Anyone Have Updated (Current) Food Lists for Adult Golden Doodles (7 years+)

[Gregg Aprahamian]

I'm looking to budget the amount of $ spent on food monthly for my boy.  I've used Wellness always since he was 10 weeks old.  Have had bouts of diarrhea from year to year and can never trace exactly what, where or why?  When put on RX Food from Vet (Hills Prescription Diet w/d) and look on this site and others, everyone trashes the food company, for good reason (so it seems).  

If I don't want to spend $60+/month on Wellness, what is the BEST and cheapest brand that this group recommends... My Cooper is 88lbs, 7 years old and in great health (Thank God!).

Thank you all, in advance, for your contributions.  The list below was from 2011, updated in 2015, however, doesn't state whats best for his age group or the wallet.  

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup/forum/topics/recomme...

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I would join the Food Group and post this discussion there!

[Gregg Aprahamian]

OK.  Thanks!

[Stella]

I believe the Reccomemded Food Brands list was updated last year. Cost will vary depending on where you live and where you purchase from. The best way to calculate cost is not look at the cost per bag, but calculate cost per meal. This is discussed extensively in The Food Group :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Exactly. There is an updated list and many discussions about the costs of the food as fed.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

The food group recommended food brands list IS current.  The date at the top is deceiving.  The person who originated the group is so busy with her career and young family that she hasn't updated the DATE.  The person who actually posts and does the research is totally up to date.  You can always go right to the food group and post the discussion there. 

Quality dog food costs  more than crap dog food - no way around it.  One feeds smaller portions of better foods so comparing the cost per bag is deceptive as you get lots more servings from the same size bag. Wellness is a good food brand; it's on the recommended list.  I don't think you are going to get much cheaper. though Canidae might be cheaper.  We have three doodles and spend about $300 a month on Orijen.  Periodically I cost out other grain-free brands, but the little bit I'd save isn't worth it to me.  Their poop is almost always perfect (stress or outside treats can affect poop) and their vet check ups show them to be healthy, so intellectually I consider changing, but I'm not going to. My boys are nine and four. Their daily servings probably add up to your one big boy - 2 1/3 cups twice a day. 

PS When one of my boys seems to have soft stools, I give him a probiotic  or put plain unflavored yogurt on his kibble for a few days.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This is the current updated list: http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup/forum/topics/recomme...

There are also several cuurent discussions in the Food group on the costs of the various foods 

[Scotty]

Depending on if you want grain free or not & obviously prices may vary if your shopping at a local retailer, but from the prices I've found Canidae is the cheapest on the recommended list if you don't want to do grain free. If you want to do grain free Earthborn seems to me to be the cheapest, Zignature is a pretty good value as well.

As far as budgeting there's a food calculator listed in the food group, which if you input all the info off the bag (or you can get it online if you're looking at foods you don't currently have) & it will give you an idea of how long a bag will last.