Grand Dog Essentials - Information and Tips to Feeding Your Dog a Raw Food Diet

    I'm sure when you got your dog(s), the last thing you thought would be part of your duties is to check your dog's doody.  We do it because we love our pups and the truth is, your dog's poop can tell you a lot about what's going on inside. Our job as their family is to determine what is...

Below is an email I received from one of our community members, Stephanie.  I have been working with Stephanie for about a year now.  First with her dog Bailey and now with her dog Diesel.  Stephanie has graciously documented Diesel's journey to raw dog food and gave me permission us to share the story with the #granddograwpack . Enjoy! Amanda...

    Camping is a big part of summer for our family. From tenting, to a camper van, to a trailer, we have done it all with our dogs while feeding raw. This blog post provides tips that draws from our experiences. Whether you are tenting or in a trailer, there are tips here for everyone to help keep their...

  “I genuinely look at them every day and I can't imagine them being on kibble.” Asher, age 5 ½  Labrador/pit bull Bear, age 5 ½  Labrador retriever June, age 2 Collie mutt mix Life Before Raw Food When Hayley Karpa adopted 2-year-old Asher, she noticed health issues right away. Besides being constantly itchy, Asher was gaining weight fast. In...

  When switching an adult dog to a new diet, especially one who has been on a kibble diet for many years, we recommend doing a gradual transition.  The guide below will explain why a slow introduction is beneficial, provide a step by step guide on how to complete the process, and how much to feed your adult dog.  Let's...

  A common misconception people have in regards to raw feeding is that it is unsafe and carries a higher risk of food borne illness from bacteria for dogs and people.  Handling raw meat and vegetables (yes, even vegetables!) will always come with a risk whether it's for our dinner or for our pups.   We aim to share with you seven...

Say hi to #granddograwpack member Benedetto!  Below is a note we received from his family.  With their permission, we are sharing their story with you below.  "I wanted to share a bit about my dog with you guys. I’ve had my dog for almost 4 months now and he’s had insane allergies, alopecia, dandruff, hives, basically everything imaginable. I’ve had...

  Feeding puppies can seem like a daunting task.  You want the best for them while making sure your puppy is getting all the nutrients they need to grow into healthy adult companions.  Can this be done with a raw diet?  The answer is a resounding YES!  If you are armed with information and resources, feeding your puppy a raw diet is...

  With the arrival of warmer weather in Alberta comes increased time outside for yourself and your dogs.  The warmer weather is also when ticks are most active.  As dog owners, it's important to be aware of when these pests are out, how to prevent and detect them, and how to remove them if you or your dog is bitten. WHAT...

“Do I need to feed supplements to my dog?”  This is a question we get often when people switch to raw dog food.  People want to know if our food enough for their dog or if they need to add extras.    The beef, chicken, and turkey formulas found in our store provides your dogs with the foundational aspects of a...

  Grand Dog Essentials is taking all possible precautions against COVID-19 and is continually monitoring the instructions of Alberta's Chief Medical Officer.  We do this out of concern for our extended Grand Dog family including you, your dogs, Greg, and the vulnerable we all have in our lives.    At this time we expect deliveries to continue as usual.  We ask...

 When deciding how much to feed your dog, think in terms of guidelines not rules.  Consider all the variables that might affect your decision. Age of the dog and its level of physical activity.   Are they healthy? Is your dog in heat? Is your dog pregnant/nursing? Are they currently at a healthy weight? Are they lay-abouts indoors or are...

FDA Investigates the Rise of DCM in Dogs On July 27, 2018, the FDA released a report stating they had begun investigating Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs.  DCM is more common in large and giant breed dogs like Danes, Boxers, Irish Wolfhounds, Saint Bernards, Newfoundlands, and Doberman Pinschers.  Since July 2018, there has been a rise in the number of cases...

As I write this, I look out the window to see a gloomy, rainy day.  Summer has arrived, though all this rain is putting a damper on our summer vibes.  One thing that can take away the gloomy day blues: fresh summer fruit. Now is the time to load up on berries (blueberries are my personal favourite), stone fruit, and...

The wild dog If we are looking to the wild dog as a guideline for feeding our dogs a raw food diet, we see that vegetation is an important part of a balanced diet.  When eating their prey, wild dogs will first eat the contents of the stomach and intestine which is full of vegetation eaten by the animal. Vegetation...

Raw dog food delivery is what we do in the metro Calgary and metro Edmonton areas.  We are keeping hundreds of dogs happy and well-fed throughout Alberta.  Our primary product line is provided by Dog's Choice located in central Alberta.   Dog's Choice was started by Rudi Koller, a Master Butcher from Switzerland, who immigrated to Canada. Rudi applies the...