I've fed all my dogs on a raw diet for about 7 years now, and very recently changed over new pup onto a raw diet. Didn't even do it gradually - he loved it straight away, his tummy coped fine. He's gained weight and muscle in just the two weeks we've had him he looks absolutely superb.
The only thing I still forget, is how long a block of tripe takes to defrost poor dogs quite often have cold cold tripe for breakfast !!!
there's definitely no drawbacks for my lot.
As for expense, I am very lucky to have a fabulous organic butcher that gives me loads of lovely meat and bones.

First of all sorry I didn't answer earlier - I had to get a new computer and was quite busy with the problems of getting the thing running - have a lot of catching up to do!

I admit I haven't the foggiest about what you mean by Gordon Bennet - but I get your point on several points. You and several other have put up practical instructions about how and what to feed - that's very helpful. But being myself of the evil sceptical community, I ask, why should I trust these simple instructions more than those printed on a bag of kibble? So I set out to discover on what those widely disagreeing recommandations were based.

So, you either form your own opinion based on your research and/or experience, or you trust to somebody else's instructions - be they of the pet food industry, your vet or dog trainer or the advocates of any currently "in" feeding trend or a mixture of it all.

Now you say yourself that some dogs will not tolerate raw or do poorly on it - that's what I expected from somebody of your experience - not a condemnation of any other feeding program than raw! So we seem not to be that far apart after all! If a dog will do well on a bit of potatoe or grain with the meat, or even do better on it - why deprive them of it, just because it's not raw? Our ancestors had to feed on raw too, before they masterd fire,but should we really go back to it?

We humans have profited from our inventions for thousands of years - and so, to an lesser degree, have our dogs.

On a strictly personal scale I have to repeat, there are several disadvantages for me, starting with freezer space and cost. Then I don't have any sources for feeding on a "whole prey model", whatever that is supposed to mean. Nor do I see the need for it, since canides never were dependent on it even before domestication. From my own domestical circumstances, it is also important that my dog is used to variety in feeding, and can switch over easily. That's my main point in the feeding debate - a dog is not restricted to a single "best way" of feeding!

I found the lack of concern over some impotant issues quite interesting - but that would warrant another topic, I think.....