There are several myths that surround this diet—

	The bones will splinter and injure or kill your dog: It is true that COOKED bones could injure your dog. You should never feed cooked bones. They are brittle and they can splinter into pieces that can cause severe internal injuries. Raw bones, on the other hand, are softer and more easily digested in the dog's stomach.. Does that mean that there is no danger at all? Not quite, anything is possible. But there have been dogs who have died from choking on kibble as well. The benefits far outweigh the risks.
	The salmonella and e-coli bacteria will make my dog sick: Salmonella and e-coli will make YOU sick, but your dog is better able to handle them. Dogs' digestive systems can easily handle all manner of bacteria…just think of all the things they are chewing on during the day! A healthy dog will adjust to a BARF diet without a problem. You will need to disinfect your food preparation area and wash your hands.
	Wild canines do not eat bones: Sure they do, and they will eat the stomach contents (vegetable matter) and fur as well.
	Commercial dog food is all my dog needs: While it is true that your dog will survive on a good quality commercial food, many BARFer’s have found that their dogs THRIVE on a healthy bones and raw food diet. Many of the common dog ailments, allergies, poor skin and coats, poor teeth, bone and joint problems to name a few, might be traced back to the dog’s diet. BARFer’s report all types of improvements in their dogs, from better coats to better attitudes.

Commercial food are mostly grained based and dogs' digestive systems were not designed to process large quantities of grains. The quality of even the best commercial food has been questioned and the seamier side of rendering plants is downright scary. It is difficult to know exactly what you are feeding your pet with commercial products.

Why doesn’t your vet tell you this? Well, many vets get very little schooling in nutrition for one thing. Also pet food companies subsidize some vet training. Lastly, there is the profit motive. Simply put, vets make money selling dog food. That is not to say that vets are evil money-mongers. It is not wrong to recommend a good quality commercial food. And vets know that not all people would feed a raw diet properly. But if you tell your vet that you have carefully chosen to feed your pet a natural diet, he should not berate you. If he does, find another vet.

Feeding a natural raw diet will be more costly than feeding kibble: Surprisingly, you will find that you will save money in the long run by feeding a BARF diet. Once you find a reliable supply of RMBs (Raw Meaty Bones, such as chicken backs and necks) and supplements, you will spend less than you do now on kibble. I made the mistake initially of buying my chicken from the grocery store and my supplements from the local health food store. I learned quickly that I could order 40 pound boxes of chicken parts from a local butcher for much cheaper than I could get chicken at the supermarket. I buy my supplements wholesale. I even found a buffalo farm not to far away where I can get meaty bones!  Call around, ask other BARFers, check the yellow pages for poulty and meat wholesalers. Once you have your "connection" you are all set! Since I am relatively new to BARFing, I keep a cost comparison chart so that I can chart my savings and keep track of suppliers.