Quick Answer: BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) is a raw-feeding method for dogs built on a standard ratio of 70% meat and bone (including organ), 20% raw meaty bones, and 10% vegetables, fruits, and supplements β roughly 2-3% of body weight daily, split into 1-2 meals. Owners choose BARF for improved coat quality, better digestion, cleaner teeth, firmer stools, and increased energy. The main risks are nutritional imbalance (especially calcium-phosphorus ratio), bacterial contamination (Salmonella, E. coli), bone-related injuries, and unsuitability for immunocompromised dogs or households with young children or elderly adults. Starting correctly, sourcing from trusted suppliers, and supporting the gut barrier with the right supplements is what separates successful BARF-fed dogs from those with problems.
BARF has gone from a niche feeding philosophy to one of the most-discussed topics in modern dog nutrition. Owners who switch to raw feeding typically report dramatic changes in their dog within 4-8 weeks: shinier coat, less itching, fresher breath, smaller and firmer stools, and visible increases in energy. The research is still mixed, but the practical experience of thousands of raw-feeding owners is consistent enough that the method deserves serious consideration β and serious caution.
This guide walks you through exactly what BARF is, how it differs from the Prey Model Raw (PMR), the specific ratios you need to follow, how to start without harming your dog, the risks and how to manage them, and who should absolutely not try raw feeding. I'm LΓ‘szlΓ³, founder of RUBOLD. We work with many raw-feeding owners, and the pattern we see is that the dogs who thrive on BARF are the ones whose owners get the gut-skin support piece right alongside the diet itself.
Important: BARF feeding is a serious commitment of time, money, freezer space, and research. Done poorly, it can harm your dog significantly through nutritional imbalance or bacterial infection. If you have immunocompromised family members, young children under 5, or elderly household members, consider the hygiene risks carefully before switching. Always discuss any major dietary change with your vet, ideally one experienced in nutrition.
1. What is BARF, exactly?
BARF stands for "Biologically Appropriate Raw Food" (originally "Bones and Raw Food"), a feeding method developed by Australian veterinarian Dr. Ian Billinghurst in the 1990s. The philosophy: dogs evolved on raw whole prey and should be fed something closer to that ancestral diet than modern commercial kibble provides.
BARF is not simply "throw a steak at your dog." It's a structured, ratio-based diet that attempts to replicate the nutrient balance a wild canid would get from eating whole prey animals, plus some plant matter from the prey's stomach contents.
The standard BARF ratio
Different practitioners use slightly different formulas, but the most commonly cited BARF ratio is:
- 70% muscle meat β beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, duck, rabbit, venison, etc.
- 10% raw meaty bones β chicken necks, duck wings, lamb ribs, turkey necks (never cooked bones)
- 5% liver β critical source of vitamin A, copper, and B vitamins
- 5% other organ meat β kidney, spleen, pancreas, brain
- 7% vegetables β pureed or lightly cooked for digestibility
- 2% fruit β berries, apple (no seeds), banana
- 1% seeds or nuts β optional
Some BARF practitioners simplify this to 80% meat/bone/organ + 10% vegetables + 10% other, which is also acceptable.
How much to feed
Standard daily amount: 2-3% of body weight for an adult dog at ideal weight.
- 5 kg dog: 100-150 g daily
- 10 kg dog: 200-300 g daily
- 20 kg dog: 400-600 g daily
- 35 kg dog: 700-1,050 g daily
- 50 kg dog: 1,000-1,500 g daily
Puppies need 5-10% of body weight daily, split into 3-4 meals. Working or highly active dogs need more. Overweight dogs need less. Adjust based on body condition over time.
2. BARF benefits: what owners actually see
The clinical research on raw feeding is still limited, but the practical observations from owners who switch are remarkably consistent.
Coat and skin improvement
The most universally reported benefit. Within 4-8 weeks of a well-formulated BARF diet, most dogs develop a visibly shinier, softer coat. Dandruff decreases. Itchy skin flares often reduce in frequency. This likely comes from the higher natural fat content (including omega-3s), better bioavailability of nutrients from whole-food sources, and absence of the carbohydrate load that drives some inflammatory responses.
Smaller, firmer stools
Nearly universal change. Kibble-fed dogs often produce large, soft stools; raw-fed dogs typically produce smaller, firmer, less smelly stools. This happens because raw food has higher digestibility β the dog absorbs more and excretes less. Owners often notice their yard is dramatically easier to maintain.
Cleaner teeth and fresher breath
Raw meaty bones provide mechanical cleaning action against teeth, and the absence of carbohydrate load reduces plaque formation. Many raw-fed dogs show dramatically reduced tartar accumulation compared to kibble-fed peers.
Improved digestion
Dogs with chronic soft stool, occasional vomiting, gas, or inconsistent appetite often normalize on raw. The lack of processed carbohydrates, preservatives, and artificial additives often resolves issues that persisted on commercial food.
Weight management
Raw diets allow precise portion control and tend to produce leaner body composition. Overweight dogs on commercial kibble often lose weight transitioning to raw at appropriate portions.
Energy and behavior
Many owners report increased energy, playfulness, and alertness within weeks. Hard to objectively measure, but the pattern is reported frequently enough to take seriously.
3. The real risks of BARF β and how to manage them
Raw feeding is not risk-free. Owners who go in understanding and managing these risks have very different outcomes than those who dismiss them.
Nutritional imbalance
The single biggest risk. A homemade BARF diet without careful ratios can cause serious deficiencies or excesses within months β calcium-phosphorus imbalance (bone issues, especially in growing puppies), vitamin A toxicity (too much liver), vitamin D deficiency, iodine deficiency, taurine deficiency (certain breeds), zinc deficiency.
How to manage: use a BARF-formulated commercial raw food, or if preparing yourself, follow a tested recipe from a canine nutritionist and run periodic bloodwork. Rotating protein sources weekly or monthly addresses most nutrient-variation issues.
Bacterial and parasitic contamination
Raw meat carries Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli, and Listeria risk. Dogs tolerate these better than humans do, but they can still get sick, and infected dogs shed these bacteria in their saliva and stool β a direct risk to young children, elderly household members, and immunocompromised adults.
How to manage: source meat from reputable suppliers (ideally human-grade or specifically raw-pet-food graded), freeze meat at -20Β°C for at least 3 days before thawing (kills most parasites), practice strict kitchen hygiene (separate cutting boards, immediate disinfection), feed in a dedicated area, wash bowls daily with hot soapy water, and keep raw food away from children's eating areas. Do not raw-feed if household immunocompromised members are present.
Bone-related injuries
Raw bones can crack teeth, pierce the gut, cause intestinal obstruction, or get stuck in the esophagus or stomach.
How to manage: use only soft, raw meaty bones (chicken necks, wings, backs; duck frames; lamb ribs). Never cooked bones (brittle, splinter). Never weight-bearing bones from large animals (too hard, crack teeth). Always supervise bone eating. Size the bone to the dog β not too small (choking) or too large to chew (tooth damage).
Transition problems
Sudden switches from kibble to raw commonly cause diarrhea, vomiting, or refusal to eat.
How to manage: transition over 7-14 days (slower for sensitive dogs). Start with one protein source (chicken is usually gentlest). Add bone gradually. Introduce organ meat slowly β start with 1-2% liver, work up to 5%. Introduce new proteins one at a time.
Cost and time
Done properly, BARF typically costs 2-4x what quality commercial kibble costs, plus significant freezer space and daily meal preparation time.
How to manage: buy in bulk from farms or raw-food cooperatives, batch-prep weekly, invest in a dedicated freezer, or use commercial complete BARF products (more expensive per gram but no formulation risk).
4. BARF vs Prey Model Raw (PMR): which is right?
The two main raw-feeding philosophies are often confused. Here's the real difference:
BARF (Billinghurst model)
- Includes vegetables, fruit, seeds, supplements
- 70-80% meat/bone/organ + 10-20% plant matter
- Attempts a nutritionally "complete" formulation
- More forgiving for owner mistakes
- Better fit for dogs that need or benefit from fiber
Prey Model Raw (PMR)
- No vegetables, fruit, or supplements
- 80% muscle meat / 10% bone / 10% organ (5% liver, 5% other)
- Replicates whole-prey eating as closely as possible
- Requires more variety and precision to avoid deficiencies
- Preferred by "ancestral diet" purists
Which to choose
For most owners starting raw feeding, BARF is the safer, more forgiving choice. The vegetable and supplement components provide a buffer against formulation mistakes and support the gut microbiome through prebiotic fiber. PMR requires more experience and more careful protein rotation to avoid nutrient gaps. For a first-time raw feeder, BARF is almost always the right starting point.
5. How to start BARF feeding step by step
Week 1 β preparation
- Research locally available raw suppliers (farms, raw-food cooperatives, online raw-feeding retailers)
- Buy a dedicated freezer if you don't have freezer space
- Buy dedicated cutting boards, knife, bowls, and food scale
- Decide: commercial complete BARF food, or DIY from individual ingredients
- If DIY: choose 2-3 primary protein sources and plan 7-14 day rotation
Week 2-3 β transition
- Day 1-2: 25% raw, 75% current food
- Day 3-5: 50% raw, 50% current food
- Day 6-9: 75% raw, 25% current food
- Day 10+: 100% raw
- Slow further for sensitive stomachs or senior dogs
First month on raw
- Start with chicken (gentlest protein, widely available)
- Add bone (chicken necks or wings) by week 2
- Add vegetables (pureed, start with 5%) by week 2
- Add liver (1%) by week 3, build to 5% by week 4-5
- Do NOT introduce more than one new element per week
Month 2-3 β expansion
- Add second protein (beef, lamb, or turkey)
- Add other organ meats (kidney, spleen)
- Expand vegetable variety
- Consider adding omega-3 supplement (fish oil) and gut-barrier support
Ongoing β maintain and monitor
- Rotate 3-5 protein sources monthly
- Weigh your dog monthly, adjust portions to maintain ideal body condition
- Monitor stool quality β should be small, firm, pale (bone content shows as lighter color)
- Annual bloodwork to catch any nutrient issues early
- Reassess formulation annually or as dog ages
6. Who should NOT feed BARF
Raw feeding is not universally appropriate. The following situations are clear reasons to avoid or seriously reconsider:
- Immunocompromised household members β people on chemotherapy, HIV-positive, organ transplant recipients, infants, elderly. Bacterial shedding from raw-fed dogs poses direct infection risk.
- Children under 5 in the household β younger immune systems are more vulnerable
- Dogs with severe pancreatitis history β high fat content can trigger flares
- Dogs with diagnosed liver or kidney disease β high protein can worsen progression
- Large-breed puppies under 6 months without careful calcium-phosphorus balance β risk of serious developmental orthopedic disease
- Owners who cannot commit the time and research β a poorly-formulated raw diet does more harm than a well-chosen commercial food
- Dogs with severely compromised immune systems β vulnerable to the bacterial load
Owning a dog in these categories doesn't mean raw is forever off the table β but it means proceeding only with specific veterinary guidance and often a professionally-formulated custom plan.
7. The gut-skin angle: why raw-fed dogs still benefit from supplements
A common misconception among new raw feeders: "raw is complete, so my dog doesn't need supplements anymore." The reality is more nuanced.
Raw feeding provides excellent whole-food nutrition and often transforms gut function on its own. But two specific areas remain under-addressed by raw feeding alone, and both affect the gut-skin axis that drives coat quality, allergy management, and immune health:
Omega-3 (EPA + DHA)
Even a well-planned BARF diet is often marginal on EPA and DHA unless it includes substantial oily fish (sardines, mackerel, salmon) weekly. Supplementing with fish oil ensures consistent intake of these critical anti-inflammatory fatty acids. See our full guide on salmon oil for dogs.
Gut barrier support
The gut-skin axis works in both directions: diet improves the gut, and gut health improves systemic inflammation (and therefore skin and coat). But a dog recovering from years of commercial kibble, antibiotics, or chronic allergy may need direct gut-barrier support during the transition. Bovine colostrum provides immunoglobulins and growth factors that accelerate repair of the intestinal lining. Our RUBOLD Pure Colostrum Powder is one of the first supplements we recommend to raw-feeding owners whose dogs are still showing skin or coat issues 2-3 months after switching.
The dogs we see thrive most on raw are the ones whose owners combine the diet with targeted supplement support β not the ones who go all-in on raw alone and expect it to fix everything.
8. Common mistakes to avoid when starting BARF
- Switching too fast β causes GI upset and leads owners to abandon raw prematurely
- Skipping bone or organ β causes calcium or vitamin A deficiency within months
- Too much liver β vitamin A toxicity (keep at 5% max)
- Single protein source long-term β causes nutrient variation deficiencies
- Cooked bones β splinter and perforate GI tract. Never cook bones.
- Weight-bearing bones (femur, knuckle) from large animals β crack teeth. Use softer meaty bones only.
- Poor hygiene β infects household and dog. Treat raw meat like you would in a professional kitchen.
- No formulation at all β just feeding "meat" without ratios. Causes serious deficiencies in weeks.
- Assuming raw cures everything β raw is excellent nutrition, not a cure for diagnosed conditions requiring vet treatment
Frequently asked questions
Is BARF better than kibble?
It depends on how well each is executed. A professionally-formulated raw diet is often superior to average commercial kibble for coat, digestion, and stool quality. A badly formulated homemade raw diet is far worse than a high-quality commercial food. Execution matters more than the raw-vs-kibble label.
Can I feed my dog raw chicken? Isn't it dangerous?
Dogs tolerate raw poultry far better than humans do β their stomachs are more acidic and their GI tract shorter. Salmonella and Campylobacter are real concerns, but mostly through kitchen hygiene and household contamination rather than illness in the dog itself. Freezing meat at -20Β°C for 3+ days reduces parasite risk. Buy from reputable suppliers and practice strict kitchen hygiene.
How much raw food should I feed my dog?
Standard: 2-3% of body weight daily for an adult at ideal weight. Puppies: 5-10%, split into 3-4 meals. Adjust up or down based on body condition over time β the dog should maintain a visible waist and ribs you can easily feel but not see.
Can puppies eat BARF?
Yes, but with much greater care than adults. The calcium-phosphorus ratio is critical during growth β too much calcium causes orthopedic problems, too little causes rickets. For large-breed puppies especially (Great Dane, Mastiff, Rottweiler), work with a canine nutritionist or use a commercial complete raw puppy food.
What is the Prey Model Raw (PMR) diet?
PMR is a stricter raw-feeding method with no vegetables or supplements β 80% muscle meat, 10% raw meaty bone, 10% organ (5% liver, 5% other). Attempts to replicate whole-prey eating as closely as possible. Requires more experience and protein variety than BARF to avoid nutrient gaps.
What raw bones are safe for dogs?
Soft, raw meaty bones: chicken necks, wings, backs; duck frames; lamb ribs; turkey necks. Never cooked bones (splinter). Never large weight-bearing bones like femurs from cows (crack teeth). Always supervise bone eating. Size appropriately to the dog.
How long does it take to see benefits from BARF?
Stool quality often improves within days. Energy and digestion in 2-3 weeks. Coat and skin in 4-8 weeks. Long-term benefits (teeth, overall vitality) continue developing over months.
Can I mix raw and kibble?
Opinions vary. The traditional view is that raw and kibble digest at different rates and shouldn't mix at the same meal. Many modern raw feeders see no issue with it. If you want to be cautious, feed raw and kibble as separate meals (12 hours apart) rather than mixing at one feeding.
Will my dog get worms from raw meat?
The parasite risk is real but manageable. Freezing meat at -20Β°C for 3+ days before thawing kills most parasites. Buying from reputable raw-pet-food suppliers (who freeze and test for parasites) adds another layer. Regular fecal exams catch any infection that does develop.
Does raw feeding help with dog allergies?
Often yes β not because raw cures allergy, but because it removes many common allergens found in commercial food (specific proteins, grains, additives) and improves gut function, which modulates inflammatory responses. Combined with gut-barrier support like colostrum and omega-3 supplementation, raw feeding is often part of a successful allergy management protocol.
Can old dogs switch to BARF?
Yes, with care. Transition more slowly (3-4 weeks). Check kidney and liver function with bloodwork before switching. Avoid very high protein if existing kidney issues. Older dogs often respond extremely well to the digestibility and gut-friendly nature of raw feeding.
How expensive is BARF feeding?
Typically 2-4x the cost of mid-range commercial kibble, though this varies enormously by region and sourcing strategy. Bulk purchasing from farms, raw-food cooperatives, and online wholesalers reduces cost significantly compared to grocery-store meat prices.
Do I need supplements if my dog eats raw?
Usually yes β specifically fish oil for EPA/DHA (unless you feed oily fish weekly) and sometimes zinc or vitamin E depending on the specific formulation. Our customers who combine raw feeding with targeted supplementation (fish oil, colostrum, zinc) see consistently better results than those who assume raw alone is complete.