What Dog Food...?

Question

Any good or bad experiences with dog food? I am looking for the best food for high energy longhaired small dogs. I might get one but I want to be completely prepared. Also what all do you need before you take a puppy home?

Whenever I report GitEmGang, nothing happens oh well.... GitEm, I now know why you dont have a picture. If you did everyone would be out trying to find you and beat you up!! There are tons of people who would just say 'hey lets get a puppy' and just grab one at random from the pound and feed it leftovers from the table!! You should be able to see that I am being responsable I guess you were too busy looking for ways to make me mad to notice...

PS every person I have met **except you** have told me that people who pick on me and make fun of me actually are trying to get to know me so they can get a date. haha thats a laugh...

Answer 1

How to grade your dog's food: Start with a grade of 100:
1) For every listing of "by-product" , subtract 10 points
2) For every non-specific animal source ("meat" or "poultry", meat, meal or
fat) reference, subtract 10 points
3) If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points
4) For every grain "mill run" or non-specific grain source, subtract 5 points
5) If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five ingredients (I.e. "ground brown rice", "brewers rice", "rice flour" are all the same grain), subtract 5 points
6) If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points
7) If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points
8 ) If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3points
9) If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points
10) If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil, subtract 2 points
11) If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to other protein sources), subtract 2 points
12) If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points
13) If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog is not allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points
14) If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog is not allergic to beef), subtract 1 point
15) If it contains salt, subtract 1 point>
Extra Credit:
1) If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points
2) If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist, add 5 points
3) If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points
4) If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points
5) If the food contains fruit, add 3 points
6) If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains), add 3 points
7) If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 2 points
8 ) If the food contains barley, add 2 points
9) If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds), add 2 points
10) If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point
11) If the food contains sunflower oil, add 1 point
12) For every different specific animal protein source (other than the first one; count "chicken" and "chicken meal" as only one protein source, but "chicken" and "" as 2 different sources), add 1 point
13) If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point
14) If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are pesticide-free, add 1 point

Score:
94-100+ = A 86-93 = B 78-85 = C 70-77 = D 69 and below = F>
Here are some foods that have already been scored.

Dog Food scores:
Authority Harvest Baked / Score 116 A+
Bil-Jac Select / Score 68 F
Canidae / Score 112 A+
Chicken Soup Senior / Score 115 A+
Diamond Maintenance / Score 64 F
Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice / Score 92 B
Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula / Score 99 A
Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium / Score 122 A+
Dick Van Patten's Duck and Potato / Score 106 A+
Foundations / Score 106 A+
Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold / Score 93 B
Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 D
Innova Dog / Score 114 A+
Innova Evo / Score 114 A+
Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+
Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B
Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice / Score 23 F
ProPlan Natural Turkey & Barley / Score 103 A+
Purina Beneful / Score 17 F
Purina Dog / Score 62 F
Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 F
Royal Canin Bulldog / Score 100 A+
Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult / Score 106 A+
Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice / Score 97 A
Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ / Score 63 F
Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies / Score 69 F
Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken / Score 110 A+
Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold / Score 97 A

Answer 2

When did chicory, carrots, peas, apples and cranberry become dog food ingredients? There isn't much real difference between these foods. One uses chicken and turkey, the other only uses chicken. Neither uses corn or wheat. The biggest difference is the fruits and vegetables in the chicken soup brand. Both are made by the same company and its a good bet that the major ingredients come from the same sources. Unless there is an allergy problem your dog will be fine with either food. Feed whichever one is easier to get. The prices are close enough to the same, especially considering how little one pomeranian will eat. If you were feeding a working dog you might notice a difference between those foods but not with a normal family pet.

Answer 3

We were vet recommended and have been using Innova dog/puppy food for years. It was highly suggested as we had an older dog with beginning stages of kidney failure and the vet said it was the easiest for him to digest and get thru his system. It's expensive, but well worth it to us.

For a new puppy, here's what I would try to have....

1) Crate/Kennel
2) Bedding/Matt for crate
3) Dishes
4) Food
5) Grooming equipment
6) Toys-maybe just one until you see what puppy likes
7) Chew toys-same as above
8) Leash and collar
9) Treats

And I would be looking to contact a trainer to start puppy kindergarten for socialization and some basics.

Good Luck!

Answer 4

There's a lot of good advice on here already . I really don't have much to add except personal experience events. I ordered Drs Foster and Smith food ,the lamb meal. (1) My dogs didn't like it and would barely touch it. Considering it was pretty exspensive to buy and have shipped ,I let them wait it and eventually they ate it . My Piper broke out from the food. Now this is a premium food.For a while last year I was feeding them Merrick ,that's top of the line food,my dogs where constantly hungry with this food. What works for some dogs on certain foods may not work for other dogs.You have to use trail and error to find out what works and what wont work.Then just stick with that brand.

Answer 5

If you are getting a puppy then feed small kibble puppy formula. As far as brand, I would go with Nutro Natural, Canadea, Solid Gold,Eagle or Canine Cavier. These are some of the higher quality foods. But it really depends on what your dog thinks. I feed Nutro Natural High Energy formula for my Boxer. You can find high energy formulas in a lot of brands, but feed puppy foods in the beginning. Check with your breeder and see what their recommendation might be too.

Things to get for the new baby: crate, bed, lots of toys, quality treats, small or breakable preferrably soft and chewy. A belly band if a toy breed, to prevent mistakes until fully potty trained. Carpet cleaner for accidents. New collar, and a fully lable tag! An appointment with the vet, start shots and deworm and don't forget to mircochip!

All this including the dog 300-1000 dollars. For a love that is unconditional and everlasting: PRICELESS!

Answer 6

This might help: http://www.canismajor.com/dog/tpuppy.html

As far as dog food, the more expensive the dog food, the better quality the food is. Try to find one with no by-products, no corn or wheat, no dairy, no artificial colors or flavors, no chemical preservatives added and no sugar or salt added.

Here is a list of ingredients and what they are exactly: http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=badingredients

Stay away from the foods you can get at the grocery store. Some pet stores do have some good food, but remember to read the label. Many ingredients are known to cause kidney and liver damage because they are so hard to process, causing kidney and liver disease. Kidney stones, allergies, intestinal upsets, the list goes on.

Your vet is a great source of information. Ask what they feed their dog. Remember to bring your puppy in the vet prior to bringing it home for a clean bill of health, vaccines started, etc.

Answer 7

Nutro is a good brand of puppy food.If it is a large breed puppy make sure it gets large breed puppy food.You may want to make sure the protein is lower when it gets to be an older pup(almost adult) The lower protein makes them a bit calmer.Do yourself a favor and don't ever feed dog table scraps.Dogs are smart and will want the food you eat and not what is better for them.They get PICKY!
Merrick has a good brand of food also.Human grade.

Most of all cherish the puppy, train him/her,you will have the best friend ever.Good luck!

Answer 8

As far as food goes, find one that has actual meat as the first ingredient. Longhaired dogs will require regular grooming. As far as the rest goes, you just need to use your common sense and have lots of patience and love.

Answer 9

I would definitely look for a food that does not use by products and does not use corn or cheap fillers! www.dogfoodproject.com is a great place to start. They also have a forum where you can ask questions and get some good feedback. Also, do research on the breed and see if they have any breed specific needs. (Like low protein.) Good Luck!

Answer 10

I recommend Nutro Natural Choice or Wellness. These foods promote healthy digestive and urinary tract systems, and a lot of small dogs have those problems. Good Luck, getting a dog is fun, but it's a lot of responsability!