Anyone use FreshPet? I use as topper to Orijen, but open to topper suggestions.....

[Lorraine & Amos]

It's been a while since I have posted, but Amos and I were introduced to FreshPet Select Chicken Nuggets during an agility class. He LOVED them, and refused to even look at my treats.  I couldn't find them at my local PetValu, but did happen to find them in the refrigerated section of the Target Pet Aisle. The package says nothing about where it is made, and I didn't find it on the website either (maybe I missed it).  Dogfoodadvisor.com gave it 5 stars.  

I ended up at Petsmart and found the PetFresh Complete Meal and I use that as a topper to my Orijen Puppy Large Breed.  Amos devours the entire bowl.  I've been looking for a topper since he gets bored with his kibble.

Does anyone use this?  Love it/hate it? Any other topper recommendations?  He is an F1B mini, 1 year old and 30 lbs.

Thanks in advance!!!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Lorraine, FreshPet is not a recommended brand. They're owned by a multinational corporation with equity capital investors, and the supply chain is questionable. And they're going to have an IPO some time this year which is going to further reduce the quality. Any time you see a brand of pet food or treats sold at Target or Walmart, it's a good sign that the product is not of good quality. 

I hate to see anyone who is using a top-notch food like Orijen "spoiling" it by adding something like FreshPet. 

Adding toppers of any kind to the food just makes picky eaters pickier. At a year old, Amos no longer needs a puppy formula, so you can start him on Orijen Adult and then rotate the other varieties of Orijen with each new bag  to help keep him interested, but a dog being bored with his food is not a reason for concern. Food is meant to provide nutrition, not entertainment, lol. And if you must add toppers, there are a lot of healthier things you could add, not to mention lower calorie things. Various types of vegetables or yogurt would be good choices. If you add anything to the food, even as a topper, you need to take those calories into account. Replacing Orijen calories with calories from FreshPet is not in Amos' best interests. 

You also don't need a "large breed" formula unless Amos is expected to be more than 80 or 90 lbs. :)

As a mini, that doesn't seem likely. :) 

[Lorraine & Amos]

IThank You Karen!!!! You have given me so much info!! I need to get a new Orijen bag tomorrow so I will buy the Orijen Adult. I wasn't sure when to move on from the puppy formula. I will eliminate the topper for now and just use the remaining FreshPet for training treats.
I love sites like this because as a Newbie dog owner, everything is always overwhelming. As usual, you are a wealth of info!! Thanks again!!

P.S. do I transition from one Orijen flavor to.another or finish one and start the next? Will the sudden change cause his stools to soften?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Once he's been on the Adult formula for a couple of months, you can just switch from one formula to another. They are all very similar in macronutrient percentages and have many of the same ingredients, so no transition is needed. And you don't need a transition period for the switch from the Puppy to the Adult formula, they're almost identical. Just check your feeding guidelines.

[Abigail *George & Juno*]

If you're really needing a topper (you shouldn't) why not use Orijen freeze dried food? I keep a bag on hand to break up for treats or to use as a topper on their six fish when I feel like giving them an extra special meal. It's freeze dried so it keeps for a very long time at room temperature and its still Orijen. My girls know when I get a medallion out to get excited. :)

[Terri Kraft]

I'm glad I looked up Freshpet here as I too bought the beef roll for my Bentleys evening meal. I won't buy it again. I don't see Red Barn roll here as well which work d good for training treats. What about the Freshpet turkey bacon treats and their little mini beef treats?? Not good as well? I give him Stella and chewy's freeze dried with water for his morning meal but It's too pricey for twice a day. Il go back to the Orejen for evening as I have a large bag of it to use up. He just doesn't seem to like it but if he's hungry I guess he'll eat it. Like everyone else, I just like to spoil him with food he will love!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Red Barn is not a recommended brand; they do use ingredients imported from China. Not in all of their products, but we don't recommend brands that use any ingredients imported from China in any of their products. It's simply too risky and speaks of a lack of integrity on the part of the company. 

Fresh Pet is also not a recommended brand. 

Check our list of recommended treat brands, it's pretty extensive.