Good Dog Food

[UncleDave]

I recently got my pooch from the Humane Society.  They were feeding her Purina.  I ran out recently and just ran across the street to Big Lots and picked up a small 4lb bag of some cheap crap they carry.  I swear she's pooing 50% more than she was on the Purina.  Are there any good brands that will reduce the waste?  Purina was okay, but I would like to try another quality brand that's attainable in the Coon Rapids area.

[Spinach]

Purina Pro Plan here. I used to feed Nutri Source, but its on the expensive side. Both great foods, but  Pro Plan is a lot cheaper.

[murdock54]

I feed my dog Nuti-Source and I can set my watch by his poops. Its also made in MN, but like Pat said, its more expensive than some others.

[The General]

Uncle D, I'm currently feeding Diamond Naturals but it's also aroun $27 for a 40lb bag.  When you look at the back of the bag the better dog foods usually call for less.  Take my dog for example 60lbs, with a cheap dog food he would probably call for 5-6cups.  With the Diamond it's 2 1/2 -3.  So it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that if you put in less.......less will come out the other end.  Also watch for the words "by-product" in the first 5 or so ingredients, this is bad.

[Woody]

When we got our dog from the breeders, I asked what food was preferred.   He said they've used "Ol'Roy"/Wal-mart brand dog food for years without incident or problems.  In my dogs case he was raised on the Gravy type (just add water).  But now he's tired of that and has gone more for the dinner rounds.  Still bought at Wal-mart, just different types of food.  Right or Wrong, he has "normal" bm's, and is as "regular" as can be.  I just wished they'd add a breath freshener to the food!  WHEW!   

[bowhunter73]

We use Nutro max and have for 2 years ever since she was a pup. Both Dog and I love it. We just got some at Pet Smart (Coon Rapids) for $23 on sale for a 50# bag and all goes well in the yard.

 But for years, I told my father to stop, feeding his dogs the cheap crap that gives big messy piles smelly gas and take years of the life of a dog. So he finally made a switch to Ol Roy. And I had never heard of it so I thought the old man just switched crap for crap. But I think I was wrong after talking to people and seeing his dogs and mine after are visits. Along with some cyber research, I think the ol Roy is good too.

 Me personally I don’t worry about the cost of dog food. She is part of the family and even with the best care, she still cost less than anybody else and always loves me. Money well spent!

[Merimac]

Pro plan Performance.  40 bucks a bag.  I gotta find a better source.

[Bobby Bass]

I have used the Alpo Prime Cuts dry for years and years. Never a problem and good price in the 50# bags. Got three dogs eating and what ever the cats steal from the bowl!

[repoman]

Pro plan Performance.  40 bucks a bag.  I gotta find a better source.

i feed the same ,  really good food for the mone :happy1:y

[BirddogBenelli]

I have been using Diamond Premium puppy chow for my 11 month old lab and mixing in some of the wet NutroMax canned food.  i will be changing it to adult food next week but I think for the money that Diamond is an excellent brand.  NOt a lot of places carry it though, is what I have found.

[UncleDave]

Thank for the info.  I wrote down the brands an will try one of them this weekend.

[thunderpout]

Atlas pet supply has the best prices on Diamond that I have found, theres one in blaine/ham lake on 65 and another further north in princetonor elk river I think... Diamond's good stuff for the price!

[Merimac]

Repoman What do you pay per bag?

[Spinach]

I've been payong $27 for a 40 pound bag of Pro Plan Large breed, thats after the Petsmart card holder discount of $5.

I feed performance from Sept through Jan, I think its closer to $40.

[Cody Gruchow]

i feed my dog royal canine sense he was just switched to it, all the dogs at work are just started up on royal canine, they use to feed diamond to them but after a year or 2 some dogs stools werent hard at all so they had to change it. from what i remeber i think i paid 37 dollars for my 40# bag at petsmart.

[Tami]

Eagle Pack

[labs4me]

Fed Diamond products to my long list of dogs for 15 years.  Was a huge proponent of the food and defending them when others said it wasn't a good chow... well the last year I fed it my dogs did not do too well.  Coats were going to heck and one had trouble keeping weight on unless I stayed on the professional diet, and they were not having minimal stools any longer.  I don't see where the recipe changed, but something did, and that was noticed on all three dogs.  A year and a half ago I made the switch to Canidae.  After doing a ton of research, I felt this was the best brand out there.  The majority of it is made of real meat, and there is no corn or soy or wheat.  It coss a little more at $36 a 40lb bag, but the dogs are excelling and you do get every 12th bag free... so in essence it is $3.00 less per bag.

Fromms duck and sweet potatoe food would be another I'd consider, but it is harder to find and spendy.

Royal Canin would be my next pick.  Very good food, just a bit spendier than Canidae though.

Good Luck!

Ken

[Cody Gruchow]

thats the same thing we seen at the hunting club kennel some of them wouldnt gain weight with diamond, they did move to new ingriedents with corn i for one dont think that its just the corn but i wont buy any dog food that has a high concentration of corn in it, royal canine is a rice based food.

[The General]

You guys should really check out the Diamond Naturals.  I agree that the other Diamond food may not me that good.  I also checked in on the Canidae at the local pet shop who sells it.  She told me that it's (canidae) is a great food.  She said if it was the same price she would feed the Canidae or even if it was just a dollar or two more, but not at $10 a bag more.  Their price on the Canidae ALS was $36.  She said this is the last she has at that price.  The rep was in that morning and said the price would be raised to $41 a bag (40lbs).  So for roughly $15 less a bag she said she would def stay with the Diamond Naturals if your dog is doing well on it.  I also asked her if she would feed the Canidae ALS to the puppies she has there.  She said NO.  The cheapest place I found Diamond was at the feed store in Paynesville.  I also see it's at Runnings for $26.99 a bag.  If you think I'm pulling your leg it's Bluebird Petshop in Willmar who sells both the Diamond and Canidae brands (a crap load more brands too) give her a call.  She really seemed to know her stuff.

[Tami]

Fed Diamond products to my long list of dogs for 15 years.  Was a huge proponent of the food and defending them when others said it wasn't a good chow... well the last year I fed it my dogs did not do too well.  Coats were going to heck and one had trouble keeping weight on unless I stayed on the professional diet, and they were not having minimal stools any longer.  I don't see where the recipe changed, but something did, and that was noticed on all three dogs.  A year and a half ago I made the switch to Canidae.  After doing a ton of research, I felt this was the best brand out there.  The majority of it is made of real meat, and there is no corn or soy or wheat.  It coss a little more at $36 a 40lb bag, but the dogs are excelling and you do get every 12th bag free... so in essence it is $3.00 less per bag.

Fromms duck and sweet potatoe food would be another I'd consider, but it is harder to find and spendy.

Royal Canin would be my next pick.  Very good food, just a bit spendier than Canidae though.

Good Luck!

Ken

Labs nice to see you... can you post more here. its always great to hear your experience and wisdom on things...

But we all have the dog food that works best and we all think ours is the best, its nice to see what others are feeding their dogs..
Eagle Pack for 20 years of my dogs, we ran dog sled races, and you name it .. Eagle Pack, is all natural and human grade meats.. Look it up

This might send some people off, but you got to stay away from the 8.99 bag for 40 pounds dog food. You wouldn't put that stuff in your belly

[Merimac]

NG,  I Agree with much of what you say.  The one point that makes me want to discuss it a bit more is the Human grade food.   I dont understand why that is so well thought of.  Some of the things we think are Nasty are richer in protein Like lungs and guts etc. 

I wont go into detail but read these if you want.

http://www.api4animals.org/facts.php?p=359&more=1

http://www.fda.gov/cvm/petlabel.htm

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2001/301_pet.html
 

[Fish Guide]

Had a few dogs, and tried all the cheap foods etc etc , nothing beats a good food .  Currently i use Iams, dog eats 1/2, poops 1/2 and no god aweful stink either, soft fur lbah blah blah.  Worth every penny.

[rosiesdad]

Been using Purina One, available at Walmart or Tractor Supply. Almost same analysis as P. Pro Plan. Just a few $ less and easier to find.

[Birdshooter]

Pro Plan Adult and Performance are a great food. Mills fleet Farm is carrying it now and more reasonable than most. Pet smat does have a good promotion plan as well.

[UncleDave]

I settled on Purina Pro Plan.  She actually is eating about the same amount, just not as much poo.  Thanks for the suggestions.

[gveire]

I have been giving my dogs Member's Mark Performance Dog Food 50lb bag for $17.00 from Sam's Club CHEEP and not that much POO POO.. 27% Protein 15% Fat its good my dogs have great looking coats look into it..

[swamprat]

I'm surprised so many people have fed Diamond.  I've been using it for 15 years but it is hard to find.  They have it at Anoka Feed.  I haven't noticed that the quality has gone down.  My new dog gained weight just fine and seems healthy.  Now you've got me paranoid and I'm going to go out and look at the ingredients.

[thunderpout]

Hey swamprat, I dont know about diamonds cheaper food, but the lamb & rice, naturals etc dont have any corn at all, when I switched from my old brand, which had corn gluten and other fillers, I looked up ingredients at a few stores.  Youd be surprised how many have corn of some kind in the first couple listed ingredients!  I go with Diamond lamb and rice most of the year then switch to their hi-protien formula when we start training/chasing birds.  Atlas has it cheaper than anyone I've found.  you can pay more for dog food or buy cheaper stuff, but its a good comprimise, and Drummer likes it!

[The General]

Yeah swamprat,  I do the exact same thing as thunderpout.  I buy mine at the local Runnings here in town.$26.99 a bag.

[Cody Gruchow]

still stickin with royal cainie lab, dog loves it, its kind of spendy 45 dollars 40lb bag