Dog foods- what's good and what is not? - Page 1

I currently feed my 3 year old German Shepherd Purina Pro Plan Adult Large Breed. She does very well on it. No stool problems, and her coat is soft and shiny. I have a 12 week old puppy who was started in Tast of the Wild. I know a lot of people on here use that, and love it.
I guess in the long run I want to keep them both on the same food- easier that way.

What are thoughts on Pro Plan, and large breed puppy food? I might have heard somewhere that people don't like to feed large breed puppy food...(I could be making that up)....but I want to know if there is some information that I am lacking.  And if someone does feed puppy food, when would they switch to adult?


What does someone really look for when choosing a quality food?

Thanks in advance

Amanda ^..^

I actually was talking with my daughter (6 years old) about this last night, after seeing a commercial for Kibbles and Bits.  Here is a link that explains ingredients:  www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php  You may be surprised at what is included in dog food, I know that I was.  I feed Wellness Fish and Sweet Potato and add salmon oil.  We may be switching over to the new Costco food if they have it in the store by us.

Opal

I am currently feeding TOTW.  I was making my own food but it got too expensive.  Research is the key, there's so much info about what is needed and what is not.  One thing that the majority agree on is that grains are not only not necessary and in some cases, harmful (allergies).  TOTW is one of the few commercially produced foods that contain no grain.  What it boils down to is, whatever works for your dog.  I know how confusing it can be but if your dogs are happy, have shiny coats, firm stools, are the correct weight and have no health problems, don't worry too much.  If that changes, go back to the drawing board.  I'm not a fan of Purina, Nestles isn't even that good at making chocolate, don't know if I'd trust them to make my dog's main diet.

I keep my pups on large breed puppy chow until almost a year while everything is falling into place.   I started mixing in the TOTW and the regular Cosco premium dry (either chix or lamb) about a month ago for the pup. I kept his food in there also.(age 9 month) The other 7 are adults of all ages that take the other mixture and do real good on it. (skin, coat, stool)

I am really looking forward to the new Cosco stuff.   I was there yesterday in California, and it wasn't in yet.

www.hasshaus.com    Trish

There is always an argument on here about food. Half swear if its not RAW the dogs will die, others swear by their brand. I think I would go with those PHD Vet Scientist who come up with food. I think they have a lot more knowledge than the average dog breeder. The only thing anyone seems to agree on is that corn is bad for dogs.

I feed Canidae All Life Stages to my dogs...  I like it because I can feed it to the young ones and my older male.  But I also give them raw meats and eggs as well...  =)

PHD Vet Scientist.................................?


It's not rocket science and a dog should do well on almost anything.

Kibble, raw, table scraps to road kill.

Will the dog eat it? 
  
Is there any quality to what you are feeding ?

My dogs would never eat something like Purina Dog Chow, just didn't like it.
That was over twenty years ago, dunno what the product is like today.

Price has a lot to do with it too.
A high price does not mean quality.

I personally would take corn over rice any day as a filler, oats would take first place with me as a grain filler.

Why not feed variety, meat and kibble with a few extras thrown in for good measure?

If a dog has problems with a particular ingredient it's the dog.
Artificial man made supplements, additives and preservatives are what bothers me the most

Moons.

I have one doga golden  that really will only eat a Lamb based dry food , he loves all vegetables though. He loves cantaloupe and grapes. The only fruit or veggy he doesn't seem to like is a banana.  He loves all meats and will track for carrots. My bitch GS  will eat any food as she never takes time to taste it just engulfs and its gone. I had a sch 3 Malinois that I used dried fish for a treat he was crazy for fish. He was raised bt a guy in Holland whai  owned a fish market and was raised on them,

PHD Vet Scientist? Where do they live? I agree variety is what makes dogs healthy. Although Im not into foods of the 4-d's , you can find good bagged food if your willing to pay for it. I think we can all agree that no dog is truly healthy if they eat the same thing their entire life. And how boring would it be. When was the last time you munched on a piece of kibble.