Litter Birth Announcement

We are proud to announce the birth of our newest litter of

 Naturally Reared Carolina Dogs to

 "PR" Banbury's Tennessee Daisy Jane, aka Daisy &

 Walnuthill Eliphalet Remington, aka Eli. 

There is 6 males and 2 females for a total of 8 puppies. 

A couple of males will be available to Natural Rearing homes, 

please see THIS PAGE  for more information about obtaining an ETD puppy! 

Is The Carolina Dog Native To North America? New Science Says: Maybe

Share

Tweet

E-mail

5 Comments

Print

http://wunc.org/post/carolina-dog-native-north-america-new-science-says-maybe

By LAURA CANDLER

Pittsboro resident Marielle Hare owns a dog, Oona, that she believes might have traces of Carolina Dog in her. She is interested in testing its DNA.

Credit Marielle Hare

The first Carolina dog that I. Lehr Brisbin took home with him smeared fecal matter all over the back seat of his car. He found her at a pound in Augusta, Georgia in the 1970s, and despite strong discouragement from the pound’s staff (they said she bit everyone who touched her), he managed to wrangle her into a carry crate in his back seat, where “she immediately had a diarrhea attack,” Brisbin recalls. But he was far from discouraged.  Brisbin wanted to take her home because he thought there was something strange and special about her. She resembled some wild dogs he’d seen in the woods along the Savannah River. And Brisbin was starting to put together an exciting hypothesis about why there were wild dogs in the South Carolina lowland that looked and acted different from most others.

At the time, I. Lehr Brisbin was a biologist studying wildlife at the Savannah River Ecology Lab, a field research station of the University of Georgia in Aiken, South Carolina. His research often took him into the 300 square mile wilderness of the Savannah River Ecology site. That’s where he first noticed the wild dogs.  They had long, pointy snouts, ears that permanently stood up and tails that curled back on themselves.  And their behavior, he noticed, was unusual, too. They dug small pits in the ground with their snouts. They hunted in packs and signaled to each other by flashing the white undersides of their tails. They moved as a pack, like wolves.  They were more like Australian Dingoes than European-bred dogs brought to America by colonists.  Brisbin hypothesized that the wild South Carolina dogs descended from canines that belonged to Native Americans, that the dogs’ ancestors had crossed the land bridge between Asia and North America with humans around 12,000 years ago.

Brisbin soon acquired another wild dog that resembled the female he got from the pound. He bred them, and their offspring “were like little dingoes,” he said. He joined the Australian Dingo Society to learn more and was struck by the similarities he saw in their behavior.  Brisbin decided to petition the United Kennel Club to get the dogs classified as a breed unto itself. His case convinced the UKC and a new breed was named.

Pi, a Carolina Dog belonging to I. Lehr Brisbin.

Credit D. B. Brisbin

“I created the ‘Carolina dog,’” Brisbin says.  “And I based it on three things: First of all, what do you look like; second is how to do you behave; and third, where did you come from. Every one of those dogs traced back to the swamp dogs.”

Brisbin thought that the distinct morphology and behavior were strong indicators of a difference in origin from most domestic dogs in America, whose lineage can be traced to dogs brought over from Europe. The main question he wanted to answer was: are these dogs feral escapees with European origins? Or are they actually remnants of an ancient Native American dog population?

“We actually have a tool to find out,” Brisbin says. “It’s called DNA.”

Fast forward almost 40 years and a group of scientists from the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden has subjected that hypothesis to a new level of scrutiny by analyzing DNA from 19 Carolina dogs and comparing it to other breeds. While Brisbin and other biologists have looked at the DNA of the Carolina dog before, the new study, whose results were published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, is the first to compare Carolina dog DNA to a range of other breeds from North America and Asia to see which they most closely resemble genetically.

The researchers found that the mitochondrial DNA (which is passed down through females) of the Carolina dogs is most closely related to the mitochondrial DNA of dogs found in Asia, and they suggest, based on that evidence, that the Carolina dog “may have an indigenous American origin.” The key word there is “may.”

For enthusiastic Carolina dog owners and others following the story (a recent New York Times article about the findings was titled “DNA Backs Lore on Pre-Columbian Dogs”), these findings have been taken as strong evidence of native American dog.  But some scientists who study canid diversity aren’t as quick to accept the study as proof of the dog’s American origin.

Bishop, a ginger-colored Carolina dog belonging to I. Lehr Brisbin.

Credit D. B. Brisbin

“I don’t think they really have enough evidence to support that,” says Ben Sacks, a professor at the University of California-Davis who studies dog genetics. “I think they have some circumstantial evidence that suggests that that’s a possibility.”

Sacks says that the work is exciting, but there’s still a long way to go to determine the origin of the Carolina dog.

“It’s a neat story, and maybe it is a remnant [American] population, but even if that’s the case, the odds that they've been able to retain their genetic integrity for the last five to six thousand years while being surrounded by European dogs and haven’t interbred is not impossible but would certainly be remarkable.”

Sacks also points out that the authors of the paper looked at only mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), one piece of an animal’s genetic makeup. Although they compared it with the mtDNA of other dogs around the world, Sacks explains that  “the problem is, the similarity of mtDNA sequences doesn’t take you that far,” meaning that because of the way mtDNA mutates over time, it’s difficult to determine a relationship based on similar mtDNA sequences.

While Sacks is quick to admit that the work is exciting, he says comparing the entire genome of the Carolina dog to others will provide a fuller picture of its history and relationship to other dogs.

The paper’s lead author, Peter Savolainen, agrees that more work needs to be done. “I think we have a very strong indication, but it needs ‘final confirmation,’” he writes.

"I think we have a very strong indication, but it needs final confirmation." - Peter Savolainen

Even Brisbin, who would like very much to be able to say with certainty that the dogs have been in America since before Columbus, agrees that the genetic work is not quite where it needs to be to declare the Carolina dog indigenous.

“The evidence isn’t there yet, but it’s very exciting,” he says. He stands by his hypothesis and uses other clues –like Native American cave paintings that depict dogs similar to the Carolina dog and accounts from early European explorers in American who describe a dog like the Carolina dog—to give weight to his hypothesis as well.

It has been nearly 40 years since Brisbin first noticed the strange dogs in the swampy South Carolina forest. He is officially retired, but his interest in Carolina dogs and other wildlife hasn’t waned a bit. In his spare time he raises Pitt bulls and researches the ancestry of the domesticated chicken; he testifies in court about dogs’ ability to track scent; he sometimes raises blood hounds for the local police department. And he still breeds Carolina dogs.  Brisbin wants—possibly more than anyone—to see strong evidence for his hypothesis. But he’s still waiting for the study that can provide it.

“The new paper is exciting,” he says. “But other questions must be answered first.”

Books about Carolina Dogs

Here are some books, Fiction & Non-Fiction about Carolina Dogs that you may enjoy reading. 
****************************************************************
I recently saw a posting from someone on FaceBook about this book & I wanted to share it with others. It is a fictional book, with characters based on real situation & people & dogs.  

Bestselling and award-winning author Allen Paul has created an endearing character in Honey, a swamp dog who gets rescued at the moment she’s about to get shot. Taken to live at Banbury Cross Farm with other rescued Dixie Dingos, her quick cuts and darting turns soon draw notice; she’s then trained for agility championships, the most popular of all canine sports. 

From the start, Honey forms a deep bond with Miss Jane, who saved her in the nick of time. Her trainer is Ace, a worldly wise black man who manages the farm’s kennel. Honey forms another deep bond with Miss Jane’s partner, Mr. Billy, a skilled horseman who delights Honey by quoting famous rhymes. 

The story is told by Honey in a charming southern voice. She’s just turned one (equal to a 10-year-old girl or boy) when the story begins. At its center is a haunting mystery: Why are swamp critters turning up dead with a wild look in the eye? Many believe a big coyote named Geronimo scares them to death. When two dead dingo pups are found, Honey becomes convinced that her pack, which is still in the swamp, could be next. Somehow she has to get them out. 
Honey the Dixie Dingo Dog

****************************************
I have personally met Honeybun & Vicky. I Loved them!  Adorable Honeybun had her Southern Belle dress on when I met her :)  You will love this touching book about their struggles & triumphs. 

I’m Listening With a Broken Ear is a true story about a dying dog, Honeybun, the author found on a roadside and grudgingly rescued. A concomitant story of faith, persistence, and love unfolds as both she and her young daughter struggled to help Honeybun overcome severe issues of compromised health, aggression and fear. Untrained to deal with the overwhelming behavior, Vicky then tried to give her up.... unsuccessfully.
Refusing to relinquish her to Animal Control who would undoubtedly euthanize Honeybun,Vicky tripped upon a small rescue organization who offered to help rehabilitate Honeybun for free. During the many months of heartache and struggle, and multiple near deadly attacks on Vicky's other dog, she discovered a modern day parable of the truth that nothing is truly irredeemable. Each victory with the little rescue dog taught personal lessons in redemption and grace, patience and perseverance, and the power of transforming love to spread through a community in most unexpected and unlikely ways. 
There were multiple failures, and repeated surrenders to hopelessness.Each time, her weakness was thwarted and overcome by unexpected help and miracles. In the process, Vicky came face to snout with the harsh reality that real compassion involved action and responsibility. If she wanted to save the dog, ultimately it was up to her.
It is a story of redemption, physically and spiritually in a very small corner of the world, told through the story of a discarded dog that no one wanted and no one thought could be saved.
Donations to the animal rescue that helped save this dog can be made at hollowcreekfarm.org
I'm Listening With A Broken Ear
 ****
UPDATE 7-10-14
Vicky just released a new novel !

Available on Kindle & in print.

Link to Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LNA7T4G

Book Description

Publication Date: July 8, 2014

A lonely, discouraged woman is beckoned to a small town to care for her dying, despicable father. At the same time, the town is reeling from the first murder in a hundred years, devastating their peaceful community. In this inspiring story of redemption, a pack of wild dogs of an ancient and rare breed bring about healing, and a surprising solution to the murder mystery. A book for dog lovers, God lovers, and mystery lovers alike, with a hint of romance for everyone else.

****************************************
This is a book I own and have read many times. It can be bought from Ms Gunnell herself. 

The true story of Jane Gunnell's remarkable adventures in rescuing the Carolina Dog from inevitable extinction is a delightful romp that will please old and young alike

Ordering Information:
Each book is $28.00 plus $10.00 for shipping and handling
Make Checks Payable to : Carolina Dogs

262 Eastgate Drive #342
Aiken, SC 29803
Thank you for your interest in and support of The Carolina Dog.

This book is written by Ms Jane Gunnell about her personal experiences with  Carolina Dogs and all she has learned about them through the years.  It is informative as well as interesting and has lots of great tips for raising a Carolina Dog. 

**********************************************************************

 If you know of any other books about Carolina Dogs please post a link on the comments. 

3 Different Personalities, Same Pack

My three Carolina Dogs have very distinct personalities. I know that I could tell them apart even if I could not see.

Daisy is very gentle and she will quietly approach me and lay her head softly on my leg or arm to ask to be petted. If I ignore her she may bump me with her head, but still gently. If I start petting or scratching her, she will stand there until she has had enough & then walk away.

Cooter will stand by me and stare at me. even if I cant see him I can FEEL him staring at me. He is very intense. If I ignore him, he will push his head on my arm or leg or he will jump up by me and push into me. He will move around to different positions to get scratched in new spots... He usually falls asleep getting petted, so he ends up laying on or by me so I can pet/scratch him while he snoozes. 

Bit is a little ball of energy. If she wants attention she will jump up in my lap, no matter what I am doing,  and shove her head into my face. If I ignore her she will smack me with her paw. I am trying to teach her not to do this! She will melt into me when I start petting her and is a great cuddler. I have to push her away, because she never gets enough! If I stop petting she will again smack me or poke me with her paw.

I love them all 3 and I just wanted to share how different they all are.

Affiliations

East Tennessee Dingos and "mycarolinadog" and Nature's Way Carnivore Pets are entirely the creation of Susan Moore Lewelling and all pictures, original articles, essays,  graphics, etc  posted, belong to Susan Moore Lewelling and can not be reposted or shared without express permission.
http://www.mycarolinadog.com/
https://www.facebook.com/mycarolinadog
https://www.facebook.com/EastTennesseeRawFeeders
https://www.facebook.com/groups/NaturesWayCarnivorePets/

**The above entities are not affiliated with and do not expressly support the missions of http://carolinadogbreed.com/ or any other websites or social media groups, even if we are linked or listed elsewhere unless listed here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/183684005020509/
http://www.savingcarolinadogs.com/CD/Welcome_Carolina_Dogs_American_Dingo_Dixie_Dingo.html
http://nrbreedersassociation.wordpress.com/
http://naturalrearing.com/coda/index.html#landing
http://www.animalnaturopathy.org/
http://www.youngliving.com/en_US/

Just how did I get here from there? A bit about me...

I have received quite a few questions about how I got involved with Carolina Dogs and with Natural Rearing. I am going to attempt to explain without writing a complete book, which some people say that I should... maybe someday!
Growing up, we had pets my whole life, mixed breed dogs & cats we got from friends, or from the animal shelter.  When I was 18,  my parents bought me an AKC Rottweiler for Christmas.

Baby Bear Moore

Baby was a wonderful dog & my constant companion. She was my rock through lots of really hard times, she helped me raise both my kids & kept them safe through their young childhood years. She was from excellent show bloodlines, but she was always problematic health-wise. She had chronic yeasty ears & feet, bad smell, she shed awfully, had numerous skin problems, and in later years she had digestive issues & eventually seizures. She died of a seizure or a stroke at age 13.5 . Nothing the vet ever did or suggested helped her. I was heartbroken when she died, my whole family was. It was several years before I even thought of getting another dog. She was so in tune with me & I felt that no dog could ever compare to the bond I had with Baby. ( I realize now of course that all her problems went back to diet, chemicals & vaccines.)

Asheley, my 1st CD

Then, 3 years later  I watched a TV show one day, called "In Search of the First Dog". Danny, my husband (not a big dog person), said of the CDs that they sounded like great dogs and he might could handle having a dog like that... well it was on...lol I started searching. I was not on FaceBook back then, but I did have the internet!  CDs are not a common type around here in East Tennessee, we have mostly hounds & fiests. So I emailed every breeder & CD contact I could find(not many). I struck up a good conversation with Jane Gunnell and learned more about Carolina Dogs.

Cooter on the way home from Aiken, SC

Daisy & Cooter in Aiken SC

Finally, after much discussion, begging and even crying, I got a trip to Aiken, SC & my first CD Asheley (male) for my 10th wedding Anniversary. I was in love!!!! But, at about 4-5 months of age, Asheley was accidentally killed in our yard by my dad's truck. We were all devastated. I called to tell Jane and she was crying with me. I told her my Dad was going to buy me another CD puppy when she had another one available. 
She had a puppy she was holding from her other litter but she let me get him, so my dad drove me back to SC & we got Cooter, whom she encouraged me to show in the ARBA show in Atlanta that fall. My daughter was having major surgeries and medical problems at the time, so I wasn't able to commit to showing him. We discussed breeding him at a later date if everyrthing worked out.   
I was going to be the best dog owner ever and I did everything the vet said to do. But then he had a vaccine reaction, which the vet treated as a bee-sting & then as Demodex Mange for several months. When those treatments did not heal him,  the vet then said (same as he had with my Rottie) that he had "allergies" and would need to be on lifelong steroid treatments & allergy meds... I asked him about diet changes & vaccine reactions, and he treated me like an ignorant child.

my current pack, Cooter, Daisy & Bit

So I began researching, which led me to raw feeding, which led me to not using chemicals & learning about vaccinosis. I found an awesome Holistic vet who assisted me in detoxing Cooter & with proper appropriate diet he is fine now and has been for 5 years. We were very lucky that his reaction was not as bad as some I have since heard about!  
When Cooter was 2 we got Daisy, as a gift from Jane, as a mate for Cooter. Daisy was immediately switched to a raw diet, no more vaccines (except rabies) and no chemicals ever on her. 

'PR' Banbury's Tennessee Daisy Jane

Over the years I have fallen more and more in love with and in awe of these wonderful beings of nature's creation . They are so basic and primal in their actions and reactions yet so in tune with their human companions that it is uncanny. I could (and frequently do, to the frustration of my husband) spend hours just openly or covertly watching them interact, hunt, and do all the fascinating things that they do, even lounging on the couch! I can not imagine not having a Carolina Dog in my life now. 

BC Tennessee Whiskey CooterBug

Cooter is now retired from his career as a pet-assisted therapy dog and Daisy didn't get to participate in the program because of their ignorant ban on raw fed pets. But that is another story  These are the most loving, sensitive and healing dogs that I have ever had the blessing to live with.
 My carolina Dogs have totally won over my Husband, the non-dog-person, so that now he even lets them sleep in the bed with us. Cooter has laid by my side all day when I had a stroke, he has brought happiness and comfort to many Alzheimer's sufferers, and laid patiently beside a child as they struggled to learn to read to him. They have comforted a family member as she was battling and dying of cancer, tended a newborn baby, been a playmate for a toddler and a teenager, a hiking, farming and gardening companion and provided me a place to sob during the worst time of my life(when my baby grandson died) and dried my tears with their fur & kisses. Carolina Dogs are so much more than I can say, more intuitive, more fascinating, more fun, more versatile and more challenging than I ever imagined or can describe. I truly believe they are DOG, what God created when he made the first dog to be a companion for humans, before we humans started tinkering with them for our own purposes. Carolina Dogs are what a dog is supposed to be. 

'PR' Tennessee's Swamp Molly LilBit

I have been researching raw feeding, and Natural rearing for 5 years now and last year I began studying Small Animal Naturopathy with American Council of Animal Naturopathy (http://www.animalnaturopathy.org/)  and I hope to complete my course of study and begin consulting as a Animal Health Coach &/or a Carnivore/Pet Nutrition Consultant. 
I am a Responsible Natural Rearing Breeder of Carolina Dogs. Cooter and Daisy have had 2 litters,  one Fall 2011, one Spring 2013. All 12 puppies are in wonderful homes, that are continuing the Natural Rearing.  I mentor all of them as needed & stay in regular contact with them all on a regular basis.  Bit is from the 2013 litter, she was a runt & we spent so much time & love on her that we fell in love & so we decided to keep her.

8 Steps to Switching from Kibble to Raw Feeding for Dogs

When switching a kibble fed dog over to Raw, this is our general protocol. This is for an adult dog with no life threatening medical conditions. If your dog has a severe medical condition, you CAN still switch you will just need to modify some things and be more careful. Consulting a Naturopath, Carnivore Nutrition Consultant/Coach or other RAW TRAINED Veterinary Professional is advisable in those situations. Switching a puppy is also a little different, so please watch for the "Switching a puppy" tips included if you have a puppy or a tiny toy breed.  

1. Educate yourself on raw feeding, the healing crisis, your pets medical conditions. Don’t hesitate to ask questions.

here are 2 articles about the healing crisis / Detox. http://www.thewholedog.org/artdetox.html

http://www.thewholedog.org/artHealingCrisis.html

2. Fast for 24 hours minimum. Up to 48 hours is ideal(aka skipping one whole day of feeding). This gives the old stuff time to get out and starts the digestive juices producing more enzymes for proper digestion.  Make the switch cold turkey, do not mix kibble/canned/cooked food with raw food. One day you feed kibble, skip a day or at least 24 hours, and then feed a whole meal of raw. It is fine for a healthy adult dog to miss a whole day’s food. It will not hurt them, it may make YOU feel bad, but they will be fine.
Fasting will also ensure your  dog is truly hungry, so they will be more likely to dig right in to the raw. Just because your dog is a voracious kibble eater, does NOT mean he will take to raw right away, likewise, just because your pet is a  super picky eater, doesn’t mean she will automatically turn her nose up a  meaty chicken leg!
*PUPPY TIP* Do not fast a puppy or tiny toy breed. they are at a higher risk of hypoglycemia. Just feed them raw at the next meal when you decide to start them.  

3. Pick a meat/protein (beef, chicken, deer) Your next thing to do is pick what protein you are going to start with. Many people start with chicken, because it is usually easier to get, has edible bone included and it is relatively bland, so easy on the tummy.
If your dog has a chicken allergy it would be worth trying organic, free range chicken at some point, because most “allergies” are to the processed, denatured chicken or chicken meal used in most kibble, not to mention the unhealthy state of most factory farmed chickens that are used in pet food production! 

I think Kim prefers starting with Beef, which is fine, it does need to be balanced with edible bone. 

I prefer to start off with green/raw tripe. It has all your enzymes and probiotic included to get your pet off to a great start and is perfectly balanced with the correct calcium/phosphorus ratio so no bone need be added. http://greentripe.com/description.htm  

http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/the-stink-on-tripe/

Deer/Venison is also a good alternative, same as beef, it must be properly balanced, Ca/Phos ratio with edible bone. 

4. Have a good probiotic & digestive enzyme supplement to give daily for about the first month or so or start off with grass fed organic tripe as your first protein. 

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/forums/topic/searching-for-a-good-probiotic-and-dietary-enzyme-product/

DIGESTIVE ENZYMES

http://thewholedog.org/id22.html

 plant base Digestive Enzymes

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/swanson-probiotics-dr-stephen-langers-ultimate-15-strain-probiotic-fos-60-veg-caps

http://www.prozymeproducts.com/  

http://shop.mercola.com/product/healthy-pets-digestive-enzymes,271,90.htm

Soil based organisms http://www.swansonvitamins.com/swanson-ultra-soil-based-organisms-90-caps

PROBIOTICS

http://thewholedog.org/id24.html
http://shop.mercola.com/product/complete-probiotics-powder-for-pets-90g-per-bottle,266,91.htm
http://thewholedog.org/enzymespro.html

5. What do I feed? RATIOS
Prey Model Raw is based on the 80/10/10 ratio. (I say 80/10/5/5)
80 % muscle meat- any muscle in the body, including stomach, heart & lungs
10% EDIBLE bone depending on your dog's size, this will vary, for example- from quail (small chicken-like fowl) for toy dogs, to deer legs, beef ribs and such for extra large dogs. Also some dogs need more bone and some less so this amount can be tweaked as well.
5% LIVER the liver is a filter organ (along with the kidneys) so toxins can build up in feed stock that are exposed to toxins & chemicals, so it is better to spend a little extra in this area and get organic or free range/grass fed liver.
5% OTHER SECRETING ORGANS this includes: kidney, brain, reproductive, spleen, eyeball, pancreas, etc.

*PUPPY TIP* all dogs need the same proportions whether they are weaning or prime of life or elderly (unless a medical condition exists) and regardless of their size or breed.


6. What do I feed ? Protein sources.  Variety is key to successfully feeding PMR. If you provide your dog the correct ratios of meats from a variety of quality sources you will not need to supplement a healthy dog for anything.
Here is a list of suggestions of meats you can feed, but it is incomplete, because Im sure I will leave out some! basically any non-meat eating animal that is not full of toxins. Wild game(hunted or road killed) is fine as long as it is frozen for 2 weeks to kill parasites and is not rancid.
Beef(cow/ox), sheep/lamb, goat, venison/deer, horse, antelope, moose, bison, llama, ostrich, alpaca, pig, kangaroo, turkey, chicken, duck, wild fowl, rabbit, guinea pigs, mice/rat, squirrel, groundhog, beaver, fish-freshwater trout, bass, etc & sea fish-salmon, herring, sardines, whitefish, eggs etc.

7.HOW MUCH?
As a general GUIDELINE, you feed 2-3 percent of your dogs IDEAL ADULT Weight (IAW) you will have to adjust this higher or lower depending on your dog's metabolism, exersize and lifestyle.
*Please remember that the majority of dogs are overweight, this is very hard on their joints as well as their heart and other systems. People tend to want to not see the ribs but in many breeds, SLIGHTLY seeing the rib or at least being able to easily feel them! Ask your breeder or vet what is ideal for your dog.

For a FIT dog, start with 2.5%. If he gets chunky looking, gradually decrease the amount (over 1-4 weeks time) to 2% or lower if needed, same if he gets TOO thin, increase the amount gradually. This is something that may change throughout your dogs life, depending on health and circumstances. 

You will need to adjust this if your dog is overweight (start at 2%)  or underweight (start at 3-4 %).

*Remember these are guidelines and you should feed to BODY CONDITION rather than weight only.
As example: a 50 pound dog @ 2.5%
50 X 0.025 = 1.25 pound (per day) DAILY TOTAL
you can break that down to ounces  1.25 X 16(ounces) = 20 ounces per day
20 ounces X .01(bone) = 2 Ounces of that
20 X .05(organ/liver) = 1 Ounce  of that
so a days meal would consist of 17 ounces muscle meat, 2 ounces bone, and 1 ounce liver and 1 ounce other organ.

You can also figure that per week  just multiply each value by 7 or multiply the Daily total by 7 then do the calculations for the percentages. and the liver, bone & other organ can be fed daily or just on a few days per week as long as the amount is correct for the week.

*PUPPY TIP* puppies only ! they need 2-3 % of their Expected Adult Weight(EAW) or 5-10% of their Current Weight. They need to eat 3-6 times a day depending on age, so that amount would be divided by how many meals you will be feeding them.  Figure that with the same formulas you would use for an adult. As with adults, this is only a guideline. You will have to keep an eye on your pup and watch their body shape, also a puppy will tell you they are hungry!!
I let my puppies eat until they are full,  and they are perfect at self regulating, I have never had an overweight puppy. Also that sets up good habits for when they are adults. Of course you will have puppies from different situations and those few that will never stop eating, so if they are eating almost their whole day's amount at breakfast, then you know you will have to control their intake a little more strictly.

8.  Just do it. Once you make the decision, and are prepared with some raw meat for your dog, go for it!
Don’t put it off, don’t make excuses, the animal shelter or local rescue will be happy to take your donation of kibble, we are here for you if you have questions or an unexpected situation.
 Just don’t forget to keep us updated and take before & after pictures, so you can tell your friends in a few weeks how AWESOME raw feeding is!!!! 

When The Raw Diet Goes Bad

 

I wanted to take a moment to discuss something that is a pet peeve of mine. That is people that feed raw incorrectly and not in a balanced way that results in their dogs becoming ill and then blaming it on raw feeding. They say "Feeding raw is Bad" or "Raw food makes dogs Sick". I have read comments and stories from and about people that feed raw inappropriately in so many different ways. I will address some of the worst.

1. Feeding only one type meat.

I have heard about farmers that feed their dogs only chicken carcass scraps or beef scraps, or hunters that feed only deer meat. Also pet owners that feed a commercially bought product in only one "flavor" such as chicken. 

An example from a friend of mine: "I just currently had a friend that feeding raw long before me so we never really talked much about what she was feeding... a good friend but don't chat often, and she calls me one day, her dog is brutally sick. First thing I ask what exactly is she eating.. "mainly chicken backs".. !?what?? I asked if she was feeding organs.. "not really".. !!what?!! I know that this poor dogs body finally was so malnourished, nutritionally deficient that this was her entire problem! She was having multiple organ failure and even ended up having a stroke !! She's still here but barely.. I was so mad that I never discussed food with her and just assumed she knew what she was doing!!"- Kim 

When feeding a raw diet, you need to provide as much variety as possible. Feeding only one meat can lead to nutritional deficiencies in specific vitamins or minerals. One meat may be plentiful in certain nutrients and low in others. Here is a link to the different nutrients levels in different meats-  Nutrients in Meats . My following suggestions are not scientific, because there is no way to know for sure exactly what the level of nutrition a specific food is providing without doing analysis on it. Due to local differences in nutrition and different farming practices, and different levels of nutrition available in different meats. I recommend trying to feed at least 2-4 different meats per month and at minimum 5+ different meats per year. The more variety the better.  

2. Feeding only boneless meat. I have heard of those pet owners that also only feed boneless meat, this may be because they are afraid to feed bones. They do not do enough research, and do not understand that the phosphorus in raw meat must be balanced with the proper amount of Calcium. 

10 % of a raw fed dog's diet should be edible bone. Here is an article about balancing the calcium/phosphorus ratio. Bones help your pet clean their teeth as well as providing roughage & firmness that helps clean gunk from the intestines and express anal glands. However some dogs cannot eat bone or you may have a lot of boneless meat and not enough bone on hand to go with it. So here is another about substituting ground eggshells for bone How to make Ground EggShell Supplement.

3. Neglecting to feed organ meat. I think many people leave organs out of their dog's diet because they think the organs are not truly needed. This is not true. I think the other reason is that people cannot easily find a variety of organs locally so they do not pursue finding them elsewhere. Organ meat should be 10% of the dog's total diet. Half of that, 5%, should be liver (any meat source) and the other half, 5%, should be other organs like kidney, brain, or pancreas. If you can not readily find organs at your usual places, then try an ethnic market or a farmer's market. Another source would be ordering them online. I have several different reputable companies listed on my links page under FOOD. Organs are very important to your dog's health. Here is an article about Why Organ Meat Is Important For a Raw Fed Dog

4. Feeding Kibble and Raw together. I hear so many people saying they do this. Then I also hear of people saying "I tried to feed my dog raw and he kept getting sick" or "he kept having diarrhea" or "he got salmonella poisoning". Upon digging a little deeper I find that the pet owner was feeding raw along with a couple of cups of kibble, just in case.Or the owner was feeding half kibble and half raw or kibble with a little portion of raw. Whatever the proportion I believe this can cause BIG problems! It is a fact that kibble digests at about half the rate that raw food does in a dog's digestive system. One of the reasons that fully-raw fed dogs do not get bacteria infections is the raw is digested rather rapidly and it does not sit in the gut fermenting and being broken down, it is broken down by the strong acids and powerful enzymes specially made to break down raw meat and bone. If that slow moving kibble-goo (you have all seen how that stuff comes out...) gets in front of the raw food that needs to move on through quickly, then the meat will sit there behind the kibble and any bacteria that are present will have time to grow and multiply. This could become a big problem, more "bad" bacteria growing in the gut, as well as slower digestion, and eventually you are going to have a bacteria overgrowth that will result in a very sick pooch. There are a myriad of other problems that feeding kibble and raw together that I am not covering here, as this should be enough to explain why doing this in NOT a good idea for your pet.

These pitfalls are easily avoided and the raw diet can be safely fed to your pet dogs and cats. By feeding only a raw diet in a wide variety of meats and following the basic proportions of 80/10/10,  80% muscle meat, 10 % edible bone, and 10% organ meat - (5% liver and 5% other secreting organs)your dog can thrive and be healthy and happy too!  

Chihuahua and Carolina Dog originated in America and Asia, new research reveals

New DNA testing has proved definitively that several Native American dog breeds, including the Chihuahua and Carolina Dog, have been in North America for thousands of years and can trace their genetic heritage back to Asia not Europe as was previously conjectured. The results were published yesterday.

....Yet the latest genetic analysis has proven definitively that the skeptics were wrong. As noted in the research article “MtDNA analysis confirms early Pre‐Colombian origins of Native American dogs”:...

...Additionally, Oskarsson found that the Carolina Dog, a native dog of the Southeastern United States long believed to be indigenous was, in fact, an indigenous dog whose closest genetic relatives were also in East Asia. Oskarsson noted that his research “provide the first DNA‐based evidence for an ancient Asian origin of the Carolina Dog, a dingo‐like free‐ranging population in the USA. Numerous dogs were probably brought from Asia, since totally 13 mtDNA haplotypes among extant and ancient American dogs were distinct from haploypes found in Europe.”...

...This should put to rest once and for all the origins of both the Carolina Dog and Chihuahua. Both artifactual evidence and DNA prove that the Chihuahua is a native dog of the Americas with a deep ancestry on the North American continent and traces of an East Asian origin suggesting this breed came with Native Americans over 10,000 years ago when they first migrated to North America.

Read the whole article here!