Whats the best brand of dog food?

Question

The vet told me I have to get my dog off people food (he's getting too fat) but he dont like dog and will starve hisself until I give in and give him something. Hes a chihuahua and very picky.Does your dog have a favorite dog food?

Answer 1

For the most part, you get what you pay for with dogfood. You can pay $8 for 40lbs at WalMart and you might as well be feeding your dog old shoes... or you can pay $25 for 8lbs at a specialty shop for better quality food than you're probably eating.

Your dog can do just fine with a compromise. Read the ingredient labels and choose brands that use quality meats for their protein sources. Don't feed from bags that say "chicken byproducts." Feathers, feet, and beaks are chicken byproducts. Chicken meal includes skin and bones, which is okay. Corn is also a common filler in cheap brands; it has very little nutritional value, lots of sugars, and many dogs are actually allergic to it and develop itchy skin and ear infections as a result of eating it.

Purina One is pretty decent for the price. I like to feed Natural Balance, myself. Flint River Ranch is great, and delivers to your home free of s&h charges, but it gave my dogs gas. ;)

Tips for picky eaters:

** Buy the smallest bags you can of whatever you get, especially for your tiny dog. Dogfood gets stale like anything else and your dog will start turning it down even if he likes it when it's fresh.

** Try warming his food by pouring a small amount of water over it and microwaving for no more than 15 seconds or so. The moisture and warmth make it taste better, and it's more like people food that way too. Test it before feeding just in case so you don't burn your poor lil guy.

** You can add very small amounts of garlic, cumin, etc to your dog's food to make it taste better. Don't add salt.

** Try feeding your dog in a comfortable place. If he likes eating people food under the table in the kitchen at your feet, but has to eat his kibble locked up alone in the unheated laundry room for example, that may influence his opinions on the offerings.

And lastly, be patient. He's used to eating people food and will probably put up a stink when you refuse to give him anymore. Don't give in and sneak him "just a little" or you'll only prolong the agony. He will get hungry and he will eventually eat what you give him. Don't feel guilty about it, either. I'd live on nothing but chocolate if I could, but it's not healthy and I feel better when I eat better. Your dog will too!

Answer 2

I have my dog on Wellness, but Innova and Canidae are also really great dog foods. You would probably only need to buy an 8lb bag for your little dude, and that would last him over a month. The caloric count per cup is very high, so you feed less, and the dogs poop less. Cut out all the people food and treats. Take the dog for a nice walk, then rest for about 30 minutes when you get home. Put some food in his bowl and set it down for 15 minutes. After said time pick it up. Repeat this every morning and evening. He will NOT starve himself, especially if he is over weight, just make sure to have water available at all times. You just have to be consistent and not give in, dogs do not need people food. My pooch loves the Wellness and Innova foods.

Answer 3

First off, tell your dog Congrats on training you so well!

There really is not a "BEST" brand of dog food. There is several high quality dog foods on the market...Science Diet and Nutro are the only ones I can think of right now. What you need to look for is meat as the first and second ingreds. (like lamb and lamb meal or chicken and chicken meal). If corn or wheat are mentioned in the first 4 (or at all for that matter, it is not a good dog food. It will fill your dog up, but he will not be getting enough nutrition out of it). Our Dane puppy (10 months) prefers lamb over chicken (he ate the chicken, but gobbles the lamb). We use Costco's brand (Kirkland's Lamb and Rice). It is a pretty good dog food. It has lamb and lamb meal as the first two ingreds. and no corn or wheat...my vet was impressed with it.

Your dog will not starve to death. He will eat when he is hungry enough. Put down dog food (dry not canned), and quit the table foods "cold turkey" (lock him in another room when eating). Leave the food down all day, and take it up at night. After a few days of refusing, he will eat. Dogs have a natural drive to stay alive. You have to be stronger than he is, don't give in. If you think you may give in, then board him at the vet or a kennel until he gets over his refusal.

Good Luck on breaking this habit!

Answer 4

Walk him (really long walks!) and then let him rest for a while before you offer food. That's what the Dog Whisperer did on last night's show with a very picky Newf.

Do NOT give him any more people food! In addition to fatness, he could also get pancreatitis, which could be fatal very quickly in a chi!

My dogs like Hill's Science Diet, which even has a sensitive stomach variety, and small breed varieties as well. You could add a bit of canned food to the dry kibble to help entice him to eat.

But basically, just make sure he's exercised enough to be truly hungry! Hunger is the best spice.

Answer 5

There are a variety of different foods that are healthy for your dog and that you can feed to your dog in place of people food. He may balk at eating other food at first, but when he gets hungry enough he will eat. Royal Canin has a dog food formulated for your chihuahua and it is an excellent brand of food, tiny kibble. You can also get Pet Botanics Lamb Log at a PetSmart store and grate a few tablespoons of it mixing it in with the dog food. Dogs love that stuff and it is healthy too. Do not over feed. Dogs can gain weight on dog food too if they eat too much of it or if they eat a lot of treats in between.
Other brands of dog food that are healthy and suited for a chihuahua that are premium foods include: Authority Harvest Baked, Eukanuba small petite breed.
Eukanuba petite food also comes in a "light" formula if weight will be a problem for your dog once you switch him to food formulated to meet the dog's needs.

Answer 6

He won't starve himself. Picky or not. Did you ask your vet what dog food to feed him?

My dogs eat Natural Balance (for the last month or so) and they love it. My dogs also get people food snacks, but they know they have to eat their own food if they want full tummies.

Stay away from corn and by-products (best to talk to your vet about this). READ THE INGREDIENTS before you purchase.

Answer 7

Yuck.. Everyone said Science Diet! But as an experienced Kennel Tech, I can honestly tell you it makes the dog poo WAY to much. Goes right through them.

I feed and recommend Nutro. Their Natural Choice line is great.

But the rule of thumb is.. if you can get it in a grocery store, DON'T feed it to your pets!

Answer 8

Eukanuba or Iams are the best foods available. You are doing your dog no favors by 'giving in'. If you only offer dog food, then eventually, he will have no choice but to eat it. He will not starve - I promise! Good Luck

Answer 9

I use purina one, lamb and rice, dog likes it and it is a good quality dog food, her coat is real shinny and looks forward to her dish, do not over feed the dog though and make sure plenty of exercise is available

Answer 10

Eukanuba and IAMS are both good dog foods. You can also ask your vet if they sell any foods they think would be good for your dog. Vet sold dog foods are pretty pricey but very good for your pet.