What does BARF mean?
The abbreviation BARF means "Biologically appropriate raw food" and refers to species-appropriate feeding according to the prey principle.
Healthy and species-appropriate nutrition for dogs is the key to a healthy and long dog life. BARF plays an important role in this. We have dealt extensively with this topic. In this post, we aim to dispel the myths surrounding "Barfing" and reveal some basic mistakes in the common way of feeding dogs.
Note: At the end we also talk about other resources related to BARF. Sometimes we use affiliate links marked with an asterisk. That means we get a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.
So, let's get started! First we need to clarify a fundamental question:
What is "species-appropriate dog nutrition"?
A species-appropriate diet for the dog corresponds to the requirements of nature. What choice do you think your dog would instinctively make in nature?
Regardless of the size of our four-legged friends, they are still at the level of their ancestors in terms of nutritional physiology. - The wolves. Meat is the main ingredient on the menu, with a small amount of vegetables, fruit, berries, roots or herbs. Most of these vegetarian dishes come from the stomachs of the hunted prey and provide the dog with necessary vitamins, minerals and fibre.
It goes without saying that a diet with grains, which dogs cannot use in large quantities, synthetic preservatives, sugar, flavor enhancers or colorings is not species-appropriate. And while a vegan diet might make sense for humans, it could lead to serious problems like nutritional deficiencies and disease in dogs. It is precisely for this reason that the BARF diet is recommended.
What does BARF mean?
The abbreviation BARF means "Biologically appropriate raw food" and refers to species-appropriate feeding according to the prey principle.
In theory, the most species-appropriate form of feeding your dog or cat would be to feed whole prey. However, since this turns out to be (a little bit 😉) difficult for organizational reasons, various fresh components such as muscle meat, innards and bones are put together to form a complete meal. But this meal can also be enriched with supplementary feed made from plant-based ingredients to provide the dog with the necessary vitamins, minerals and roughage. It is about putting together a meal that comes as close as possible to a natural prey animal in terms of percentage composition. In this way, the diet of a carnivore in the wild can be mimicked.
In short, BARF is a raw feeding method for domesticated dogs and cats. With fresh raw components and the targeted use of dietary supplements, you can feed your loved ones appropriately and prepare the food very tasty! Your four-legged friend will be very happy about the taste and at the same time you can support his health.
Is BARF really that good?
But there is also skepticism from veterinarians and nutritionists. In our opinion, this skepticism is justified. However, it is not about the question of whether BARF is good or bad for the dog, but rather about the implementation of the pet owner. Because many people do not deal with the topic in sufficient detail, which can lead to problems.
For example:
Typical for a BARF meal is a large proportion of fresh or defrosted raw meat, mostly from beef, lamb, horse or poultry. Raw meat can contain pathogens such as salmonella and lead to severe diarrhea. Therefore, when barfing, not only is special hygiene required, but the origin and age of the meat should also be taken into account. Furthermore, it should be considered that raw pork (including wild boar!) may not be fed to dogs, as it can contain pathogens that can lead to infections.
The BARF method we prefer is very species-appropriate and healthy for the four-legged friend. But just like with our own diet, we need to educate ourselves about it first. Thus, we can enjoy a long and healthy life with our loved ones. Read more in this extremely affordable paperback.*
Conventional feeding method vs. BARF
Unfortunately there are still many dog owners who feed their dog various leftovers. This often includes bread, which the dog cannot digest well due to its digestive system. Even if you let your dog "snack" something and give him a piece of chocolate, it's not doing him any good. The other extreme is a very one-sided diet with cheap dry food.
Even if dry food can be quite nutritious, the same thing is often bought and symptoms of deficiency can occur. What many dog owners forget is that regardless of the feeding method, they still have to deal with the issue of nutrition. Because even with dry food, there is a lot to consider in order to make the diet as balanced as possible.
The advantages and disadvantages of BARF
For comparison, we have listed the advantages and disadvantages of biological and species-appropriate raw food . There are also other positive effects that BARF friends report:
Benefits:
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Appropriate and healthy
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Balanced diet
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Shining Hide
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Natural diet
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Less inherent smell
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Less gastrointestinal problems
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More neat teeth
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Better Taste
Disadvantages:
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There is a lot to consider
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More organizationally complex
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Needs space in the freezer
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Time-consuming preparation
We hope you enjoyed this article. Now you know the BARF method and you can decide for yourself whether you want to use it.
The paperback by Swanie Simon* is a cheap solution to acquire even more knowledge on the subject. The book by Nadine Wolf* really answered all of our questions and the recipes are fantastic. With this book you will not only learn important things about dog nutrition, but also how to avoid all pitfalls and provide your dog with a safe, species-appropriate and healthy diet.