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Generally speaking, most raw or gently cooked meat is safe for dogs, with the exception of some fish and pork. Dogs have highly acidic stomachs and natural digestive enzymes and bile that help them process bacteria without becoming ill. Your dog’s digestive system can handle eating raw meat.

Just like the meals you prepare for yourself; your dog’s meals need to be balanced and complete. Lissa Cannady, RVT, Hospital Manager for VCA, says this is best determined by a veterinary nutritionist, who can ensure that the meal contains all the nutrients that your pet needs to thrive. How much meat to feed your dog will be based on his caloric needs. Work with your vet or a veterinary nutritionist before adding raw meats to your dog’s diet.

Can dogs eat raw chicken or beef?

Yes, raw chicken and raw beef are both safe for dogs. Dogs can eat a wide variety of raw-fed or gently cooked meat.

Raw meat that’s safe for dogs includes:

• chicken
• beef
• bison
• turkey
• rabbit
• buffalo

Rare raw meats that are safe for dogs include: alpaca, llama, elk, deer, moose, reindeer, goat, mutton and venison. Raw duck, geese, quail, ostrich and emu are also safe for dogs.

Limit these raw fish for dogs

Raw mackerel, sardines, trout and salmon are safe to feed your dog occasionally as a treat. These fish may contain high levels of pollutants so limit them. We advise cooking fish to nullify the effects of thiaminase, an enzyme that inhibits nutrient absorption.

Do not feed raw pork to dogs

Do not feed raw pork to your dog; always cook it first. This is a better-safe-than-sorry rule as undercooked or raw pork could give your dog trichinosis (basically a parasitic worm, Trichinella spiralis). However, the CDC does say that U.S.’s better pork production laws and the public’s awareness of not eating raw or undercooked pork have caused these infections to be less common now.

Feeding dogs raw meat safety tips

Always follow proper safety precautions when preparing your dog’s raw meat meals:

• Keep it refrigerated if you are not using it right away
• Defrost meat in your refrigerator not in the sink or on the counter
• Follow all safe-handling instructions on the label
• Wash your hands before and after handling the raw meat
• Clean and disinfect everything the raw meat touches when you prepare it, like your dog’s food bowl, cutting board, knives, etc.

Check out the Safe Food Handling tips from the US Food & Drug administration.

Feeding raw meats for dogs with food sensitivities

Protein is the base of any dog’s diet, but not every dog can eat every type of protein. Meat protein will be the majority of your dog’s meal, but choosing proteins for your dog will be determined by your dog’s health needs. If your dog has food allergies or certain health problems, avoid some types of meats. Discuss which ones to avoid with a veterinary nutritionist.

Work with your veterinary nutritionist for a “balance-over-time” plan that rotates meats with fruits, vegetables and grains in each meal to provide all the amino acids, vitamins and minerals your dog needs to stay healthy.

Read our article on three types of raw food diets for dogs and rules for raw food diets.

There’s a whole lot to love about giant dog breeds, from their commanding presence to their gentle personalities. Their unique appearances and characteristics attract “oohs” and “ahhs” no matter where they go. If you’re looking for a big dog with an even bigger heart and wondering what is the largest dog breed, the following dogs are as gargantuan as they get.

Here are the top 5 giant dog breeds:

Great Dane

Despite originally being bred to hunt boars, the Great Dane is the embodiment of “gentle giant.” Great Danes can stand 28 to 32 inches tall and weigh anywhere from 110 to 175 pounds. With that, it comes as no surprise that the world’s tallest dog is, in fact, a Great Dane!

“An absolutely enormous beast, they are, however, also known for their very calm and often dopey nature. Not at all what you’d think!” says Dr. Patrik Holmboe, Head Veterinarian for Cooper Pet Care. “A Great Dane can make a great family dog.”

Interested in a Great Dane? Contact the Great Dane Club of America to get more information. You can also ask questions at the Great Dane Owners Support Group on Facebook.

English Mastiff

English Mastiffs, or simply Mastiffs, are an ancient dog breed beloved for their loyalty and courage. The massive Mastiff can weigh 120 to 230 pounds and stand 27 to 30 inches tall.

Because Mastiffs don’t reach full physical and mental maturity until they’re 3 years old, Dr. Patrik says, “A Mastiff absolutely requires much more training and dedication to make sure that you have a well-adjusted and social dog.”

Interested in an English Mastiff? Contact The Mastiff Club of America to get more information. Or check out the English Mastiff Owners Facebook Group to ask questions.

Saint Bernard

The instantly recognizable Saint Bernard is believed to have originated between 1660 and 1670, hailing from the Western Alps between Italy and Switzerland, or the “Great St. Bernard Pass.” This sweet, colossal breed can weigh up to 180 pounds and stand 25 to 27 inches tall.

Dr. Patrik says they “are known for their massive size, which often appears bigger due to their huge coat, and their role in rescue work.”

Interested in a Saint Bernard? Contact the Saint Bernard Club of America to get more information. You can also join several Facebook groups about the Saint Bernard, such as the Saint Bernard Forum, the Saint Bernard Lovers group or the Saint Bernard Owners group.

Newfoundland

Newfoundlands are a big-boned breed known to be “exceedingly calm and friendly,” Dr. Patrik says. These mellow sweethearts can weigh up to 150 pounds and stand 26 to 28 inches tall. In addition to being gigantic in size, Newfoundlands have thick, long coats that come in handy for their favorite pastime — swimming!

Interested in a Newfoundland? Contact the Newfoundland Club of America for more information. There are also several Facebook groups about the Newfoundland, such as The Newfoundland Dog Owners & Lovers group, the Newfoundland Dog Owners Forum and the Newfoundland Dog Lovers for Non-Snobbish Owners.

Irish Wolfhound

The Irish Wolfhound is a large, lovable breed with a distinct appearance: a strong build, wiry coat and long face. These laid-back and intelligent dogs can stand 32 to 34 inches tall — around 7 feet when on their hind legs! — and weigh up to 180 pounds. The AKC recognizes the Irish Wolfhound is known as the tallest dog breed (although the Guinness World Record is held by Zeus, the Great Dane right now).

If you want a giant cuddle buddy and have ample space to fully accommodate their living needs, these are the best giant dog breeds for you. An extra-large dog will require lots of food, enormous beds, sturdy toys and perhaps even countless drool bibs! Learn more about each breed’s temperament and care to find your perfect match.

Interested in an Irish Wolfhound? Contact the Irish Wolfhound Club of America for more information. You can also join the Irish Wolfhound Friends & Addicts group on Facebook.

A raw diet for dogs centers around the concept of feeding dogs a similar diet to that of their ancestors and wolf cousins. As the name implies, you feed uncooked meats, bones, and organ meat, plus eggs, fruits, vegetables, grains and dairy. Dogs have a higher stomach acidity and shorter intestinal tracts, which enable them to eat raw meat that may have food born bacteria. Even so, proper food preparation and handling procedures must be practiced, including cleaning and disinfecting work surfaces after each meal. 

Some pet parents who feed their dogs a raw diet tout benefits such as improved health and digestion, better stools and more energy; even improvements in some medical conditions. But, a raw diet isn’t necessarily a good idea for dogs with certain medical conditions, young puppies or senior dogs. Do your research and talk a veterinarian nutritionist before making the switch.

Raw dog food diet plans

There are three main types of raw diets for dogs:

1. The Prey Model Raw diet follows the belief that dogs should eat as their wolf ancestors did by consuming bones, muscle, meat, skin, organs, fat, connective tissue and, sometimes, hide, hair and feathers.
2. Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (B.A.R.F) or Bones and Raw Food focuses on raw muscle meat to provide essential nutrients to your dog. A B.A.R.F. diet looks like this: 70% muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone, 7% vegetables, 5% liver, 5% other secreting organ, 2% seeds or nuts and 1% fruit.
3. Keto Dog Diet is high fat, low carb-based diet, similar to the human Keto diet. Keto diets for dogs are currently the subject of studies to see if this feeding pattern helps dogs diagnosed with cancer.

The diets can be either homemade, store-bought, freeze-dried or dehydrated. Each center around feeding your dog’s meals in raw form. Alternatively, gently cook your dog’s meal or subscribe to a meal delivery service where the food has been treated to prevent contaminations.

How to make a raw diet for dogs

Before you give your dog a raw food diet, consult a veterinarian or canine nutritionist to help you create meals containing appropriate amounts of all the nutrients that your dog needs to stay healthy. They will test your dog for food allergies and guide you through starting your dog on a raw diet plan. Lissa Cannady, RVT, Hospital Manager for VCA, advises the feeding amount should be determined by the caloric content of the ingredients included in the diet. Aim for “balance over time,” she says, by rotating proteins with fruits, vegetables and grains in each meal to provide all the amino acids, vitamins and minerals your dog needs to stay healthy. 

For more than a century, Doberman Pinschers have both safeguarded and prized their families. The breed’s strong work ethic complements his appreciation for sports and play. Observant, affectionate and protective, the Doberman makes a steadfast companion for experienced dog owners.

Doberman Pinscher dog breed’s history

Few dog breeds have such a specifically defined “father-of-the-breed” as the Doberman Pinscher. Early Dobes were initially developed in Apolda, Germany in the late 1890’s by Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann. A local tax collector, Dobermann also served as warden in the Apolda dog pound. Harassed by thieves as he collected taxes, Dobermann decided to develop a practical dog breed for protection, deterrence and companionship. As pound warden, Dobermann had access to many dogs for his breeding program. He mixed both stray dogs and conventional breeds such as the Rottweiler, German Pinscher and Beauceron.

Because Dobermann didn’t keep stud records, the specific percentages of breeds he used aren’t known. Most historians say, however, that the older version of the German Shepherd was a sizeable contributor to the new breed. Dobermann’s program focused on courage, strength, sharpness, endurance, loyalty and protection. While today’s Doberman has developed into a beautiful as well as capable working dog breed, early Doberman Pinschers weren’t bred for glamor.

After Dobermann’s death, fellow Apolda resident Otto Göller continued breeding Dobermans. The breed took on the original developer’s name, although in time the second N in Dobermann’s name was dropped. The Germans also dropped the Pinscher from the breed name. The American Kennel Club, however, has kept Pinscher (German for biter, terrier) in the Doberman’s name.

Doberman Pinschers during WWII

Dobermans continued to be developed in Germany for police and military work, protection and companionship. In WWII, Dobermans served as sentries and messengers for the U.S Marine Corps in the Pacific. The dogs alerted the soldiers to enemy forces approaching. Doberman Pinschers could detect a human scent some half of a mile away. War Dog platoons were therefore well protected from ambush.

Many dogs were killed in action in the Pacific and others died from tropical illness, heatstroke, disease or accidents. A memorial statue in Guam, “Always Faithful,” commemorates the dedicated Doberman Pinschers that served. The statue sign lists some 25 dogs that made the ultimate sacrifice and is “given in the memory [of these dog] and on behalf of the surviving men, many of whom owe their lives to the bravery and sacrifice of these gallant animals.”

The memorial sculpture features Kurt the Doberman, the first military working dog killed in action in the 1944 Battle of Guam. Kurt alerted his men to the presence of approaching Japanese soldiers before tragically dying by an enemy grenade. The heroic dog is estimated to have saved the lives of 250 Marines on Guam before he was killed.

Doberman Pinscher jobs, training and home life

These days, Doberman Pinschers aren’t used often for military or police work. One reason for this shift is that the Dobe’s short, single coat doesn’t protect him from heat and cold as well as double-coated breeds, such as the German Shepherd Dog. Others speculate that the Dobe thinks slightly too much for himself, or that he’s less trainable and/or less motivated to obey than, for example, the Belgian Malinois or German Shepherd Dog.

The Doberman Pinscher does, however, continue to excel in search and rescue work, as well as service work. In mobility assist work, for example, Dobes may help pull wheelchairs, assist owners by picking things up or help stabilize owners in motion.

Thriving with consistent owner interaction, Dobermans need focused training, regular affection and a hefty dose of exercise. The self-confident Doberman learns quickly. Although he is an obedient breed, he’s also a self-thinker (yes those two traits may conflict!). Dobes shine in both formal and around-the-house obedience. Sports such as agility, rally and Schutzhund keep the Dobe’s mind and body well-exercised. Physically, the Doberman Pinscher requires lengthy exercise sessions. A spirited, motivated and energetic breed, Doberman Pinschers need space to run and play hard. Large, fenced yards are ideal. Apartment living with a Dobe works only if the owners commit to extensive outside activities.

Dobermans usually bond closely with the family’s children and are generally calm around any respectful children. All dogs, however, require supervision with small children.

Do Doberman Pinschers get along with other dogs? While not a classic let’s-hurry-to-the-dog-park type, a highly-socialized Dobe is typically indifferent or well-behaved around new dogs. Some Dobes may show suspicion around new (especially same-sex) dogs. A Doberman Pinscher raised with other pets in the home usually does well with them.

Doberman Pinschers as protectors

An excellent watchdog, the Doberman Pinscher alerts owners to new happenings and often protectively stands between his family and harm’s way. Bred to guard and, in some ways, think for himself, a Dobe sometimes may interpret threats with his own judgment. This is why obedience and socialization are critical in the puppy stages.

To prevent overreaction as adults, Doberman Pinscher pups must be instructed, through many experiences, to discern threatening behavior from non-threatening behavior. The more the family socializes the Doberman puppy to many people, places and behaviors, the sooner he develops the confidence and experience to discern actual threats. And the more obedience the Dobe is taught, the more he’ll likely respond to his owners’ cues in any given situation.

A well-socialized Dobe shows a quiet respect with strangers, enjoys being out and about, and yet saves his most keen enthusiasm for his beloved owners. His reputation as a tough working dog is well-deserved, but his loyalty and affection to family is equally remarkable.