BARF is an acronym which stands for "Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods" Diet. The BARF diet is one of several alternatives to feeding commercial pet food that was developed by an Australian vet named Ian Billinghurst. Dr. Billinghurst, among other proponents of raw and natural diets (such as Schultz, Volhard, Levy, and Pitcairn), discovered that feeding dogs a 'biologically appropriate raw diet' (ie. the kind of foods that dogs and wolves have survived on for thousands of years) made much more sense and was much healthier than feeding commercial pet foods (many of which contain harmful additives and chemicals) that have been around for less than 50 years! (For more information on the problems with commercial pet foods, see our Resources page.) Something many people do not realize about their domestic 'house' dogs is that they are classified as the exact same species as the wolf, with the exact same digestive system. They were not designed to eat cooked foods!! BARF is a way to avoid the dangers and health-risks involved with processed, cooked, chemical and grain-laded commercial foods that many people find to be less expensive than the premium food they were feeding their dogs. Below are some of the benefits and challenges of feeding a BARF diet. If you are interested in learning more about feeding BARF, please visit our Getting Started page.

Benefits of a BARF diet:

You have control over what your dog eats
You save your dog from the chemicals and other disgusting, harmful things in most commercial foods.
Clean teeth that never need to be brushed or scaled.
Fresh smelling breath -- possibly fresher than your own!
Less poop; pooping less often and less in quantity
Poop that doesn't smell (yes, this is true, believe it!)
Healthier dogs with more energy
A shinier, healthier coat; and many people report less allergies and skin-related problems
Your dog will be less prone to bloat since raw foods dont swell in the stomach like kibble
Most people report that feeding BARF is less expensive than the premium kibble they previously fed. Once you find a good source for your RMBs, this is usually the case.

Challenges of a BARF diet:

The diet does require you to educate yourself on the natural diets available and attune yourself to your dog's digestive system.
Finding inexpensive and reliable sources of raw meaty bones and veggies close to home.
Dealing with people (family, friends, vets) who know nothing about BARF and try to convince you to feed kibble again.

Acronyms and lingo:

BARF = Biologically Appropriate Raw Diet
GYDAB = "Give Your Dog A Bone", book by Ian Billinghurst
GYPWB = "Grow Your Pups with Bones", second book by Ian Billinghurst
RMB = raw meaty bones
ACV = apple cider vinegar

Note: Though we feel that feeding the BARF diet has significantly improved the health and vitality of our dogs, we want to make clear that it is not a miracle cure for all possible problems or diseases your pet may have or encounter in its lifetime. It is not our intention to give the impression that feeding a BARF diet will fix or prevent all things. Simply put, we have seen the benefits and advantages of feeding this diet and we are excited about it!