Looking for advice on diet

[SpringadorSOS]

Hi

I have a neutered male two year old 3/4 springer 1/4 lab (though the mum looked like she wasn't a pure springer more of a cocker/springer mix?).

We've had no success with the puppy training classes, one trainer said we'd have better luck leaving training until he'd matured so we took his advice as it all seemed a bit hopeless at the time. So here we are, we've found our perfect fit trainer wise (she does the kennel club good citizens and gun dog training with a bit of off lead play time for the dogs in the middle of the class).

She's suggested that his hyperactivity and low attention span is more to do with what we feed as its high in protein rather than his breeding. We though we were feeding quite high quality food (James Wellbeloved kibble in the morning and either Lilys Kitchen, Natures Menu or Carnilove meats in the evening) so it's a bit of a shock. She says we should drop as a minimum the James Wellbeloved and replace it with Skinners track and field maintenance?

Is this good advice or should we stick to what we're already feeding? He really started to focus about a quarter of the way through the class and we made a fair bit of progress for our first class

Thank you in advance

 

[splashgirl45]

i have been feeding mine with james wellbeloved kibble for years and have a collie cross who has loads of energy but is very trainable and not hyper so it hasnt affected her behaviour. i was expecting you to say you were feeding bakers not jwb. do you feed any treats? there a some posters on here who are pretty expert on feeding and hopefully will come and give you some advice...i can only say that it hasnt had a bad effect on mine....

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Sugar (present in Bakers et al) has never been proven as a link to hyperactivity in dogs according to several studies I read years back.

I dunno what kind of trainers you met before finding the right one, but I went through 3 before finding a gundog specialist with springers of her own. She rather obviously told me to play on their strengths as gundogs and get them searching/retrieving etc. Never looked back. To be fair, my lot were probably bored and made their own mischief before meeting the trainer. You have to tire their brains as well as their bodies with springers.

Anyway, I recommend this website, which I've filtered to hopefully show top reviews only. https://www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/the-dog-food-directory

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I think you mean Skinner Field and Trial? If scores very low and looks more like horse feed! First ingredient is wheat then maize. I wouldn't touch it, but I understand why she might think that low protein might be the answer. I don't think it is. I think correctly exercising/stimulating the brain is more key for your dog currently. https://www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/dog-food-reviews/0298/skinners-field-and-trial-maintenance

 

[splashgirl45]

the reason i mentioned bakers was that my friend had a young doberman who she fed on bakers and he was bouncing off the walls and he was hyper all of the time. she took him to the vets for something else and mentioned this and the vet told her to change to chappie(i know, not a popular dog food) as it was likely to be the food she was feeding. she was reluctant but was prepared to give anything a go and within about 2 weeks he was a changed dog. she thought it was due to him beginning to mature and changed him back to bakers and got her loony dog back, she changed back to chappie and he calmed down, so it did seem to affect that dog quite badly for some reason..

 

[Cahill]

i rate skinners duck&rice and salmon&rice but not the other varities.
tinned chappie is good but not the dry.
shocked at first trainers attitude.

 

[Moobli]

I’d doubt the protein in his food is affecting his concentration and trainability. I’d be inclined to think genetics together with finding what “switches” your dog on are key. Being from gundog breeds I would expect him to enjoy using his nose - so tracking, scentwork etc. How old is he? What do you use to reward him?

The food you are feeding is decent quality so if he’s doing well on it I would be loathe to change. I don’t rate Skinners food very highly - it’s low in meat content and full of fillers.

 

[pippixox]

Personally I would think protein would aid behaviour as it is slower to break down, rather than the cheap filler in some dog food.
I may be wrong, but from past research I found a lot of the ‘working’ dog food has helped ghee levels of carbs and less protein for fast release energy. Not what you want for a dog who is too hyper

 

[Cinnamontoast]

changed him back to bakers and got her loony dog back, she changed back to chappie and he calmed down, so it did seem to affect that dog quite badly for some reason..

Maybe the e-numbers? I was having a heated debate (telling someone how poor some foods are for dogs) whilst she swore blind that I was giving misinformation about a food containing e numbers that are proven to be dangerous. Apparently her husband works for them and she KNOWS they don't put BHA/BHT in the food. I had to leave the chat, even tho she then posted that most champion dogs are fed her brand. 🤮

 

[splashgirl45]

i think that the proof of the effect bakers has on dogs was shown by my friends dog so i am convinced and would never feed that brand to mine. i am sure other people feed it with no ill effects and there are pros and cons to all feeds but we all have to choose what we feel is right for our own dogs..i feed JWB kibble as it was one of the only foods that my lurcher could eat with no problems as she had a very sensitive digestion (which wasnt helped by eating dead rabbits etc)and i fed my next dog on the same for my convenience and although i lost the lurcher my other dog is now 12 so is staying on the same food...

 

[Cinnamontoast]

There's definitely something amiss with Bakers, those colours aren't normal!

 

[CorvusCorax]

And that's just the poos....

 

[SpringadorSOS]

It's a relief to know the foods we chose aren't the wrong kind

 

[SpringadorSOS]

I’d doubt the protein in his food is affecting his concentration and trainability. I’d be inclined to think genetics together with finding what “switches” your dog on are key. Being from gundog breeds I would expect him to enjoy using his nose - so tracking, scentwork etc. How old is he? What do you use to reward him?

The food you are feeding is decent quality so if he’s doing well on it I would be loathe to change. I don’t rate Skinners food very highly - it’s low in meat content and full of fillers.

He's about 2 1/2
Food and toy mad (faves are cheese, pineapple, sausage, any small training type treat and squeakers) last trainer said we weren't treating enough and that the only way to keep his attention on us was to constantly have treats in our hand and in his face. That led to a period of time where he became quite mouthy if we put our hand near his head so we've had to work on stopping that.

Current trainer is a strong believer in fuss as the reward as you'll always have that available when your out and about. He doesn't seem that bothered about the loss of all the treats as rewards and really leans in for a good fuss

 

[PapaverFollis]

Just seen this thread... Not scientifically verifiable but I'm sure my Sprocker was extra, super hyper on James Wellbeloved. I have fed a few different things over time but we've finally settled on Burns Alert and I find both my potentially hyper dogs do very well on it, physically and mentally (I refuse to look it up on dog food review website though 😂 )