Complete vs DIY Raw Feeding: Which Is Right for You?

Once you've decided to feed a raw diet, the next question is often whether to choose a complete commercial raw food or prepare a DIY raw diet at home.

Both approaches can have a place in raw feeding, but they are not the same. The best option depends on your experience, the amount of time you have available, and your confidence in meeting your dog's nutritional requirements.

Organisations including Raw Feeding For Dogs Made Simple (RFFDMS UK), Raw Pet Medics, The Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) and The Balanced Canine all emphasise one key principle: whatever feeding method you choose, your dog's diet should be nutritionally balanced and appropriate for their individual needs.

What Is a Complete Commercial Raw Food?

A complete commercial raw food has been formulated by the manufacturer to provide all the nutrients a healthy dog requires when fed according to the feeding guidelines.

For many owners, this is the easiest way to feed a raw diet because the nutritional balancing has already been considered.

Benefits include:

• Convenient and easy to feed.

• Consistent nutritional profile.

• Suitable for most owners who are new to raw feeding.

• Available in a wide range of proteins and recipes.

• Usually includes clear feeding guidelines.

A complete food also allows owners to introduce variety gradually without needing to calculate nutrient levels themselves.

What Is a DIY Raw Diet?

A DIY (Do It Yourself) raw diet involves buying individual ingredients and creating your dog's meals yourself.

This may include:

• Muscle meat

• Raw edible bone

• Liver

• Other secreting organs

• Oily fish

• Eggs

• Additional ingredients or supplements where appropriate

Some owners enjoy preparing meals themselves and like having complete control over ingredient selection.

However, DIY feeding also means taking responsibility for ensuring the diet remains nutritionally balanced over time.

Is DIY Raw More Natural?

Many owners choose DIY feeding because they enjoy preparing fresh meals or want greater flexibility over ingredients.

However, "natural" does not automatically mean nutritionally balanced.

A homemade diet can be excellent when it has been properly formulated, but simply feeding meat, bone and offal in approximate proportions does not necessarily guarantee that every nutritional requirement is met.

Why Does Nutritional Balance Matter?

Dogs require more than protein and calcium.

They also need appropriate amounts of:

• Essential fatty acids

• Vitamins

• Trace minerals

• Amino acids

• Energy

• The correct balance between nutrients such as calcium and phosphorus

Small nutritional imbalances may not be obvious immediately but can become important over months or years.

Growing puppies, breeding dogs and dogs with medical conditions are particularly sensitive to dietary imbalance.

Is DIY Suitable for Beginners?

Most organisations recommend that people who are completely new to raw feeding begin with a complete commercial raw food while they learn.

This allows owners to become confident with:

• Portion sizes

• Safe food handling

• Introducing different proteins

• Monitoring body condition

Once these foundations are in place, owners who wish to prepare their own diets can continue learning before making the switch.

Can I Learn to Feed DIY?

Absolutely.

Many experienced raw feeders successfully prepare balanced homemade diets, but they usually spend time learning about canine nutrition before doing so.

Educational organisations such as Raw Feeding For Dogs Made Simple (RFFDMS UK), The Balanced Canine and the Canine Holistic Science Academy (CHSA) provide educational resources to help owners understand canine nutrition, while Raw Pet Medics and the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) offer evidence-informed guidance from veterinary professionals.

If you plan to feed DIY long term, investing time in education is one of the best things you can do for your dog.

Can I Combine Complete and DIY Feeding?

Yes.

Many owners choose a flexible approach.

For example, they may:

• Feed complete raw food during busy weeks.

• Prepare homemade meals occasionally.

• Include complementary foods such as raw meaty bones or oily fish alongside complete meals.

• Rotate between different complete recipes while introducing appropriate DIY elements.

Whatever approach you choose, it's important to understand how each food contributes to the overall diet.

Common Mistakes When Starting DIY

Some of the most common mistakes include:

• Feeding too much muscle meat and not enough variety.

• Assuming every 80:10:10 product is nutritionally complete.

• Copying recipes found on social media without checking whether they are balanced.

• Adding unnecessary supplements "just in case."

• Making several dietary changes at once.

Learning gradually and using trusted educational resources can help avoid these pitfalls.

Which Option Is Best?

There is no single feeding method that suits every owner or every dog.

A complete commercial raw food is often the simplest choice for people who are:

• New to raw feeding.

• Short on time.

• Looking for convenience.

• Wanting reassurance that the diet has been formulated to provide complete nutrition.

A DIY raw diet may suit owners who:

• Enjoy preparing meals.

• Have taken time to learn about canine nutrition.

• Are confident balancing a diet.

• Are willing to continually review and adjust their feeding plan as needed.

Neither approach is automatically better than the other. The important question is whether the diet is appropriate for your individual dog and provides balanced nutrition over time.

Key Takeaways

• Complete commercial raw foods are usually the easiest place for beginners to start.

• DIY raw feeding requires knowledge, planning and ongoing learning.

• Nutritional balance is more important than the feeding method itself.

• Puppies, breeding dogs and dogs with medical conditions require particular care.

• Learn from trusted, evidence-informed sources before preparing homemade diets.

• If you're unsure, seek advice from your veterinary surgeon or a suitably qualified canine nutrition professional.

Further Reading

The following organisations provide reliable education and resources for owners wanting to learn more about raw feeding and canine nutrition:

• Raw Feeding For Dogs Made Simple (RFFDMS UK) – Practical guides, articles and educational resources for raw feeders.

• Raw Pet Medics – Veterinary-led education on raw feeding, species-appropriate nutrition and integrative pet healthcare.

• The Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) – Evidence-informed information from veterinary professionals on balanced raw diets and food safety.

• The Balanced Canine – Science-led education covering nutrition, behaviour and holistic canine health.

• Canine Holistic Science Academy (CHSA) – Online education in canine nutrition, anatomy, physiology and holistic health.

  
  

Disclaimer: This article is intended for educational purposes only and should not replace professional advice. If your dog has a medical condition, is growing, pregnant, nursing or requires a therapeutic diet, consult your veterinary surgeon before making significant dietary changes. Homemade diets should be formulated with care to ensure they meet your dog's nutritional requirements.