Why I Feed Raw – The Honest Version

Hi, I'm Paul – founder of Dog Food Decoder and the proud human of Zach, Remy, the much-missed Rooney, and Bear.

After a couple of early ventures in the pet space that didn’t quite take off, I didn’t expect to become so focused on dog nutrition. But years of trial, error, and hands-on experience finally led me to something that truly worked: feeding raw food that’s actually good for dogs.

Why I Switched to Raw

For years, I fed what I thought was “good quality kibble.” I trusted the marketing. I trusted the vets. But the signs were always there:

• Runny or oversized stools

• Itching, shedding, or greasy coats

• Constant hunger or sudden pickiness

I tried adding wet food. Still no real change. Then I tried raw — and everything clicked.

What Changed

With raw feeding:

✅ Stools became firmer and smaller
✅ Zach’s coat became glossy (you can see it in the birthday photo!)
✅ Energy was steady, not hyper or lazy
✅ Meals became something they actually looked forward to

Even Rooney, my small breed Jug, did better on gently softened raw — or quality wet food when needed.

What I Feed Now

If you're curious, here's a look at our daily and weekly staples:

• Complete raw minces (80/10/10) – e.g. duck or turkey-based

• Cotswold Raw Chicken & Tripe Amazon link

• Fresh extras: sprats (in moderation), broccoli, raw carrot, eggs with shell

• Probiotic chews to support gut health Amazon link

• A stainless steel meat mallet to safely smash bone-in cuts [Amazon link]

I don’t feed supermarket kibble anymore. It may be cheap, but you pay for it later — in vet bills, or worse.

It Doesn’t Have to Be All or Nothing

You don’t have to go full raw from Day 1. Even feeding raw a few times a week can help. Or you can use completes, freeze-dried, or lightly cooked food depending on your situation.

The real win is feeding something better, not just what’s easy to grab from the supermarket shelf.

Need Help?

Drop me a message anytime. Or hit reply on your email. This brand is here to grow with you — and with your dog.

Paul @ Dog Food Decoder

Why I Feed Raw – The Honest Version