Puppy Food - what is the best?

[Jeremy]

Hello,

Brought our little guy home and he was started on nutrasource small breed puppy food, which he seems to like.  Only thing I don't like about it is it doesn't seem to be readily available at large pet stores (petco, amazon, petsmart, etc)...also didn't seem to be on the list on the website here as recommended.  My vet recommended a large breed puppy formula (we have a mini goldendoodle) as he said the better dog foods are too nutrient rich and they can grow a bit too fast on them- 

So not sure which way to go as he's running low on the nutrisource (I can buy more!).  Don't mind spending a bit extra for quality, would like to get a 5* from dogfoodadvisor....seems orijen is very popular, but again not available at chain stores/amazon.... I often see deals on blue buffalo wilderness but didn't see it listed on the rec. list....just wondering if there was any advice, specifically for a young puppy (9 wks, 6lbs)

Thanks!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Hi!  Please join the Food Group and check out our list of recommended foods:  http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup/forum/topics/recomme...

You should not make any big changes to his diet for the next few weeks; let him get adjusted to life with you and then switch over gradually.

You will notice that Blue Buffalo IS on our list, which is a better, more up-to-date list than dogfoodadvisor. We've spent a lot of time putting that list together and keeping it current.

Post pics soon!!!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

LOL, Allyson, GMTA!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Blue Buffalo is on the Recommended List. 

Often, there are small boutique type stores and feed stores in your area o which you may not be aware, which do carry many of the recommended brands. If you use the retailer locators on the manufacturers webasites, you will usually find something within driving distance. The smaller stores often price the food a little less than the big chains, too. 

Your vet is wrong. That may sound shocking, but there is no nutrition curriculum in vet school, and most vets are very poorly educated in this area. What they do know comes directly from Hill's Corp. Your puppy does not need a large breed formula, and the better foods are NOT too rich in nutrients. All AAFCO approved foods (which all of our recommended brands are) contain nutritents within the specified guidelines for canine health. If you don't overfeed, your dog won't grow too fast no matter what you feed.. 

One important caveat: do not change your puppy's diet in any way for at least two weeks after he comes home. No matter what kind of food and treats the breeder is feeding, stay with those and do not add anything for two weeks.

Lots more info in The Food group.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Also, keep in mind that the Dog Food Advisor rates foods based mostly on protein content, and therefore, only grain-free formulas with high protein contents are rated 5 stars. Yet every dog is different, many do very well on foods with lower protein contents and/or healthy grains, and there are many excellent foods that do not get 5 star ratings from the Dog Food Advisor. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Why you shouldn't change a puppy's food for at least two weeks after he comes home: (From the Food group):

It's critical that you not change anything about her diet for at least two weeks after she comes home. That means you keep her on the food and treats the breeder is feeding, even if they aren't so great.

Do not introduce any new treats or chews either. Keep her diet exactly the same as it was at the breeder's. 

Many, many doodle puppies come home with giardia and other parasites. Giardia has a 10-14 day incubation period, so it won;t show up in a fecal test right away. The excitement and stress of leaving the mother, the litter, and the only home the puppy has ever known can contribute to tummy troubles, too. And an 8 week old puppy has only been eating solid food of any kind for about 4 weeks, so the digestive system is very immature.

We have even had members whose brand new puppies had serious health issues resulting in digestive symptoms.

If you change the food before the dog has had a chance to settle in, and before any parasite issues have time to show up in a fecal test, and the dog has diarrhea, you will not know if it's caused by the food change, stress, parasites, or a digestive illness, and the breeder will blame it on the food change. Thus begins a journey of frustration trying to figure it out and an endless round of food changes. You also don;t want to do anything to upset that delicate digestive system, as diarrhea can cause a young puppy to dehydrate very quickly, and is going to make housebreaking a whole lot tougher.

So you wait. If you leave the dog's diet exactly as is, and diarrhea develops, you have just eliminated any connection to food as the cause, and saved yourself a lot of aggravation. And of course, if the puppy comes home with diarrhea that doesn't resolve in a day, you know your breeder sent you a puppy with an intestinal parasite and you can probably recoup the cost of the fecal testing and the treatment, lol. (I personally would have fecal done on any new puppy I got, along with a general once-over at the vet's office, but parasites may not show up right away.)

So wait at least two weeks. If, after two weeks, the stool is firm and regular and everything seems fine with the pup's digestion, you can start changing her over. Make only one change at a time. 

Read more here: http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup/forum/topics/fromm-g...

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Jeremy,

Welcome to DK.  Karen and Allyson... well you can not get any better advice or experience in the dog food area than them~  and so much more than Dog Food Adviser.  Glad you looked that site though, because you are much more ahead of the game than most new puppy owners!  Gold Start to you.

When it comes to getting food though, I can suggest you look into the many online sites that you can order better dog food from.

www.wags.com

www.petflow.com

www.doggiefood.com

www.petfooddirect.com

to name just a very few!

The dog food is delivered in 2-3 days, it is fresh, and you don't have to drive or do heavy lifting.  It is right at your door when you need good food. 

Also, each food has their own website.  If you type in your zip code, it will tell you where in your area the food is sold.  Many times, I had no clue, these small stores existed. I do like supporting local merchants so much more than the big name box stores.

I think you will be surprised how easy it is to get GREAT Food when you puppy is ready to change in a few weeks.

[Star and Goldie]

If you have a MINI doodle then why would your vet recommend LARGE puppy breed?

I'm definitely stumped by that one...

Also, I highly recommend Blue Buffalo. I feed my mini the Wilderness line from Blue Buffalo and she does better on it than any of the other lines within BB.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

LOL, I totally missed that one. I usually tell even standard doodle owners that their dogs don't need large breed formulas, a mini absolutely doesn't need one. 

[Jeremy]

Thanks everyone for all the feedback...he's been with us since 7/4, no tummy problems, solid stools, etc...I thought the vet's advice didn't sound quite right, so certainly didn't rush to follow it.  I think I have enough nutrisource to make it to the 2 week mark, instead of purchasing a whole extra bag-  Joined the food group as well, thanks for the tips!

So lots of good looking foods on the list, if price isn't a major consideration, which one do I pick?  leaning towards the orijen or blue buffalo wilderness...I did read to switch him over gradually and will do that

[Jeremy]

Chewie

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Chewiness is adorable.

[Joyce (Casey & Cody's mom)]

Awww - so cute!  He looks like my Casey.