Tails of Joy: Ruby the Golden Retriever

Ruby is an energetic 2-year-old, working-line Golden Retriever living her best life in Jersey, Channel Islands. She is a total water pup and absolutely loves swimming, especially in the sea. She is always up for an adventure and can often be found getting muddy while fearlessly exploring new places. 

Ruby is probably the friendliest pup you will ever meet and loves attention from any human or dog that she meets.

 

Not to mention Ruby is the biggest foodie; she could eat forever if we let her! She loves all kinds of food, including fruit and veg! 

 

Ruby has her own Instagram account @rubygoldennn. I started Ruby's Instagram as an online memory book of her growing up, and I can't believe the amount of support, love and opportunities it has bought us, as well as meeting some amazing friends! We love having fun taking photos/videos for Instagram whilst keeping our content realistic so other dog owners can relate.

It's hard to choose just one favourite thing of Ruby's as she loves everyone and everything! If I had to pick, I'd say her favourite activity is exploring the beach, particularly swimming in the sea. Here in Jersey, we are lucky enough to be surrounded by beaches, so we have taken Ruby daily since she was a few months old. There's nothing better than having a summer evening swim with her and watching the sunset. She even likes going on the paddle board now!

We got Ruby as a tiny 8-week-old puppy in July 2021. She came to us from her breeder on kibble. After looking into the ingredients, we were completely shocked at how little meat/nutrients are in most kibble brands and how processed they are! 

  

We did a lot of research and decided to make the change to raw food as it is natural and nutritious with no pointless added ingredients. Dogs have evolved to eat meat and bone; the structure of a dog's jaws, teeth and digestive system has stayed the same since the days that they would hunt and scavenge for their food. That is one of the main reasons we decided to change Ruby to a raw diet!

 

By the end of December 2021, Ruby was eating 100% raw food and loving it. It was easily our best decision for her; we would never turn back! We are obsessed with raw and natural foods and still learning more about them!

We have been feeding Natural Instinct since June 2022.

We chose Natural Instinct because they offer high-quality, completely natural raw food and treats. We love that Natural Instinct uses human-grade ingredients, with meats, fresh fruit/vegetables, and natural supplements. They have no pointless fillers and are free from artificial additives, colours, and preservatives!

 

They make it simple and stress-free, with the food delivered to our door within a few working days! Most raw food brands don't deliver frozen food to the Channel Islands, so we were super happy to see Natural Instinct do!

 

A bonus is that Natural Instinct has super cute, attractive packaging! We love that they do occasion-themed packaging/recipes such as Christmas and Easter!

Ruby loves all the Natural Instinct recipes, particularly the 'Natural Lamb' recipe.

 

 

What is your dog's favourite Natural Instinct treat(s)?

Ruby's favourite Natural Instinct treat is the 'Lamb Lites'. She goes crazy for them, so we often cut them up and use them as training treats!

Ruby also loves the 'Lamb Spine' and 'Lamb Neck Bones'. They are a great, safe, and easy enrichment chew, filled with calcium and even help clean the teeth!

What positive changes have you noticed in your dog since feeding Natural Instinct?

Since feeding Natural Instinct, Ruby has had lots of energy, a shinier coat, and minimal vet visits! 

Her dental health is great, and she has much healthier digestion, including smaller stools! 

It is very common for dogs to be overweight, leading to health issues, especially joint problems within Golden Retrievers. We have always been wary of this, so we like to ensure Ruby is always a healthy weight to avoid unnecessary stress on her joints. Since feeding raw, we noticed it's much easier to manage Ruby's weight and consistently keep her at a good weight.

We regularly get compliments on how healthy she looks and what good shape she is in!

What's the best thing about feeding Natural Instinct?

The best thing about feeding Natural Instinct is that Ruby is getting all her nutrients in a natural way whilst also loving the taste!

Ruby is always crazy excited at meal or treat times. We particularly love that with Natural Instinct, you have never-ending options, with different meat choices and natural meal toppers such as Sprats, Whitebait, Beef Jerky, Lamb Lites and all kinds of fruit and veg!

What advice would you have for anyone considering switching to Natural Instinct?

If you're thinking about switching to feeding Natural Instinct, my advice would be to go for it! 

We love that they have amazing treats and 3 different ranges of meals to cater for everyone. 

If you haven't fed raw before, I would say go ahead and make the change or at least try adding some natural toppers to your dog's food! Just make sure to do some research first. There is a lot of helpful information on the Natural Instinct website!

Would you ever go back to feeding kibble?

We would not go back to feeding kibble; raw food has shown to be so much better for Ruby's health. 

Feeding your dog a healthy, balanced diet is essential for their overall health and wellbeing, and we now believe Ruby could not get this from kibble.

Also, in my opinion, eating kibble is nowhere near as exciting as eating raw food for a dog. With kibble, it is so limited; it's almost like humans having the most processed, boring kibble every day!

Would you recommend Natural Instinct to friends and family?

Absolutely! We would highly recommend Natural Instinct to friends and family. They make raw feeding so simple, cater to dogs of all ages, with great quality and amazing customer service!

If your dog could talk, what would they say about Natural Instinct? 

If Ruby could talk, she would say:

"Natural Instinct food and treats are delicious; it makes me feel so energised, healthy, and satisfied to fuel my daily adventures! My humans surprise me every day with different Natural Instinct recipes and treats, making me super excited for meal times! I would eat Natural Instinct all day if they let me!"

 

Instagram: @rubygoldennn 

August 2023