Help with dog food suggestions please...

naza

naza

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Have recently got a cocker spaniel puppy (well she's 4 1/2 months now!)
And would like some suggestions or ideas on what people feed their dogs.
She's currently on bakers which the vet actually suggested as it was a cheap food and she doesn't need expensive food which will possibly make her fussy (their words) but having recently spoken to people who have given the typical horror stories (bad coat, loss of energy etc) and having looked on the box to find the amount of E numbers in it!! Am keen to find an alternative for her please...
 
I'm genuinely shocked that a vet said that and would probably consider changing to a different vet if that's the way they look at animal nutrition.

We feed our rottie a mix of Pooch & Mutt dry food and NatureDiet food too. They have a range in both of those brands and are fab, she's got a gorgeous glossy coat and none of the nasty smells and smelly breath that you get with cheap food like Bakers.

Websites like this http://www.best-dog-food-review.com/ which are unbiased may be good for you to start researching what is right for your pooch! :)

Do you take her to dog training classes? If so, I'd also be tempted to ask your trainer what they'd reccomend.
 
first of all congratulations on agreeing to get your lovelly pup off bakers.its called the macdonalds of the dog food world.
its trial and error with dog food.the cheaper the food the more cereal based it is.
do you want to feed dry or wet food or even a raw diet.
it also depends on your budget and is trial an error.
 
aintgotnohay said:
do you want to feed dry or wet food or even a raw diet.
it also depends on your budget and is trial an error.
Click to expand...

Definitely still want to just stick to dry food is Poss.
We are going to try some but as there are so many wanted some opinions :)
So far suggestions have been: Harringtons puppy food and burns dog food?
 
Personally wouldn't feed anything from a supermarket because they're all pretty poor, IMO. Try the allaboutdogfood website and the index at the top of this dog section. Green is very good, red is don't touch the stuff. Top choice of dry for many is Orijen or Acana. Puppy food is a huge marketing myth, the ingredients in many brands are almost identical for puppy/adult, 2% difference in protein, which is neither here nor there.

Look for named meat as the first ingredient, potato and rice seem to be better than cereal as a filler. Do some research and Google the food if the ingredients aren't obvious.
 
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I give my two pups, Pets at Home 'Fishmongers finest' and Wainwrights Wet food in trays. Not too expensive and they do well on it.
 
Avoid anything with grain in it... even though my 3 year old lab could tolerate cereal grain/gluten, since taking him off it he's so much more energetic looks great! Check out allaboutdogfood.co.uk. I feed Millie's Wolfheart - their nutritionist support is fantastic (not read from a manual) and it's cheaper than most premium commercial brands. Found them when trying to source a food that would suit my digestively sensitive puppy. She now has consistently formed poo (sorry!) and is thriving.
 
I agree with Allthebees - gluten free.

It's been a bit trial and error with us with food - not through having a fussy dog, rather me just wanting to get it right.

We've now settled on on Orijen, and am really pleased.
 
Its not the cost but the quality of the food that is important.I have changed 2 years ago from feeding dry kibble as it is all highly processed.I use Burns Penlan Farm moist food range.It is very good quality and mix a satchet with a tblsp. of cooked porridge,and a few boiled potatoes.This lasts over a day when in the fridge.I have a Cairn terrier and his health has never been better for a 14yr.old.Clear bright eyes ad lovely coat.His poos are "perfect".To keep an animal in the best of health feeding good food is essential in my opinion.
 
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