Canine nutrition experts?

PucciNPoni

PucciNPoni

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Thinking of adding a new dry food range to my retail. I'm not a nutritional expert, and as a groomer I do see a lot of dogs with food allergies and or obesity issues.

One of the brands I was considering is Royal Canin (particularly the DermaComfort product). However, high in the list of ingredients are wheat gluten, maize, maize gluten...and so forth. Can anyone tell me their unbiased opinion on these for diet related skin disorders?
 
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How about James Wellbeloved, more of a "mainstream" product, very well known, wheat and maize free. the ocean fish is good for overweight dogs, and they even do a grain free range based only on meat and veg. Good product support, lots of promotions, and they are part of the Royal Canin group.

Some dogs indeed do not do well on maize or wheat based feeds.
 
My little cocker Pixel is on Arden Grange puppy.
Mac and Ronnie (lab and retriever) are on wafcol senior. But are probably going to be switched onto Arden Grange too as just as good a food but a bit cheaper.

They were all on arden grange and did okay on it but always worried about the cereal content.

Elle
 
I would stear well clear.

Whilst it may work for some the biggest allergens in dogs are corn, wheat and soy.

It has to be about all over health not just skin.

There are far far better options for you to stock.
 
Elle123 said:
My little cocker Pixel is on Arden Grange puppy.
Mac and Ronnie (lab and retriever) are on wafcol senior. But are probably going to be switched onto Arden Grange too as just as good a food but a bit cheaper.

They were all on arden grange and did okay on it but always worried about the cereal content.

Elle
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Oops wasn't with it there. I meant they were on Royal canin but was worried about the cereal content. Arden grange is cereal free :D

Elle
 
Thanks guys - that's more or less what I thought. I currently stock a food called Land of Holistic Pets. My dogs are doing great on it, and many of the dogs I supply to are also doing well with it. However the one main issue I have is quality control (not with the food itself, but often the bags are torn, or otherwise damaged upon arrival. It's a very small company that manufactures the food, so can understand they might have some issues.

As a very small independent retailer, my ideal food brand would be Holistic and of good quality ingredients without loads of fillers.... and not necessarily sold in to every pet store in the vicinity, particularly those that can undercut me pricewise as I can't compete with those major chains with huge buying power. I'm looking to fill a niche rather than just having something to stock - a niche that as a groomer where I get an intimate look at hte dog's well being on a regular basis I can perhaps with a helpful dietary suggestion I can make a difference.

Price is not necessarily my first concern, and profit margins are secondary to the quality of food!

I'm open to suggestions ;)
 
L of H food is very good, the principles behind it sound. How about going a bit further afield if you want a niche market like to Germany? Lukullus do an excellent cold pressed wheat / corn / soy free dry food, and complimentary wet foods.
 
How about Naturediet?
A good alternative to dry foods and not stocked everywhere.
Also not easy to buy online unless you buy a box of one flavour.
 
Thirding Fish4Dogs - least ingredients of any dry food I've encountered, lots of niche products like the salmon mousse, salmon oil, huge range of treats (including dried squid! :D) and grain free. The big pet stores don't seem to stock it.
 
blackcob said:
Thirding Fish4Dogs - least ingredients of any dry food I've encountered, lots of niche products like the salmon mousse, salmon oil, huge range of treats (including dried squid! :D) and grain free. The big pet stores don't seem to stock it.
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Im sure our local pets at home stock it although not on website.
 
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Almo Nature!! It is a fabulous brand, possibly the best sold in Italy together with Orijen, and they have holistic ranges which sound absolutely ideal for what you are looking for!!

Please have a look at their website:

http://www.almonature.eu/pages/en_GB/

Their ingredients are human grade, we often buy the "Natural" tinned fish for the cat and the small dogs (they have a *huge* range of different kinds of fish for cats!!) and it looks and smells incredible -- this is the tuna and prawns, for cats:
2w3ndw6.jpg
 
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You guys are great! Thanks for all the leads!

One that I'd thought of and inquired about was Nature's Diet. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
 
i have heard fish4dogs is excellent as is orijen

My guys were on CSJ until about 4 years ago when I did a lot of research and put them onto Arden Grange. Have never looked back and its been the only food that has suited all of my dogs :)
 
I use F4D for my Bulldog, fantastic stuff. Highly recommended on the the Bulldog Forum where lots of dogs have had skin problems before hand.
 
Nature diet is good.
Practical & decent ingredients and a good selection - I often suggest it to Westie owners as it gets them off feeding Ceasar.

Nature's menu is good but far more expensive and not as different to what is available in supermarkets to warrant stocking it IME.
 
Don't know what facilities you have but with growing popularity and all the cheap raw materials being incinerated, I would take up supplying raw if I had the time.

You could even supply freezer packs like they do at Natural Instinct by post, or you cold start by perhaps stocking their products. All you would need is a big freezer and not many people supply it in the UK apart from Prize Choice but that is not of human grade. A lot of people want to feed raw but lack the confidence, time or inclination to source their own so niche market.
 
Sadly, my shop is only wee...and the retail area wouldn't accomodate the space for a freezer and dry goods. I quite like that raw foods can be pre-prepared and frozen for ease of use. But it just woudn't work in my shop...and the front room where I'd be retailing is an absolute OVEN when the sun is shining thru the front windows, so would have have a serious freezer! LOL But agree, that's the sort of niche I'm looking for...only just a little easier to store.
 
PucciNPoni said:
Sadly, my shop is only wee...and the retail area wouldn't accomodate the space for a freezer and dry goods. I quite like that raw foods can be pre-prepared and frozen for ease of use. But it just woudn't work in my shop...and the front room where I'd be retailing is an absolute OVEN when the sun is shining thru the front windows, so would have have a serious freezer! LOL But agree, that's the sort of niche I'm looking for...only just a little easier to store.
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PnP could you not keep it out back and then go back for it when someone asks for it? I've been in a couple of smaller stores that do that to save the space up front.
 
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