It’s an interesting diet this breed needs. Basically small frozen scraps, but very rich in content. Their digestive systems evolved as nomads north of the Arctic Circle and know nothing else, so a bit of care needs to be taken. His body will do a lot with the vital scraps of tundra animals, and doesn’t know how to handle big foreign diets which make him unenergetic and unwell after a few meals.

Tonight’s menu is sheep and beef tripe—their organs go well, but their meat and fat doesn’t.

Frozen salmon cuts—these dogs know fish as well as reindeer and love frozen meet. They extract all the goods from them.

And a rabbit foot—Fur and bone is common in their diet and helps clean. They can start to poop bad without fur fibre.

One of the more tame dishes considering the other weird off cuts of bits and pieces he gets. Thought some may find it interesting for a bit of an unusual breed outside of Finland.

Edit: And yeah, the photo makes the meal look big and him small. But he’s 20kg and that dish is about 3/4 a banana in diameter.

  • StayDoomed@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Can confirm. Had a Finnish lapphund that lived over 12 years on kibble and frozen raw food. She was the best girl.

    • _stranger_@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      I think the owners probably know this, but If they have the means to spoil the ever living shit out of their dog, more power to them. I’d feed my dog snack steaks if I could.

      I wonder if the frozen-ness is actually good for them or not. I can’t imagine a dog turning its nose up at unfrozen meat.

      • kielimieli@r-sauna.fi
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        2 months ago

        I wonder if the frozen-ness is actually good for them or not

        The frozen stuff can be better for their teeth at least. If they have to chew and work more to eat it, that cleans the teeth better than just wet floppy meats.

      • saltesc@lemmy.worldOP
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        2 months ago

        It’s true. Off cuts and leftovers from the butchers and hunters are “spoils” that bleed the bank dry, but I can’t afford fancy tin food like on the TV.

        Fortunately, his meals are often free depending on how the day went.

      • Evil_incarnate@lemm.ee
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        2 months ago

        My dog prefers his raw meatballs frozen, but cut up. He will eat them thawed, but after everything else if he’s not full.