Australian Shepherds are a breed of quintessential herding dogs. Known for their sharp intelligence, never ending energy, and desire to herd everything around them, they are a wonderful companion for active people. When it comes to feeding these energetic pups, it's important to understand their unique nutritional needs to keep them healthy and thriving.
Dogs with such high stamina and endurance need proper nutrition to keep their bodies in excellent condition and support their joints over time. This is where introducing a raw diet can be a great option for an Australian Shepherd. In addition to wholesome ingredients like wild venison and offal that provide high quality, bioavailable protein, raw diets like Huntaway can provide improvements in a dog’s coat, which Australian Shepherds are known for with their lovely merle coloring. The addition of wholesome fruits and vegetables like chard, blueberries and parsley can further support joint health and dental health.
Why Huntaway?
High Quality Ingredients
Our recipe is a combination of a biologically appropriate ratio of venison meat, offal, and bone, which are key for dogs who require a lot of protein. This can help active dogs maintain their muscle mass and energy levels.
The recipe also includes wholesome fruits and vegetables such as kelp, seaweed, and blueberries to provide antioxidants and nutrients like iodine. Additionally, venison is a novel and hypoallergenic protein, which is a great choice for dogs that are prone to allergies and itchy skin. A novel protein is a variety of protein that has not dominated our food system for a long time (like beef, pork, chicken and turkey). Given that it is "novel" to your dog, their immune systems are less likely to react with allergy symptoms. You can read more about our ingredients.
Huntaway raw dog food contains no grain, soy, wheat, corn, legumes, potatoes, GMO’s, hormones or antibiotics.
Simple to Portion
Our raw dog food comes in 3 ounce cubes. They are easily stored, and easy to portion out for your pup.
We have an option for subscriptions, which allow you to receive food every 1-8 weeks in a variety of box sizes. This will provide the peace of mind that you will never run out.
Environmentally Conscious
The wild venison in our recipe are an invasive species in New Zealand. They cause disruption to the local environment, and currently do not have any natural predators, resulting in the population growing rapidly. By mindfully harvesting this species, and making sure no part of the animal goes to waste, there is a reduced amount of stress on the surrounding ecosystem. You can read more about our sustainable practices.
Switching to Raw Venison for your Australian Shepherd
Whether you would like to add Huntaway as a topper or switch your pup over completely, we recommend introducing Huntaway over the course of four weeks. For portioning, you can calculate 2-3% of your dog’s body weight, which is the general recommendation for how much to feed in ounces. Do note that this is a starting point, and should be adjusted based on activity level. For puppies or lactating dogs, please consult your vet for portioning guidance.
To serve, put portions in the refrigerator to thaw for around 12 hours. Similarly to other raw meat, handle with care, keep Huntaway separate from your other food, and make sure to wash surfaces and bowls thoroughly with soap and warm water after your dog is finished eating. Any food that is not consumed within 30 minutes should be discarded.
