The English Toy Spaniel is an easy-going and friendly member of the Toy Group. With a Pug-like expression and it’s gentle manner, this breed is the perfect pet for anyone that enjoys a reserved, easy-to-raise house dog. They are friendly to both strangers and other pets, and make an excellent watchdog.

The English Toy Spaniel – A Brief History

As its name suggests, the area of origin of the breed is England. They were used to flush birds out for hunters in addition to being a loving family companion at home. Interestingly enough, they share the same history to that of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Both started out as one breed, more likely from crosses of Oriental toy breeds and small spaniels.

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You might feel ready to start your dog on a BARF diet, or you might want more information, more details, more support. Below is a list of places that will help you feel more confident about switching your dog to a BARF diet.

BARF Diet Websites

First, let’s look at some useful websites. This is the quickest and – for many of us – the easiest way to get information you need.

Start with a site that offers information, resources and even shopping opportunities. At NJ Boxers, you can read about the BARF diet, get recipe and menu ideas and begin to feel confident in your choice to feed your dog a BARF diet. Although this site is about Boxers, the information is relevant to any breed of dog that you might feed a BARF diet.

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Here are some more common questions related to feeding a BARF diet…

How can I switch my older dog to this diet?

Slowly. That’s the best advice we can give. When you take your older kibble-eating dog and switch her over to a BARF diet, it’s important that you do it slowly and blandly. That is, start her off with some bland and low-fat foods and slowly add new foods each week until she’s adjusted.

For older dogs, many also suggest adding probiotics into her diet to fight bad bacteria and increase her immunity. You can do this by feeding her yogurt that contains live cultures, or you can add a probiotic supplement to her diet.

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You are almost ready to jump in and start feeding your dog the BARF diet, but you still have some questions. So let us take a look at some common questions about feeding the BARF diet.

Keep in mind that your vet is probably the best person to ask  your questions. Even if they not well versed in the details of the BARF diet, they will likely have some suggestions or tips for you. They might also have ideas about how you can be sure that your dog’s diet is well balanced. But for now, let’s stick with the basics and the issues that we can address.

Won’t my dog be at risk for salmonella?

Worrying about the risk of salmonella is valid, considering your dog will be eating raw meat. However, it’s been proven that salmonella is of little risk to dogs.

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How do you know if you are feeding your dog the right amount of food?

Here’s an easy test…

About two to three weeks into your dog’s new diet, put your hands on your dog’s rib cage and note what you feel when you press lightly. If you have a hard time finding the ribs, your dog is too fat. If you can visually see the ribs (no need to feel), your dog is too thin.

Make necessary adjustments to the amount of food you give your dog as well as the kind of food. If your dog is too thin, for example, you might want to increase the amount of fattier meats you feed her.

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