Puppy Info
Food Education
What you feed your dog directly shapes their joint health, immunity, coat, gut, and longevity. Here is what we feed at Emery Ranch and why — along with everything you need to set your puppy up right from day one.
Why Raw?
Raw feeding mimics the diet dogs evolved on — high-moisture, unprocessed, species-appropriate protein. The documented benefits include improved joint and hip health, stronger immune function, cleaner teeth (no kibble starch buildup), firmer stools, better coat condition, and leaner muscle development. For working-line breeds like GSDs and Labradors, this matters from the start.
Feeding a poor-quality diet does not extend a dog's life and creates a number of preventable issues. We have seen the difference firsthand in our own dogs, and we take it seriously.
What We Feed at Emery Ranch
Titan Raw Dog Food
Our PrimaryWe feed Titan Raw for our adult dogs and Titan Blue Raw Mix for puppies. It's a complete meal — thaw, measure, and serve. About $3 per pound. It doesn't get any simpler or easier to feed your dog raw.
Order at petesmeats.orgOpen Farm
Kibble OptionOpen Farm offers high-quality kibble with freeze-dried raw portions or toppers available. We use their freeze-dried foods when traveling with our service dogs. It's the kibble we trust when raw isn't practical.
Other Approved Raw Brands
There are several high-quality raw feeding companies depending on your budget. We approve any brand that is AAFCO certified. We do not recommend making a raw diet at home.
- We Feed Raw
- Raw Feeding Miami
- Raw Paws Pet
- The Raw Company
- Raw K9
Supplements
We can recommend vitamin supplements to help fill nutritional gaps if you're interested. Ask us at pickup or during your placement call.
Switching to Raw
Your puppy will leave us already eating raw — so if you start on raw from day one, there is no transition needed. Simply continue with Titan Raw Blue Mix (or an approved brand from the list above) at the portion size we send home with you.
If you are transitioning an older dog from kibble to raw, do it gradually over 7–10 days: start with 25% raw / 75% kibble and shift the ratio daily until fully raw. Keep meals simple during the transition (single protein source). Loose stools for a few days are normal as the gut flora adjusts.
We send a raw feeding guide with every placement and are happy to answer questions before or after pickup.
⚠ Food warranty requirement: a dog food must be on our approved list to keep your health guarantee in place. If you are unsure whether a brand qualifies, ask before switching.
Have Questions About Feeding?
We send a raw feeding guide with every placement and are happy to walk you through it. Reach out before or after pickup.