BARF stand for Bones and Raw Food or Biologically Appropriate Raw (or Real) Food. It is a more natural, biologically appropriate diet for pets, consisting of (for the most part) raw meat, bones, and veggies.

The following excerpt was taken from information collected by Jane Johnson and can be found on the following website:

BARF FAQ

1. no doggy odour
2. naturally cleans teeth - no need for toothbrushes, de-scaling jobs, or gum disease
3. the time it takes for a dog to chew a raw meaty bones givetheir stomach adequate time to get the acids moving
4. much less stools produced - and they are firm, and turn chalky after a couple of days
5. decreased or non-existant vet bills (your dogs are healthier!)
   
6. less cost for dog food - commercial dog foods are ludicriously expensive
   
7. mirrors what a dog would be getting in the wild - and certainly even the modern day dog has a digestive tract exactly the same as a wolf
   
8. puppies develop at a more appropriate rate - and quick growth spurts are avoided. A GOOD breeder will want to stop fast growth in any pup.
   
9. the ripping and chewing involved in eating raw meaty bones develops the jaw, neck, and shoulder muscles of the dog. Commercial dog foods will never assist in this important muscle development.
   
   

People who have switched their dogs to BARF from commercial dog foods have found the following:

• dogs who were previously un-energetic, and sluggish become completely new dogs once the BARF feeding begins
  
• allergies their dogs previously had on commercial foods, disappear once they start with BARF
  
• arthritis has significantly reduced or disappeared in some dogs switched to BARF
  
• better weight control
  
• no more doggy odour!
  
• their dogs are living longer on BARF than what their other dogs previously had survived on commercial dog foods
  
• that their bitches managed their pregnancies better
  better weight and survival figures in puppies
  
  

Why is commercial dog food not good for my dog?

There are a range of problems with commercial dog foods. I will provide some links below, but in summary:

1. a dog's food should never be cooked. It should be fed in a raw natural state like nature intended. Cooking a dog's food ruins most of the nutritional value.
   
2. dogs should have access to raw meaty bones. These clean their teeth, work and develop their neck and jaw muscles, and the chewing action prepares their stomach for the incoming food mass. Chewing bones also slows down the eating process considerably, making it far harder for a dog to over eat.
   
3. dog foods have as their main ingredient cereals - the main ingredient your dog should be eating is raw meaty bones. And it is these very cereals that cause a range of problems such as allergies.
   
4. commercial dog foods are laden with preservatives, colors (dyes), and salt. They have additives to make the food taste better so that the dogs will overeat.
   
5. the vast majority of commercial dog foods have far too much carbohydrates in them. High levels of carbohydrates are linked to over-eating, diabetes, weight gain, and numerous other problems. Dogs should eat a diet with only a small amount of carbs.
   
   

Well then, why do so many people still feed their dogs commercial dog foods?

Yes, it confuses me too! However, commercial dog food companies have got the advertising part down amazingly well. They have entered the market at every point. With some companies, breeders and vets get major discounts and kick-backs for selling their product. They sponsor dog shows, they advertise in dog magazines, they get high profile people (including vets) to talk about their product.
And most importantly, their advertising campaigns are slick, and tend to make people feel guilty if they feed any other way.

And people are suckers for good advertising.

Let me make this very clear to you, I make no money from recommending BARF. As a breeder of dogs I could make a small fortune by letting my dogs be in dog food commercials, and by selling on commercial dog foods.

I only recommend BARF because I want your dogs to be getting the diet that will make them the healthiest that they can possibly be.

Some interesting facts about goat meat:

Goats are the No. 1 red meat in the world. It is low in fat and cholesterol. According to nutritional facts supplied by the USDA, one 3-ounce serving of goat meat contains 122 calories, 2.58 grams of fat, 23 grams of protein and 3.3 milligrams of iron. The same amount of chicken has 120 calories, 3.5 grams of fat and 0.5 milligrams of iron. The same serving of beef has 245 calories, 16 grams of fat, 23 grams of protein and 2.9 milligrams of iron, while pork has 310 calories, 24 grams of fat, 21 grams of protein and 2.7 milligrams of iron, and lamb provides 235 calories, 16 grams of fat, 22 grams of protein and 1.4 milligrams of iron.

The total amount to feed daily - on a weight basis - will be between two and four percent of bodyweight.

Weight of Cat Daily Food Requirement If your cat weighs:

Meals should be split into several smaller portions throughout the day

Percentages:

FIFTY PERCENT of your cat's food should consist of RAW MEATY BONES

FIFTY PERCENT of your cat's food should consist of MEAT, ORGANS (and vegetables)

80-90% Ground or minced meat which can be with or without the bones

10-15% Vegetables such as romaine lettuce, pumpkin , spinach, broccoli, etc.

0-5% Fruit including whatever fruit is in season or available

This is a rough guide only. Every cat is different. Feed what you need to keep your cat at a healthy weight. Do not allow your cat to become overweight or to become unacceptably thin.

Tollwest Kennels - Great, Easy to Understand BARF info
Schutzhund Working Dogs - Good food/Bad food info
BARF for Beginners - Top 50 Most Frequently Asked Questions