Healthy dog food

[deerhuntr8]

Due to the recent loss of my best friend and hunting companion I am acquiring a new puppy. A GSP. Anyone know of a decent dog food that isn't garbage. I don't want to use pedigree, dog chow, science diet or any of that [PoorWordUsage].

[tealitup]

I use Nutri Source and have been pleased with its performance. I buy it at Gander Mountain - and a reason to go to gander

Sorry to hear about your loss

[LABS4ME]

I've switched to a food called Cannidae. My dogs are excelling on it! It is a little spendy (34.00 / 40 lb bag), but I am having amazing results.

Good Luck!

Ken

[eric29]

I started my pups on solid gold which I really liked and now they are on Eagle Pack Holistics Selecct, this food worked out for mine really well. I like the ingredients and the holistics are great too

[311Hemi]

 Originally Posted By: LABS4ME

I've switched to a food called Cannidae. My dogs are excelling on it! It is a little spendy (34.00 / 40 lb bag), but I am having amazing results.

IMO....$34 for a 40lb bag of quality dog food is good! I tried the Canidae brand and IMO it is a good food (with good ingredients). It did not help my dogs allergy issue that I was trying to resolve...so I had to find something else (Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach...which has made a difference). I would certainly recommend Canidae, along with Eagle Pack.

[deerhuntr8]

Thanks, guys! I'm really not worried about the cost. The dogs deserve the best, right. There is so much bad dog food out there.

[stretch]

another good dog food that i have found is the eukanuba brand. my yellow lab loves that food and it shows. the only thing is, it is $45.00 for a 40lb bag of the premium dog food.

[SlamNFish]

I feed my Labs "Canidae als" also. 34.00 a 40 lb bag is a reasonable price for a premium food there is 4 or 5 meats in the beginning of the ingredients. My labs love it! And they do well on it. I feed my 80 lb male 3 cups a day and it keeps him well maintained.

I tried eagle pack large breed holistic and nutrisource, both my labs ate grass like a lawn mower on both of these brands.

[loosegoose]

I have been using IAMS dry food for my Britt. He loves it and I haven't had any problems.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I have had both Eagle Pack and Diamond Naturals recommended to me by several trustworthy breeders that we've been dealing with. This is not for a hunting dog (Great Dane), but I imagine both brands would make a good food for a hunting dog, as well.

[SDbowhunter]

I had been giving my dog Dog chow but he begin to get thin hair I switched to Iams and have been happy with it. The best thing about quality dog food is you feed your dog less of it and less comes out plus you get a healthy pet.

[deerhuntr8]

 Originally Posted By: SDbowhunter

I had been giving my dog Dog chow but he begin to get thin hair I switched to Iams and have been happy with it. The best thing about quality dog food is you feed your dog less of it and less comes out plus you get a healthy pet.

I agree. With the cheap there are so many fillers and such it seems all my dogs ever did was drop loads in the back yard.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I have mine on California Natural Lamb and Rice. I switched about 3 weeks ago. She has severe allergies to food, but this doesn't seem to be making it better, so I'm going to switch her to one of the other types after this is gone. I do know that it has taken what used to be a sluggish eater, into a dog that lets me know when its time to eat, and she is done in about 10 seconds. I paid around $40 for a 30# bag.

[311Hemi]

 Originally Posted By: Lip_Ripper Guy

I have mine on California Natural Lamb and Rice. I switched about 3 weeks ago. She has severe allergies to food, but this doesn't seem to be making it better, so I'm going to switch her to one of the other types after this is gone. I do know that it has taken what used to be a sluggish eater, into a dog that lets me know when its time to eat, and she is done in about 10 seconds. I paid around $40 for a 30# bag.

The dog will need to be on a food for 8-12+ weeks in order to do a proper food trial for allergies. Contrary to what you may think it can take that long to see changes. It is usually recommended to not give treats during a trial as they can be a source of allergy depending on ingredients.

If your current food doesn't work out you may try the Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach as the protein is Salmon/fish based and does not contain other proteins from meat such as chicken/lamb/duck/etc. Many times dogs can be allergic to the protein source and not necessarily grains.....but each dog is different. Mine seems to be affected by protein sources....thus the Salmon/fish based protein has helped.

[irvingdog]

I made dog food my living for many years, and draw almost no bias between premium brands. In fact, I've seen where some "super-premium" foods were just to rich. Each dog does well on different foods. That said, I feed good old Iams.

Why?

They sell it where I am, and where I can get to it at a moments notice. 24 hour grocery stores? Yep. Target? Got it!

It's reasonably priced, still has excellent ingredients and ratios (yeah,yeah, I know about the formula switch)and I don't have to ever go out of my way to get it, so it works in our household. That means something.....

[theghost_03]

I have been using Noble lamb and rice for several years now with excellent results, but again, a bit spendy $39/40 lb bag, plus it is not sold but by a local breeder and in a few feed distributors. But none the less have been very pleased with the results.

[beaver11]

 Originally Posted By: deerhuntr8

Due to the recent loss of my best friend and hunting companion I am acquiring a new puppy. A GSP. Anyone know of a decent dog food that isn't garbage. I don't want to use pedigree, dog chow, science diet or any of that [PoorWordUsage].

whats wrong with science diet?

[SlamNFish]

What it comes down to is buy the best you can afford and see what works for your dogs. I think since the dog food industry has had problems we will all benefit with better products? Hopefully?

[jigging-matt]

Beaver, there is nothing wrong with science diet. Like others have said it is what works for you, and what you can afford. Everyone has their preferences. I have used science diet for a long time and never had a problem. I am on my third dog on science diet and all have lived a long and healthly life. Have I looked around some? Yes, but have always stayed with what has worked for me. I use the Science Diet Lamb and Rice, and my dog loves it, looks good, and has plenty of energy to hunt all day. As long as you have a healthy and happy dog, isn't that what the main goal is?

[Augusta]

 Originally Posted By: irvingdog

I made dog food my living for many years, and draw almost no bias between premium brands. In fact, I've seen where some "super-premium" foods were just to rich. Each dog does well on different foods. That said, I feed good old Iams.

Why?

They sell it where I am, and where I can get to it at a moments notice. 24 hour grocery stores? Yep. Target? Got it!

It's reasonably priced, still has excellent ingredients and ratios (yeah,yeah, I know about the formula switch)and I don't have to ever go out of my way to get it, so it works in our household. That means something.....

Irvdog:

I buy AMS as well, you mentioned the formula switch. Well ever since the switch, my dog has runny droppings, and now has started to go to the bathroom in the house....Can a person still buy the "old" formula somewhere...that always worked good.

[irvingdog]

I don't know if the old formula is still available.

Sounds like it is time for a switch though. Unless there is something else going on....

[Augusta]

I'm almost certain that it's the dogfood, everything was fine right up to the switch anyway. I am planning on trying Diamond dog food if I can find it.

[beaver11]

i was just wondering because that's what i use.i thought maybe somebody heard something bad about it or had problems with it.i just started using it so was just curious

[Augusta]

Where can someone buy Cannidae? I want to purchase some. Thanks

 Originally Posted By: LABS4ME

I've switched to a food called Cannidae. My dogs are excelling on it! It is a little spendy (34.00 / 40 lb bag), but I am having amazing results.

Good Luck!

Ken

[LABS4ME]

I buy mine at Chuck and Don's pet food warehouse.

Good Luck!

Ken

[Augusta]

Thanks Labs

[setterguy]

Funny story about dog's and their diets. We had a mutt growing up, she was my dog until I left home then she became my dads shadow. Went everywhere with him, to work, in the car, everywhere. Well when she is about 13 she has some routine blood work done and the vet comes in and says to my dad "I can't believe it, but all of her test results are in the normal range, very rare for a dog this old, whatever you are feeding her, keep doing it." My dad replies, well you just saved me a trip to the doctor, because she eats whatever I'm eating. From cheeseburgers to ice cream cones, if he ate one so did she. She ended up living till she was 17. I know its not the best but it always makes me chuckle because me and my mom always gave him such a hard time for giving her "people" food.

[SlamNFish]

If you go on the canidae web site they have a store locator for your area just type in your zip code and hit go, it will give you a list of the nearest stores to you.

Like i said earlier i feed my labs canidae als and they do very well on it. It has several meat meals in the first four or five ingredients. Which i personally like for my canids.

Canidae also has a buyer program if you contact customer service and ask for there buyer card and coupons,after 12 bags the 13th is free. You get a card to fill out and you save your upc's off the bags then after 12 bags submit it to your retailer for the free bag. Hope this helps!

[Augusta]

Thanks Slam, went on their website and found a dealer close to me. Looks like I will start feeding Canidae.

[MNpurple]

If you go to Google and do a search for "dog food reviews" the first website brought up is a review site of hundreds and hundreds of foods giving anywhere from a 1-6 star rating. All but the worst have reviews and explanations of their ratings. It pointed out a few interesting things such as the controversy of beet pulp, various fillers, and other controversdial ingredients. It takes some searching to find your food but its a pretty good site. For example, on Nutrisource, they did not recommend because of the inclusion of beet pulp and way to many grains after the first meat ingredient, and the second meat ingredient did not appear until #11. My dog seems to like it, although I am trying a brand called Premium Edge and she really likes that.