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🦃
Your Shetland Sheepdog is a small dog averaging around 10 kg. Turkey is lean and hypoallergenic, making it a solid muscle-meat base for a BARF diet. Its lean profile suits less active dogs or those needing to lose weight. Turkey is one of the least allergenic proteins — an excellent choice for sensitive skin or gut. Use the calculator below to get the exact daily ration in grams, adapted to age, activity level, and neuter status. Small breeds like the Shetland Sheepdog gain significant dental benefits from chewing appropriately sized raw meaty bones. Monitor weight weekly: in small dogs, even 200 g of excess weight represents a proportionally significant overweight condition.
| 🥩 Muscle meat (70%) | 175g |
| 🦴 Raw meaty bones (10%) | 25g |
| 🫀 Liver (5%) | 13g |
| 🫁 Other organs (5%) | 13g |
| 🥦 Vegetables/Fruits (10%) | 25g |
📖 Modern BARF community standard, inspired by Dr. Ian Billinghurst's work (1993)
If your dog needs to lose or gain weight, base the diet on the ideal weight.
Don't know your dog's weight?Check our breed guides →Toxic / forbidden foods
☠️ Deadly:
Chocolate, grapes/raisins, xylitol (gum), onion, garlic, avocado (pit+skin), macadamia nuts
⚠️ Avoid:
Cooked bones (splinters), raw potato, wild mushrooms, walnuts, raw bread dough, caffeine, alcohol, excess salt, hot spices
What your dog actually eats
Raw feeding provides more animal protein, zero grains, and natural hydration — at a comparable cost.
Based on average premium kibble composition (FEDIAF) vs raw feeding.
Switching from kibble to raw must be done gradually over 4 weeks to allow the gut flora of your dog.
⚠️ Consult your vet BEFORE starting if your dog:
💡 We recommend feeding kibble and raw at separate meals for optimal digestion.
Digestion times differ and separating them helps avoid potential digestive issues.
Source: Dr. Karen Becker
Goal : ~90% white meat (Chicken, Turkey) + ~10% soft meaty bones (chicken necks/wings). No organs.
Start with small portions. Soft bones help form firm stools from the start. Watch the stools — they may be different for the first few days.
Goal : Introduce soft meaty bones (chicken necks, wings).
Meaty bones must always be raw. Never give cooked bones — risk of splintering.
Goal : Introduce 50% red meat (Beef, Pork — frozen ≥3 weeks at -20°C to neutralize Aujeszky's disease and Trichinella) and Liver (very rich).
Liver is very rich in vitamin A — do not exceed 5% of the total ration.
Goal : Add other organs, vegetables/fish. The diet is now complete.
Congratulations! Your dog is now on a complete raw diet. Vary proteins each week.
An adult Shetland Sheepdog on a normal activity level eats around 250–300 g per day, or about 1.8 kg per week. That baseline represents 2.5–3% of body weight and should be adjusted for age, activity, and neuter status. Weigh your dog weekly and fine-tune the ration if you notice unexpected weight gain or loss. The calculator below factors in all these parameters automatically.
Yes. Turkey is a lean protein that works well as the muscle-meat base (70% of the ration in classic BARF, per Dr. Billinghurst's methodology). Rotate protein sources across the week — ideally 3–4 different proteins — for complete amino-acid and micronutrient coverage. Introduce each new protein gradually over 3–5 days to monitor for any digestive sensitivity.
Aim for 10% of the daily ration as raw meaty bones — roughly 25 g per day for an adult Shetland Sheepdog. Choose raw bones sized to the dog's jaw and never feed cooked bones (they splinter into dangerous shards). As recommended by FEDIAF, raw meaty bones provide calcium and phosphorus in a naturally balanced 1.2:1 ratio.
Small breeds like the Shetland Sheepdog have a fast metabolism and limited glycogen reserves. Split the BARF ration into 2–3 meals per day to prevent hypoglycemia, especially in puppies and seniors. One morning and one evening meal is the minimum recommended by FEDIAF. Weigh each meal precisely, as error margins are narrow on a small frame — even 10-15 g off can meaningfully impact daily intake.
Both work, but whole cuts provide better chewing enrichment. Turkey necks are raw meaty bones particularly suited to medium and large dogs. Ground turkey is convenient for puppies or small breeds. Choose fresh, free-range turkey when possible. As recommended by FEDIAF, vary textures to promote dental health and natural jaw exercise throughout the week.
Turkey is a lean protein that keeps 2–3 days refrigerated (0–4°C) and up to 3 months frozen at -18°C. Tip: lean cuts can be served slightly frozen for a prolonged chewing effect, which benefits dental hygiene. Always thaw in the refrigerator, never at room temperature, to limit bacterial growth. Pre-portion into individual bags for convenient daily feeding.
Food storage container
Optimal raw meat storage in the freezer
⚖️Precision kitchen scale
Weigh portions to the gram — essential for BARF
🐟Fish oil Omega-3 supplement
Recommended supplement for coat and joint health
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