This is a specific conversation about Raw dog food — what to know before you start — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
A 10-month-old Dobermann is still very much a puppy — large breeds don't fully finish growing until around 18 months, so what you feed right now genuinely shapes the joints, bones, and muscle he'll carry for life. Raw feeding done well can be excellent for a dog like this, but done badly it creates nutritional gaps — particularly in calcium-to-phosphorus ratio — that cause real, lasting harm before you even notice a problem. The difference is balance and sourcing. To point you in the right direction: have you fed raw before, and are you looking for a complete ready-made option or planning to mix it yourself?
He's a male Dobermann, about 28kg right now and still growing. I haven't fed raw before — I've been on a dry kibble but I want to switch. I think ready-made complete would be safer since I'm new to this.
inparticular.ai
Good instinct. Starting with a complete ready-made is absolutely the right call when you're new, especially with a large breed puppy where getting the mineral balance wrong has consequences. You need something formulated to FEDIAF nutritional guidelines, with correct calcium and phosphorus levels for growth — not just a mince with no balancing added. What does his energy level look like day to day, and does he have any known sensitivities or digestive issues?
He's very active, typical Dobermann — high energy. No known allergies or digestive problems so far, touch wood. He eats everything without issue on the kibble.
inparticular.ai
That's a good starting point. For a healthy, high-energy Dobermann puppy with no sensitivities, I'd recommend Nutriment Complete Raw Dog Food — specifically their Puppy & Mother formula or their standard Complete range, both of which are formulated to meet FEDIAF guidelines and include the bone, offal, and added vitamins and minerals that make a raw meal genuinely balanced rather than just meat. At 28kg and still growing, you're looking at roughly 500–600g per day split across two meals, though you'll adjust based on his condition as he fills out. The key advantage here is that Nutriment is a well-established UK raw producer with proper cold chain and transparent sourcing — not a supermarket mince. You can find it on Amazon UK or order direct. I'd stay on the puppy or all-life-stages formula until he's at least 15 months, then reassess.
That sounds really sensible. Should I transition gradually or can I just switch straight over?
inparticular.ai
Gradual is much better for most dogs, and especially worthwhile when moving from kibble to raw because the digestive environment genuinely needs time to adjust — stomach acidity, gut bacteria, enzyme activity all shift. I'd do about 10 days: start with 75% kibble and 25% raw for three or four days, then 50/50 for three days, then 25% kibble and 75% raw for a couple of days, then full raw. Watch his stools throughout — some looseness is normal in the middle of the transition, but if it's prolonged or he seems unsettled, slow it down. Once he's fully on raw, his stools will be noticeably smaller and firmer than on kibble, which is completely normal.
Perfect, that's exactly what I needed. I feel a lot more confident now.
inparticular.ai
You've made a thoughtful choice and you're approaching it the right way. A complete raw from a reputable producer, proper transition, appropriate portion for his current weight, and keeping an eye on his condition as he finishes growing — that's all it takes to do this well. One last thing: book a weight check with your vet around the 12-month mark if you can. Large breed puppies can gain too fast or too slow on any diet, and raw is no different. Catch it early and it's easy to adjust.
