You have decided to move your dog off kibble and onto raw, and if anything is holding you up, it is probably the worry that the switch will be fiddly. Working out amounts, getting it wrong, a week of guesswork while you find your feet. It is worth saying plainly that it is simpler than that. For most dogs the change takes about a week, the part people expect to be hardest is mostly worked out for you, and once you are through it the feeding routine is smaller than the one you are leaving behind. This guide walks through the whole of it, including the question most people coming off kibble actually have, which is how much to feed. If you are coming off fresh cooked food rather than kibble, the method here is the same, and the differences are set out in Switching from Fresh Cooked to Raw.
Why the switch takes a week
You change the food gradually rather than all at once. A dog's gut is used to what it has been eating, and easing raw in over a week lets it adjust comfortably instead of in a single day, which is what tends to cause a few loose stools. That is the only reason for the gradual pace, and a week is enough for most dogs.
The shape of the week is straightforward. You start with mostly their current food and a little raw, then move the balance towards raw every couple of days. For the first two days, about a quarter raw. On days three and four, half and half. On days five and six, about three quarters raw. By day seven, fully raw, and the kibble is gone.
The week at a glance: Days 1 to 2, a quarter raw. Days 3 to 4, half and half. Days 5 to 6, three quarters raw. Day 7, fully raw. If a step does not sit well, follow the guidance below.
Getting the amount right
The question most people have is how much raw to feed, and it helps to understand where the figure comes from, because it is not a guess. A dog's daily amount is worked out from its weight, then scaled for age and activity, using the resting-energy method used in veterinary practice. Our feeding calculator does that maths and gives you your dog's daily portion. Once you order, your personalised transition guide turns that portion into the exact day-by-day amounts for the switch, so you are never working them out yourself.
That portion is right for most dogs as it stands. Dogs are individuals, though, and two of the same weight can burn energy a little differently, which is why the calculated amount is a well-grounded starting point rather than a fixed rule. Over the first few weeks you keep a light eye on your dog's condition: you should be able to feel the ribs without pressing hard, and see a waist from above. If your dog is gaining or losing a little, you adjust the amount up or down in small steps. The plan gives you a precise place to start, and your dog tells you the rest. It rarely needs more than a small nudge.
Feeding it is simpler than measuring out kibble, as well. For most dogs the day's food comes ready-portioned as whole trays, with a half tray where the amount calls for it, so there is nothing to weigh at the bowl.
What is different coming off kibble
A couple of things are particular to switching from dry food, and knowing them in advance saves a moment of worry. The portion of raw will look larger than the scoop of kibble did. That is because kibble is dry and dense, while raw is mostly moisture, so the same day's calories weigh more in the bowl. The amount is calculated, not generous. It only looks bigger.
You will also notice your dog drinking less water. Kibble carries almost no moisture, so dogs on it drink a fair amount to make up the difference. Raw carries far more moisture than kibble, so more of that hydration now comes from the food itself, and the water dish gets less attention. Both of these are normal, and neither is a problem to solve.
The difference you are most likely to enjoy is at the bowl itself. Many dogs show noticeably more enthusiasm for raw than they did for kibble, often from the first full meal. A bowl that used to be approached at a wander tends to be met with real interest, and for a lot of owners that visible enjoyment is the first sign the switch is landing well.
The small things, so none of them surprise you
Beyond the bigger portion and the lighter drinking, a few minor changes are common in the first week, and the only reason to mention them is so that none of them catch you off guard. Softer stools for the first few days are common, and they usually settle as your dog adjusts. Diarrhoea lasting more than a day or two isn't part of a normal switch. If that happens, or there's blood, repeated vomiting, or your dog seems unwell, go back a step, speak to your vet, and let us know. Some dogs are a little slower to commit at mealtimes for a day or two while a new texture and temperature become familiar. None of it needs you to do anything different, and staying on the schedule is the answer. For a fuller picture of the first week, see Week 1 on Raw: What to Expect, and if your dog is genuinely holding out at the bowl, what to do if your dog won't eat raw food goes through it.
The daily routine is small
Day to day, the handling is light. The food is kept frozen, and you move the next portion from the freezer to the fridge in advance, giving it enough time to thaw fully before the meal. Treat it the way you would any raw meat in your kitchen: store it separately from your own food, clean bowls and surfaces after use, and wash your hands once you have served it. That is the routine, start to finish. Our guide on how to store and handle raw dog food safely has the exact thawing times and the rest of the storage detail.
Is a week long enough?
You will find advice at both extremes. Some schedules stretch the switch out to a month, while others say a healthy dog can be swapped straight over with no transition at all. A week sits deliberately between the two. A straight swap does work for some dogs, but it is the most likely route to a few days of loose stools, and there is little to gain from the rush. A month, at the other end, rarely adds anything the first week has not already done. The gradual step-up over a week does the real work of letting the gut adjust, without dragging it out. The schedule is a guide rather than a deadline, though. If a step does not sit well, or stools stay loose, follow the guidance above. Going at your dog's pace always beats sticking to the calendar.
One ordinary caveat. If your dog has a diagnosed digestive condition, or a diet your vet has set for a medical reason, have a word with them before changing the food, as you would with any change of diet. For a healthy dog, the gradual switch above is all there is to it.
One recipe, and then it stays simple
Here is the part that makes the switch worth doing. Raw is often presented as the start of a project: rotating proteins, balancing meals across the week, keeping track of what to feed next. With Protocol Raw Complete it is the other way round. The transition ends in one complete recipe that you feed every day, and that is the whole of it. There is no rotation to plan and no balancing to get right over time, because the variety that rotation is meant to provide is already in the single bowl. It carries multiple proteins, organ meats, bone, egg, fish oil and shellfish, each chosen for what it contributes. The range other brands spread across several products is here in every meal, so there is nothing to rotate.
The recipe stays the same. The only thing that changes is the amount, and only slowly, as your dog grows, settles, or ages. That is the same simple adjustment you are already making by keeping an eye on their condition, so nothing new is asked of you over the years. For a lot of people that is the real relief of switching. Not only moving to raw, but moving to something that stays this simple, instead of trading kibble for a more complicated routine.
Every batch of our recipe is independently tested before it ships, and the result is published for you to read. Here is a sample of the report each batch gets before release.
When you are ready to start, the feeding calculator gives you your dog's daily portion. Once you order, your personalised transition guide lays out the day-by-day amounts for the week, so from there the switch mostly takes care of itself.