaty bone component also adds to the total amount of protein in the diet.

The quality of the protein is based on how the animal was raised. For example, free-range grass-fed and finished ruminants (cows and bison) provide a much higher protein quality with a complete amino acid profile. Providing quality meat to your dog gives him the building blocks needed for a strong foundation. 

Protein is essential for proper muscle function, organ function, and growth, particularly during pregnancy, lactation, and senior years. Protein is also crucial for all body systems to function well and maintain overall good health, including improving muscle growth and repair, boosting the immune system, and maintaining a healthy weight and satiety. 

A natural, raw diet with rotating proteins helps ensure your dog gets the protein his body requires to function correctly. Feeding a variety of high-quality proteins also lessens the chance of your dog developing food allergies.

Seafood contains high amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids and other vital minerals and vitamins. Seafood should make up about 10% of your dog's diet in the form of small, oily fish. Excellent sources include the following:

If feeding freshly caught fish, you should freeze them for three weeks before serving your dog to eliminate bacteria and some parasites. If feeding salmon or trout caught in the Pacific Northwest, you should cook them before feeding.

Not all dogs can tolerate seafood, but having a source of Omega-3 fatty acids is essential to maintain the proper Omega-6 and Omega-3 ratio. Red meat from grass-fed cows and elk has a more balanced ratio of Omega-6: Omega-3. Fish and krill oils can also be used for Omega-3 supplementation.

Raw meaty bones   (RMBs) are the backbone of any good raw diet and are essential to your dog's long-term health and well-being. Dogs need about 10% bone in their diet, but some may require up to 12%. 

The nutritional value of RMBs is difficult to overstate: they provide large amounts of highly bioavailable calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. These minerals help promote healthy teeth, bones, and joints as your dog chews on the RMBs, getting essential nutrients and protein. They also promote the benefits of natural dental cleaning that promotes oral health, mental stimulation, and jaw muscle exercises. 

Another benefit of RMBs is their high levels of prebiotics (the fibers that feed beneficial gut bacteria) and probiotics (the healthy bacteria), which can help improve digestion and boost immunity in dogs with compromised immune systems.

You should only feed raw bones as cooking bones changes the structure and removes nutrients. Although all bones can splinter, cooked bones shatter more easily. Cooked bones also lack the meat and connective tissue covering that aids in the digestion of the bone. 

You can also feed whole prey in the form of:

Even though edible bones are pliable and easy to digest, all bones present inherent risks. Although recreational bones are a source of calcium for your dog and provide mental stimulation, jaw exercises, and aid with oral health, they are not meant to be consumed entirely. 

Monitor all chewing sessions. Dogs that are aggressive chewers are at risk for mouth and tooth injury due to their chewing style. Matching the type and size of the bone to your dog can help minimize this risk. 

All bones splinter. No matter how the bones have been prepared or fed raw, they can splinter. RMBs have connective tissue and some meat still lining the outside of the bone, which protects sharp edges. 

The liver is a nutrient-dense organ that contains high-quality protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. The Real Ancestral 6X Diet™ calls for it to be approximately 5% of your dog's meal.

The liver contains vitamin A, which keeps the eyes healthy and functioning correctly, and vitamin B12, which helps with red blood cell formation and development. Minerals in the liver include copper, which helps prevent anemia. Zinc boosts the immune system and prevents infection from spreading to other parts of the body, such as the brain or kidneys, and iron helps boost the immune system and prevents anemia.

The liver from different sources has other nutrients. Beef liver has 9.755 mg of copper per 100 grams, whereas pork liver only has 0.677 mg. Pork liver has 23.9 mg of iron per 100 grams, whereas beef liver has 4.7 mg/100 g. Liver should be provided from different sources, but primarily from ruminants like cows, sheep, or deer. Other good sources are duck and pig, followed by turkey or chicken. 

Organ meat, often known as offal, is essential for your dog's diet. Including organs in your dog's bowl is vital because they provide nutrients that meat and raw meaty bones may lack. 

Organs have high levels of B vitamins, including B1, B2, B6, folic acid, and B12. Minerals like phosphorus, iron, copper, magnesium, and selenium are abundant in organ meats. They also contain small levels of vitamin D and crucial fat-soluble vitamin A.

Valuable organs other than liver include:

Organ meat is vulnerable to heat, which destroys most of its nutritional content, so you should feed raw, freeze-dried, or air-dried organ meats. Beef spleen, beef liver, lamb spleen, pork kidney, and pork liver are among the air-dried organ meats available from Real Dog Box.

Several different feeding methods have been discussed in other articles. It is time to apply your new knowledge of the essential requirements for your dog by developing a species-appropriate diet that utilizes real, raw food. 

Several whole-food raw diet options provide your dog with species-appropriate nutrition, including BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food), the Ancestral Diet, Prey Model Raw,  and commercially prepared pre-mixed raw food. We will use the <a href="https://www.feedreal.com/articles/introduction-to-real-ancestral-6x-diet">Real Ancestral 6X Diet™</a>  as our guide, but you can adapt these principles to whichever diet you choose. 

There is no one-size-fits-all diet, as every dog has unique requirements, and every dog parent has their own food philosophy regarding how they want to feed their dog. It is up to the dog parent to educate themselves about these diets and choose the one that feels right for them and their dog. 

Raw diets are an alternative to commercially processed dog food. The raw diet is based on the idea that dogs are carnivores and should eat a species-appropriate diet, which consists of a minimum of raw meat, raw meaty bones, and organs. The six components of the Real Ancestral 6X Diet™  are:

Protein is one of three macronutrients that make up food, along with <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/carbohydrates">carbohydrates</a> and fat. The "macro" part refers to the fact that the body requires these nutrients in significant quantities, while vitamins and minerals are needed in smaller amounts. 

Protein is the most abundant macronutrient in the Real Ancestral 6X Diet™. Seafood and the muscular organs, such as the heart, gizzard, lungs, and green tripe, are protein sources, along with muscle meats. The raw meaty bone component also adds to the total amount of protein in the diet.

The quality of the protein is based on how the animal was raised. For example, free-range, grass-fed, and finished <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/ruminants">ruminants</a> (such as cows and bison) provide a significantly higher protein quality with a complete amino acid profile. Providing your dog with quality meat gives him the building blocks needed for a strong foundation. 

Protein is essential for proper muscle function, organ function, and growth, particularly during pregnancy, lactation, and senior years. Protein is also crucial for all body systems to function correctly and maintain overall good health, including enhancing muscle growth and repair, boosting the immune system, and promoting a healthy weight and <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/satiety">satiety</a>. 

Seafood contains high amounts of <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/omega3">Omega-3</a> <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/fatty-acids">fatty acids</a> and other vital minerals and vitamins. Seafood should make up about 10% of your dog's diet in the form of small, oily fish. Excellent sources include the following:

Not all dogs can tolerate seafood, but having a source of omega-3 fatty acids is essential to maintain the proper omega-6 and omega-3 ratio. Red meat from grass-fed cows and elk has a more balanced ratio of omega-6 to omega-3. Fish and krill oils can also be used as a source of omega-3 supplementation.

Raw meaty bones   (RMBs) are the backbone of any good raw diet and are essential to your dog's long-term health and well-being. Dogs require approximately 10% bone in their diet, but some may need up to 12%. 

The nutritional value of RMBs is difficult to overstate: they provide large amounts of highly <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/bioavailable">bioavailable</a> <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/calcium">calcium</a>, phosphorus, and magnesium. These minerals help promote healthy teeth, bones, and joints as your dog chews on the RMBs, getting essential nutrients and protein. They also promote the benefits of natural dental cleaning, which supports oral health, <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/mental-stimulation">mental stimulation</a>, and exercises for the jaw muscles. 

Another benefit of RMBs is their high levels of prebiotics (the fibers that feed beneficial gut bacteria) and <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/probiotics">probiotics</a> (the healthy bacteria), which can help improve digestion and boost immunity in dogs with compromised immune systems.

You should only feed raw bones, as cooking bones alters their structure and removes essential nutrients. Although all bones can splinter, cooked bones shatter more easily. Cooked bones also lack the meat and connective tissue covering that aids in the digestion of the bone. 

You can also feed <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/whole-prey">whole prey</a> in the form of:

*Raw chicken and duck feet are commonly recommended as a source of collagen and chondroitin, thanks to their ligaments and connective tissue. However, their bone density is lower compared to other raw meaty bones. Because poultry feet contain only 54% of the calcium found in other bones, such as necks, wings, and backs, and have minimal muscle meat, they should never be the sole source of calcium for puppies. They should only be used occasionally as the raw meaty bone component.

**Pork trotters (feet) can serve as an alternative to raw meaty bones, especially for large breeds, due to their size. However, they are high in fat, making them unsuitable for dogs with fat sensitivities or those prone to pancreatitis.

Even though <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/edible-bones">edible bones</a> are pliable and easy to digest, all bones present inherent risks. Although <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/recreational-bones">recreational bones</a> are a source of calcium for your dog and provide mental stimulation, jaw exercises, and aid with oral health, they are not meant to be consumed entirely. 

All bones splinter. Regardless of how the bones are prepared or fed, they can splinter. RMBs have connective tissue and some meat still lining the outside of the bone, which protects sharp edges. 

The liver contains <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/vitamin-a">vitamin A</a>, which is essential for maintaining healthy eyes and proper eye function, and <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/vitamin-b12">vitamin B12</a>, which aids in the formation and development of red blood cells. Minerals in the liver include copper, which helps prevent <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/anemia">anemia</a>. <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/zinc">Zinc</a> boosts the immune system and prevents infections from spreading to other parts of the body, such as the brain or kidneys. Iron helps boost the immune system and prevents anemia.

The liver from different sources has other nutrients. <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/beef-liver">Beef liver</a> has 9.755 mg of copper per 100 grams, whereas <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/pork-liver">pork liver</a> only has 0.677 mg. Pork liver has 23.9 mg of iron per 100 grams, whereas beef liver has 4.7 mg/100 g. Liver should be sourced from different sources, but primarily from ruminants such as cows, sheep, or deer. Other good sources are duck and pig, followed by turkey or chicken. 

Organs have high levels of B vitamins, including B1, B2, B6, <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/folic-acid">folic acid</a>, and B12. Minerals like phosphorus, iron, copper, magnesium, and selenium are abundant in organ meats. They also contain small levels of <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/vitamin-d">vitamin D</a> and crucial fat-soluble vitamin A.

Organ meat is vulnerable to heat, which destroys most of its nutritional content, so you should feed raw, freeze-dried, or air-dried organ meats. <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/beef-spleen">Beef spleen</a>, beef liver, lamb spleen, <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/pork-kidney">pork kidney</a>, and pork liver are among the air-dried organ meats available from Real Dog Box.

While most dog parents are unaware that providing fur is suitable for their dog, it is actually an excellent source of manganese and fiber for their dog's digestive system. As fur passes through the intestinal tract, it brushes away intestinal parasites, acting as a natural dewormer.

Fur  (along with feet and feathers)  is also a source of manganese. This mineral performs various functions, including as a component and activator of enzymes and in developing the <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/organic">organic</a> matrix within the bone. It also aids in the <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/metabolism">metabolism</a> of fats and carbohydrates involved in neuromuscular transmission and is essential for maintaining reproductive, joint, and ligament health. 

Manganese is also vital for joint health. Manganese deficiency is the most common cause of CCL (cranial cruciate ligament) tears other than <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/acute">acute</a> trauma. Manganese deficiency is seen in <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/kibble">kibble</a>-fed and raw-fed dogs if the prey model raw (PMR) or the BARF diet is used. 

Knowing that dogs are naturally attracted to food with fur, dog toy manufacturers create toys to mimic the shape, size, and texture of what dogs would prey upon and consume in the wild. 

A combination of fur and fiber should account for approximately 5% of your dog's diet. 

You can source animal parts that still retain fur from:

Wolves and coyotes consume grasses, berries, and wild fruits and vegetables to provide roughage and a variety of nutrients not found in meat, bones, and organs. Research shows that a dog's <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/gut-microbiome">gut microbiome</a> is much healthier with a more diverse population of beneficial bacteria than dogs that do not consume vegetation. <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/polyphenols">Polyphenols</a>, <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/flavonoids">flavonoids</a>, and other phytonutrients found in plants are <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/antioxidants">antioxidants</a> that reduce oxidative stress and prolong your dog's life. 

If you don't have access to fur, fresh vegetables, and low-sugar fruits can constitute approximately 5% of your dog's fiber intake. Vegetables provide prebiotic fibers that support the growth of bacteria residing in the gut microbiome, allowing them to produce short-chain fatty acids. Feeding cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and arugula, provides gut-friendly fiber and numerous vitamins. Dark, leafy green vegetables contain essential minerals such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Phytonutrients found only in plant matter are antimicrobial, anti-aging, and cancer-fighting compounds. 

Vegetables to use in your dog's bowl include:

Soluble and <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/insoluble-fiber">insoluble fiber</a> is essential for the digestive tract and the immune system, and provides antioxidant-promoting phytonutrients. Adding phytochemicals to your dog's diet will help him achieve a healthy and long life by reducing oxidative stress. 

At <a href="https://www.real.dog/">Real Dog Box</a>, we adhere to a Real Ancestral 6X Diet philosophy. When you&nbsp;visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.feedreal.com/calculator" target="_blank">Feed Real calculator</a>, you are asked questions about your dog, including its&nbsp;age, weight, and activity level. Once those values have been entered, you will be provided with the recommended daily amount of food for your dog, measured in pounds. 

Next, you are asked to choose the diet you plan to: the Real Ancestral 6X Diet™, the Prey Model Raw (PMR), or the BARF diet. Clicking on your choice will reveal how much each component you need to feed.

You start the calculations by choosing the amount of bone you plan to feed, 10%, 12%, or 15%, depending on the consistency of your dog's stool. We recommend adult dogs start at 12% and adjust if needed (puppies should be fed at least 17% bone). Then, by selecting the type of raw meaty bone you will provide to your dog that day, a graphic detailing what you need to fulfill your dog's nutritional needs will appear. Finally, the calculator will generate a shopping list based on the number of days' worth of food you want to prepare, using those parameters.  

A 60-pound, very active adult dog will need approximately 1.65 pounds of daily food. If he has firm stools, you can give him 10% bone. We will use chicken thigh with 20% bone as a raw meaty bone cut. So your dog's meal is calculated as:

You can recalculate the meal component percentages each time you prepare meals based on your available food components. You base the bone percentage on the observation of his stools.

The closer we get to feeding our dogs a diet that resembles their natural prey, the happier, healthier, and longer their lives will be. Dog parents must educate themselves about the numerous diets that meet their dog's nutritional requirements. 

Feeding raw can be time-consuming, but with the proper tools and planning, meal preparation can become much faster and easier with practice. There are online services, or you may have local companies that provide meals directly to your door. However, if you want to create your dog's meals, numerous resources are available to help with the logistics and preparation of diets that meet your dog's nutritional requirements.

As a member of Real Dog Box, you will not only get your monthly box of treats and chews but also access to a monthly consultation with a certified canine nutritionist. The website offers a wealth of information on how to feed your dog at every life stage.

Monitoring your dog's weight and body condition is essential throughout this process. Learn how to <a href="https://www.feedreal.com/articles/testing-your-rawfed-dogs-health">follow your dog's markers </a>to ensure that you provide the correct nutrients for your dog.

Articles from future units will be accessible once you have completed that unit.

Unit 2 - <a href="https://feedreal.com/articles/understanding-protein-in-your-dogs-diet">Understanding Protein In Your Dog's Diet</a> 

Unit 2 - <a href="https://www.feedreal.com/articles/dive-into-seafood-for-your-pup">Dive Into Seafood For Your Pup</a>  

Unit 2 -  <a href="https://feedreal.com/articles/raw-meaty-bones-safety-and-how-to-add">Raw Meaty Bones: Safety And How To Add</a> 

Unit 2 - <a href="https://feedreal.com/articles/adding-organs-to-the-bowl">Adding Organs To The Bowl</a> 

Unit 2 - <a href="https://feedreal.com/articles/adding-fur-and-fiber-to-your-dogs-bowl">Adding Fur And Fiber To Your Dog's Bowl</a> 

Unit 2 - <a href="https://feedreal.com/articles/fruits-and-veggies-can-be-beneficial">Fruits And Veggies Can Be Beneficial</a> 

Putting it All Together Using the Feed Real Calculator

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