Dog Food Question

[mraff]

Rommel, my 3 yr old, 130lb rottie eats whatever is in the bowl, around the bowl, under the table, in your hand, in the kids' hands, growing in the yard and/or floating in the toilet bowl.  What he prefers, beyond all else, are used tissues. I guess all 3yr olds are bugger eaters at heart.

[hbliam]

re Doberman Forum - They are a bunch of pretentious pricks. And I say that nicely. I've been there before.

I posted when we first got Greta and pretty much got reamed because I bought a Dobe that the breeder didn't already crop her ears....................

make the beast with two backs that site.

So you did what they said this time? 

[lethe]

Go to that chicken thread, learn how to raise chickens and feed the dog one live chicken a day with a little chick as a snack if the dog is good.

[somegirl]

Here's another useful website in addition to the one JBubble posted:  http://www.dogfoodproject.com/

Make sure you switch over from the breeder's diet gradually (anytime you change diets, do it gradually).

Do your research, then see what works well for your pup.

Different foods have worked well for our whippets at different stages of their life.  They don't eat the same food despite being the same breed and both seniors.

And check out the ingredients/nutritional content of each one, I don't think there is a fixed standard on what qualifies as "large breed puppy" vs "large breed adult".  It's really more the individual formulation.

Good luck!

[1KDS]

Like Mr. I said, I was under the impression that large breed puppy food keeps them from growing too fast and a supplement for joint health.  Mine gets Nutro Ultra large breed adult and no table scraps.

[mookieo2]

We feed our golden Avoderm chicken and rice. He loves it. I used to give him Eukanuba but it gave him skin problems. Since switching to Avoderm ( avocado based) he his really happy. My ridgeback has a sensitive stomach and was on special food when we got him from the shelter. The Avoderm works for him too.

Congrats on the new pup.

[The Architect]

Rommel, my 3 yr old, 130lb rottie eats whatever is in the bowl, around the bowl, under the table, in your hand, in the kids' hands, growing in the yard and/or floating in the toilet bowl.  What he prefers, beyond all else, are used tissues. I guess all 3yr olds are bugger eaters at heart.

Sounds just like my Lab but add any kind of garbage, paper towels and his favorite, his own poop!

[Triple J]

Just feed your dog a high quality dry food with little to no grains. Absolutely no corn products. The suggestion to speak with your local high quality dog food shop (not Petco/Petsmart/etc...although they are starting to carry very good food) is a good one.

Almost all dogs are lactose intolerant, so feeding them cheese of any sort is asking for gas at best...and a messy yard at worst. Gas can also lead to bloat in large breeds. My dogs LOVE cheese, but Daaamn...we just can't take it!   The egg is unnecessary IMO. A high quality dry food has eveything they need for shiny, healthy coats.

I've heard of limiting large breed puppies protein intake to keep them from growing to fast. It's supposed to be a good practice. I'd say just compare the bags and pick whichever you like.

Here's a great site (might have been posted before).
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/

Personally I like Innova EVO (rated 6 stars). My vet always compliments us on how healthy our dogs look.

Royal Canine products are rated 3 stars.

[Triple J]

 

[akmnstr]

When I got my first Mckenzie River Husky (Cyrus, you may have seen pictures of them in the dog thread) I ignored my breeders recommendation and fed him puppy chow.  He grew too fast and experienced horrible growing pains.  After many trips to the vet and Xrays I at last called my breeder and she chewed me a new asshole.  These are big dogs and they grow fast without the help of puppy chow.  I've had two more of these dogs and fed them adult dog food with no problems.  I warn that this result may be particular to my breed of dogs.   Until I moved to Texas my dogs endured whatever weather happened in Anchorage and worked hard running and pulling.  I fed them a high protein and high fat dog generic dog food.  They did fine, remained strong and withstood the extremes of the weather.  I do believe that the food you feed should fit the activity level of your dog and their breed.  At that time I belonged to a club of skijorers and we spent much time sharing information of feeding and nutrition. I know that the food that I feed my dogs would be too high octane for a lap dog.  I do think that the diet recommended by you breeder is BS.  I would sometimes supplement my dogs diet with salmon or other high protein and fat meat source if conditions or their work load were to become more extreme but I would never do as she/he described. 

Oh, by the way, happy new puppy!  

[cyrus buelton]

Here's another useful website in addition to the one JBubble posted:  http://www.dogfoodproject.com/

Make sure you switch over from the breeder's diet gradually (anytime you change diets, do it gradually).

Do your research, then see what works well for your pup.

Different foods have worked well for our whippets at different stages of their life.  They don't eat the same food despite being the same breed and both seniors.

And check out the ingredients/nutritional content of each one, I don't think there is a fixed standard on what qualifies as "large breed puppy" vs "large breed adult".  It's really more the individual formulation.

Good luck!

Thanks for the info.

Oh yeah, we know all about the gradual moving of one diet to another as their stomachs are sensitive.

Currently the Pup eats chicken and rice.

So we will have to initially feed that for a day or two, so puppy gets a sense of where he lives, then over 4-5 days we will convert to the food we choose.

We are stopping at the Vet on the way home from the airport just to have him checked out from the flight. Probably paranoia on my part, but it can't hurt. At that time, the food discussion will come up with our Vet and I can properly weigh him to give him the correct amount of food based on the bag (which I don't really believe, but it is a close "guide") and what the Vet recommends.



Re Cheese: Talked to my Uncle who is a Vet about it and he said cheese is fine. Greta tolerates it well. Hell, Alex even tolerated it well. They used to get it in with their food (we still do with Greta.......but Alex gets to eat all he wants in Heaven) primarily so Alex would eat his food at once and not leave it because the Princess would attack his little kibble.



thanks all for the insightful info and what everyone feeds their animals. It is amazing that it seems not one person really feeds theirs the same.


I havent gotten a chance to check the links, but I've heard from my locally owned pet shot that Innova (I think that is right) is the best on the market. Based on the price, if that is an indicator..........they are correct

but you know what?

why should I eat a nice steak a few nights a week and not spend decent money on my dogs diet?

[Revax30]

We have a lab and our vet was in the camp of large breed puppy chow for about the first 9-12 months.  We just made sure to follow the vets guidelines for serving amounts and monitored his grow. As it turned out our lab is not terribly motivated by food, well except people food.  Last 2 years he hs been on duck and potatoe food for allergies.  He grew at a moderate rate and is a very healthy weight.

[Popeye the Sailor]

why should I eat a nice steak a few nights a week and not spend decent money on my dogs diet?

For the same reason you don't lick your butt. You ain't a dog.

[somegirl]

I havent gotten a chance to check the links, but I've heard from my locally owned pet shot that Innova (I think that is right) is the best on the market. Based on the price, if that is an indicator..........they are correct

but you know what?

why should I eat a nice steak a few nights a week and not spend decent money on my dogs diet?

I've used Innova in the past, it worked well for one dog but not the other.

When you get higher quality foods they have less filler, so generally dogs eat less and poop less.  The higher prices are not as bad as they seem when you take the lower volume into account.  

BTW, most vets do not get much training in nutritional/dietary information, and a lot of what they do get is sponsored by dog food companies.  Just something to keep in mind.

Congrats on your pup's arrival at last!

[Ddan]

For the same reason you don't lick your butt. You ain't a dog.

Aren't you being a little presumptuous?