Dog food?

[Camper]

I am just wondering if anyone uses Eukanuba Large breed dog food?  I am thinking of using this for my lab.  Pros and cons welcome

Camper

[Don Fischer]

You can pay a lot of money for good food or you can buy good food. The best food I ever fed was Kennel Ration Biscuit but it's hard to find. I used to buy it from the factory by the ton. Great food! Then whae I didn't need that much anymore, I switched to "Pedigree". Another good food that my dogs did real well on. I was trialing pointing dogs then. Ran the dogs off horse for an hour at a time and the "pedigree" never let me down. Used "Puriana Hi-Pro" for a number of years also. Good food. Tried "Iiams", not enought better for the price. Also used "Nutro Max" until they got to proud of it.

A lot of companys sell premium foods, many of which give your dog nothing more but you pay heavy for it. I highly recommend "Pedigree". Fairly inexpensive, can be found everywhere and the dogs eat it well. That's a big point. If your dog won't eat it, the best in the world is useless.

Stick your hand in a dog food bag and you'll get a greasy feel from most, including "Pedigree". Thats oil sprayed on as a flavor inhancer. "Biscuit" is baked and I've never seen a dog that wouldn't eat it. In fact, every dog I've used it on would pick it out of the food bowl and leave anything else when I'd change themover. But, hard to find!

[THE#1hunter]

I use the Eukanuba Lamb and rice for my new Britt pup, its a bit expensive but the kennel that I got her from highly reccomended it and according to them this food is they best they have ever used. Do you have a pup or is it full grown?

[tpdtom]

There's probably nothing better than Eukanuba in the appropriate type for your dog. Being involved with a lot of breed clubs and hunting dog organizations over the years I've heard a lot of bull about feed, but honestly I think the major dog food companies all make good products. Eukanuba is a bit expensive but so are the other premium feeds.

For what it's worth, I was in a NAVDHA club and Purina Pro Plan sponsored us and we got a lot of free food when they first started Pro Plan. About 60 guys used it for a couple hundred dogs and EVERYONE was satisfied. It's a little (very little) bit cheaper than Eukanuba. I've been feeding it now since about 1992 to many dogs and they all thrived on it. I use the original Chicken and Rice formula and nothing else except IAMS bisquits as treats. During the hunting season I have switched to the Performance blend but I doubt that's really necessary. Good luck with your new dog...Tom

[nabob]

Some larger dogs have different nutritional requirements than others. For example, my Wolfhounds needed a lower protein diet because they were growing so fast during the first year. A higher protein diet was associated with TOO fast a growth rate. When a grows as fast as a Wolfhound, you have to be careful during the first year especially. So when it says "large breed", check to see if this is the case, that is a lower protein food.

After that, it was more a question of making certain that the food I provided did not have a large amount of beet fiber. Wolfhounds produced enough poopage without bulk forming dog foods and stuff like Science Diet or Iams was better in this regard than say Dad's Dog Food. And I had two Wolfhounds at once. When we went to a better dog food, the output volume decreased considerably. More nutrition, lower waste.

I also made sure that what I was feeding didn't say "chicken byproducts" or some such. Ground up chicken leavings isn't my idea of a good dog food.

Sometimes, it is worth it to pay for the better stuff. It really does make a difference for some situations. Eukanuba is very good chow.

[Don Fischer]

I know nothing about wolfhounds except I petted a couple once. It sounds like what your saying is you cut back on protein to retard growth rate? Why would you do that?

[nabob]

That's right - it slows down the growth rate.

A Wolfhounds growth rate is phenomenal in the first year. They grow from usual puppy size to being 33" tall and over 150 lbs. in one year. Such a natural growth rate stresses the bones and growth regions in the bones pretty badly. Increasing the growth rate with a high protein dog food leads to more fragile bones and breaks later in life, which is also correlated with bone cancer.

The first year for a Wolfhound is pretty nervous. For example, you don't let Wolfhounds jump down from, say, the bed of a truck during the first year because the stress of landing all that weight on bones that are growing so quickly leads to the same problems as I mentioned above. We don't let the dogs run down the stairs for the same reason.

After the first year, it is OK. But that first year, if you want the best chance for a healthy Wolfhound, you don't do things that will speed up the growth rate or stress the joint/bones.

And even after all that, Wolfhounds have health problems that make them a short-lived dog. Wonderful dogs, but they'll break your heart in short order when they die young. Still hurts to think about losing mine.

[Don Fischer]

I have not heard of this befor. "Large Breed" on the bag usually refers to the size of the kibble. Puppy chow is high protein which promotes mussle building and higher in calcium which promotes bone strength.

Those two wolfhounds I saw were owned by some down and out guy in southern ore. He was in a rest area asking for food for his dogs. I gave him what I had and went back to town for a 40# bag. Biggest, gentlest dog's I ever saw.

[nabob]

I didn't know that about the size of the kibble. Learned something today!

Many of the giant breeds, such as the Wolfhounds (Irish and Russian), the Bouvier and the Great Dane need low protein diets to avoid bone problems. I think it has to do with pushing the envelope on size and the attendant considerations. I'm not a breeder, so I can be sure.

[Ranger J]

I have always found trying to get reliable information, as opposed to opinion, about dog food brands on the Internet rather hard to do.  When I looked up Old Roy, as an example, I got everything from, “It’s a great food and my dogs do really well on it”, to “Anyone that feeds Old Roy to their dogs, shouldn’t be allowed to own a dog”.
RJ

[John020769]

I made Dog food for number of years before the place closed best Dog food look at ingridents and then protien the frist thing on the list is the protien source you need a meat source for a good Dog food not soybeanmeal the best Dog food is a meat then rice then vitimen source  meat midds then vitimens is ok but only at 26% protien  21% is ok but for Dogs only over 3yrs of age and not Breeding or Pups unless you have a fat dog or a very old dog 18% I even have seen 16% dog food don`t feed it it is only a feeler and comes right out the back door ................John

[LEO]

Different breeds of dogs have different nutritional requirements based on there genetics and what they are used for.  With that said, if you have a good vet, (not all vets are good just like not all doctors are good) talk to them and let them know what you plan on doing with the dog.  I handle a K-9, I asked my vet what food would be the best for his needs and further stated that cost was not a factor.  Well she did some research and made her recommendation and told me why she felt that way.  Ironically it was a food she didn't sell which further added credability to her recommendation.  My K-9 has thrived on it.  But I am lucky in that I have an exceptional vet who puts a lot of effort in staying on top of things rather than just staying with the status quo.  By the way I have heard good things about Eukanuba but I have not fed it myself.

[Don Fischer]

I don't think the avarage guy will ever see the difference between the assumed best preimum food and good name brand grocery store food. The off brands, that's a different story. Many very good hunting dogs have done very well on Purina Dog Chow. The worst of these type foods are the ones your dog won't eat! I have fed a lot of premium foods. For the past 15 or so years I have fed Kal Kan Pedigree, because it works and my dogs always ate it.

[nabob]

Don't know about Purina, but Gravy Train used to make my GSP's fart like you wouldn't believe. We quickly switched to a different brand. Honest, it was enough to make your eyes water!!

[victorcharlie]

I don't think the avarage guy will ever see the difference between the assumed best preimum food and good name brand grocery store food. The off brands, that's a different story. Many very good hunting dogs have done very well on Purina Dog Chow. The worst of these type foods are the ones your dog won't eat! I have fed a lot of premium foods. For the past 15 or so years I have fed Kal Kan Pedigree, because it works and my dogs always ate it.

My grandfather fed his dogs cornbread and leftovers.

Like Don, I also think the average guy will notice little difference as the average guy and dog are in the field so little......If your hunting several times a week, and having difficulty keeping weight on the dog then a higher fat content might be justified.

What I want in a food is a firm to hard stool for easy clean up.  I have better luck with a meat based product.  I fead Diamond for many years until there latest screw up.

If I only had one dog, then cost wouldn't be as much of a factor.  I still wouldn't feed the high priced food as I don't think it's a good value.

I also think that we, as americans, get caught up in the specialization of products and with a fair amount of disposable income will pay a higher price for the perception of quality.  The price per pound of some dog foods is higher than hamburger at over a dollar a pound..........  I really like my dogs......but not that much............

Buy hey, If a fellow thinks it's better food, and is willing to pay for it, then who am I to argue?  I'd say go for it!

[prairiedog555]

My vet, who specializes in hunting dogs, told me that any dog food with at least 20% protean was OK, with a little cooking oil added if really cold out.  Hard kibbles not canned for their teeth.
Also a while back one of the guys who worked for me had show dogs, Siberian Huskys, and he said that both of his dogs died the day before from eating eukanuba dog food with meat, I think he said chicken or lamb.  They got food poisoning.  He settled with the company.  I guess when you are dealing with meat it can go bad,

[S_J_KENNELS]

All we have fed our hunting dogs is Diamond Hi Energy, for the past 10 yrs. I recently tired a cheaper brand that was recommended to me and it pulled my dogs down bad. After this experiance I will never feed anything else but Diamond again.

[beemanbeme]

It sez right on the bag what the composition is. So you'd do well to read that before picking a brand based on its price.  I think most dry dog foods are lacking in oil so I will add left over grease to the food as I feed it.  I think its Purina that has dogs that have gone for several generations on simple dry dog food.  That may be true but I don't think it'd work for a hard hunting/working dog. 
With pups, I add powdered milk and a vitamin suppliment to Purina Puppy Chow. 
Like VC, I've seen some pretty good dogs that were raised on table scraps and corn bread. 

[Ahab]

I have a hard time understanding how someone can pay $1200+ for a scope without flinching but refuses to pay about a
$1.00/# for a good dog food.

My dogs eat Canidae, Azmira, Solidgold, or Inova on a rotating basis .

[rockbilly]

What a dog is fed should depend largely on what it is being used for.  A working dog requires a different type of food and feeding schedule that non-working dogs.  Most of the millitary working dogs, and dogs used in police work are fed Science Diet.  This is also what we fed our cross-breed cat/bear dogs. Mama's poodle doesn't require the same diet the working dogs do.

[prairiedog555]

I posted earlier about my friend who lost his show dog to tainted Eukanuba dog food.  Well, did you all read about the dogs dying from that high priced food today?
Now on the news they said it was canned dog food that was bad, but my friend lost his dog to eukanuba dry food.  I think he said it was because they put dried meat in it. 
My vet who specializes in hunting dogs recomends Wal mart food.  This is one time where more expensive is not the best idea.

[Don Fischer]

It's a Canadian company making it and it's the wet (canned) food. Recalled a ton of it and so far testing has not found out what's wrong with it. It was recalled as a precaution.

[Todd N.]

The only thing that is certain about the Menu Foods situation is that it IS their products that have been recalled. No one, not Menu Foods , the FDA, or anyone else has said whether it is the high-priced food or the low budget food that is the problem. But ,as it is suspected at this time, wheat gluten is the source of the problem. And as all good pet owners know, wheat gluten is a protein source which is used as a filler.
A hunting dog is an athlete, and has nutritional needs that are not met by the Gravy train or WalMart low level quality of food. I and my relatives have hunted over yellow or chocolate labs for decades, and they are all fed premium foods. In the old days we made it ourselves- meat, rice and a small amount of vegy's.
Now all our dogs eat Solid Gold and Inova-not fillers, no by products- balanced nutrition. And I have seen the difference good nutrition makes. A couple of the people who hunt with us use other breeds ( and feed them grocery-store label food). After 3 or 4 days of all day hunting, those dogs are much slower and less responsive. Our Labs are still bouncing and eager!
Different breeds have different nutritional requirements, but a working dog cannot excel on a poor diet.

[Mikey]

I read the article about the tainted dog foods and went on line to see which brands were affected.  Of course, the brands I use were, so I tossed them. 

I have thought about the mixtures of canned and dry chow I have used and see that the canned chow does not add anything except possibly some flavor to the dry chow.  The dry chow is higher in content in the necessary ingredients than the canned chow (just noticing this after 25 years of dogs, duuuuh!!!) and now believe the canned food is not necessary.  I can feed them just as well using meats and dry chow and mixing it myself. 

Also, I noticed in the article that 10 dogs have died.  I'm sorry, but this just is not statisically significant enough to warrant the recall tons of 70 some odd different brands of canned dog food, but at least the manufacturer is doing this on its own.

I have five dogs - three are over 10 and the tow youngest are 2 & 3.  These dogs are not outdoor hunting dogs but get their exercise.  I have been using Pedigree adult dry chow for 4 of the 5 and a new product - Evolve - for the oldest dog.  Evolve does not use corn, and uses lamb and rice and fish and has a slightly higher percentage of necessary ingedients than the Pedigree. 

Todd N mentioned Solid Gold and Inova - where do you find these products???  Mikey.

[Todd N.]

Where do you find these? That's the challenge.
Fortunately I live in Uber-green Eco-friendly Oregon, where everything healthy is available. This is probably the best way to find a retailer in your area...

http://www.solidgoldhealth.com/

I called my local dealer this morning, and she says that these types of all-natural foods are normally sold by small independent pet shops. If they don't stock these brands, they well might special order for you.
A little more reading on what we are doing to benefit our dogs' health when we feed better quality food...
http://www.naturapet.com/dispd=inn-homelay.php?

Is it worth it? On top of what I said before, I'll add this-

Sedona is my 14 year old female Siberian Husky. She has end-stage cancer, and won't survive to see next Christmas. But every morning when I go running she is right at the door to go with me. I only take her 1 or 2 times a week, and only run about 2 miles on those days, but she never falls behind.
I got Sedona as a (approximately) 3 year old Rescue Dog. She has eaten natural food , and exercised regularly the remainder of her life. Although she does not retrieve, she goes out bird hunting with us every time- she's hell on the pheasants! Hates the cackling little buggers...
Yes she's a Husky, and she was bred to run... I know. But I defy anyone to show me a case where a dog fed its whole life on "Cheap-Brand Dog Chow"
can perform like that, at 14 years old.
Our hunting and hiking, guide, sledding and rescue dogs have a greater nutritional need than the average lap dog. They deserve to be fed better, and they give back to us many times over for that great care.

And for the naysayers: a dog is a scavenger- it can SURVIVE on anything. So can we.

But is that responsible care?

[Todd N.]

Also, I noticed in the article that 10 dogs have died.  I'm sorry, but this just is not statisically significant enough to warrant the recall tons of 70 some odd different brands of canned dog food, but at least the manufacturer is doing this on its own.

Kinda unheard of lately, ain't it? A company striving to produce the safest product it can, and policing itself, is something to be admired in today's business climate. This company recalled millions of dollars of product on its own, just so they could find the problem that caused this issue. Nobody told them to.
They deserve tremendous credit.

[Don Fischer]

Probally shouldn't say this to loud, it's a Canadian company.

[The Gamemaster]

I have a 7 year old beagle - male that weighs about 35 lbs.

My mom feeds him table scraps, along with what ever is in the feed bin.

I live in Pennsylvania and my dog lives outside year round.

I feed him twice a day when it is cold outside and also supplement his diet with pure pork and beef fat when it gets down below 10* outside.

Last fall I decided to buy the largest bag of IAMS dog food on a recommendation from my brother - who owns a in the house dog - a Chesapeake bay retriever.  He also owned a Rottweiler and I do not know much about inside the house dogs, except that people living in town - probably do not like large amounts of poop in their yards.

My mom was feeding Luke IAMS and after about 3 days he stopped eating it and started inhaling it.

When daylight savings time ended, Luke was waking them up at 7 AM in the morning because he was used to being fed at 8 AM before the time changed.

I honestly believe that there was not enough nutrition in IAMS dog food for him to live on.

I switched back to Dad's dog food and after about 3 days he quit eating his dog food and would wait until after supper to see if he was going to get any table scraps before he would eat his food in his bowl.

Now I love my dog and I feed it twice a day, but you cannot tell me that IAMS is better for him then Dad's dog food - just because it costs more.

My dog Luke loves cat food and my moms cat likes dog food.

Luke would eat cat food or IAMS until he burst if you would let him!

I know the difference between cat food and dog food, so you tell me what is better for him?

Dog food that fills his belly or dog food that he doesn't seem to get enough of?

Posting a opinionated poll of which dog food is the best is just about as idiotic as asking what caliber of gun is the best, 270 win or 30 - 06!