so what would a quality dog food be?

Answer 1

Innova, Canidae, Solid Gold are all really good for your dog.

Answer 2

Read the ingredients on the food you buy. Go with a high quality dog food. A grain should not be in the first couple ingredients ingredient (corn and such are mainly fillers, dogs don't digest it well). Avoid foods that have a lot of "by products" listed.

Here are some good foods (these are just a few, there are definitely more brands out there that are quality dog food, but it will give you an idea of the ingredients to look for):

Chicken Soup Brand - http://www.chickensoupforthepetloverssoul.com/
Merrick - http://www.merrickpetcare.com/
Innova - http://www.naturapet.com/brands/innova.asp

Or check this website to find GOOD dog foods, not full of fillers and byproducts, they rate dog foods based on the ingredients, 6 being the best. I would recommend feeding only 4+ star foods. Any food 3 stars or less, I would avoid.
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/index.php

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Here's an ingredient comparison of not-so-good food (in this case, Pedigree), to good food (in this case, Chicken Soup brand):

Pedigree:
Ground Whole Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Animal Fat (preserved with BHA/BHT), Meat and Bone Meal, Natural Poultry Flavor, Wheat Mill Run, Potassium Chloride, Wheat Flour, Salt, Carmel Color, Vegetable Oil (Source of Linoleic Acid), Vitamins (Choline Chloride, dl-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate [Source of Vitamin E], L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate [Source of Vitamin C*], Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate [Vitamin B1], Biotin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement [Vitamin B2], Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide), Added FD&C and Lake Colors (Yellow 6, Blue 2, Red 40, Yellow 5).

Chicken Soup Brand:
Chicken, turkey, chicken meal, ocean fish meal, cracked pearled barley, whole grain brown rice, oatmeal, millet, white rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), potatoes, egg product, tomato pomace, duck, salmon, flaxseed, natural chicken flavor, choline chloride, dried chicory root, kelp, carrots, peas, apples, tomatoes, blueberries, spinach, dried skim milk, cranberry powder, rosemary extract, parsley flake, yucca schidigera extract, L-carnitine, Enterococcus faecieum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Saccharomyces cerevesiae fermentation solubles, dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D supplement, folic acid.

Notice how the better food has more meats, less grain, and no by-products than the other brand? That's where to start looking for what food is higher quality. Also be aware, just because it's expensive doesn't mean it's a good food.

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Another thing to be wary of: A lot of vets will recommend what they sell in their office. They get profit and kick-backs from the brands they keep on their shelves, that's why they push it. Truth is, vet schools don't focus a lot on nutrition. It's not saying that a vet is a bad vet because he recommends those foods, a lot of vets just are told "this is good food", so they pass the message along without proper nutrition knowledge. Also, some dog food brands (like Hills) support vet schools, so vets have heard of it from the time they start college, which makes them think it's good as well.

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When switching foods, do it slowly. I do this over about a two week timespan:
25% food A, 75% food B
50% food A, 50% food B
75% food A, 25% food B
100% food A

Answer 3

Innova, California Natural, Solid Gold and Canidae are very healthy and nutritious dog foods that are NOT effected by the pet food recall in the US.

Answer 4

I'm not surprised to see that the answers supporting raw have received thumbs down. That said, I feed both raw and kibble and homecooked to my three pups.

But let's backtrack. Why did wolves become dogs in the first place? It's because humans created an environmental niche when they started congregating in communities and produced lots and lots of TRASH. Yes, wolves became dogs primarily because of their ability to eat scraps and trash. The fact of the matter is that our dogs can live off nearly anything.

Here is the Golden Food Rule : Use whatever works for your dog(s). Simple as that.

Answer 5

Ive fed my dog Nutro Natural Choice his whole life (he's 10), and when I tried switching to more expensive foods like Innova, Wellness, etc.....he always had more gas, more stool, looser stool, and I mean even after the initial getting used to the new food. I personaly cant afford the more pricy food anyway. Vets also reccomend home made food consisting of rice and chicken, but the packaged food has more vitamins added.

Answer 6

I think anything holistic . Since most commercial foods are having recalls everyday I dont think any commercial dog food is safe . Yes I will definately stick with a holisitic food for now and my dogs love it . I use california naturals . it is good and does not cost anymore than any of the others .

Answer 7

Innova is what I feed my dog. Canidae is also a good one. Neither of them have been involved in the recent pet food recalls in any way. Here are links to their web sites:

Answer 8

RAW (not BARF). Lots of good info on that all over the place. Mmm...I would look at Innova EVO, Timberwolf, California Naturals, Canidae, Chicken Soup. There is also Wellness and Eagle Pack and they are OK but not as good as the others.
Check out this link.
How to rate your dog food:
http://www.acreaturecomfort.com/ratingpetfood.htm

Answer 9

I lost my dog to the recalled food. I am now feeding my new puppy Merrick dog food. It is holistic and they do their own processing. Just type in Merrick pet food and it will bring up their site.

Answer 10

>>I use Innova, but I also make my own dog food too. Really easy to make. I give my dog 3 parts homemade dog food to one part Innova. She loves it. I also give her a daily vitamin, flax seed oil and yogurt with a fish oil pill every other day.