You know that I feed Finn raw! I go more with the prey model diet, though, but, there are many diets to chose from. It depends on what you're comfortable with. I really just feel good feeding Finn this way. I can't explain it, but, it just seems right. I never felt right feeding dog food, even when I was young. Do a lot of research, join some raw feeding forums. There are some good ones on yahoo. I even joined anti-raw feeding forums, just to get both perspectives. I never posted, just read. As far as the amount to feed, it's more important to learn the ratios of what you're feeding (I feed raw meaty bones, meat, and, organs, I can't remember the exact ratios, though, that I read online) as how much you feed really depends on the dog. I know the guideline is something like 2 to 5% of the dog's weight, depending on the activity level of the dog. Finn gets about 2.5 to 3 pounds a day. His metabolism is ridiculous, though. Just experiment and watch Jasper's waistline. That's your best guideline. I think you'll like the switch! I've never really paid a lot of attention to breed specific diets, but, again, it's whatever you're comfortable with, because it is something that you oftentimes are alone in your endeavors. I'm lucky to have a vet that is a raw food advocate. Maybe you can look around for one that is, too.....Good luck!