Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a selection of our most Frequently Asked Questions.
We cover everything from BARF diets to subscription & delivery info below.
If you can’t find the answer to your question here, please contact us, and one of our friendly staff will be happy to assist.
Food & Treats
Where do you source your Barf food and treats from?
We have one primary mission for BARF Time.
To provide high-quality food and treat options, using natural-only ingredients at a convenience to real pet lovers across Brisbane & Gold Coast. Therefore, unlike many large pet chains, we believe in quality over quantity.
That’s why at BARF Time you will find a smaller (but proven) range of products from local manufacturers that we believe are the best food for your pet – all at a convenience to you, our customer.
Is the BARF Food Raw or Pre-Cooked
All our recipes are raw and are not cooked or intended to be cooked prior to feeding.
Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones & Raw Food (or BARF, ) both used interchangeably, share two words across both terms in common. “Raw” & “Food”.
As nature intended, BARF is all about providing the goodness of raw food for your Dog & Cat so they can be fed the best food nature offers.
Why is there bone in the BARF recipes?
Raw bone offers beneficial calcium, vitamins and minerals for a complete and balanced dog diet. The bone found in our recipes is specially processed, ensuring that they are finely ground and do not cause choking or consumption hazards for your dog.
What kind of texture does your BARF food have compared to other brands?
The Canine Country BARF has a more visible texture than other manufactured brands. This means that rather than a product that is extremely minced to a paste-like texture, our BARF recipes allow you to see the ingredients inside, which our customers love.
Please note that this also means that the minced bone content may be slightly larger than other products, and some pets (if they are used to one particular texture) may take some time to adjust.
Is there any offal meat in your BARF recipes?
Our Canine Country BARF recipes do not contain offal. Whilst many BARF diets typically include 10% offal in their products based on standard raw feeding practices, there is a good reason Canine Country chooses not to include offal in their recipes. Firstly, many dogs do not like the smell of offal in raw form, which can sometimes deter them from eating the food.
Secondly, due to genetic or inherited issues, many breeds do not benefit from the higher purine content that offal offers. These breeds include Dalmatians, Beagles, Bulldogs, Basset Hounds, Cocker Spaniels, Bichon Frise, Miniature Schnauzers, Lhasa Apso, Miniature Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers and Dachshunds (amongst others).
To give pet owners the flexibility to feed offal, we offer Canine Country’s Kangaroo & Goat offal products separately in 1kg Portion Packs. These two protein sources offer the highest quality offal with the slightest chance of allergic reaction.
How do I know the BARF food will be delivered fresh frozen?
Our suppliers manufacture our products, package & freeze them immediately in temperate controlled facilities to ensure their freshness. The products are then transported from their temperature-controlled warehouse to ours, where we store them and package them on your delivery day to keep your pet’s food in perfect condition.
Do I need to refridgerate/freeze BARF food?
Our raw Barf products must be stored in the freezer and only removed & thawed for same-day feeding. Any leftover BARF food can be kept in the refrigerator and served the next day.
To keep the integrity of the taste for your pet and ensure it doesn’t cause any upset, we do not recommend feeding any thawed products after a 36-hour window.
Our BARF food has a shelf life of 10-12 months from the date of manufacturing, and each package you receive will have a use-by date clearly labelled for your convenience.
Is raw food for dogs & cats safe?
BARF raw food is very safe for our furry friends.
Fortunately for our furry friends, the enzymes in their stomachs and their shorter digestive tracts quash salmonella’s effects. In fact, by serving meat, ground bone, and veggies in their raw forms, we ensure that no nutrients are lost in the cooking process. Simply put, your pup enjoys all the benefits of an all-natural diet without the risks of having to make its organs work harder to process it.
As their descendants did, dogs & cats evolved to eat fresh raw food. Because of this, they extract a range of benefits from raw food they don’t find in processed meals.
Our manufacturers produce, pack and transport their meals in healthy, clean and certified conditions.
What are the benefits of a raw vs cooked diet?
A fresh diet that mixes meat, ground bone, and dog-friendly vegetables can provide a wealth of benefits to your pooch.
For a full list of benefits of why you should choose Raw food, check out our article BARF Food vs Cooked vs Kibble
Does your BARF food & treats contain natural ingredients?
Yes, our products are 100% natural and 100% preservative-free and this is the reason BARF Time exists for our customers.
We only source BARF food products that offer the freshest of ingredients, frozen to maintain freshness and delivered straight to your door.
Our treats are also manufactured using 100% Australian products, excluding any of the nasty preservatives you might find in retail options that add more shelf life to their products. Always natural, as nature intended, that’s what we believe in.
Is the RAW Barf food meat fresh?
Yes! Our manufacturer sources all its meat & produce from local Queensland butchers, farmers and fisheries. That’s why we are proud to say that the meats used in our BARF recipes are human-grade and the same quality you might come to expect at your local butcher or supermarket.
Are your BARF recipes nutritionally balanced and complete?
Yes! Our manufacturer of BARF recipes Canine Country follows a 75/15/10 balanced meal weighting for most raw barf food recipes for dogs, with some exceptions for specialist recipes and CAT Barf Food
Most of our dog BARF products include 75% high-quality, human-grade Australian-only meat, 15% specially ground bone, and 10% seasonal fruit and vegetables. Check out the information in each product description to learn more.
Is BARF right for your pet?
Do you cater for dogs and cats of all sizes?
Yes! Our meals are suitable for dogs & cats of all shapes, sizes and breeds. We offer most of our BARF and treat products in various sizes to cater to your pet’s size.
That’s why at Barf Time, you will find a smaller (but proven) range of products from local manufacturers that we believe are the best food for your pet – all at a convenience to you, our customer.
Is BARF safe for puppies?
We are massive fans of starting them young on a raw diet.
This ensures that your puppy builds up a strong tolerance, appetite & love for BARF products which will benefit them for the rest of their lives.
We recommend feeding your puppy our Puppy BARF for 2 – 10 months before transitioning them over to start trying any of our other BARF recipes.
Is BARF safe for older dogs?
Yes! All Barf Time recipes are 100% complete, balanced, and suitable for senior dogs.
Some senior dogs may require a specific diet if they have any underlying ailments, so we always recommend seeking advice from your Vet regarding supplements or prescription diets.
We have specific recipes created for dogs that suffer from certain conditions, including our Inner Health BARF and our Holistic Wild Boar BARF, so be sure to check them out.
Do you cater for dogs with allergies or conditions such as pancreatitis?
We recommend starting with one of our single-protein diets (e.g., kangaroo, Beef, etc.) or our Inner Health BARF and/or Holistic Wild Boar BARF, depending on your dog’s requirements.
Please consult a raw-friendly holistic Vet to determine what food would be best for your dog’s allergies or conditions.
Can I mix BARF with my dog's other food?
Many pet owners choose to mix raw with dry food, and whilst we don’t have any major issue with that, we still believe that a fully raw diet will cover all their fundamental basics.
However, we also say do what you feel works best for your pet and what makes them most happy and content whilst staying within a healthy weight. As pet owners, it’s our job to monitor and decide what works best for them because, unfortunately, they can’t tell us!
However you decide to feed BARF food to your pet, we still recommend transitioning your pet whenever you add something new to their diet, so please refer to our Raw Feeding Guide for more information on how to do so.
Can I feed BARF food to my dog while it's still frozen?
We recommend thawing our frozen BARF meals to room temperature. This will help release the taste and smells that your dog will enjoy best. However, there is nothing wrong with serving the BARF food slightly frozen. This encourages your pet to chew and use its teeth to promote jaw health and natural cleaning.
For enrichment, you can also fill your KONG Classic or KONG Puppy Rubber Toy and freeze it. They will love it and keep themselves entertained.
Is it safe to change from cooked or kibble to raw?
Definitely! Just follow a safe transition process to a raw diet using our Raw Feeding Guide.
Should I consult a vet before changing my pet's diet?
We encourage you to check with your holistic raw-friendly vet, especially if you have a puppy or your pet has any medical conditions or special dietary requirements.
How much raw food should I feed my dog or cat daily?
We recommend reviewing our Raw Feeding Guide to determine your pet’s raw serving sizes.
Here we provide a simple daily feeding guide for Dogs, Cats, Puppies and Kittens.
If you are transitioning your pet from another diet to raw, you can follow the sizings in this guide, but you may need to alter this amount based on their age, weight, size and activity level.
This guide is based on the amount your pet should eat each day, but each protein has varying degrees of fats and proteins, so you may need to adjust accordingly to what works best for your pet’s tastes, current weight, and happiness.
Deliveries
Do you delivery to my area?
We are currently servicing specific postcodes across Brisbane and Gold Coast.
We don’t deliver to all postcodes in these areas, so to be sure, please visit our Subscription & Deliveries page, and use our postcode tool to check.
If we don’t service your area yet, please subscribe!
We always check where our subscribers are based, and if we start servicing your area, we will email you to let you know.
When will by delivery arrive?
We offer two delivery timeslots, Monday to Friday.
Morning: 8 am – 12 pm
Afternoon: 1 pm – 4 pm
You should choose the option that ensures your products will make it to the freezer in the least time. We believe in good old-fashioned customer service, so a team member will deliver your order. Hence, we can’t guarantee a specific time, but we will do our best to meet your needs.
Please use our postcode checker tool on our delivery & subscriptions page to ensure we deliver to your postcode.
Can I choose my delivery time?
Yes, you may choose a morning or afternoon delivery time slot on the checkout page, and we will do our best to meet this timeframe.
Where will the delivery driver leave my order?
The default drop-off point will be your front door.
Please secure your pets so that the driver can access the drop-off point on the delivery day without pets being able to come in contact with the driver or the food delivered.
If you live in an apartment and you are not home, we will try to leave it in your lobby, where CCTV will surely be present.
You can leave us a note at checkout for special delivery instructions.
How long with my products stay frozen after being delivered?
When we deliver your order with our insulation, your Raw BARF food and treats should stay frozen/fresh for 2-4 hours.
Please be mindful that if left outside on hotter Queensland days, this can shorten this timeframe, so it’s best to pick a timeframe that you know will be the shortest between receiving and popping the products in your freezer.
Who will deliver my order and will I get notified?
Our staff will deliver your orders, so you get that old-fashioned, family-owned feel with Barf Time.
We don’t offer tracking, but we will send you a reminder email on the day of your delivery and a confirmation email once it has been delivered.
We will have SMS notifications in future and offer you further communication options as our business grows.
Is your packaging recyclable?
We are very conscious of today’s human and pet food delivery companies’ use of plastics and packaging. We will continue to work with our manufacturers to investigate better ways to get our products to you in the most sustainable way possible.
We will deliver all one-time and initial subscription deliveries in standard boxes with basic insulation. You are welcome to leave your packaging out on your next delivery, and we will collect it for recycling.
For subscribers, from your third subscription delivery, we will supply you with a branded BARF Time cooler bag (valued at $15) to use during your subscription. We ask that from the time you receive your Cooler Bag; you leave your last bag out for collection on the day of your next order.
That way, we can help the environment together and reuse your Cooler Bag for future orders.
Please note that lost bags will incur a minimal $7.50 fee on the first instance and a full bag fee of $15.00 thereafter.
Pickup
Do you offer pickup?
Yes, we currently offer one pickup location on Brisbane’s Southside.
The pickup location is located at Ingenia Rentals, 27 Holmead Road, EIGHT MILE PLAINS 4113.
The location is conveniently located close to the Logan Road exit off the M1 Freeway.
When can I pickup my order?
We offer two pick-up timeslots, Monday to Friday.
Morning: 9 am – 1 pm
Afternoon: 2 pm – 5 pm
You should choose the option that best suits you to ensure your products will make it to the freezer in the least time possible.
Please note the reception at Ingenia Rentals is closed from 1pm – 2pm Monday to Friday.
Can I choose my pickup time?
Yes, you may choose a morning or afternoon pickup time slot on the checkout page, and your order will be left with reception at Ingenia Rentals awaiting for you to collect.
Will I need any identification to collect my order?
Please present your order confirmation email to the Ingenia Rentals staff and they will provide you with your order for pickup.
Can I pay cash for a pickup order?
Yes you can, but please note, Ingenia Rentals staff cannot offer you change. Please ensure you have the right amount (as per order confirmation, rounded to closest dollar/cent amount) of cash to provide the Ingenia Rentals staff to collect your order.
Can I buy additional products on pickup?
No, our pickup provider at Ingenia Rentals does not hold any additional stock and no over-the-counter products will be available.
Our pickup option is purely to offer another convenient option for our customers who complete an online order on our website.
Cart & Fees
Do you have a minimum order amount?
Yes, we have a $30 minimum cart for all one-time or subscription orders.
Do you charge for delivery?
Yes, we include a flat $10 delivery fee for all our Brisbane delivery postcodes that we service.
We include a flat $15 delivery fee for all current Gold Coast postcodes.
Please note the delivery fee on checkout will be displayed as the price inclusive of GST.
We offer free delivery on any individual subscription or one-time purchase orders over $100.
What forms of payment do you accept?
For subscribers, the cut-off to make subscription changes is five (5) days before the processing date. We email our subscribers two (2) days before your next cut-off date to remind you to make any changes/updates to your delivery for the following week.
The next available delivery date will be offered for one-time orders as part of the checkout process.
My Account, Orders & Subscription
Do you offer a subscription service?
Yes, BARF Time offers 5% off most products when you choose to subscribe & your deliveries will continue automatically until you change or cancel your subscription.
We also offer one-time purchases, perfect for those who want to try our products for their pet before committing to a subscription and benefit from the cost savings, long-term.
How do I change/retrieve my password?
To retrieve your password, click the ‘forgot my password’ link on the My Account page when signing in. To change your password, log into your account, click ‘My details’, and then ‘Change my password’.
If you have any issues, please email us at [email protected] , and one of our team will assist you.
When in the cut-off for changing my next subscription order?
For subscribers, the cut-off to make subscription changes is five (5) days before the processing date. We email our subscribers two (2) days before your next cut-off date to remind you to make any changes/updates to your delivery for the following week.
The next available delivery date will be offered for one-time orders as part of the checkout process.
What is the difference between the processing date and delivery date for my subscription?
Your processing date is when your funds are automatically taken from your nominated account for your next order.
Your delivery date is the date your next order will be delivered.
How do I change products in my subscription?
Providing your order isn’t locked for processing, you can easily change/update the products in your order using your My Account.
For further support, please email us at [email protected] with the subject line ‘change order’ or ‘cancel order’. The email must be received five (5) days before your next processing date.
Can I skip/pause deliveries?
Yes, to skip/pause a delivery, please access your My Account profile prior to your next delivery lock window.
Is there a minimum term for a subscription?
No, there is no minimum term. You are welcome to cancel or pause your subscription with us anytime after your first order.
