Which dog food for my puppy?

[surfj9009]

I have a sweet female lab now, 13 weeks of age. I have not had a dog since I was a kid and so I really have no idea what food she should be eating.

She has been eating Nutramax Puppy food since before I got her, but isn't there something better.

I have heard good things about Canaday and Natural Balance? What does everybody here use for your hunting buddy?

Thanks in advance....

[jackelope]

i've been feeding my lab natural balance venison and rice for a long time, since he was mature. i'd prefer to feed a pup a puppy food so they get proper nutrition and i don't know if natural balance offers a large breed puppy food.

[mjgentile]

we use Chicken Soup for Dogs, it is only sold at Feed & Seeds. They come in Puppy, Adult an Seniors.

[Caseyd]

I use Royal Canin for my lab.

They make a large breed puppy food, then they actually make adult food for breed of dog. To suit that dogs needs.

Not sure if it's any better etc.  But my dog has enjoyed it so see no need in changing

[Antlershed]

I fed my GSP Science Diet when he was a puppy, but then switched him to Nutramax. I don't think there is anything wrong with the Nutramax. 

[rasbo]

I just make sure theres at least 30% protien

[Wayne1]

I've always fed my pups "Diamond Large Breed Puppy Food" untill they turned 12 months old.

[addicted]

nutro all the way. we had trouble with our pup getting a sour stomach from many food brands and the team lead for the local canine search and rescue team put us onto the nutro stuff and it is amazing. its a few dollars more but way worth it.

http://www.nutroproducts.com/

[Wacenturion]

The first 5 items under ingredients make up most of the good things your pup or dog is getting.  If you see by products (i.e. chicken, or beef by products, or things like gluten or grains (i.e. corn), avoid it.  Hopefully the first 5 items will read something like.....
                            Chicken deboned, Chicken meal, Potato dehydrated,Turkey meal, Sweet potato dehydrated.

Of course these items change based on the flavor etc. of the food...i.e.  chicken, Beef, Buffalo, Venison, Salmon and so on.  As mentioned above, protein levels are important especially for a pup.  That's why you'll see higher levels on puppy foods.
Check your local pet specialty stores if you have one.  Generally the dog food you can buy at the grocery store is not the best in the long run for you pet, as most contain glutens and by products.  Where you will notice it is in the later years.  You get what you pay for.  The more waste that goes in, the more that comes out.  Just my opinion.

If you live in western Washington check for a Mud Bay outlet.  Great selection.  
        

[bobcat]

Best thing would be to feed your dog the same food you eat and skip the dog food altogether. Dog food will eventually kill your dog.

[Gutpile]

I fed my lab Iams puppy formula when he was a pup. Then switched back and forth from Iams to Atta Boy, he ate atta boy for probably the last half of his life. He made it to over 15 years, so I guess it worked for him. We didn't give many table scraps but tried to once in a while as a treat.

[bearpaw]

Of the cheaper dog foods vets have told me they think Atta Boy is one of the best. We have fed litterally tons of it. But the cheaper dog foods do not keep the coat as shiny and there are a lot more stools. Right now I am feeding 50% atta boy and 50% black diamond. When we are working dogs hard, we slowly shift them over to a 100% of a premuim food with higher fat and protein. But it is dangerous to leave an older dog on rich dog food when you are not working him, it can be hard on his organs.

One other thing most vets have said is to avoid foods with too much soy and watch what kind of by products are used for protein. Feathers is super high protein but they don't digest. Most vets seem to like the lamb and chicken for protein ingredients.

[Gutpile]

We used atta boy since it didn't make him crap so much. Some of the other cheap food was horrible. He just shat everywhere. Iams cut that down a lot and atta boy wasn't bad. I remember a long time ago we bought the safeway brand since we were so broke back then. My god was that a mistake. 

[bearpaw]

yep us too, and the walmart dog food is a mess too.

[Sportfury]

I feed Taste of the Wild now (used to feed Costco's Kirkland brand before). The girls at the Graham Hay Market told me that TOTW is Diamonds high end natural food. My boy who is now 8 has been on it for about a year and it has made a huge difference. It used to be I would pet him and have to go wash my hands afterwards because of the stink, now he has very little smell. Also during the summer months he used to chew himself raw and I thought it was due to fleas, but now with the switch to the new food no more itching and he has a beautiful coat. This really made me look at what is in the cheap food (grains, glutens, and byproducts). Listen to Wacenturion:

The first 5 items under ingredients make up most of the good things your pup or dog is getting.  If you see by products (i.e. chicken, or beef by products, or things like gluten or grains (i.e. corn), avoid it.  Hopefully the first 5 items will read something like.....
                            Chicken deboned, Chicken meal, Potato dehydrated,Turkey meal, Sweet potato dehydrated.

My new GWP pup is 8 months old and I fed her the exact same thing as my older boy, no switch to a puppy food because of the high protein. She looks great and can run and swim all day (even in this hot heat).

The nice thing with TOTW is that they have three flavors: Pacific Stream Formula with Smoked Salmon, Wetland Canines Formula with Roasted Fowl, and High Prarie Canine Formula with Roasted Bison and Roasted Venison. I feed two bags each and then switch to another flavor. The dogs love it because they are not getting the same old thing and I know it is the same high quality food. My wife wasn't happy with the price, but I can feed two dogs (plus two Chihuahuas) for 3 1/2 to 4 weeks on one 30 lb. bag. Again I highly recommend TOTW or any high end food. Your dog will have less smell, a better coat, harder and less stools, more energy all while eating less.

[chef bama]

Been feeding the stuff called "Evo" for several years. Better skin, hardly any fleas/chewing, firmer stools. No grains at all!

[T-Bone]

Been feeding the stuff called "Evo" for several years. Better skin, hardly any fleas/chewing, firmer stools. No grains at all!

An excellent choice according to a website I found yesterday:

http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/

Evo was a 6 Star rated dog food, however I found several good choices in the 5 Star and 4 Star rated foods, as well. Personally, I found most of the 6 Star rated foods to have too much protein; unless you're in the midst of a hard hunting season.

[RC3]

There are lots of good quality foods out there, I feed my pup Purina Pro Plan Large Breed puppy though.

[gasman]

I feed my pup Nutro.

My vet recomended it and the pups like it.

[RightPlace-RightTime]

I feed my two labs Natural Balance, the duck and potatoe flavor, 

[surfj9009]

Thanks for all the suggestions all. I am not looking to save money on dog food at all. I want her to have the best food at any cost. The TOTW sounds good, how does that compare to the Natural Balance?

Anybody know about Canaday?

[Happy Gilmore]

Just stay away from anything with corn in the first three or four ingredients and you'll be fine. Almost all the dog food in the US is made by Diamond and re-packaged with various brand names and slight changes to the formulas. I've been feeding VF because my dogs like it and there is no corn in the ingredients. Just chicken, chicken fat, brown rice.....

lets face it, all dog food is like us buying hot dogs. Lips and *ssholes, pay more for lips, less for holes.

[Intruder]

I've fed Canidae for several years and been happy with it. 

Beware of foods that profess fewer and firmer stools.  Alot of that is BS.  While I agree that poor foods will make dogs go a lot, good foods don't necessarily mean they don't.  Many times there are constipating fillers in foods to reduce defecating.

Almost all the dog food in the US is made by Diamond and re-packaged with various brand names and slight changes to the formulas.

They may be one of the big "store/generic" brand manufacturers but I know Royal Canadian makes a ton of food too.  I believe Purina still is right up there too but I'm not sure how much of it is packaged under different names.

[mtnseth]

No one yet has mentioned Orijen.  I feed TOTW and Orijen, and among the two super high-end dog, grain-free dog foods, Orijen is worth the money.  My dog's coat has an unbelievable shine one it (all of the Omega-3s and fish oils), and everyone comments on how soft he is.  I know it sounds weird, but he smells great, too.  No sour dog smell. 

I switched to TOTW temporarily because I'm having to feed him so much food to put on weight (he's 7 months and growing and exercising like mad), and the TOTW is cheaper per pound.  I paid $32.95 for a 15.5 pound bag of Orijen here in Tacoma, and TOTW is $24.95 for the same size.  It makes a difference to my wallet, especially when my dog puts away so much food.  But his coat is not quite the same with TOTW.  Once he's older, I'm definitely switching back to Orijen, and right now I'm considering blending the two just to get that glistening coat back!

Neither food has lived up to the claims of firm stools, but I also way overfeed him to put on weight, so that's certainly contributing to the occasional soft poop.  Most of the time it's pretty firm, though. 

Here are a few shots of River, my GSP:

[big ed]

We feed our labs, goldens Science diet from puppy to senior it seems to work well for them good skin and coats and a lot get go.

[Austrian Hunter]

Eukanuba for any working dog, High protein, high nutrients and low fat. 

[surfj9009]

Thanks for all of your input. I decided to go with the TOTW. It is available fairly close to where I live, and some of the other better foods mentioned here are not. She seems to like it. We are on day 5 of 8 in switching her over to it now, and she seems to like it. I think she likes it too much, because she is picking out of the bowl and trying to avoid the old stuff. I am still making her eat the old stuff too though so she makes an easy steady adjustment.

Pretty cute for a clearance puppy huh?

[addicted]

good looking dog

[surfj9009]

Thanks

[benbo30]

i have been feeding my dogs diamond preety decent food, and by the way nice dog i have a female black lab and male yellow lab

[KDume]

Nice dog! She look's just like my pup,only mine is seven month's old. got to love em! Can't wait to see how she how she'll do this fall.

[HUNT]

My advice is to feed her a Rice and Lamb food.....  If you are cleaning up after her the stools are firm and it makes it easy to clean up.  I have been feeding it for 10 years.  I buy the walmart brand and it does fine for me.  I know they sell it at costco also.  I wouldn't feed anything else but Rice and Lamb.  Its a little more expensive than the other varieties.

[Ireland Farms]

I've read most of the replies and some good foods were brought up. Nutro is a pretty good food. It sounds like you found the one you want for your dog. I hope that works for your new lab.

I raise labs and buy my food by the pallet. I use Black Gold and it has been a great food. A lot less waste and a nice gorgeous coat. The dogs love it too.

[Sportfury]

Good looking dog! This was a great discussion that I hoped helped a lot of people and their four legged friends. Keep us updated on your pup.

[Marsh Hunter]

Iams Smart Puppy for large breeds. Just raised a chessie on it and he did very well.

[rosscrazyelk]

I used to buy dog food in the store but have recently switched to feeding him all natural stuff. I met a person that really convinced me this is the way to go.
At night I give him some kind of raw meat. If I am going to eat a steak for dinner I will just give him a steak.
This breeder i talked to feeds his dogs raw chicken on the bone. He buys chicken backs chopped up from a butcher around $24 dollars a case and it will last for a month. Freeze then thaw when needed.
Also he makes a mix that includes Spinach, kale,Carrots,apples, rice, Eggs, oatmeal, vege oil and some meat. Also any veges or fruit  that are going south just add it in. He makes it in a huge bin and it will last 3 months If you are interested drop me a line and I can give you the measurements. My dog at first had a hard time with the transition but i mixed his old dog food in it for a while  and now he loves it.
he does not scoot on the ground anymore his coat is shiner and he has more energy and I thought that was impossible;

[ecnclan]

we use Chicken Soup for Dogs, it is only sold at Feed & Seeds. They come in Puppy, Adult an Seniors.

Same thing we have used for the last year. 

[surfj9009]

I am glad to see my thread generated a good discussion!!

Thanks for the compliments on my pup.