How important is a (holiday) gift guide for raw feeders?
Well, opinions may vary on that one, but to me it makes all the sense in the world. That’s because I’m a proud raw dog food nerd.
As such, I can never have enough tools and gadgets related to raw feeding, and believe it or not, there’s a lot of useful AND fun stuff out there!
Holiday Gift Guide For Raw Feeders: My Practical Picks
Raw Dog Food
This is the first item that comes to mind – who wouldn’t want to get their hands on gifted raw dog food?!
That said, you can either go ahead and buy the raw dog food you wish to gift, or you can opt for a gift card.
The gift card is a good option if you’re not exactly sure which kind of raw dog food to get.
Gift Cards For Raw Dog Food
- Raw Paws Pet Food offers gift certificates.
The brand also sell treats and other goodies that aren’t raw, so the (e)gift card can also be redeemed for those items.
- You can also get gift cards from Raw Feeding Miami.
- Of course My Pet Carnivore sells gift certificates, too.
- Last but not least, you can also buy gift cards from Hare Today.
Pre-or Base Mixes
Raw feeders who add veggies to their raw dog food likely use dehydrated pre- or base mixes.
I know I do when I’m looking for convenience and don’t have the time or energy to make my own.
My favorite ones are:
Single-Ingredient Dog Treats & Chews
Raw feeders like myself prefer single ingredient dog treats for their pups. Luckily, there’s a huge variety to choose from!
My favorite ones are the treats and chews from:
Vital Essentials has lots of different freeze-dried, single ingredient dog treats. For example, turkey giblets, chicken hearts, chicken breast, bully sticks, green beef tripe, rabbit, salmon, and minnows.
They also have larger single-ingredient dog treats in their “raw bar”.
You can’t find those on Amazon (yet), but any independently owned pet retail store that also carries raw dog food usually has them.
Real Dog carries a large variety of air-dried protein choices ranging from chicken to beef and salmon all the way to elk and lamb.
They’re a subscription box that I had for several years, but they’re not available overseas, only in the continental US. So when we moved to Germany in 2021, we obviously had to cancel it.
Raw Paws Pet Food’s treat & chew selection is huge, too. They have yummy treats like freeze-dried chicken hearts & duck necks, green tripe, rabbit treats, venison jerky and much more!
You can save 15% at checkout with my affiliate discount code K9Savings!
Raw Feeding Books
There’s so much to learn about raw feeding, and thankfully there are many book resources that shed some light on the raw feeding path.
My raw feeding book recommendations
- See Spot Live Longer, by raw dog food formulator Steve Brown & Beth Taylor
- Unlocking The Canine Ancestral Diet, by raw dog food formulator Steve Brown
- Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs, Revised Edition: The Definitive Guide to Homemade Meals, by Dr. Lew Olson & Kristie Keith
- The Modern Dog Parent Handbook: The Holistic Approach to Raw Feeding, Mental Enrichment and Keeping Your Dog Happy and Healthy, by the creators of the BK Pets Bryce Francois and Kenzie Francois,
- Feeding Dogs: The Science Behind The Dry vs Raw Debate, by Dr. Conor Brady
- Give Your Dog A Bone, by Dr. Ian Billinghurst
Kitchen Gadgets for Raw Meal Prep
Food Storage Containers
Food storage containers are a must for DIY raw dog food.
These are a 50 pack plastic square meal prep container set that hold 28 oz. They’re also available in 24 oz and 16 oz.
Or how about these 10 round 16 oz plastic food storage containers. They’re also available in a set of 5 and 120!
Obviously, you’ll want to go with a size and shape that work for your particular meal prepping needs!
Knives & Poultry Shears
Good knives are essential for raw meal prep for obvious reasons.
And poultry shears come in handy when you’re cutting up whole chickens, ducks, or turkeys.
Automatic Soap Dispenser
This automatic soap dispenser is PERFECT for meal prep time!
I always found myself maneuvering the kitchen soap dispenser with my elbow while grumbling under my breath when I was prepping Wally’s raw meals.
So I went ahead and invested in this automatic soap dispenser, and it’s so convenient.
It comes with a USB charger and has 4 different soap dispensing settings (from shortest to longest).
Kitchen Aprons
If you’re meal prepping, kitchen aprons are a good idea to keep yourself from getting dirty.
This particular one comes in a set of 2. It has two pockets in the front and is water resistant.
Aluminium Defrosting Tray & Thawing Plate
When I saw this defrosting tray/thawing plate, my first thought was “I have to try that”!
So this year, I got it for myself.
It defrosts 8 times faster than it takes frozen meat to thaw, which is a huge time saver.
Super convenient when you forget to thaw your pup’s meals, and you can also use it in the fridge.
For example, it defrosts a 9 oz container of frozen meat in 2.5 hours.
It works even faster when you put the meat directly onto it without the container.
Bonus: It’s dishwasher-safe and you don’t have to plug it into anything for it to work.
Cutting Boards
Cutting boards are another essential item for raw meal prep, and I personally prefer plastic material for meat over wood for veggies.
That’s because plastic can go into the dishwasher for a thorough cleaning, and wood can’t.
Food Scales
Food scales make raw meal prep easier, especially for beginners.
It’s also essential for meal prep for growing puppies since their food requirements change so much within their first year.
You can either weigh your ingredients with a digital scale, or with a mechanical food kitchen scale (I have both options).
Freezers for Bulk Raw Dog Food Orders
I always preach how important freezers are to keep the cost of raw feeding down!
That’s because they allow you to buy and store meat in bulk.
It’s up to personal preference, room, and budget whether you get a chest freezer or an upright freezer.
Meat Grinders
I recommend meat grinders for dogs with poor dental health. Or pups who prefer to eat ground meat as opposed to larger cuts of meat.
That said, I’ve heard great things of the STX Turboforce meat grinder.
Stainless Steel Commercial-Grade Work Table
OK, if I didn’t have enough counter space, I would want this work table!!
It’s perfect for meal prep in small kitchens! Or if you want a dedicated work space just for your raw dog food meal prep.
I really like the lower shelf space as well. It’s great for storing all your meal prep related items. For example, food storage containers, cutting boards, meat grinders, etc.
It actually holds up tp 1000 lbs! 500 lb on the table top, and another 500 evenly distributed on the lower shelf. There’s also the option of installing another shelf.
Dimensions: 49″ W x 24″ D x 35.5″ H
Crock Pot
Crock pots are useful for making bone broth.
I use mine several times per year to batch cook bone broth for the pup and myself.
Alternatively, you can also use an Instant Pot.
Mason Jars
I like to store my bone broth and turmeric paste in mason jars.
They look pretty AND are durable!
Slow Feeders & Bowls
If you have a gulper, dog slow feeders are a great investment.
They work for ground raw dog food and also for larger cuts of meat.
They’re also great to mentally engage dogs.
Silicone Feeding Mats
Silicone feeding mats are great to line your dog’s food bowls with and make raw feeding time less messy.
The one featured below is also from Mighty Paw, just like the slow feeder insert above.
I love that it’s dishwasher safe!
Tip: I use it to line my raw dog food bowls with, BUT if you have a flat-faced dog, you can also use it instead of a bowl.
As in, spread your dog’s raw dog food out on it!
Fun Shaped Food Molds
I use fun shaped (silicone) food molds to make treats out of goat milk, bone broth, green tripe, veggies, or turmeric paste.
Holiday Gift Guide For Raw Feeders: Bottom Line
I hope you enjoyed my gift ideas for yourself or the raw feeder in your life!
Raw meal prep is a lot easier and quicker with the right tools, and I personally enjoy expanding my tool collection a little every year.
Content Related to Gifts for Raw Feeders:
- Raw dog food meal prep
- What size freezer for raw dog food?
- Best stocking stuffers for raw-fed dogs
- How to feed raw dog food without the mess
- Most practical cutting boards for raw dog food
- 5 established raw feeders offer advice for beginners
- What’s so great about single-ingredient dog treats?
- How to DIY a burlap Christmas stocking for your dog
Barbara Rivers is the founder of K9sOverCoffee and a raw feeding educator with over a decade of hands-on experience.
She has fed raw in the US and Europe since 2015, after her Boxer mix Missy’s cancer diagnosis led her to move away from processed kibble and commit to species-appropriate nutrition.
As a former professional dog walker, she developed deep insight into canine behavior, conditioning, and the essential link between proper exercise and long-term health.
Barbara completed online training with veterinarian Dr. Marion Smart and Labrador breeder Dana Scott and works for one of Germany’s leading raw dog food brands, BARFER’S.
In 2026–2027, she is completing a year-long raw nutrition certification for dogs and cats at THP School, founded by raw feeding pioneer Swanie Simon.
Through her blog and weekly newsletter, she provides clear, experience-based guidance to help dog owners feed raw safely and confidently.