IIf you’ve spent more than five minutes in a raw feeding Facebook group, you’ve probably seen people debate prey model raw vs BARF or mention the whole prey model as the “most natural” way to feed dogs.
When I started raw feeding in 2015, I remember being completely confused by all those acronyms.
I just wanted to feed my dogs fresh, species-appropriate food — but suddenly I was knee-deep in spreadsheets, percentages, and strong opinions!
So today, let’s break it all down in plain English:
- What do whole prey, PMR, and BARF actually mean?
- How are they different?
- And which approach makes the most sense for your dog?
Whole Prey Feeding – The “As Nature Intended” Approach
Whole prey feeding means exactly what it sounds like — your dog eats the entire animal, just like a wild carnivore would.
That includes:
- Muscle meat
- Bones
- Organs (both secreting and non-secreting)
- Fur, feathers, and sometimes even stomach contents
Essentially, nothing goes to waste.
You might feed:
- A whole rabbit (including organs and fur)
- A quail with feathers
- A guinea pig
- Or a whole fish like herring, mackerel, or sardine
I started incorporating whole prey fish into Wally’s meals in 2019, and began feeding him whole rabbits in early 2024 — nine years after I began making my own raw meals.
Watching him eat a whole rabbit for the first time was… well, intense but fascinating. It’s truly the most natural expression of a dog’s instincts.
Pros of Whole Prey Feeding
- Nutritionally balanced by design – the prey animal provides muscle, fat, organs, bone, and fiber (fur or feathers) in natural ratios
- No kelp supplementation required – the thyroid glands of whole prey naturally supply iodine
- Mentally enriching – tearing, crunching, and plucking keep dogs mentally stimulated and satisfied
- Great for dental health – chewing through fur and bones naturally cleans teeth and strengthens the jaw
- The ultimate natural slow feeder – eating whole prey takes time, encouraging calm, mindful eating
Cons of Whole Prey Feeding
- Hard to source – especially if you live in an urban area
- Not for the faint of heart – handling and storing whole carcasses can be messy or emotionally challenging
- Limited variety – whole prey sources are usually small animals (rabbit, quail, guinea pig, etc.), which may not meet every dog’s caloric needs
Whole prey feeding is ideal for people who want to keep things as natural and unprocessed as possible — and whose dogs are comfortable eating whole carcasses. But if that sounds overwhelming, there are other, equally valid ways to feed raw.
PMR (Prey Model Raw): What It Is and How It Works
PMR stands for Prey Model Raw, and it’s basically a simplified, deconstructed version of whole prey feeding.
Instead of offering the entire animal, you recreate the same balance by feeding parts — think of it as building a prey animal from the freezer section up.
The typical PMR ratio looks like this:
This model skips fruits and vegetables entirely, focusing purely on animal parts.
A PMR meal might look like:
- Chicken foot (meat + bone)
- Beef tongue
- Camel trim
- Green lipped mussels
- Beef green tripe
- Beef organ mix (liver, kidney, spleen)
I feed this way whenever I don’t feel like chopping, cooking and puréeing veggies. It’s a great approach for dogs that thrive on pure animal-based nutrition.
Pros of PMR Feeding
- Closer to a carnivorous diet – ideal for dogs with carb sensitivities or yeast issues
- Simple to plan and portion – just stick to the 80/10/10 framework
- High bioavailability – nutrients come directly from raw animal sources
Cons of PMR Feeding
- Potential nutrient gaps – may lack trace minerals like iodine, manganese, or certain vitamins if not balanced with variety
- Can lead to constipation – too much bone, not enough moisture or fiber
- Less flexibility for dogs with sensitivities – some need the extra support of anti-inflammatory plant foods
If you go the PMR route, variety is key. Rotate between different proteins (chicken, beef, duck, venison, fish, etc.), and consider small add-ons like kelp for iodine or blue mussels for manganese to cover micronutrient bases.
BARF – The Biologically Appropriate Raw Food Diet
BARF is probably the most well-known raw feeding model, especially among raw dog food beginners. The acronym stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones and Raw Food, depending on who you ask.
The BARF model includes both animal and plant ingredients — typically:
- 70% muscle meat
- 10% raw edible bone
- 10% secreting organs (5% liver, 5% other secreting organs)
- 10% vegetables and fruits
You might feed:
- Ground beef
- Duck necks
- Chicken hearts
- Mackerel
- Beef liver, kidney and spleen
- Chopped, cooked and puréed spinach, red beets, blueberries and ground almonds
Or a complete pre-made BARF mix that already includes oils, kelp, and veggies.
BARF appeals to people who want to feed raw but still believe in the benefits of fiber, antioxidants, and phytonutrients found in plants.
That’s how I started raw feeding back in 2015 with my first dogs, Missy and Buzz.
I relied on pre-made BARF mixes, first from Darwin’s, then from Raw Paws Pet Food, and gradually learned how to make my own raw dog food to keep the cost down as much as possible.
Pros of BARF Feeding
- More balanced for most pet dogs – includes fiber, vitamins, and minerals that help digestion and skin health
- Gentler transition for kibble-fed dogs – since veggies and fruit make the meals less “rich”
- Easier to meet micronutrient needs – especially if you use whole-food supplements like kelp or fish oil
- Encourages chewing and tearing – you can still feed larger cuts of meat and raw meaty bones just like in PMR
Cons of BARF Feeding
- More raw meal prep work – chopping veggies and blending fruit can be time-consuming
- Risk of overdoing the plant matter – dogs don’t need large amounts of carbs or fiber
If you prefer structure and balance, BARF is an excellent long-term feeding model. It’s also the most adaptable one — you can buy ready-made BARF meals, or make your own from scratch with locally sourced ingredients.
How to Choose the Right Feeding Model for Your Dog
Here’s the truth: there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to raw feeding. What works beautifully for one dog might not work for another at all.
To help you decide, ask yourself:
1. What’s realistic for your lifestyle?
If you don’t have access to whole prey suppliers or hunters, PMR or BARF will be easier to maintain. A consistent, varied PMR plan can meet your dog’s needs just as well as whole prey.
2. What’s your comfort level?
If handling whole animals feels too intense, go for ground mixes or individual cuts of meat. Raw feeding should feel rewarding, not stressful.
3. How does your dog do on it?
Your dog’s coat, energy, stool, and overall vitality will tell you everything you need to know. If you see dull fur, flaky skin, or inconsistent stools, that’s your cue to tweak the balance — maybe by adding more organ, less bone, or a small amount of plant matter.
Real-Life Raw Feeding Examples
Here’s how a day of feeding could look in each model:
Whole Prey Example:
- Morning: 1 whole quail (approx. 4 oz)
- Evening: 1/2 a whole rabbit (approx. 10 oz)
PMR Example:
- Morning: 6 oz chicken thighs (meat + bone)
- Evening: 5 oz beef heart, 1 oz sardines, 1 oz beef liver, 1 oz pork kidney
Note: I would also add kelp as a natural iodine source.
BARF Example:
- Morning: 5 oz ground beef, 1 oz beef liver, 0.5 oz kidney, 0.5 oz spleen
- Evening: 6 oz duck neck, 1 oz chopped/cooked/pureed spinach, 1 oz blueberries, drizzle of fish oil, kelp
Whole Prey vs PMR vs BARF Raw Dog Food: Final Thoughts
Whole prey, PMR, and BARF all share one important goal: to nourish dogs with fresh, species-appropriate food instead of highly processed kibble or canned dog food.
Where they differ is mostly in how they get there.
- Whole Prey = as nature intended, all-in-one carcasses
- PMR = animal-based, nutrient-dense simplicity
- BARF = balanced, approachable, and fiber-inclusive
Personally, I think there’s beauty in all three.
My Feist mix Wally gets a mix — mostly BARF-style meals, with daily whole prey fish like herring or sardines, and whole prey animals like rabbit or guinea pigs once to twice per month, as well as the occasional PMR meal when I’m out of plant matter.
Labrador puppy Pepper, the newest furry addition to our family, gets a mix of BARF meals and whole prey. Her first whole prey animals were whole herrings and whole ducklings. But I mostly feed her DIY chunked BARF as well as pre-made puppy raw dog food from the German raw dog food brand BARFER’S I started working for in 2024.
At the end of the day, the “best” raw dog food model is the one your dog thrives on — and that you can sustain long-term.
So whether you’re team Whole Prey, PMR, or BARF, you’re already doing something incredible: feeding your dog real food!
Frequently Asked Questions About PMR, BARF, and Whole Prey
Is PMR better than BARF for dogs?
Neither is objectively better — it comes down to your dog’s individual needs and your lifestyle. PMR works well for dogs with carb sensitivities, yeast issues, or digestive problems, since it’s purely animal-based. BARF is generally a better fit for most family dogs, beginners, and dogs that benefit from the added fiber, antioxidants, and micronutrients that plant matter provides. Both models can absolutely produce a thriving, healthy dog when fed with variety and balance.
What is the 80/10/10 ratio in raw dog food?
The 80/10/10 ratio is the foundation of Prey Model Raw (PMR) feeding. It breaks down as 80% muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone, and 10% secreting organs — with half of that organ portion being liver specifically. The idea is to mimic the approximate nutritional makeup of a whole prey animal without actually feeding one. The other half of the secreting organs can be secreting organs like kidney, spleen, or pancreas.
What is the difference between PMR and BARF?
Both PMR and BARF are raw feeding models built around muscle meat, raw meaty bones, and organ meat. The key difference is that BARF includes 10% plant matter — vegetables, fruit, and sometimes seeds or fermented foods — while PMR is strictly animal-based. BARF also typically uses a slightly lower meat ratio (70% vs 80%) to make room for the plant component. If you’re just getting started with raw feeding, BARF tends to be the more approachable entry point.
Can I mix PMR and BARF?
Absolutely — and many experienced raw feeders do exactly that, myself included. Wally and Pepper get mostly BARF-style meals with occasional PMR days when I’m out of prepped vegetables. As long as you’re maintaining overall balance across the week — rotating proteins, hitting your organ percentages, and covering micronutrient bases — there’s no rule that says you have to stick rigidly to one model.
Related Reading
- Raw dog food meal prep for beginners
- How to measure percentages in raw feeding
- Vet approved whole prey rabbit feeding
- Easy raw dog food recipe with 6 ingredients (prey model)
- Secreting organs for dogs
- What does balanced raw dog food consist of?
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.