ROGUE RAW
Most puppy feeding guides focus on one question: how much? That is important, but it is not the whole picture. What to feed, in what proportions, at which age, with what bone content for large versus small breeds, and in which sequence matters just as much as the daily gram count. This guide covers all of it, based on what actually produces healthy, well-grown puppies, not what is easiest to put in a product comparison table.
Real RogueRaw puppies, real results
"Started our kelpie puppy on Rogue Raw at 9 weeks. The Rogue Raw team helped us with the calcium ratios for a medium breed puppy and gave us a week by week reduction schedule. Now 8 months old, vet says she's growing perfectly. Her coat is incredible."
"German Shepherd puppy on Rogue Raw puppy meal pack from week 9. My vet was initially concerned about raw for a large breed but after reviewing the calcium-phosphorus ratios in the pack agreed it was well-formulated. At 12 months his joints and growth are textbook."
"Transitioning from kibble at 10 weeks with the Rogue Raw transition pack. The green tripe guidance was the key thing nobody else told me: added it day one and stools were normal within 5 days. Pup is thriving. Best decision we made."
Rogue Raw puppy meal packs
Pre-formulated puppy raw nutrition. Correct calcium-phosphorus ratios, protein variety, and gut support built in. No spreadsheets required.
Best Starter
Puppy Meal Pack
Premium Puppy Meal Pack #01A complete starter pack for puppies building strength, gut health, and balanced growth. Includes multiple proteins, organ meats, green tripe, and raw meaty bones in the correct proportions for puppy development. Perfect from 8 weeks.
Puppy Meal Pack
Premium Puppy Meal Pack #02A balanced boost for growing pups supporting joints, digestion, and brain development. Includes omega-3-rich marine protein alongside lean proteins and green tripe. Designed for puppies from 10 weeks expanding their protein variety.
Joint Support
Puppy Meal Pack
Premium Puppy Meal Pack #03Premium proteins, joint support, and balanced nutrition for growing puppies. Particularly suited for medium and large breed puppies where joint development needs extra attention. From 12 weeks onward once initial single proteins are established.
Why raw feeding is the right starting point for puppies
A puppy's digestive system is not a smaller version of an adult's. It is still developing its microbiome, building the intestinal architecture that will determine nutrient absorption efficiency for the rest of the dog's life, and producing higher concentrations of stomach acid than most people realise. Dogs have evolved as carnivores with highly acidic gastric pH (approximately 1 to 2), specifically adapted to process raw meat and bone safely. The bacteria that cause illness in humans from raw meat are largely neutralised by this acidity in healthy dogs.
A puppy that starts on raw food from 8 weeks establishes a microbiome seeded with the diversity of bacteria that raw whole foods provide, rather than one shaped by the starch-fermenting bacterial communities that grain-heavy kibble produces. A 2024 Frontiers in Veterinary Science study found raw-fed dogs had significantly higher intestinal alkaline phosphatase levels and greater gut microbiome diversity than kibble-fed dogs. Establishing this microbiome diversity in the puppy stage sets the foundation for immune function, digestive efficiency, and overall health across the dog's entire life.
How much raw food to feed a puppy: the complete age chart
This is the question every new raw feeding puppy owner has. The answer changes rapidly because puppies grow rapidly. The baseline calculation is a percentage of current body weight, which must be recalculated as the puppy grows. Weigh your puppy weekly during the first 6 months. Most raw feeding guides use a static chart, which becomes inaccurate within weeks. Use the percentage method and recalculate every one to two weeks.
| Puppy age | Daily food (% of current body weight) | Meals per day | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 to 16 weeks | 8 to 10% | 4 meals | Maximum growth phase. Weekly weigh-ins essential. Adjust up if ribs prominent, down if soft deposits over ribs |
| 4 to 6 months | 6 to 8% | 3 meals | Growth rate slowing. Drop to 3 meals per day. Monitor body condition weekly |
| 6 to 9 months | 4 to 5% | 2 to 3 meals | Adolescent phase: variable energy needs. Active puppies may need upper end |
| 9 to 12 months | 3 to 4% | 2 meals | Approaching adult size for most breeds. Small breeds may be adult already |
| 12+ months (adult) | 2 to 2.5% | 1 to 2 meals | Full adult feeding. Giant breeds (over 40 kg adult) stay on puppy percentages until 18 to 24 months |
The body condition check: smarter than the scale alone
Run your hands along your puppy's ribcage. You should be able to feel each rib under a thin layer of muscle and skin without pressing hard. You should not be able to see the ribs from a distance. Looking from above, the waist should be visible behind the ribcage. A puppy that feels bony needs more food. A puppy with a soft, rounded appearance with ribs difficult to feel needs less. Use this check every week alongside the weigh-in rather than relying purely on the percentage calculation, because individual puppies have very different metabolic rates and activity levels.
Large breed vs small breed puppies: why the calcium difference matters
This is the most frequently misunderstood aspect of puppy raw feeding, and the one where getting it wrong has the most serious consequences. The concern is legitimate and well-documented in veterinary nutrition research.
The calcium risk for large breed puppies: peer-reviewed evidence
Research by Beynen (2025), published in the context of canine calcium-phosphorus nutrition, and multiple skeletal development studies confirm that excess dietary calcium causes osteochondrosis (disruption of enchondral ossification) in large breed puppies. The mechanism is specific: unlike adult dogs, puppies cannot regulate intestinal calcium absorption. When dietary calcium is high, large breed puppies absorb proportionally more calcium than their growth plates need, causing abnormal mineralisation patterns that manifest as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, osteochondritis dissecans, and angular limb deformities. The sweet spot for large breed puppies is a calcium-to-phosphorus ratio of approximately 1.2:1 to 1.4:1, achieved through careful bone proportion management rather than calcium supplementation.
Practical bone proportions for puppy raw feeding by breed size
| Breed size (adult weight) | Muscle meat % | Organ meat % | Raw edible bone % | Green tripe % | Key concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small breeds (under 10 kg adult) | 60% | 10% | 15% | 15% | Watch for obesity: small breeds can gain weight easily |
| Medium breeds (10 to 25 kg adult) | 60% | 10% | 15% | 15% | Standard BARF ratios work well |
| Large breeds (25 to 40 kg adult) | 65% | 10% | 10% | 15% | Reduce bone proportion: excess calcium risk. Monitor leg straightness |
| Giant breeds (over 40 kg adult) | 65-70% | 10% | 8-10% | 15% | Most vulnerable to calcium excess. Fortnightly vet check-ins during rapid growth phase recommended |
Never supplement calcium to a puppy eating balanced raw food
The most common raw feeding mistake with large breed puppies is adding calcium supplements (eggshell powder, bone meal, calcium tablets) to a diet that already contains raw edible bone. This pushes the calcium well above the safe range and can cause the same skeletal problems that no calcium causes. If you are feeding Rogue Raw's pre-formulated puppy meal packs, which already contain the correct bone proportions, adding any calcium supplement will oversupply the mineral. Supplementation is only appropriate when feeding a boneless muscle meat-only diet, and even then it should be done under veterinary guidance.
What to include in a puppy raw diet: the full breakdown
A complete raw diet for puppies is not just muscle meat. It requires the correct combination of protein types to deliver the full amino acid, mineral, and vitamin profile a growing puppy needs.
Muscle meat (60 to 65% of diet)
Muscle meat is the primary protein and energy source. It provides amino acids for muscle, tendon, organ, and immune system development. For puppies, start with one protein and build variety gradually. Chicken and lamb are the mildest starting proteins. Venison, turkey, and water buffalo can be introduced from 10 to 12 weeks once initial adaptation is confirmed. Variety across proteins reduces the risk of developing sensitivities and provides a broader micronutrient spectrum.
Organ meats (10% of diet, maximum 5% from liver)
Organ meats are the most micronutrient-dense component of a raw diet. They provide vitamins A, D, E, K, the full B vitamin complex, iron, copper, zinc, and essential amino acids like taurine that muscle meat alone cannot supply in adequate amounts. Liver is the most important organ but must be capped at roughly 5% of total food intake because excessive vitamin A from liver causes toxicity. Other secreting organs including kidney, spleen, and heart can make up the remaining 5% without this risk. Wild deer and emu organ mixes from Rogue Raw provide a nutrient profile from wild-sourced animals rather than intensively farmed alternatives.
Raw edible bone (8 to 15% of diet, lower for large breeds)
Raw edible bone provides calcium and phosphorus in their natural 1:1 ratio from hydroxyapatite, which is a more bioavailable form than supplemental calcium carbonate. It also provides the chewing action that develops jaw muscles, cleans teeth, and satisfies the gnawing instinct. Appropriate puppy bones include chicken necks (for puppies up to 10 kg), lamb meaty bites, duck necks, and poultry frames. Never feed cooked bones. Size the bone so the puppy cannot fit it entirely in the mouth.
Green tripe (10 to 15% of diet)
Green tripe is not optional for puppy raw feeding. It provides Lactobacillus acidophilus, live digestive enzymes, and a 1:1 calcium-phosphorus ratio that makes it complementary to the bone component. For puppies establishing their gut microbiome during the critical early weeks, green tripe actively seeds the digestive system with the bacterial strains that support protein digestion and immune development. The difference in stools, coat condition, and digestion between puppies raised with and without green tripe is consistently noted by Australian raw feeders. Add it from day one.
Omega-3 supplementation from marine sources
DHA is a critical nutrient for puppy brain and visual cortex development. Dogs can synthesise some DHA from alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), but the conversion rate is under 10%. Direct DHA from marine sources is more efficient. Adding a small amount of Rogue Raw's Omega Wild (a few drops to 1ml daily depending on puppy size) from 10 to 12 weeks onward provides the EPA and DHA needed for cognitive development that wild land protein alone cannot supply in sufficient quantities.
Puppy starter products
Puppy meal pack plus the two individual products every puppy raw diet needs: green tripe and omega-3.
Puppy Meal Pack
Premium Puppy Meal Pack #04Advanced puppy nutrition for the 4 to 12 month growth phase. Multiple proteins, organ meats, and joint-supporting nutrients for puppies who have progressed past the initial single-protein introduction and are ready for more variety and challenge.
Day 1 Essential
Gut Development
Primal Raw Green TripeThe single most important addition to any puppy raw diet. Live Lactobacillus acidophilus, digestive enzymes, and prebiotic substrate that seed the puppy gut microbiome from day one. The difference in stool quality and digestion is visible within the first week.
Complete Raw Mix
Primal Lamb MixRich in protein, organs, and essential fats. One of the best second proteins to introduce after initial chicken adaptation: lamb is gentle on developing digestive systems and provides a different amino acid and fatty acid profile to round out the puppy's early diet.
Puppy raw feeding schedule by age
Meal frequency matters as much as daily quantity. Puppies have small stomachs relative to their caloric needs and need frequent feeding to maintain blood glucose stability, particularly in toy and small breeds who have faster metabolisms and less glycogen reserve.
| Age | Suggested meal times | Transition notes |
|---|---|---|
| 8 to 16 weeks | 7am, 12pm, 5pm, 9pm (4 meals) | Last meal close to bedtime helps overnight blood glucose in small breeds |
| 4 to 6 months | 7am, 1pm, 6pm (3 meals) | Drop the late evening meal once puppy is sleeping through the night reliably |
| 6 to 9 months | 7am, 12pm, 6pm or 7am, 6pm (2 to 3 meals) | Small and toy breeds often benefit from staying at 3 meals until 9 to 10 months |
| 9 to 12 months | 7am, 6pm (2 meals) | Most breeds are comfortable at 2 meals by this age. Monitor for hunger signs |
| 12+ months | 7am, 6pm or single 5pm meal | Adult feeding schedule. Giant breeds maintain 2 meals throughout life due to bloat risk |
How to introduce protein variety safely
Protein variety is important for long-term nutritional completeness and for reducing the risk of developing sensitivities to a single protein through repeated exposure. But introducing too many proteins too quickly is a common mistake that makes it impossible to identify the cause of any digestive reaction.
- Start with one mild protein for the first 2 to 3 weeks. Chicken or lamb are the standard starting proteins for Australian puppies. Observe stool quality, energy, and coat. Normal adaptation stools are soft to slightly loose. Mucus in stools is normal for a few days. Blood, severe diarrhoea, or vomiting requires veterinary attention.
- Add green tripe on day one at 10 to 15% of total daily food. This is not a second protein: it supports adaptation and should run from the beginning rather than being introduced later.
- Introduce the second protein at week 3 to 4. Replace 25% of the first protein with the new one. Monitor for 5 to 7 days. If stools remain normal, increase to 50/50 and eventually rotate freely.
- Add a third protein at week 6 to 8. By 3 to 4 months, a puppy eating Rogue Raw should be rotating across 3 to 4 proteins comfortably.
- Introduce organ meats gradually. Start with chicken hearts and chicken giblets at 3 to 5% of total food from week 2 to 3. Add liver only after 4 weeks and keep it to no more than 5% of total food across the week (not daily).
- Add soft raw meaty bones from week 3 to 4. Chicken necks for small breed puppies, duck necks for medium breeds, lamb meaty bites for larger breed puppies. Always supervise. Never leave a puppy unsupervised with a bone.
Transitioning a kibble-fed puppy to raw
Many puppies adopted from breeders, shelters, or pet shops have been fed kibble from weaning. A cold turkey switch is possible for healthy puppies with no digestive history, but a gradual transition is more comfortable and produces better stool results during the changeover.
| Week | Raw proportion | Kibble | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 25% raw | 75% kibble | Add green tripe as 10% of the raw portion from day one |
| Week 2 | 50% raw | 50% kibble | Increase green tripe to 15%. Loose stools are normal and expected |
| Week 3 | 75% raw | 25% kibble | Most puppies show improved stool quality and energy by this week |
| Week 4 | 100% raw | None | Full transition. Start counting protein introduction from here |
Do not mix raw and kibble in the same meal bowl. Feed them at separate meal times. Kibble and raw food digest at different rates: raw digests faster than kibble. Mixing them in the same sitting can cause fermentation issues in some puppies as the kibble slows in the stomach while the raw food is held back.
What normal transition stools look like
Loose to soft stools in the first one to two weeks of transition are expected and normal. The gut bacteria are transitioning from carbohydrate-fermenting communities (shaped by kibble) to protein-fermenting communities (appropriate for raw). This shift takes 1 to 3 weeks. Slightly yellow or orange-tinted stools can occur when green tripe is first introduced. Mucus-coated stools are common for a few days during the changeover. Signs that warrant veterinary contact: blood in stools, severe watery diarrhoea persisting beyond 48 hours, vomiting combined with diarrhoea, or a puppy who is lethargic rather than energetic during the transition.
Raw food safety for puppies in Australian conditions
Australia's climate creates specific food safety considerations that standard raw feeding guides from the UK or North America do not address. Summer temperatures in most Australian states mean raw food left in a bowl can reach unsafe bacterial growth temperatures within 20 to 30 minutes.
- Thaw frozen raw food in the refrigerator overnight, not on the kitchen bench. Bench thawing at Australian summer temperatures creates surface bacterial growth before the centre is thawed
- Remove uneaten food after 20 minutes maximum in summer conditions, 30 minutes in cooler weather. Puppies who do not finish meals immediately should have the bowl removed, the food refrigerated, and offered again at the next scheduled meal
- Wash food bowls after every meal with hot water and dish soap. Raw food residue in bowls provides a growth medium for bacteria between meals
- Wash hands before and after handling raw puppy food, and ensure children in the household wash their hands after being licked by the puppy immediately after eating
- Store frozen raw in the freezer at -18 degrees Celsius or below. Once thawed, use within 48 to 72 hours. Do not refreeze thawed raw meat
- Source from human-grade suppliers. Rogue Raw products are human-grade Australian sourced with no sulphite preservatives. Pet meat from supermarkets that is not labelled human grade may contain sulphite preservatives that cause thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency in dogs fed on it regularly
Why Rogue Raw for your puppy's first year
Six reasons Rogue Raw puppy packs outperform DIY calculations and generic puppy food.
Correct Ca:P ratios built in
Our puppy meal packs are formulated with the correct calcium-to-phosphorus ratio for growing puppies, including appropriate bone proportion management for large and giant breeds. No spreadsheets required.
Green tripe in every pack
Every Rogue Raw puppy pack includes green tripe. The microbiome development benefit of starting tripe on day one is not an optional extra: it is built into the puppy feeding philosophy from the beginning.
Wild protein for better omega ratios
Wild venison, emu, and rabbit proteins carry naturally balanced omega-6 to omega-3 ratios that grain-fed farmed animal kibble cannot match. Better fatty acid balance from day one means better brain development, coat, and skin health.
Australian sourced, human-grade
No sulphite preservatives. No imported protein. No pet-meat-grade ingredients. Human-grade Australian sourced meat means no thiamine deficiency risk that sulphite-preserved pet meat creates.
Personalised puppy feeding guidance
Large breed? Small breed? Coming from kibble? Already raw from the breeder? We adjust the starting pack, transition timeline, and protein introduction sequence for your specific puppy.
4 meal packs for the full first year
Our puppy range spans the entire first year of life. Different packs for different growth phases mean you always have the right nutrition rather than adapting a single product across rapidly changing needs.
Frequently asked questions about raw feeding puppies
When can I start raw feeding a puppy?
From 8 weeks of age, which is the minimum age at which most Australian puppies leave the breeder. Many raw-feeding breeders start weaning puppies onto raw from 3 to 4 weeks. If your puppy comes from a kibble-fed litter, use a 2 to 3 week gradual transition: 25% raw per week increasing to 100% by week four.
How much raw food should I feed my puppy?
Feed 8 to 10% of current body weight daily from 8 to 16 weeks across 4 meals. Reduce to 6 to 8% from 4 to 6 months across 3 meals. Drop to 4 to 5% from 6 to 9 months. Reach adult feeding of 2 to 2.5% at 12 months. Weigh weekly and recalculate every two weeks. Use the Rogue Raw feeding calculator for a personalised gram amount.
Is raw food safe for puppies?
Yes, when properly balanced and handled hygienically. Puppies have highly acidic stomach pH (approximately 1 to 2) adapted to process raw meat safely. The key requirements are human-grade sourcing, correct calcium-to-phosphorus ratio of 1.2:1 to 1.4:1, refrigerator thawing (never bench thawing in Australian conditions), and bowls washed after every meal. Never use sulphite-preserved pet meat for puppies.
What is the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio for puppies on raw food?
Approximately 1.2:1 to 1.4:1 (calcium to phosphorus) consistent with AAFCO growth guidelines. Achieved through the correct balance of muscle meat (phosphorus-rich), organ meat, and raw edible bone (calcium-rich). Large breed puppies cannot regulate excess calcium and need the bone proportion kept at 8 to 10% of total diet. Never add calcium supplements to a diet already containing raw edible bone.
How many meals per day does a raw-fed puppy need?
Four meals from 8 to 16 weeks. Three meals from 4 to 6 months. Two to three meals from 6 to 12 months. Two meals from 12 months onward. Small and toy breeds may need an extra meal at each stage due to faster metabolism and smaller stomach capacity per sitting.
Can I feed my puppy raw bones?
Yes, from 8 weeks. Suitable puppy bones include chicken necks (small breeds), duck necks (medium breeds), and lamb meaty bites (larger breeds). Always supervise. Choose bones larger than the puppy's mouth. Never feed cooked bones. Do not give hard weight-bearing bones like marrow bones to puppies: they can fracture puppy teeth.
What proteins should I start with for a raw feeding puppy?
Start with a single mild protein for the first 2 to 4 weeks: chicken or lamb are standard starting proteins for Australian puppies. After stools normalise, introduce a second protein and observe for 5 to 7 days. Add green tripe from day one at 10 to 15% of the diet: it supports microbiome development from the very beginning.
Do large breed puppies need a different raw diet?
Yes. Large and giant breed puppies cannot regulate excess calcium absorption, making balanced calcium management critical to prevent developmental orthopedic disease including hip dysplasia and osteochondrosis. Keep bone proportion at 8 to 10% (lower than the 15% standard for small breeds). Never add calcium supplements. Schedule fortnightly vet check-ins during rapid growth phases (3 to 9 months).
How do I transition a puppy from kibble to raw food?
Week 1: 25% raw, 75% kibble across separate meal times. Week 2: 50% each. Week 3: 75% raw, 25% kibble. Week 4: 100% raw. Add green tripe from day one of the transition. Do not mix raw and kibble in the same bowl: feed them at separate meals. Loose stools in weeks one and two are normal and expected.
ROGUE RAW
Recommended Products
The puppy raw feeding essentials: transition pack, green tripe for gut development, and balanced complete mix.
The bottom line on raw feeding puppies
Raw feeding a puppy is not complicated when you have the right framework. The fundamentals are consistent across all breeds: the correct percentage of body weight, four meals per day in the early weeks, green tripe from day one, gradual protein introduction, and breed-size-appropriate bone proportions. The large breed calcium management is the one area where getting it wrong has irreversible consequences, and it is the most important reason to use a pre-formulated puppy pack rather than relying on internet percentages alone.
Rogue Raw's four puppy meal packs span the entire first year. Our transition pack is built specifically for kibble-to-raw changeovers. Our feeding calculator gives you a personalised daily gram amount by breed, current weight, and age. Use our feeding calculator to get your puppy's starting portions, our food selector guide to choose the right pack for your puppy's stage, and reach out to the Rogue Raw team directly if you have questions specific to your breed, size, or situation.
Start your puppy's raw feeding journey right
Four puppy meal packs. Pre-formulated calcium ratios. Green tripe included. Australian sourced, human-grade.
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