Is this normal for some of the dogs? What should I do next?

Today I started the raw and it was not a very good beginning. I read that you should start with a chicken or turkey neck. I was all excited for I thought they would go nuts with the turkey necks. I placed them on the floor and both dogs go over and sniff each other’s. Bailey literally back-up and Simba gave me the look "you got to be kidding". Called both boys onto the coach hoping they would start eating them if I held them. NOPE. Well, Simba did a little bit but Bailey no way. Now I am a little anxious and thawed a Nature's Variety chicken patty. When it thawed, I divided it in half, then little peices and placed it in their bowls...meanwhile they were whimpering because they were hungry, again, they sniff, and Bailey backs up further this time. I tried hand feeding them….no way. An hour later they permitted me to hand feed them the CP which they ate very grudgingly. In addition, I thought maybe they did not like the bones for they were cold and they are used to warm food so placed the bones in plastic bags and hot water for a little bit…and still wouldn’t eat them. Now what do I do?

Colleen, I think you keep introducing it. Some will even start out with cooking the meat and doing it less and less each time they put it out. Dasher won't eat raw at all though. He can smell it and he backs up like what you are describing. I have introduced it countless times but he doesn't like it and he is fine with refusing it several days in a row. At one point, he wouldn't come in the kitchen. He didn't eat for 3 days and I quit and gave back into Evo. I just gave up on him eating raw.

Amanda, thanks! I will try what you said for dinner. I'll first intro the raw chicken bones again and if don't work....cook the madallions. I really wanted them on a raw diet to see if it changed their coats, stain hair, etc. I'll let you know how it goes!!

Colleen ,what were you feeding before raw? Just remember not all dogs will like raw.

I have also read, I think on the NV site, that you can mix the kibble with the raw when switching...some say you shouldn't, but there are other opinions too.
Maybe you could try adding some very hot water to it (just a bit)...and stirring it....with a bit of kibble too?
Our cat is on raw...Gracie loves to go clean up his dish if he leaves some. LOL I thought about switching Gracie too...and still may.

No advice but I have two dogs who think they should catch their own food. Simone my toy poodle caught a bird in the backyard today and her and Chico ripped the feathers off and ate it. Ugh.I disposed of the head but the feathers are still all over the yard. It was robin.

If your Havs don't like raw don't sweat it. Just go back to a healthy kibble. However, if you want to enhance the flavour you could do the following for the patties. Mix in a bit of Nupro supplement with the patty and mix in a few tablespoons of hot water. The nupro supplement when mixed with water makes for a very tasty gravy.

The only problem is if your dogs still don't like the raw, then you are stuck with the Nupro.

You can also try mixing it with a little of their favorite canned food or add some cottage cheese to it.
I've read that mixing raw with dry kibble is a bad idea because the raw usually digests more quickly than dry food.
When you mix them together it takes longer for the raw to digest and it can cause more bacterial growth which can make your dog sick.

I have tried Cicero on raw several times, thinking it would be good for him...he will not touch it. After a year, I'm just going to have to settle on what he does like and eat. He is a picky eater!!

I think Cicero has good taste - didn't you say he was waiting for your DH to grill some meat for him on the barbecue???