Ok,
I have searched and read all of the posts on dry kibble. I know alot of you recommend raw diet. One: I can't afford it right now, and two: we have a hunting dog if it gets a taste of raw is it going to eat my birds?

So here's whats going on in detail. The breeder starts the pups on Nutrisource Chicken and rice Puppy food. ( details here: http://www.nutrisourcedogfood.com/nutrisource/products/small_medium_breed_puppy )

So my husband and I have to specially order this dog food from a local retailer because no one cares the small/medium breed puppy food. Gander mountain carries the adult we are thinking of feeding after the first year ( http://www.nutrisourcedogfood.com/nutrisource/products/lamb_meal_and_rice ).

I have already conversed with my vet and she said she has heard of the brand of dog food but doesn't know enough about it. We went today to a local organic pet store (if you live in the wausau, wi area pm me its a great shop) that carries Ori-Jen Organic, Taste of the Wild ( we recieved a sample of the roated bison and venison). I was told by my vet to stay away from Blue Bufflo.

So the full list of dog food we are considering is

Nutrisource
Canidae
Taste of the Wild
Origen

Now I have no issues paying 45-60 per bag. My husband is already grinding his teeth about this cost. He agrees since we have such a quality pet we are going to make sure it stays healthy etc. But its kind of tight for us to spend like $100 on a bag of kibble (ori-jen is about 76.00 for a 35lb bag.)

Also I have checked out http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com to check out the recommendations and I have a feeling they only did certain ones.

Any thoughts on this would be helpful. Even though I know raw is the best way to go we are planning on doing kibble for food and hubby is open to raw for treats in click training (hes not totally against the idea, but budget wise not possible right now for full raw diet)

Side note: Opened the nutrisource and it actually smells good. Tiny pieces (would be great for loading) but I haven't been able to find alot of reviews on the food. Also, opened Taste of the Wild sample and it doesn't smell as good.


Mary McKeever

If that is the amount you are willing to spend on dry I am certain with a little research you could be feeding raw for considerably less..
As for feeding a hunting dog raw I have two raw fed dogs I hunt and I have no problems with them eating game unless its given to them to do so...

I've gotta show my bias first, then talk about kibble!

Eating raw chicken will not make your dog eat birds. I have chickens and two dogs that eat chickens and eggs daily. Lots of other folks have dealt with this on a larger scale (numbers-wise), and if you train your dog to retrieve birds, what goes into their bowl shouldn't change their working ability. Also, raw isn't *necessarily* expensive compared to good kibble. But it does take some time. I'm so in the habit now that it would feel strange just to pour a bowl anymore!


But if looking into foods, those you mentioned are good quality kibbles. TOTW has a great price point. A 30# bag should cost you under $1.50 a pound. It has a lot of "novel proteins" in it, which some vets discourage (lest you run into allergy issues), but for the price, it's hard to beat. I'm a fan of rotating kibbles, though respect the reasoning others may have against it. The important thing is that you are feeding meat and veggies, not "cereal." I'm sure you'd have success feeding any of the four you named, though Nutrisource seems to be ringing a bell regarding an issue... I think wheat/corn is why I opted not to carry it.

 Quote: Chip Bridges

... I'm a fan of rotating kibbles, though respect the reasoning others may have against it.

No argument here. Far from it.

IMHO, using more than one kibble is the primary method for covering more nutritional bases. No matter what the kibble, one formula cannot possibly provide the benefits that variety does, including (but not limited to) different amino acid profiles. Also, an unsuspected nutritional shortage in one kibble will have a much less dire effect if it's merely part of, and not 100% of, the diet.

If I fed kibble, I would reserve a few protein sources (meaning never feed them in any form) against any allergy/elimination-diet eventuality, and then I would not only rotate, but combine. That is, I would always be giving more than one kind.

 Quote: Mary McKeever

if it gets a taste of raw is it going to eat my birds?
Mary McKeever

You're kidding,right?!!!

I feed 2 GSDs raw for less than you will pay for your kibble. It can be done.

I have fed TOTW to my two dogs for the past six months...nothing but good things to say...hard stool...not to expensive, 33% protein ratio not to high.....I have tried the Origin and found it was a little high on the Protein%, giving loose stools for my dogs....

Chip...what do you mean when you say..."novel proteins" which may lead to allergies, can you explain this, I want to steer cleer of allergies etc......

Brian, the "novel" meat proteins are anything other than chicken, beef, whitefish or (now) lamb. TOTW formulas have bison, venison, quail, duck, pheasant, salmon, etc. The idea is that should you have a food allergy issue, you need to feed a food the dog has never encountered. These three foods in my rotation cover lots of bases if you need to try something the dog has never ingested. I feed them to my own dogs, and have no problem with their inclusion on the ingredient panels, for what that it's worth... there's always elk, groundhog and ostrich in case of worst case scenario!

" "novel proteins" which may lead to allergies, can you explain this,"


"Novel" is 100% individual. "Novel" proteins are any proteins the individual dog has never eaten.

Reserving novel proteins against a possible future allergy doesn't mean that novel proteins lead to allergies. It means that you keep some proteins back so they can be the source(s) for a future elimination diet if it's ever needed.

I can buy 40 pounds of chicken backs for $15. Feeding raw takes more time than kibble--but it certainly doesn't have to cost more. My dogs eat like kings among dogs for about $1 per pound of food.

 Quote: Tracy Collins

I can buy 40 pounds of chicken backs for $15.

I want that!!

I'm thrilled to get Smart Chicken backs held by the butcher for me for under $1 per pound!


eta
Even so, I can feed raw for less than top kibble costs, as Tracy says.

Edited by Connie Sutherland (06/25/2010 07:36 PM)
Edit reason: eta