Newbie Dog Owner - Feeding

SmartieBean09

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Hi Everyone!

Ok, so OH and I have had dogs since we were children but have not owned as adults. We always said that once we moved out of our flat into a house with a garden that we would become dog owners for the first time.

I breed of choice was a JRT and so we now own Clyde. A gorgeous tri colour JRT.

He came to us on Tesco Puppy food which we changed over to JWB after a bit of research. He wasnt too keen but we perservered but after 2 weeks, he completely refused to eat it (even mixing in different things). Our vet recommended Royal Canin and so we have changed over to this and he seems happy and his poos are nice and firm albeit a bit smelly and he does slightly more of them now.

I have just come back from our local pet shop and after having a lovely converstation with the lady there, am a bit confused as to what we should be feeding and what is best for Clyde.

She couldnt recommend highly enough the "raw food" diet. Which is fine but we go away in our caravan from time to time and so storing Raw may not be easy but could be made easier if we perhaps combined with dry food??? She suggested that if she had to feed dry along side raw then she would only use something like Orijen or Acana because of their high meat content and being grain free.

What do you guys think? Should I leave well alone if Clyde is happy or make a positive move onto something perhaps better for his health in the long term?

Slightly confused.

Many thanks from me and lots of tail wags from Clyde :)
 
A lot of people consider Orijen the best of the best dry food wise but it is pricey.
Fish4Dogs, Autarky, Skinners are other options or DUCK, which is a frozen 'halfway house' between dry and raw.

I feed my pup Prize Choice tripe and Skinners (as a training aid) and chicken wings, it's easy enough done.

My next purchase will be a bag of Orijen. Ouch.
 
I count it as raw as I feed it raw but some people cook it. I feed the tripe and the dry separately, one in a bowl or Kong at mealtimes and the other from my pocket when training or out on walks.
 
The lady in the pet shop said to feed Prize Choice raw and not cooked.

Just looking at Orijen website now. Sounds very good but then I thought RC sounded good too. The protein level in Orijen is also a lot higher than RC. Is that a good thing? I know he needs protein to grow but have also read that too much can cause them to grow too fast.
 
The lady in the pet shop said to feed Prize Choice raw and not cooked.

Just looking at Orijen website now. Sounds very good but then I thought RC sounded good too. The protein level in Orijen is also a lot higher than RC. Is that a good thing? I know he needs protein to grow but have also read that too much can cause them to grow too fast.

Protein is not really the issue that people think it is in growing pups to fast. Thats was some old thinking.

Plus as CC says it is coming from a quality source.
 
The lady in the pet shop gets bones for her dog from the local Butcher. She will give this as a replacement to their usual food and says it takes her dog around 3 hours to eat.

Are bones ok for a puppy or something to introduce later on?

I am considering feeding Orijen with a bit of raw now and again, going by what I have heard today.

We gave Clyde a pigs ear today and it was lovely to see him really enjoying it. We took it off him after 20 mins. Will treat him to a bit of it again later :)

I can't get over how the dog food selection has changed over the years! I am so out of touch! :eek:
 
I'm a bit wary about bones and puppies but I do know people who give bones (usually cut up smaller with a band saw) under supervision at eight weeks.
B is still working on a bone he was given yesterday :o
 
Yep bones will be awesome for him.
At his age i would go with meaty bones that he won't eat for recreational bones. Beef ribs are great!

And if you want to replace a meal i would go with chicken wings, necks and backs.
 
Read the raw sticky. My top supplier delivers to your area (google Dog Food Company).

Acana has less protein than Orijen if it concerns you. Same company.
 
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