What's for Dinner?

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

HELP! I need some advice here.  I think it's almost time to change my 11 month medium doodle from puppy food to adult food.  He's 45 lbs now & has been eating Wellness Puppy Food topped with different high quality canned foods -- or with the occasional cooked chicken, fresh vegetables, and/or yogurt since he was a little guy.  He's done great on this diet.  But now he's turning up his nose at the dry food (it happens) and I'm thinking of changing him over to a grain free (higher protein) diet.  Thoughts, advice anyone??

(OH BTW I'm NOT doing BARF --great as it might be--because that's a little too primal for me :) 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Cheryl, you should post this in The Food Group. We have hundreds of discussions about these topics, and a list of recommended foods.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I'll check out the Food Group.  Thanks!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Cheryl, There is a Food Group on DK and it has tons of information about this topic. I feed my dogs Fromm 4 Star Line and switch the formula up periodically to keep them interested. They love it. They have a grain free dog food too. I don't know what BARF is, but I don't like the sound of it, so not doing that either :)

[Jena ~ Dublin]

Cheryl, just noticed this post, I feed Dulin and Chetti (our Lagotto) Orijen Puppy and will switch to Orijen line.  Another good line is Fromm or Acana but there is a list of grain free foods posted on the food group page. 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Thanks Jena.  I tried the Origen because the idea of grain free makes so much sense to me and Finn loved it but his stools were too loose on it. The vet thought the protein might be too high for him.  RIght now he's on Natural Balance and doing just fine but we might try another grain free with slightly lower protein.  You're right, the recommended foods on the food group page is a big help.

[Laura, Joel, and Simba]

I switched my doodle to adult food at 14 months because he is a standard size and needed the extra nutrition.  I switched to Blue buffalo, which  he gobbled up quick, but then became picky and wouldn't eat it after a while.  I now give him Taste of the Wild Prairie and he loves it.  It is grain free.  He doesn't always eat when I give it to him, but he will when he is hungry.  I used to give him a spoonful of wet food on top and mixed in yogurt occasionally.  When I didn't give it to him he wouldn't eat.  So be careful of that.  Just wean him off of the wet food and yogurt and tell him this is the only food you are getting.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Thanks Laura.  Time to start weaning.

[Jena ~ Dublin]

@ Cheryl- I decided to change Chetti because she was having "issues" and the vet thought it may have to be because the protein amount.  I switched to ACANA which is lower and she likes it.  Its almost the ingredients are better in the ACANA, I may switch Dublin too.  This way I dont have to have 2 different dog foods around and keep one away from the other either.