Dog Food

[Skeet Slambone]

I've been feeding my dog Eukanuba since he was brought home. This is what the pet store was feeding him and I stuck with it. It's rather rough on the wallet.

Is this really the healthiest dog food? What are some really healthy alternatives that are a little cheaper.

[Ant's_rapier]

The dog I got came from a breeder who also shows her dogs and has them compete in herding trials. She and I feed Exceed from Sam's club. $20 for a 40lb bag. If its good enough for champion herding dogs its good enough for my house dog.

[GLENN_THE_TOOL]

we gave our dog Mighty Dog for years, she's still kicking around at about 18 years old. maybe it's the Mighty Dog.

[B54]

I feed my little youngster Puppy Chow.

I guess it depends on the age. How old is your dog Skeet?

[Ant's_rapier]

Just be sure if you change that you do it gradually

[Sinn Fein]

I did alot of research on this. It's hard to beat Eukanuba unless you go to something that is even more pricey. You could step down to Iams which is a little cheaper, but not much. Natural Balance is very good stuff too.

Shop around. I found a few places that have alot better pricing. Plus, there are online sources that supposedly offer great prices but I haven't looked into this route yet.

[Ant's_rapier]

From what I understand is that Lamb and rice is the best and as long as Lamb is the first ingredient you're good. Also ask your vet and check the nutrient %'s on the bag. what kind of dog is this for?

[whoisisthis]

The dog I got came from a breeder who also shows her dogs and has them compete in herding trials. She and I feed Exceed from Sam's club. $20 for a 40lb bag. If its good enough for champion herding dogs its good enough for my house dog.

this guy's got the right idea


I own champion line shepherds, and I was told that the cheap,big yellow Pedigree bags are as good as anything. And an egg or two mixed in their bowl now and then will do wonders for the coat, something that the fancy dog food brands try to sucker you in with

[Ant's_rapier]

Whoisisthis- German Shepherds?
I have had border collies an i now have an Austrailian Shepherd

[Mommadeez4u]

B.A.R.F.- Biologially Appropriate Raw Food.

Dogs are omnivorous, however, their digestive systems are more geared towards meat, veggies and not starches and sugar… (Like us humans…go figure.) God didn’t invent apple pie…just apples which we then messed up with processed sugar and flour, etc. Many of the allergies, behavior problems, bad breath, ear infections, bad teeth, etc. dogs have are attributed to inappropriate diets that have lots of corn, wheat, sugar, crude fat etc rather than natural foods and high protein. (its very much the same problem as American diets today…sugar, starches, fat with the attendant problems of diabetes, food allergies, etc) So…there is a train of thought in the dog world…call it the Adkins/south Beach diet of the doggie universe, that believes that feeding our dogs their natural proclivity for raw meat, raw vegetables is the way to alleviate these relatively recent medical problems that began with the prominence of processed and canned dog food. (This came about in the 1950’s and that’s when vets began to see the rise in diabetes, cancer, etc in our canines).

Think of it this way…dogs are descendent from wolves…when is the last time you saw a wolf sitting around a campfire roasting corn and eating cooked meat? Instead, they ate the sheep and the sheep’s innards which was filled with grass, clover and gave the wolf the nutrients it needed: raw meat, bones and vegetable fiber!

Myth buster: RAW bones are NOT bad for dogs; in fact, they are an important part of their diet. COOKED bones are the problem, cooked bones shatter and splinter because they are hardened and will perforate the dog’s stomach. Raw bones are soft, full of calcium, nutrient-rich bone marrow and are easily ground by the dog’s massive molars. My dogs get raw chicken legs, necks and backs. For treats they get round bone shanks cut into 2” chunks. They eat raw green peppers, slightly cooked sweet potatoes, broccoli, cucumbers, and strawberries, basically any vegetable/fruit we eat, they eat raw. And they love it…

[THE FEZ MAN]

we use iams lamb and rice

[Skeet Slambone]

From what I understand is that Lamb and rice is the best and as long as Lamb is the first ingredient you're good. Also ask your vet and check the nutrient %'s on the bag. what kind of dog is this for?

I feed my little youngster Puppy Chow.
I guess it depends on the age. How old is your dog Skeet?

The dog is a 7 month old Puggle. Sinn, Eukanuba is actually made by Iams, I wonder how much of a difference their actually is between what Iams labels as their best and Eukanuba. Perhaps not much. I'll have to try Costco to see what they offer. If Eukanuba was available at Walmart I'd be happy, though some of the brands you guys mentioned here are.

[Exanimate]

We used to use Eukanuba, and my dogs really didn't care for it. Then we switched to Iams. They really didn't like that. Then we started using Nutro. They seemed to like it pretty well. Then we had to board them for a week when we went on vacation. In the confusion of packing, etc... our dumbasses forgot to pack the dog food to take to the kennel. They fed the dogs Pedigree, and they both loved it. We still feed it to them. My wife does the BARF thing once a week as well.

[robinquivers]

I have 2 rotties and one of them has a very sensitive stomach. Tried the BARF and they did not like it. They would just sit there and pick and my male would trow up afterward. Used to use California Natural but switched over to Canidae All Life Stage Formula. They really seem to like it and have nice shiny coats. I also throw in a tablespoon of plain fat free yogurt and mix it in. The vet reccomended it for cutting down on their gas. Anyone that has a rottie knows how bad their farts can be.

[Exanimate]

I have 2 rotties and one of them has a very sensitive stomach. Tried the BARF and they did not like it. They would just sit there and pick and my male would trow up afterward. Used to use California Natural but switched over to Canidae All Life Stage Formula. They really seem to like it and have nice shiny coats. I also throw in a tablespoon of plain fat free yogurt and mix it in. The vet reccomended it for cutting down on their gas. Anyone that has a rottie knows how bad their farts can be.

We use yogurt as well. Boxers are farting machines.

[Arc Lite]

I did a lot of research on this when I picked up my dog a couple of years ago from the shelter and ended up going with Canidae. They call it like "natural, human grade, holistic". Canidae is some great food and it's not really that expensive. Doesn't have all the fillers so you can feed them much less. 38 pound dog = 1 1/2 cups a day.

Many pet stores carry it. We just bought a 16 pound bag yesterday and it was $16.

http://www.canidae.com/

[GoatAss]

i feed my dog the hill's science diet, sensitive skin. he loves it. we went through iams, nutro and purina and he hated all of those. of course the little shit only eats some of the most expensive stuff.

[sobi]

Dont bother with Iams or "yuckanuba". They aren't much better than the shit food you find at a grocery store like kibbles and bits. Now before anyone jumps on their soapbox explaining how that "shit food" was fine for their dog and they lived a long life with it, I am not saying that grocery store dog food is bad all together. For some dogs, its fine. Just like humans, dogs can live off of junk food their whole life. That said, giving your dog better food will only increase his chances of living a long healthy life, and just as importantly, decrease the chances of him forming alergies, and posible other health complications... which means less vet bills.:icon_bigg

I have a German Shepherd and feed him Innova large breed formula. Some other REALLY good brands are Canidae, Solid Gold Wolf King (or other SG lines), Timber Wolf Organics, and California Natural just to name a few.

Really, it is just up to you. What your wallet can afford, and also look into the breed to see about possible allergies or other problems a certain food might bring about. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER, as mentioned above, is that dogs are carnivores. Make sure that REAL and PURE meats (not biproducts {these are found unconsumable by FDA due to mold and other nasty shit in it..) are the FIRST TWO ingredients. Try to stay away from grains. Dogs bodies are not built to digest it, and they cause alergies. Rice is okay for the most part, but stay away from stuff with corn and/or soybean.

Basicly in the end, you can save money going with cheap supermarket dog food, but you have to feed the dog twice as much to keep him going, and you end up picking up twice as much dog shit because their bodies don't use half the shit in the cheap food. Go with a better food, and you spend the same money in the long run, pick up less poop, decrease possible heath problems, and most importantly, get to feel like a fancy man in the end.:action-sm

[Skeet Slambone]

I am a fancy man. That's why I bought a puggle. Actually, that just makes me a trendy douchebag.

[joefrombklyn]

I did alot of research on this. It's hard to beat Eukanuba unless you go to something that is even more pricey. You could step down to Iams which is a little cheaper, but not much. Natural Balance is very good stuff too.

Shop around. I found a few places that have alot better pricing. Plus, there are online sources that supposedly offer great prices but I haven't looked into this route yet.
he is correct bro.. eukanuba is a little steep but its second to none..even dogs that are picky eaters like it . i go to petco i found it cheapest there!!
but before u change the dogs food shop around because its really the best out there! it also is great for the skin coat..if u decide to change ur dogs food then make sure u wein him/her off of the old food otherwise they will get sick and the hershey squirts u wanna mix it with th eold and new more of the new for a week or 2...

[Death Metal Moe]

I hear the old people who eat it love it.

[SweetRelease]

I used to feed my dogs the Solid Gold with a small bag of Innova mixed in. Then I switched to the Dick VanPatten stuff. We use the solid (blue bag), and chop up some of the loaf (turkey, yellow roll) and mix it in the bowl. They go ape shit over it. The only reason I switched was because I was getting sick of driving 25 miles to pick up the Solid Gold.

The only thing I was told was to stear away from Dog Foods with corn in it. If Dick VanPatten can get on TV and eat his own dog food, then it's good enough for my pooches. And if Dick VanPatten jumped off a cliff, I probably would too.

[DoughBoy]

Also, a thought:

Many of these foods use corn as filler. Corn doesn't do anything for your dog but add to the bulk of the food and the bulk of the shit it fills your backyard with.

You'll find that you can feed your dog less of the better foods and it will be well nurished and shit a LOT less.

[Skeet Slambone]

As I'm reading this thread I'm starting to realize I'm probably better off staying where I am. The dog takes 2 shits a day, one in the morning and one when I get home from work. I take him out at night before bed as well, but he only pee's. He is about 17lbs, 7 months old, and a puggle as I mentioned before. He eats just less than 2 cups a day of the Eukanuba. It's what the bag says to give him for his age/size. Add in the biscuits and snacks, this is enough nutrition right ??

[JimsInfectedEye]

Whoisisthis- German Shepherds?
I have had border collies an i now have an Austrailian Shepherd

Whats the difference between the two? I'll only have Borders from now on - fuckers are smart dogs.

[FAZ8218]

Pretty much, what you need to do is find a dog food that's cheaper, and mix it in with the Eukanuba... if the dog goes for it, keep going like that, eventually putting less and less Eukanuba in the dish, if the dog keeps eating, then you don't have a problem. If not, then unfortunately your stuck, sometimes animals just refuse a change in food. She's still young though, so you should be ok. But look for a food with similar ingredients, Eukanuba is a good brand.

[Ego]

we gave our dog Mighty Dog for years, she's still kicking around at about 18 years old. maybe it's the Mighty Dog.
18 years old. Blind and/or deaf yet? Did it start shitting on the carpet again?

[Sinn Fein]

I know Iams/Eukanuba are made by the same company. Eukanuba is their "premium" grade. If you check the nutritional analysys, the numbers for the Eukanuba are sometimes slightly higher. Supermarkets carry Iams, specialty pet stores usually have the Eukanuba. Near me, I shop at a pet store that for some reason carries both. The cost difference isn't much at all when you break it down.

Mixing a cheaper food with the Eukanuba defeats the purpose. Like Doughboy pointed out, the cheaper foods have things like cornmeal as a primary ingredient. This is just a filler, and like he said just means more and bigger piles of shit in the backyard.

I always look for sales. Sometimes the stuff we buy is on sale and I just stock up. Stuff is usually good for months. So when there is a sale there is no problem with getting a 2-3 month supply.

[Skeet Slambone]

The bag says the puppy formula of Eukanuba is for up to 12 months, however other dog owner have told me that's arbitrary and really depends on the breed. Some should come off of the puppy formula earlier. Is that true or should I just stick with waiting until he is 12 months?

[SteveSteele]

I have been using Innova to feed my two dogs (look at my avatar to see them-a Malamute and a Pug) mixed in with chopped meat, veggies, and eggs. They love the combination and it's really helped their digestive system (as evident by their dumps).

[FAZ8218]

The bag says the puppy formula of Eukanuba is for up to 12 months, however other dog owner have told me that's arbitrary and really depends on the breed. Some should come off of the puppy formula earlier. Is that true or should I just stick with waiting until he is 12 months?

No, wait till the 11 or 12 month. Puppy food has some extra nutrients in it and is richer/fattier to help the dog grow at a normal and healthy rate. Its true, some dogs are different, but that rule usually pertains to large dogs. Most dogs are considered puppies until 1 year old. Large dogs are actually considered puppies until about 15 months. That's why you see foods that say "Large breed" on it. Unless you see the pup getting unusually overweight, then wait until 1 year. If he does start getting over weight, ask a vet what is best.

[joefrombklyn]

u are getting some good advice here bro we all have our different reasons for different foods i use the eukanuba the small breed purple bag.. like i said earlier i dont know what states petco is in but they have sales always and like sinn fein said look online bro i bet u may be able to get some good deals on the internet wholesalers...stick with the eukanuba bro trust me if u dog likes it .. there is no better food out there, some peoplesay pro plan is great also but for the 1 or 2 dollars more stick with the eukanuba..

[Myhairygrundle]

As a fancy man, my animals require fancy food. My lab/dalmation mix lived 16 years on Science Diet. The terrier I had when I was a kid made it 18 years on Science Diet.

IMHO, it's worth the extra $ for the good stuff because it pays off in the long run.


I also have 2 friends that are vets and the feed their dogs Science Diet.

I'm just sayin.

Also, with the $$ food, you don't have to feed the dog as much.

[grail]

My schnauzer is 11 now, and I've had him on Nutro's Natural Max Lamb and Rice (green bag) for his entire life. We'll that is after I found out that a lot of the stuff he would either puke up or be shitting blood after eating. It's also reasonably priced at $26 for a 40 lb. bag. This was also the brand that we fed to the dogs when I worked at a pet store back in college. Low stool, high nutrient. It also smells decent. Also the stool breaks down quickly if your lazy and don't like picking it up, like me. Petsmart and Petco have it, as well as several other stores.

[FAZ8218]

My schnauzer is 11 now, and I've had him on Nutro's Natural Max Lamb and Rice (green bag) for his entire life. We'll that is after I found out that a lot of the stuff he would either puke up or be shitting blood after eating. It's also reasonably priced at $26 for a 40 lb. bag. This was also the brand that we fed to the dogs when I worked at a pet store back in college. Low stool, high nutrient. It also smells decent. Also the stool breaks down quickly if your lazy and don't like picking it up, like me. Petsmart and Petco have it, as well as several other stores.

He's right, if you're looking to switch, I would definitely recommend that one. I used to work in a pet store as well, its a great product.

[Kid Brock]

Dont bother with Iams or "yuckanuba". They aren't much better than the shit food you find at a grocery store like kibbles and bits. Now before anyone jumps on their soapbox explaining how that "shit food" was fine for their dog and they lived a long life with it, I am not saying that grocery store dog food is bad all together. For some dogs, its fine. Just like humans, dogs can live off of junk food their whole life. That said, giving your dog better food will only increase his chances of living a long healthy life, and just as importantly, decrease the chances of him forming alergies, and posible other health complications... which means less vet bills.:icon_bigg

I have a German Shepherd and feed him Innova large breed formula. Some other REALLY good brands are Canidae, Solid Gold Wolf King (or other SG lines), Timber Wolf Organics, and California Natural just to name a few.

Really, it is just up to you. What your wallet can afford, and also look into the breed to see about possible allergies or other problems a certain food might bring about. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER, as mentioned above, is that dogs are carnivores. Make sure that REAL and PURE meats (not biproducts {these are found unconsumable by FDA due to mold and other nasty shit in it..) are the FIRST TWO ingredients. Try to stay away from grains. Dogs bodies are not built to digest it, and they cause alergies. Rice is okay for the most part, but stay away from stuff with corn and/or soybean.

Basicly in the end, you can save money going with cheap supermarket dog food, but you have to feed the dog twice as much to keep him going, and you end up picking up twice as much dog shit because their bodies don't use half the shit in the cheap food. Go with a better food, and you spend the same money in the long run, pick up less poop, decrease possible heath problems, and most importantly, get to feel like a fancy man in the end.:action-sm



Ding ding ding. Best stuff going. Eagle Pack is really good too. The high end food seems more expensive, but it is worth it. You will not have to clean up the backyard as much as the higher quality food has less waste than the cheap stuff.