Post by: surfj9009 on July 10, 2009, 11:14:33 PM
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....
Post by: jackelope on July 10, 2009, 11:17:05 PM
Post by: mjgentile on July 11, 2009, 01:26:53 AM
Post by: Caseyd on July 11, 2009, 02:07:59 AM
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
Post by: Antlershed on July 11, 2009, 05:05:51 AM
Post by: rasbo on July 11, 2009, 05:08:05 AM
Post by: Wayne1 on July 11, 2009, 05:32:59 AM
Post by: addicted on July 11, 2009, 06:08:31 AM
http://www.nutroproducts.com/
Post by: Wacenturion on July 11, 2009, 08:51:02 AM
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.
Post by: bobcat on July 11, 2009, 09:31:34 AM
Post by: Gutpile on July 11, 2009, 01:19:40 PM
Post by: bearpaw on July 11, 2009, 01:42:44 PM
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.
Post by: Gutpile on July 11, 2009, 01:47:31 PM
Post by: bearpaw on July 11, 2009, 01:55:31 PM
Post by: Sportfury on July 12, 2009, 02:44:14 AM
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.
Post by: chef bama on July 12, 2009, 06:36:41 AM
Post by: T-Bone on July 12, 2009, 07:02:50 AM
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.
Post by: RC3 on July 12, 2009, 08:32:59 AM
Post by: gasman on July 12, 2009, 04:17:20 PM
My vet recomended it and the pups like it.
Post by: RightPlace-RightTime on July 13, 2009, 12:06:42 AM
Post by: surfj9009 on July 13, 2009, 01:42:47 AM
Anybody know about Canaday?
Post by: Happy Gilmore on July 13, 2009, 12:51:09 PM
lets face it, all dog food is like us buying hot dogs. Lips and *ssholes, pay more for lips, less for holes.
Post by: Intruder on July 14, 2009, 09:59:06 AM
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.
Post by: mtnseth on July 14, 2009, 10:22:21 AM
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:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sethbynum.com%2Friver-001.jpg&hash=a488dc69853f6a3aafe978256b387b6f45d8647a)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sethbynum.com%2Friver-002.jpg&hash=bb42a0309fd566b8b95464c3b47783f4ef88e1ea)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sethbynum.com%2Friver-003.jpg&hash=348928bf3ffd0ddd2c6c9dece447f67b9a674135)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sethbynum.com%2Friver-004.jpg&hash=334dff60e5c12401cd3a8f4d6351ab1661420ea5)
Post by: big ed on July 19, 2009, 02:04:29 PM
Post by: Austrian Hunter on July 19, 2009, 02:31:48 PM
Post by: surfj9009 on July 19, 2009, 09:49:51 PM
Pretty cute for a clearance puppy huh?
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi9.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa74%2Fsurfj9009%2F011.jpg&hash=c5ef9ff7749e457de3b78d284b47a5d916b8a322)
Post by: addicted on July 20, 2009, 12:46:24 AM
Post by: surfj9009 on July 21, 2009, 09:10:28 PM
Post by: benbo30 on July 22, 2009, 01:28:08 AM
Post by: KDume on July 22, 2009, 06:40:35 AM
Post by: HUNT on July 22, 2009, 06:56:14 AM
Post by: Ireland Farms on July 23, 2009, 11:18:13 PM
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.
Post by: Sportfury on July 29, 2009, 04:47:24 PM
Post by: Marsh Hunter on August 01, 2009, 02:37:23 PM
Post by: rosscrazyelk on August 02, 2009, 06:28:10 PM
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;
Post by: ecnclan on August 03, 2009, 07:27:26 PM
Quote
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.
Post by: surfj9009 on August 05, 2009, 01:18:45 AM
Thanks for the compliments on my pup.