Table of Contents
Feeding Raw
What’s a raw diet?
The Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods of BARF diet has been around for a long time. Omnivores in the wild have been eating raw meat, bones, vegetables and fruit for thousands of years, and those ingredients make up the basis of a BARF or raw food diet.
We work with partners to provide your pups with high quality raw food to honour their biological requirements as animals. We offer a variety of proteins including beef, chicken, and turkey. Most of our protein mixes are available with a vegetable formula if you're looking for an easy way to enhance the nutritional value of your pups meal.
How do I switch to a raw diet?
When you decide to switch to raw food, do it gradually. If your dog has been eating kibble it will need some time to adjust to a protein rich diet. Give one fourth raw food with three fourths of the existing diet on day one. If your dog adapts well, increase the raw food by a quarter each day so that you are feeding one hundred percent raw by day five. If your dog develops an upset tummy, back off on the change and do it more gradually. In the event, your dog just doesn’t take to a raw food diet please don’t continue. Just like humans, not every dog will take to every type of food. You know your dog best.
How much raw food should I feed my dog?
Guidelines on quantities to feed when you switch to a raw diet vary between 1%-2% of your dog’s weight per day. Puppies under two years old need more nutrition and may eat up to 2-10% of their weight depending on their age. For more detail on puppy feeding, check out our Guide to Feeding Raw Food to Puppies here.
You notice we said guidelines… That’s because a dog’s metabolism and level of activity varies as wildly from one dog to another as yours and mine. If you have a highly active working dog that is heavily exercised, you may need to feed more than the guideline. A sedentary, couch-potato, even a very lovable one, may need less. The quantity you feed your dog is not a measure of your love. Start with the guidelines, keep an eye on your dog's weight and over time determine the ideal amount to keep your dog healthy and trim.
We started out feeding our German Shepherd 2% of her body weight. When she hit about five years old we had to cut back as she was beginning to put on weight and keep it. We lovingly called her a big boned girl until the vet said, she needed to lose weight. We trimmed back the amount we fed her, under our vet’s advice, and she slimmed down nicely. Now she is in maintenance mode on roughly 1% of her body weight per day.
To learn more, check out our blog post on how much to feed the raw fed adult dog.
How is the raw food packaged?
The raw food is packaged in 1 and 2-pound tubes similar to what you might find hamburger in at the grocery store. The tubes are stored frozen and delivered frozen. You select the tube size which is most convenient for you and suitable for your dog’s needs. The tube size you choose is packaged into a box weighing 40 pounds/18.14 kg for delivery to your door.
What do I do with the raw food when it arrives?
Put it into your freezer only removing a tube or two at a time depending on the quantity your dog will eat within 3-5 days. Some people choose to feed the food half thawed. We prefer to unwrap, thaw and keep our dog’s raw food in the fridge in a tightly sealed container.
One trick we use is to run a knife around the middle of of a frozen tube, slicing open the plastic. Then run the knife end to end on the tube. You will be able to easily peel the frozen tube and place it in a container for thawing and storage in the fridge. Check out our how to video here.
Remember you are dealing with raw meat and you must take all the proper precautions of washing your hands and wiping clean all surfaces. Click here for more raw dog food safety tips.
Minimum Order
Is there a minimum order?
The minimum order is $50.00.
Bulk Deal
Do you offer a bulk deal?
We offer bulk discounts as follows:
2 - 4 forty pound boxes receive 5% off
5 - 7 forty pound boxes receive 10% off
8+ forty pound boxes receive 15% off
Any one type or combination of types of our 40 lb boxes of frozen dog food are eligible for a bulk discount. Eligible orders will have the discount applied automatically at checkout. Complete your order, select the Checkout button. Below your order you will see the full amount less the discount, and the new total. Sale items are not included in the bulk discount. Bulk discounts are to be delivered at one time.
Shipping
How much is the shipping fee?
For raw pet food orders and supplements within our weekly Edmonton, Red Deer, and Calgary delivery zones, a $5.00 fee applies to all orders up to $250.00. Orders over $250 enjoy free delivery.
For raw pet food orders and supplements within our monthly Northern Alberta delivery zones, a $15.00 fee applies to all orders up to $550.00. Orders over $550 enjoy free delivery.
We ship select items Canada wide (excluding New Brunswick & Quebec) with a minimum $50 order. Shipping fees will be applied at checkout. Orders over $125 enjoy free shipping. Shop items for Canada Wide Shipping here.
How does delivery work?
We handle our own deliveries. Your delivery will arrive at the shipping address you key into the online store.
We plan an optimum route based on the orders received and are unable to guarantee a specific time of day. Deliveries will arrive between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
On the day of delivery, all customers will receive an email notification when their order is out for delivery including a tracking link.
When our delivery specialist leaves the delivery on your step they trigger the release of a text notifying you of delivery. Apartment building deliveries are left in the lobby and our delivery specialist will call the number on the order to confirm delivery to the lobby.
If you have special requests for delivery add a note to your order so we are aware of your request and we will do the best to accommodate.
You may leave a note regarding your order when you place it online. When the weather is hot, you do need to get your order into a freezer as soon as possible. It can’t sit on the door step or it will be a thawed soggy mess of raw meat.
Some of our customers have their order delivered to a friend or relative who is home during the day to ensure that the quality of their delivery is maintained. Others request the delivery to their place of work.
Do you deliver outside metro Calgary and Edmonton areas?
We deliver raw pet food in Alberta. All supplements, Mine Pet Platters, and Animal Biome products are shipped Canada wide (with the exception of Quebec & New Brunswick).
If you are interested in purchasing raw food but are not located in the metro Calgary, metro Edmonton, or Red Deer areas, please call 403-846-7608. We are expanding our network throughout Alberta and although we might not be in your area weekly, we will do our best to get our product to you.
For those in the Bonnieville and Drayton Valley area we will be happy to connect you with our associates there. We are establishing a broader distribution network all the time, so give us a call.
Delivery Schedule
What is the delivery schedule?
We offer weekly and monthly delivery of raw pet food and supplies to metro Calgary, metro Edmonton, Red Deer, and Northern Alberta with a few exceptions.
Click here to see the full list of where we deliver to and the schedule.
If you're unsure, send us an email at info@granddog.ca and we will be happy to confirm when we are in your area next!
Sign up for the newsletter and follow on social media to stay in touch with delivery changes. While we strive to be consistent with delivery days, some weeks require an additional day due to the amount of orders we receive.
Cut-Off Time
Is there a cut-off time for placing orders?
The cut-off time to place your order is 12 pm MT Monday for delivery the same week. Orders received after the cut off will be delivered the next scheduled delivery date for your area. Please contact us at info@granddog.ca or 877-494-0682 if you order after the cut off, most of the time we can fit you in! We don't want any pups or cats going hungry!
Returns
What is your return policy?
Our goal is for you and your dogs to be happy with the food we provide. We understand some doggos might have unexpected allergy issues or may be picky eaters, and that’s why we are happy to return unopened frozen food within two weeks of delivery date.
We will refund you for the value of the original product price less a 30% return fee. Returned food must be repackaged in a closed box with our name clearly stated on it - no plastic bags. Place it outside by 9 am on the agreed upon day for the pick up. Food that has not been packaged properly or has completely thawed is not returnable.
All 10 lb boxes and variety boxes of raw pet food are final sale.
Four Leaf Rover, Adored Beast, Animal Biome, Mine Pet Platter Returns
We offer a 60 day guarantee for Four Leaf Rover, Adored Beast, Mine Pet Platter or Animal Biome products. If for any reason your pets don't agree with these products, just return it within 60 days for a full refund. We will cover shipping.
Gut Health Tests and Mine Pet Platters must be unopened and unused to be eligible for returns.
Call us at 877-494-0682 or email info@granddog.ca to arrange your return.