The first step is to read and do as much research as you can. There are several excellent books on the subject, such as The Ultimate Diet : Natural Nutrition For Dogs And Cats, by Kymythy Schultz or Give Your Dog A Bone, by Dr Ian Billinghurst. You will feel more comfortable starting once you have the guidance you need.

Next, gather the food products that you will need. Call around and find a good price for your RMB’s (raw meaty bones) and supplements. I found it helpful the first couple of weeks to keep a journal of what I was feeding and when. I felt better knowing that I was not skipping an important ingredient!

Thirdly, dive right in! Most BARFer’s will tell you that the best way to start is to go "cold turkey" (pardon the pun!). Some people do not feel comfortable starting this way and prefer the gradual method. If you choose to feed both kibble and a BARF diet simultaneously, be aware that kibble and raw meat digest differently. Do not feed them together in one meal. It is preferable to feed a kibble meal and then a Barf meal to avoid diarrhea. Most dogs will love the food and you will not have to do any coaxing. Mine looked at me like I was giving them the best treat ever. My rescue Crested took about a week to adjust. I fed him the food ground up (meat, veggies and bone) at first, and added cottage cheese to it to get him to try it. After a week he was chewing away at the bones along with the others! You might have to experiment with your dog, but do not resort to cooking the food! Remember, cooked bones can splinter!