Steve's Real Food Guide

Steve's Real Food is a complete raw food range for dogs, made in the USA and freeze-dried to be shelf-stable without losing its raw nutrition. This guide covers everything you need before switching — how much to feed, what it costs per day at Singapore prices, how the seven recipes compare, and how to transition from kibble to raw.

Why freeze-dried raw — biologically appropriate, without the freezer

Dogs are carnivores. Their digestive systems evolved to process raw meat, ground bone, and organ meat — not kibble extruded at high heat and rebuilt with synthetic vitamins. Biologically appropriate raw food replicates what a carnivore would eat in the wild: whole muscle meat, organ meat including liver and heart, ground bone for calcium, and whole-food superfoods like goat's milk and green-lipped mussels for additional micronutrients. The result is a diet the body recognises, absorbs efficiently, and thrives on.

Steve's Real Food formulates every recipe as a complete raw meal first — 80% meat, organ and bone; 20% whole-food produce — then freeze-dries the finished meal whole. Freeze-drying removes moisture at sub-zero temperatures, preserving up to 98% of the original nutrition while making the food shelf-stable. No heat processing, no grains, no fillers. Our Chicken, Beef, and Turkey recipes currently include an added vitamin and mineral premix under their updated formulations — see each product page for details. The result is the nutritional profile of a frozen raw meal in a bag that lives in a cupboard rather than a freezer — which is a meaningful practical difference for Singapore households with limited freezer space, frequent travellers, and anyone wanting the benefits of raw feeding without the cold-chain logistics.

A note on "raw-coated" kibble. Not all freeze-dried pet food is the same. Some brands sell kibble with a light dusting of freeze-dried meat sprayed on the outside — the core is still cooked, starch-bulked, and built to completeness through a synthetic premix. Steve's Real Food is the reverse: a full raw meal formulated to BARF ratios, then freeze-dried whole. The nutrition sits in the food itself, not in a sprayed coating.

The seven recipes at Woof Living

Woof Living carries all seven Steve's Real Food freeze-dried recipes. Each bag is 567g (20 oz) of bite-sized nuggets — approximately the size of a large raspberry — which rehydrate to approximately 2.3kg of food. Chicken, Turkey, and Lamu are complete and balanced to AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages. Beef is currently formulated for adult maintenance under its updated recipe; Pork and Turducken are also formulated for adult maintenance, unrelated to this update. White Fish is formulated for supplemental and intermittent feeding as part of a rotation, rather than as a standalone complete diet — see the White Fish entry below.

Single protein · $76 per 567g bag · Dogs Multi-protein · $76 per 567g bag · Dogs Specialty · $89 per 567g bag · Dogs
A note on energetics. The warming, neutral, and cooling classifications draw from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) food theory, which categorises proteins by their effect on the body's internal temperature. In Singapore's humid climate, cooling proteins (pork, white fish) often suit dogs with inflammatory skin conditions or dogs that run warm; warming proteins (chicken, turkey, Lamu) suit dogs that feel cold or have low energy; neutral proteins (beef, turducken) sit in the middle and suit most dogs. Not everyone subscribes to this framework, but many raw feeders find it a useful lens for recipe rotation.

How much to feed and what it costs

Feed once or twice daily according to your dog's body weight. Puppies under 6 months should be fed the recommended daily amount split across two meals. The feeding guide below applies to all seven Steve's Real Food recipes. Amounts shown are the dry weight — before rehydration.

Body weight Daily amount (dry) Rehydrated volume
2–5 kg 30–55 g ~½ cup
5–10 kg 55–95 g ~1 cup
10–20 kg 95–170 g ~2 cups
20–30 kg 170–240 g ~3 cups
30 kg+ 240 g+ ~4+ cups

Puppies under 6 months: feed the recommended daily amount split across two meals. Rehydration ratio is ¾ cup warm water per 1 cup of dry nuggets. Active or working dogs may need the upper end of the range; senior or less active dogs the lower end.

Cost per day uses the mid-point of each feeding range. The $76 tier covers Chicken, Beef, Pork, Turkey, and Turducken. The $89 tier covers Lamu and White Fish.

Single protein & Turducken — $76 per 567g bag
Body weight Daily amount (dry) Days per bag Cost per day Cost per month (≈30 days)
2–5 kg 42 g ~13.5 days ~$5.64 ~$169
5–10 kg 75 g ~7.6 days ~$10.06 ~$302
10–20 kg 132 g ~4.3 days ~$17.70 ~$531
20–30 kg 205 g ~2.8 days ~$27.49 ~$825
30 kg+ 240 g+ ~2.4 days from ~$32.17 from ~$965
Lamu & White Fish — $89 per 567g bag
Body weight Daily amount (dry) Days per bag Cost per day Cost per month (≈30 days)
2–5 kg 42 g ~13.5 days ~$6.60 ~$198
5–10 kg 75 g ~7.6 days ~$11.78 ~$354
10–20 kg 132 g ~4.3 days ~$20.79 ~$624
20–30 kg 205 g ~2.8 days ~$32.22 ~$967
30 kg+ 240 g+ ~2.4 days from ~$37.67 from ~$1,130

All figures use the mid-point of each feeding range. Individual feeding amounts vary with age, activity level, metabolism, and body condition — adjust accordingly.

A word on cost. Freeze-dried raw sits at the premium end of the pet food spectrum, above both frozen raw and dry kibble. The price reflects the input cost of whole-food, USDA-inspected proteins sourced from family farms, and the energy-intensive freeze-drying process. For smaller dogs (under 10kg), the daily cost is comparable to a quality frozen raw diet. For larger dogs, many owners feed Steve's as a topper or rotation meal alongside a base of frozen raw or a well-chosen kibble, rather than as a full daily diet. At a 20–40% topper proportion, a 30kg+ dog's monthly cost comes down to roughly $190–390 on the $76 tier or $225–450 on the $89 tier — well below the full-diet figures above — while still capturing most of the nutritional benefit.

Nutritional comparison — guaranteed analysis

Source: Steve's Real Food. All figures are as-fed, minimum values for protein and fat, maximum values for fibre and moisture. Chicken, Beef, and Turkey figures reflect each recipe's updated formulation. Pork, Turducken, and White Fish figures have been corrected to Steve's Real Food's current published data — these three recipes have not been reformulated. Lamu's figures are confirmed against Steve's Real Food's current published data.

Tap any column header to sort ascending or descending.

Recipe Protein Fat Fibre Moisture Calories (kcal/kg) Energetics
Chicken 49.5% 18% 2.4% 4.8% 4,900 Warming
Beef 30% 31% 6% 5% 4,920 Neutral
Pork 42% 29% 3.4% 6.3% 5,140 Cooling
Turkey 45.5% 24.6% 2.4% 6.6% 5,114 Warming
Turducken (Turkey + Duck + Chicken) 50.5% 33% 1.6% 6% 4,930 Neutral
Lamu (Lamb + Emu) 50.4% 35.0% 1.5% 4.7% 5,030 Warming
White Fish 45% 14% 6% 6% Cooling

Chicken, Turkey, and Lamu meet AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages; Lamu is additionally approved for large-breed growth (adult weight 32kg+). Beef is currently formulated for adult maintenance under its updated recipe; Pork and Turducken are also formulated for adult maintenance, unrelated to this update. White Fish is intended for supplemental and intermittent feeding as part of a rotation, not as a sole diet.

Choosing the right recipe for your dog

Chicken — Warming

The leanest of Steve's Real Food's core proteins under the updated recipe. A sensible starting protein for dogs transitioning to raw for the first time, and a useful option for dogs that need to manage weight. High in manganese and magnesium, which support ligament and connective tissue health. The most commonly tolerated protein for dogs new to raw.

Beef — Neutral

The bestseller. Grass-fed and grass-finished from USDA-verified family ranches in the Pacific Northwest. Neutral energetics suit most dogs regardless of constitution. Currently formulated for adult maintenance under its updated recipe — not recommended for puppies; see Chicken or Turkey for all-life-stages options.

Pork — Cooling

A novel protein for most Singapore dogs — many haven't been exposed to pork enough to develop a sensitivity, which makes it useful for allergy elimination. Cooling energetics suit Singapore's climate and dogs with inflammatory skin conditions. Lean muscle meat only, no fatty trim. From a USDA-verified Certified Sustainable family farm in Idaho. Currently formulated for adult maintenance — not recommended for puppies.

Turkey — Warming

Mid-range on fat among Steve's Real Food's whole-protein recipes under the updated formula — leaner than Beef, though Chicken is currently the leanest of the three, and White Fish remains the lowest-fat recipe overall. Turkey is generally well-tolerated by dogs with sensitive stomachs, and the recipe is naturally rich in B vitamins. Useful for dogs that need to manage weight or don't handle higher-fat proteins well.

Turducken (Turkey + Duck + Chicken) — Neutral

Three poultry proteins in one bag — turkey, duck, and chicken. Variety without the need to rotate physically between bags. Duck in particular adds a distinct fatty acid profile and higher iron content than chicken or turkey alone. Useful for dogs that do well on poultry broadly but get bored of single-protein recipes. Currently formulated for adult maintenance — not recommended for puppies.

Lamu (Lamb + Emu) — Warming

The dual novel protein. USDA-certified New Zealand lamb combined with North Carolina-farmed emu — two proteins most Singapore dogs have never encountered. Emu brings very lean, high-iron red meat; lamb brings richness and palatability. One of the better options for allergy elimination, and the only recipe explicitly formulated for large-breed growth (adult weight 32kg+).

White Fish — Cooling

Intended for supplemental and intermittent feeding rather than as a complete standalone diet. Wild-caught fish naturally varies in nutrient levels by season and species availability, so this recipe is formulated to be fed in rotation alongside a complete recipe — such as Chicken, Turkey, or Lamu — rather than as a dog's sole food. A four-species wild-caught blend of Pacific cod, pollock, rockfish, and salmon, naturally high in omega-3 fatty acids; whole prey grinds including bone and organs. Steve's Real Food sources sustainably, which means the exact species mix shifts with seasonal availability. At 14% crude fat — the lowest in the range — combined with cooling energetics, it's a useful addition for dogs with pancreatitis, fat-sensitivity, inflammatory skin conditions, or dogs that run warm, when paired with a complete diet.

Why and how to rotate proteins

Rotating between proteins is recommended and encouraged. Each protein source provides a different amino acid profile, different micronutrient ratios, and different fatty acid compositions. Rotating regularly gives your dog a broader range of nutrients than any single protein can provide, and reduces the risk of developing sensitivities to any one protein over time.

Most Steve's Real Food recipes are formulated to the same complete and balanced standard, so you can switch between them freely without any nutritional adjustment. The current exceptions are Beef (adult maintenance under its updated recipe), Pork and Turducken (also adult maintenance, unrelated to this update), and White Fish (intended for supplemental rotation alongside a complete recipe rather than as a standalone diet). A simple rotation might be one bag of Chicken, followed by one bag of Beef, followed by one bag of Pork — cycling through warming, neutral, and cooling proteins across roughly six weeks for a 10kg dog, with White Fish folded in occasionally alongside a complete recipe. For dogs with allergies, two or three well-tolerated recipes can be rotated on a monthly basis.

Rotation pattern for Singapore's climate. Many raw feeders lean slightly into cooling and neutral proteins during the hottest months of the year (roughly March through September), rotating back to warming proteins in the cooler, wetter months. With Steve's, a climate-aware rotation might look like: Pork and Beef in the warmer half of the year, with White Fish folded in alongside a complete recipe; Chicken, Turkey, and Lamu in the cooler half. This is a guideline, not a rule — observe your dog's response and adjust.

Rehydration and serving

Freeze-dried food removes the moisture from raw food to make it shelf-stable. That moisture needs to be restored before feeding as a meal — dogs can't digest the food properly without it, and feeding dry in more than treat-sized amounts can cause digestive discomfort.

Step 1 — Scoop

Measure the dry daily amount into a clean bowl, using the feeding guide by weight.

Step 2 — Soak

Add warm water at ¾ cup water per 1 cup nuggets. Low-sodium bone broth or raw goat's milk also work.

Step 3 — Wait

Let the liquid absorb for 5–10 minutes. The food should reach a porridge consistency — soft but not soupy.

Step 4 — Serve

Serve at room temperature. Refrigerate any uneaten rehydrated food and use within 24 hours.

A few dry nuggets fed as training treats are fine — rehydration matters specifically when feeding as a meal. For dogs that eat too quickly, the rehydrated porridge naturally slows eating, and a slow-feeder bowl works well for dogs that need further moderation.

Transitioning to raw

Most dogs can transition to freeze-dried raw without issue, but a gradual approach reduces the chance of digestive upset — particularly for dogs who have been on kibble for a long time. The transition from kibble to raw is more significant than switching between two kibble brands, because the gut microbiome adjusts to process higher protein and fat content and less starch.

Week 1

75% current food, 25% Steve's Real Food (rehydrated).

Week 2

50% current food, 50% Steve's Real Food.

Week 3

25% current food, 75% Steve's Real Food.

Week 4

100% Steve's Real Food.

Some dogs — particularly those with healthy digestion — can transition faster. Others with sensitive stomachs may need 6–8 weeks. Signs that the transition is going well include firmer and smaller stools, improved coat condition, increased energy, and better breath. Some loose stools in the first week are normal as the digestive system adjusts. If loose stools persist beyond the first week, slow the transition down or introduce a gut-supportive additive like raw goat's milk or a probiotic.

Transitioning a dog from kibble to freeze-dried raw

A gradual transition gives your dog's digestive system time to adjust.

Switching from frozen raw. If your dog is already on a complete frozen raw diet, no transition period is needed — the food itself is equivalent, only the moisture and format differ. Rehydrate Steve's Real Food as you would serve frozen raw, and switch directly.

Storage and handling

Steve's Real Food is shelf-stable until opened. Store the bag sealed, away from direct sunlight and moisture. Singapore humidity is the main thing to manage — keep the bag in a dry cupboard or pantry, not near a window, not in a kitchen directly adjacent to the bathroom, and not on top of the fridge where condensation can collect.

Once opened, use within 4–6 weeks. Unopened shelf life is typically 24 months from manufacture — check the best-by date printed on the packaging. Treat the dry nuggets and the rehydrated food with the same care as raw meat: wash hands, bowls, and food-preparation surfaces after each meal. Refrigerate any uneaten rehydrated food and use within 24 hours. Do not leave rehydrated food out at room temperature for more than two hours.

No freezer required. Steve's Real Food ships and stores at room temperature. No cold-chain delivery, no defrosting, no freezer space taken up. Free delivery on orders above $49 — deliveries can be left at the door if no one is home.

Frequently asked questions

Are these recipes suitable for cats?

Our Steve's Real Food range at Woof Living is formulated for dogs. Steve's Real Food also produces a separate Quest Cat Food line, which Woof Living doesn't currently carry.

Is raw feeding safe? What about salmonella?

Yes, when handled correctly. Every batch of Steve's Real Food is tested for salmonella and other bacteria before shipping. The FDA enforces a zero-tolerance level for salmonella in raw pet food — stricter than the USDA standard applied to chicken sold in supermarkets. The manufacturing facility is FDA-inspected, and cold-pressure processing is used prior to freeze-drying to reduce pathogen risk while preserving raw nutritional value. Handle the food with the same hygiene practices you would apply to raw meat prepared for human consumption.

Is Steve's Real Food grain-free?

Yes — no grains, fillers, artificial preservatives, added hormones, or antibiotics. Our Chicken, Beef, and Turkey recipes currently include an added vitamin and mineral premix, which contains some synthetic ingredients, under their updated formulations.

Can I feed Steve's Real Food to puppies?

Yes, with some current exceptions. Chicken, Turkey, and Lamu are formulated to meet AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages including growth — Lamu is additionally approved for large-breed growth (adult weight 32kg+). Beef is currently formulated for adult maintenance under its updated recipe; Pork and Turducken are also adult maintenance, unrelated to this update — none of the three are intended for puppies. White Fish isn't a complete standalone diet at any life stage — it's meant to be fed in rotation alongside a complete recipe. Puppies under 6 months should be fed the recommended daily amount split across two meals rather than one, and rehydrated to a soft porridge consistency.

Why does the food need to be rehydrated?

Freeze-drying removes the moisture from raw food to make it shelf-stable. That moisture needs to be restored before feeding as a meal — dogs can't digest the food properly without it, and feeding dry in more than treat-sized amounts can cause digestive discomfort. Add warm water at ¾ cup per 1 cup of nuggets, let it absorb for 5–10 minutes, and serve.

How many bags do I need per month?

It depends on your dog's weight. A 5kg dog eating ~42g daily will use approximately one 567g bag every 13–14 days — about 2 bags per month. A 15kg dog eating ~132g daily will use approximately one bag every 4 days — about 7 bags per month. For larger dogs, many owners feed Steve's as a topper over frozen raw or as part of a rotation rather than as a sole diet.

Can I mix Steve's Real Food with kibble or other food?

Yes. Using Steve's as a topper over an existing meal is a common and perfectly valid approach — the food is nutritionally complete either way. This is also how the transition from kibble to raw naturally works. If using as a long-term topper, a sensible proportion is 20–40% of the total meal by calorie content.

Why are the stools smaller and firmer on raw food?

Smaller, firmer stools are a sign that more of the food is being absorbed and utilised by the body. Kibble contains fillers and indigestible starch that pass through as waste. Raw food — including freeze-dried raw — is highly digestible. Less waste means more nutrition absorbed.

How is freeze-dried raw different from air-dried or dehydrated food?

Freeze-drying removes moisture at sub-zero temperatures under vacuum — no heat is applied, which preserves the nutritional profile of raw food. Air-drying and dehydration use low heat (typically 50–90°C) to remove moisture, which alters proteins and reduces some heat-sensitive nutrients. All three formats produce shelf-stable food, but freeze-drying is the closest nutritionally to frozen raw.

Where can I buy Steve's Real Food in Singapore?

Steve's Real Food is available at Woof Living — shop online at woofliving.com with free delivery on orders above $49, or visit us in store at Wheelock Place, 501 Orchard Road #01-K3, open daily 11am–7pm.

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Browse Steve's Real Food at Woof Living

Shelf-stable, no freezer required, ready to ship. Free delivery on orders above $49. In-store at Wheelock Place #01-K3, open daily 11am–7pm.

Browse all Steve's Real Food recipes →