Midwest Legacy Beef Feeding Guide
At Midwest Legacy Beef, we believe feeding your dog a raw diet is one of the most natural and effective ways to support their health—from puppyhood through their senior years. A raw diet provides essential nutrients, supports healthy digestion, and promotes a shiny coat, strong teeth, and lasting vitality.
Different life stages require different nutritional strategies, and we've created a clear guide to help you provide your dog with the best raw nutrition from 8 weeks old to 7+ years.
Puppyhood: Building a Strong Foundation
Puppies should nurse from their mother or receive a high-quality milk replacer during this stage.
This is the ideal time to introduce finely ground raw beef. We recommend starting with our Legacy Raw Beef, Legacy Cat Blend, or Legacy BLT. These blends are safe and easy to digest, with no large bones. The Legacy Cat Blend includes finely ground bones that are safe for young puppies. You can also supplement with goat’s milk or lamb milk replacer mixed with rolled oats for easier digestion and to ease the demand on nursing mothers.
Puppies at this stage can fully transition to a raw beef diet. Our Legacy BLT blend (no bones but rich in organs) is ideal. Add steamed rolled oats and milk replacer for added nutrients and digestive support. Puppies will gain healthy weight, build muscle, and develop strong skeletal structure. Feed small meals 3–4 times a day.
6 Weeks to 6 Months: Expanding the Diet
Larger breed puppies can start incorporating bone-in blends like Legacy BLT + Bone or Legacy Beef 80.10.10 to support skeletal development. Smaller breeds can continue with Legacy Cat Blend, which contains finely ground bone paste.
You may also introduce fruits, vegetables, and raw eggs depending on your preference, or stick with just Midwest Legacy Beef products for simplicity. Continue feeding small, frequent meals—about 3–4 per day.
This is a great time to build muscle mass and support training with added nutrition. Our single-ingredient Freeze-Dried Beef Liver and Freeze-Dried Beef Heart make excellent treats and meal toppers. Reduce feeding frequency to 2-3 meals per day.
6 Months to Adulthood: Routine and Maintenance
Your puppy is learning, growing, and becoming more active. Now is the time to establish mealtime structure and consistency. Serve meals at the same time each day, and remove food after 10 minutes to discourage grazing.
Transition to 2 meals per day using blends like Legacy BLT + Bone or Legacy Beef 80.10.10. These options mimic an ancestral diet and support gut health and overall development. You can also explore new proteins and supplements as needed.
1 to 6 Years: Peak Health
This stage is all about maintaining your dog’s energy, weight, and overall well-being. Choose from our Legacy Beef 80.10.10, Legacy BLT + Bone, or Legacy Beef + Ground Bone to provide a balanced, complete raw diet. If you'd like to rotate proteins, try our Legacy Raw 24 lb Variety Pack.
For dental health, add raw meaty bones like our Femur Bones with Marrow to their routine.
7+ Years: Supporting Senior Dogs
As dogs age, their dietary needs shift. Reduce calcium by cutting back on bones while still including high-quality protein. Our Legacy BLT (without bone) and Legacy Raw Beef blends are perfect for senior dogs.
Adjust portions based on their activity levels and include easily digestible proteins and joint-supporting foods.
Tips for Feeding a Raw Diet
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Monitor energy levels: A healthy dog should be playful and alert.
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Watch stool consistency: Stool should be firm. Loose stool can indicate too much fat; hard, dry stool may mean too much bone.
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Portion control: Feed 2–3% of your dog’s body weight daily.
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Hydration is essential: Always provide plenty of fresh water.
- Rotate proteins: Offer a variety of proteins for balanced nutrition. Shop our Variety Pack.
Conclusion
From puppyhood to their golden years, a raw diet supports your dog’s health every step of the way. Midwest Legacy Beef offers premium, additive-free raw beef blends tailored to every stage of your dog’s life. Trust us to provide farm-fresh meals your dog will love—and thrive on.
Explore our full line of raw dog food options today. Shop Midwest Legacy Beef for nutrition that lasts a lifetime. SHOP NOW!