Mother Nature knows best when it comes to feeding man’s best friend. It’s inexplicable that Multi-National Dog Food companies profess to know better than thousands of years of successful canine evolution.

I also believe that the catastrophic increase in Canine food intolerances, allergies, Skin conditions, Diabetes, Thyroid problems, Pancreatitis, skeletal development disorders and even behaviour problems, are not a coincidence. These have developed in tandem with the growing reliance on readymade, processed, dried complete dog foods which many people feed their pets today.

Rearing and maintaining a dog on dried dog food is equivalent to feeding our families a lifelong diet of Pot Noodles and Supermarket Ready meals. No doctor or dietician would ever recommend this as a healthy diet, so why do we find it acceptable for our dogs?

Easy Answer – Human Convenience

Feeding the Mini Schnauzer Puppy

My puppies are introduced to natural raw meats from their first-ever meal at around 28 days old. Over the next 5 weeks are introduced to Minced Chicken carcasses, Minced Raw Fish, Minced Raw Green Tripe, Minced raw Offal. Also, Natural Yoghurt, Scrambled Eggs, Cheese, Goats Milk (NEVER COWS MILK) and a small portion of Premium Small puppy kibble.

By 8 – 10 weeks of age puppies should be happily crunching their way through all of the above plus chicken wings & Raw Rib Bones.

10 Weeks – 12 months see’s the Mini schnauzer grow at an amazing rate and reach almost total skeletal maturity. A good quality high protein diet is needed during this time to make sure a puppy  receives all it needs to mature into a healthy, sturdy, robust little dog.

Feeding the Adult Mini Schnauzer

Miniature schnauzers can be their own worst enemies in terms of gluttony. They  cause themselves all sorts of health problems if not carefully monitored.

Problems like Pancreatitis, Diabetes and Urinary stones can all be an issue for an over fed or kibble fed Mini Schnauzer.

This is where a raw natural diet can really assist because raw meats rarely contain excessive unhealthy fats, sugars and salts.

A chubby schnauzer can safely have kibble and some of its daily raw meat portion replaced by vegetables to control weight.

The inclusion of bones in the diet will help immensely to keep a Schnauzers’ teeth healthy. They can be very prone to tartar build up and gingivitis / tooth loss, particularly on processed diets, so a raw beef rib bone to knaw on is a very beneficial treat.

Other Great Diet additions

whole Eggs – not every day because raw egg white can interfere with absorption of Vitamins and minerals, a but a couple a week complete with shells are very beneficial

Vegetables – Kibble can be safely replaced by vegetable ( I buy bulk frozen bags from catering wholesalers) Very useful if you have a portly Bouvier who needs to lose weight

Apple Cider Vinegar – numerous health benefits from digestive health to healthy skin

Seaweed / Kelp – Assists Thyroid Function, helps Pigment. Contains Iodine which is essential to good health. Coarsely dried kelp can also help remove tartar from Teeth

Fish Oils / Flax Oil – Beneficial to joint mobility. Great for skin and Coat. Contains essential Omega Fatty Acids