Hello everyone! I have been researching various diets in preparation for the arrival of my puppy. I am definitely going raw, but I wanted to get some input from you guys. There are several options for pre made raw diets--I was wondering how these compare to going to a meat store and getting actual chicken necks, livers, beef; adding your own vegetables, dairy products, eggs, etc. Here is an example of the ingredients of one pre made mix I am looking at--they seem to contain a wide range of ingredients for a wholesome diet. I appreciate any and all input--thank you!

Chicken
Ground Chicken Bone
Turkey
Turkey Liver
Turkey Hearts
Apples
Carrots
Butternut Squash
Ground Flaxseed
Montmorillonite Clay
Broccoli
Lettuce
Spinach
Dried Kelp
Apple Cider Vinegar
Parsley
Honey
Salmon Oil
Olive Oil
Blueberries
Alfalfa Sprouts
Persimmons
Inulin
Rosemary
Sage
Cloves

95% chicken and turkey meat,
organs and bones
5% fruits and vegetables
0% grain and gluten

Taken from: http://www.instinctpetfood.com/product/instinct-grain-free-raw-frozen-chicken-diet-8-oz-patties-12-count

In regards to raw, home prepared raw with whole bones will always trump premades. In both price and quality not to mention dental health benefits.

As far as premades go, I have used Instinct premades in the past (specifically the venison one) and have to say I prefer it's consistency over Primals which was very watery and not easily broken apart.

Raw diets thrive on rotation and variety, which is something premades can't really offer as the majority are made up of the same set of ingredients. Not to mention you can't really "KNOW" what kind/quality of chicken/turkey/veggies are going into your pup. Which is really the fundamental purpose of raw.

In terms of ease, premades do have that advantage.

Not to mention premades cost well over $100 a month to feed an adult dog a month (puppies need more), whereas for one dog if you hunt prices/co-ops you can't easily spend $40 or less.

Given the expense and lacking variety, I'd much rather prepare the food myself. I'm a little intimidated by the whole process, though. The breeder suggested I read Raw Dog Food: Make It Easy For You and Your Dog, and I have been. Finding all of the ingredients is my only worry. I guess I'll have to hunt around local meat markets? I'm sure it's a piece of cake once you get in the rhythm of things--I'm still trying to find the beat, though

Honestly, all you really need to do is find meat(you can even simply to do chicken, pork, and beef), raw meaty bones, and organs and you are all set to go. It's pretty easy, the only "difficult" part is finding steal deals. Kristina made a really nice thread on how she does her raw, it's probably in the nutrition portion of the forum. Go browse there.

Yes, you'd be further ahead to do it yourself without pre-mades. It really is simple, despite how daunting the research can make it seem. Start slow and you will ease into it and see how easy it really is.