Feeding fresh food is an alternative to feeding commercial dog food. Fresh feeding is based on dogs being carnivores that should eat a species-appropriate diet, a fresh raw diet containing a minimum of muscle meat, raw meaty bones, and organs.

Several fresh food diet options provide your dog with species-appropriate nutrition, including Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF), the Real Ancestral (6X) Diet™ (Real Ancestral Diet™), the Prey Diet Raw Model, and commercially prepared pre-mixed raw food. 

There is no one-size-fits-all diet as every dog has unique requirements, and every dog parent has their food philosophy regarding how they want to feed their dog. It is up to the dog parent to educate themselves about these diets and choose the one that feels right for them and their dog. 

The Real Ancestral (6x) Diet™ is similar to the other fresh feeding models except for including fish as a source of omega-3 fatty acids and fur or low glycemic fruits and vegetables as a source of fiber. 

The Real Ancestral (6x) Diet™ consists of:

Each of the above components has distinctive characteristics that contribute to your dog's overall health.

Muscle meat is the most abundant component of your dog's bowl at 63% - 65% of the total weight of the ingredients. Muscle meat is the primary source of protein, an essential macronutrient. The source of protein is important. Grass-fed and organically-raised animals produce more nutrient-dense muscle meat than grain-fed animals.

All protein sources have unique amino acid profiles. For example, beef muscle meat has a different nutritional profile than chicken. Even other cuts of meat from the same animal can have distinct amino acid profiles. Beef is high in lysine, leucine, threonine, and valine, whereas chicken breast is high in lysine, histidine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine. Fish is high in lysine, histidine, leucine, and phenylalanine. Feeding a variety of muscle meats will ensure that your dog gets all of the amino acids required for bodily functions. 

Commonly fed proteins fed to dogs include:

Red meat: Beef, bison, lamb, pork, goat, elk, wild rabbit, venison, elk, ostrich, and wild birds

White meat: Chicken, turkey, farm-raised rabbit, partridge, pigeon, quail

Muscular organs and animal parts: Heart, trachea, aorta, gizzard, tongue, lungs, green tripe

Whole raw eggs, with or without the shell, up to three to four times weekly

Protein helps improve muscle growth, function, and repair, boost the immune system, and maintain a healthy weight and satiety. Protein is also essential for organ function and development, particularly during pregnancy, lactation, and senior years.

Raw meaty bones  (RMBs) are the foundation of the fresh whole food diet and are essential to your dog's long-term health and well-being. The recommended daily amount of bone is 10%-12% of your dog's meal. 

Raw meaty bones( RMB) are covered with muscle meat and connective tissue. They provide highly bioavailable calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and other trace minerals. RMBs also provide natural dental care, jaw exercises, and mental stimulation. Dogs should be supervised when chewing on RMBs, especially when first introduced. 

You can start with 10% of their daily food intake and adjust the amount of bone to feed by monitoring your dog's stool. You give your dog too much bone if the stools are too hard, white, and chalky. Conversely, soft, loose stools can indicate that your dog needs more bone. 

You should only feed raw bones as cooking changes the structure of the bone matrix and alters the nutrient profile. Although all bones can splinter, cooked bones shatter more easily. Cooked bones also lack the meat and connective tissue covering that aids in the digestion of the bone. 

You can also feed whole prey in the form of:

Even though edible bones are pliable and easy to digest, all bones present inherent risks. Although recreational bones are a source of calcium and provide mental stimulation, jaw exercises, and oral health benefits for your dog, they are not meant to be consumed entirely. 

Monitor all chewing sessions. Dogs that are aggressive chewers are at risk for mouth and tooth injury due to their chewing style. Matching the type and size of the bone to your dog can help minimize this risk. 

All bones splinter. No matter how the bones have been prepared or fed raw, they can splinter. RMBs have connective tissue and some meat still lining the outside of the bone, which protects sharp edges. 

Seafood in the diet benefits every organ system in your dog's body. Seafood is rich in selenium, which boosts the immune system, preventing tissue damage. The iron in seafood is necessary to form red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body. Zinc aids in creating new cells and enzymes and in the digestion of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

Fish, such as mackerel, also includes eight vitamin B-complex vitamins. These vitamins aid in the digestion and release of energy from food, as well as the maintenance of skin health, brain health, and hemoglobin formation.

The omega-3 fatty acids in marine-sourced fats are essential for optimal canine health. They improve immune system function, provide healthier skin and hair coats, and improve cognitive ability. Certain fatty fish also contain high vitamin D levels, a nutrient often deficient in dogs.

Seafood should make up about 10% of your dog's diet in the form of small, oily fish. Excellent sources include the following:

When feeding grass-fed beef, you will not need to add as much seafood to your dog's bowl due to the higher levels of Omega-3 in grass-fed meat. Grass-fed beef is more nutrient-dense than grain-fed beef. 

Before feeding freshly caught fish, freeze them for three weeks to eliminate bacteria and some parasites.

A secreting organ is a specialized structure in your dog's body that produces and releases substances, known as secretions, into the bloodstream, body cavities, or external environment. These secretions serve various functions, such as aiding digestion, regulating metabolism, maintaining fluid balance, or facilitating cell communication. Examples of secreting organs include the pancreas (which secretes digestive enzymes and insulin), the liver (which produces bile), and the glands of the endocrine system (which secrete hormones). 

The liver is an excellent source of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, folic acid, B vitamins, iron, and copper. The recommended amount to feed is 5% of the dog's daily food allotment,  up to 7% for puppies.

While the liver is a nutrient-dense food, its nutrients are heat-sensitive. It is most beneficial when fed raw as the nutritional value is significantly reduced by cooking.

The source of the liver will impact the nutrient content. Beef liver is higher in copper than pork liver; however, pork liver is higher in iron. Providing a variety of organ sources assists in the balance of vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients in the diet. 

Secreting organs have high levels of B vitamins, including B1, B2, B6, folic acid, and B12, as well as minerals like phosphorus, iron, copper, magnesium, and selenium. They also contain low levels of vitamins D and A.

Muscle meat is the most abundant component of your dog's bowl at 63% - 65% of the total weight of the ingredients. Muscle meat is the primary source of <a href="https://www.feedreal.com/articles/proper-protein-in-your-dogs-bowl">protein</a>, an essential macronutrient. The source of protein is important. <a href="https://www.feedreal.com/articles/grassfed-versus-grainfed-muscle-meat">Grass-fed and organically-raised animals</a> produce more nutrient-dense muscle meat than grain-fed animals.

<a href="https://www.feedreal.com/articles/raw-meaty-bones-safety-and-how-to-add">Raw meaty bones</a>  (RMBs) are the foundation of the fresh whole food diet and are essential to your dog's long-term health and well-being. The recommended daily amount of bone is 10%-12% of your dog's meal. 

<a href="https://www.feedreal.com/articles/dive-into-seafood-for-your-pup">Seafood</a> in the diet benefits every organ system in your dog's body. Seafood is rich in selenium, which boosts the immune system, preventing tissue damage. The iron in seafood is necessary to form red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body. Zinc aids in creating new cells and enzymes and in the digestion of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

A <a href="https://www.feedreal.com/articles/adding-organs-to-the-bowl">secreting organ</a> is a specialized structure in your dog's body that produces and releases substances, known as secretions, into the bloodstream, body cavities, or external environment. These secretions serve various functions, such as aiding digestion, regulating metabolism, maintaining fluid balance, or facilitating cell communication. Examples of secreting organs include the pancreas (which secretes digestive enzymes and insulin), the liver (which produces bile), and the glands of the endocrine system (which secrete hormones). 

Other recommended organs to be included in a raw diet include:

Heat destroys much of the nutrient content of organ meats. Raw, freeze-dried, or air-dried organ meats maintain a high nutrient content. Sourcing organs other than liver can be challenging in many areas, but <a href="https://www.real.dog/">Real Dog Box</a> offers many air-dried organ options, including beef spleen, beef liver, lamb spleen, pork kidney, pork liver, and a <a href="https://www.real.dog/food-topper">50/50 ground organ blend.</a> 

<a href="https://www.feedreal.com/articles/adding-fur-and-fiber-to-your-dogs-bowl">Fiber</a> is a carbohydrate that stomach or small intestine enzymes can't break down. The fiber is delivered to the colon, where the intestinal flora ferments it. Fiber fermentation encourages the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which benefit colon health. Fiber fermentation also promotes the production of vitamin K. 

Wild dogs naturally eat fur from their prey. Fur is a natural fiber source, especially for dogs that refuse to eat vegetables. Most dog parents have no idea that providing fur is suitable for dogs as an excellent source of manganese and fiber. 

As fur passes through the intestinal tract, it brushes away intestinal parasites, acting as a natural dewormer. As the bacteria in the gut microbiome denatures fur, trace amounts of manganese and other minerals become available to your dog.

Manganese performs various functions, including as a component and activator of enzymes, developing the organic matrix within the bone, aiding in the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates, and is essential for reproductive, joint, and ligament health. Manganese deficiency is the most common cause of CCL (cranial cruciate ligament) tears other than acute trauma. 

Knowing that dogs are naturally attracted to food with fur, dog toy manufacturers create toys to mimic the shape, size, and texture of what dogs prey upon and consume in the wild.

<a href="https://www.real.dog/">Real Dog Box</a> has various  furred items, including:

Wolves and coyotes consume grasses, berries, and wild fruits and vegetables to provide roughage and a variety of nutrients not found in meat, bones, and organs. Research shows that dogs' <a href="https://www.feedreal.com/articles/learning-about-the-gut-microbiome">gut microbiome </a>is healthier with a more diverse population of beneficial bacteria than dogs that do not consume vegetation. Polyphenols, flavonoids, and other phytonutrients found in plants are antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress and prolong your dog's life. 

If you don't have access to fur, <a href="https://www.feedreal.com/articles/deep-dive-into-vegetables">fresh vegetables</a>, and low-sugar <a href="https://www.feedreal.com/articles/deep-dive-into-fruits">fruits</a> can constitute approximately 5% of your dog's fiber intake. Vegetables provide prebiotic fibers for bacteria that reside in the gut microbiome to produce short-chain fatty acids. 

Feeding cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and arugula provides gut-friendly fiber and numerous vitamins. Dark, leafy green vegetables contain calcium, potassium, and magnesium minerals. Phytonutrients found only in plant matter are antimicrobial, anti-aging, and cancer-fighting compounds. 

Vegetables to use in your dog's bowl include:

The closer you get to feeding our dogs a diet that resembles their natural prey, the happier, healthier, and longer their lives will be. Dog parents must educate themselves about the numerous diets that meet their dogs' nutritional requirements. 

Fresh feeding does not need to be time-consuming, overly expensive, or complicated. The Feed Real Institute offers <a href="https://www.feedreal.com/courses">dog food nutrition courses</a>, online <a href="https://www.feedreal.com/workshops">virtual workshops </a>on DIY real dog food prep, and the <a href="https://www.feedreal.com/calculator">Feed Real calculator</a> to teach you why and how to feed fresh food to your dog. The <a href="https://www.feedreal.com/">Feed Real website</a> contains a wealth of information, including how to feed every life stage of your dog.

If you have a Real Dog Box wellness membership, you will get your monthly box of treats and chews and a monthly consultation with a certified canine nutritionist. 

The Real Ancestral (6X) Diet™ provides a starting point for feeding your dog. Every dog has individual needs and preferences. Make adjustments to the meals by <a href="https://www.feedreal.com/articles/become-a-poop-inspectormonitoring-your-dogs-health-by-examining-his-poop">observing your dog's poop</a>; loose stools may require a reduction in organs or an increase in bone. You may need to prepare your dog's meals to satisfy your dog's preferences, such as gently cooking the muscle meat, organs, or seafood or offering slightly frozen meals. 

Introduction To Real Ancestral (6x) Diet™

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