Working dog food in NZ: feeding farm and sport dogs raw

Heading dogs, huntaways, pig dogs, security dogs and dogs in sport all burn through a lot more than a dog that walks twice a day. Raw feeding a working dog comes down to the amount, the timing, and keeping the freezer stocked.

How much a working dog eats

Our feed calculator uses 3% of body weight a day for a very active or working dog, compared with 2.5% for a moderately active pet:

Treat 3% as a starting point. A dog mustering all day in winter can need more, and the same dog in a quiet patch needs less. Check their shape every couple of weeks: you should feel the ribs easily under a thin layer, without seeing them. If they’re dropping weight, add about 10%. If they’re getting round, take 10% off.

When to feed around work

Most handlers feed the main meal after the day’s work, once the dog has cooled down, rather than sending them out on a full stomach. On long days, a small meal in the morning and the main meal in the evening works well. Have fresh water available all day, especially in summer.

Many owners of big, deep-chested dogs also avoid hard exercise for an hour or so either side of a meal.

Foods that suit working dogs

• Active Dog Mix is beef, horse, offal and green tripe, made with busy, active dogs in mind.
• Breeders Mix is beef, horse, goat and offal, built for volume feeding when you’re feeding a team.
• Beef Neck Bones and Beef Brisket Bones match both blends, as they’re beef-based.

Rotating between the two blends is an easy way to add variety without changing the routine. If a dog needs to stay off beef, Wild Mix is horse, goat, venison and alpaca with offal.

Feeding a team

Work out each dog on its own, then add them up. Three 25 kg working dogs eating 750 g each get through about 16 kg a week, so plan on a couple of 10 kg cartons a week and a chest freezer to hold them. Our guide to raw feeding more than one dog covers mealtimes and keeping the peace, and a subscription every few weeks means you don’t have to remember to reorder.

The delivery fee is per order, so ordering a few weeks at a time spreads it. Our delivery guide explains how ordering works.

Common questions

Do working dogs need a different food, or just more of it?

Mostly more of it. The mix of muscle meat, bone and organ stays the same. What changes is the amount, and sometimes how it’s split across the day.

What about dogs in sport, like agility or canicross?

The same approach: start at the very active amount, watch their shape, and adjust. A dog training a few times a week may sit between the moderate and working amounts.

Can I feed raw to a farm dog in the kennel?

Yes. Plenty of farm dogs are raw fed. Keep food frozen until the day before, thaw it somewhere cool and covered, and pick up anything left after the meal.