I have 2 boxer puppies, 7 months and 5 months. I'd like to change the type of food they eat.?

Question

They are currently eating Science Diet puppy food but I know it's not the best choice. I'm looking for a healthy, all-natural dog food that will help them grow strong and maintain their physiques. They are quite finicky and need something that tastes great as well. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

its easy all u have to do is put the new food with the old one at fisrt u put a little and the next day a little more and so on till the new food replaces the old one. heres a site that should help
http://dogs.about.com/cs/dietandnutrition/qt/switch_foods.htm

Answer 2

Your right Science Diet isn't the best choice for pet food. I have to Lab.'s i is 21/2 yrs and the other is 14 yrs.old. They both eat Nutro Natural Choice " Lamb and Rice" They make different flavor and the use no by-products or corn in their food. California Natural is another top of the line d pet food but it cost a little more, plus Nutro has a buy 10 bags get the next on free.Nutro comes in different size kibbles to for big or small dogs. I know ur dogs will gt row big and strong on this food because people aways talk about how health and good my dogs look and I owe it to breeding and their food. Here is a link to Nutro so go and check it out you want be disappointed : http://www.nutroproducts.com/dog.shtml Good Luck MB
P.S. I would get them a toy called the Kong. It's made out of rubber and the can chase it, chew it , what ever and the can't destroy it.

Answer 3

I know it 'wrecks' the complete recipe, but why not combine both. We feed one of our hounds Burns Lamb and Rice and the other, who has a sensitive tummy after having Giardia early on, Arden Grange Sensitive (about to be switched because they've reduced their bag size but kept the price the same!!). With both they have just a very small amount of Butchers Blend, tripe mix, on the complete food which I also add a small amount of warm water, for flavour and taste. Neither Burns nor Arden Grange is especially cheap, but both is good, and I don't imagine your Shih Tzu is going to need much, so a bag should last!! You may have a struggle at first if he's been given human food, but stick with it. Put the dog food down at the right time (I recommend you feed two meals a day now, unless he's under weight and needs lunch still) and leave it for say 10 - 15 minutes. If he doesn't eat up, pick it up and refrigerate it until the next mealtime. Bin anything left over at the end of the day - and for now, until you have managed the switch to proper food (!), no treats. He needs to be hungry so he eats up which he should do once he realises that this is his source of nourishment now, with you! Add Do not use hot water to soak a complete food - it will destroy the vitamins. Warm water for soaking - but you should not need to be soaking his food at 5 months in any case. A small amount of water to bring out the smell and flavour by all means. But that's all.

Answer 4

Try the following brands,
Innova, Innova Evo (might be 2 high in protein though) Canidae, Wellness,
BTW the general rule is, anything sold at the grocery store is not good, petco / petsmart is a step up but the food is still most likely full of fillers and other unnecessary ingredients

to read about different foods visit the link here: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/

Another thing to note: for medium size puppies, you want food that is not 2 high in protein, (some are like 40% and thats way more than needed). it is important that your dogs growth gradually to help support their join and bone development, so don't get something that is 2 high in protein, i think Innova Evo might be. If you go to the feed store to purchase the food, they will be able to suggest something for you for sure. Just go to your local small pet shop. you can also search online for the brands i mentioned to see where their distributors are and call them up and talk to them.

When switching the food do it gradually
week 1: 1/4 new food 3/4 old food
week 2: 1/2 new food 1/2 old food
week 3: 3/4 new food 1/4 old food
week 4: new food

good luck

Answer 5

Canidae is a great food and is well priced. It uses all natrual ingredients and 4 different protein sources. I pay only $36.99 for a 40 lb. bag, which is less than a 40 lb. bag of Science Diet, which is not that great of a food at all. Canidae also has an "all life stages" rating, which means they had to endure a lot of testing to achieve this status. One food can keep a puppy, adult, and senior healthy and strong. Www.dogfoodanalysis.com gives Canidae a 5 out of 6 star rating. Check it out. Good luck!

Answer 6

Hills Science Diet is not a good choice. I'm feeding my dogs Chicken Soup for the Dog Lovers Soul. They have a puppy version.

Go to the link below and see if you can find something rated high 5 or 6 to switch to. It tell you the ingredients and tell you how the food got it's rating. Chicken Soup is rated 5. Hills Science Diet is rated one, so it is pretty bad.

http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/index.php

Answer 7

Jesus!!! Still more idiots brainwashed by PETA that spout lies about Iams!!!!
People here have given many good suggestions...and some have not. No food will be good for ALL dogs. Try something you like and see what the results are. If it doesn't do good things for your dogs, try something else. It doesn't matter how expensive and how many people swear by a food...there will be some dogs that will not do well on it.

Answer 8

You could try making their food. Buy chicken parts (livers, gizzards, etc.) at the grocery store or butcher. Put them in the food processor & grind them up. There would be no additives this way and the livers have a lot vitamins that dogs need.

Answer 9

just put the food down and let them get on with it i use bakers complete and pedigree chum meat my two love it but if you swap foods most dogs dont give a sh%t

Answer 10

you will have to gradually introduce them to the new food by adding it to the old one