Picking up our puppy in 2 weeks..

[Ruby Goldendoodle]

Can't wait to pick up our puppy (ruby) in 2 weeks. I believe she is eating Royal Cainen which I don't plan to keep her on. I had decided on Taste of the Wild, but after hearing good things about Nature's Domain at Costco I am going to try that. Does anyone use that? I noticed that it was not on the list of approved foods here. Another dog food analysis site I go to had TOTW with 5 stars (top) but Nature's Domain at 4 stars. It is half the cost. I am hoping it is a good food. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I strongly suggest that you do not change your puppy's food for at least two weeks after she gets home. There are several reasons for this. Everything in this baby's life is going to be turned upside down. She is leaving her mother, littermates, and the only home she has ever known. Even the air outside will be different. Let at least one thing, her food, be familiar to her.

Stress can cause digestive upsets, especially in an immature digestive system. In addition, many, many doodle puppies come home with Giardia. If you change her food and she has diarrhea, you will not know if it's caused by stress, the food change, or an intestinal parasite like Giardia. Also, you are going to have a m,uch easier time with housebreaking if she doesn't have diarrhea or any digestive upsets.

Keep her on the same food & treats she was getting at the breeder for a couple of weeks, until you can see that her stools are normal and you know her normal schedule for bowel movements.

The dog food ratings sites do not take certain factors into acoount, such as the source of ingredients and the use of third party food brokers. We have not found the ratings systems that use "stars" to be a good indication of the quality of the food. Also, regarding cost, you need to look at the calories and feeding amounts of each food. If the more expensive food is calorie dense and you feed less of it than a cheaper food, the more expensive food may actually cost less over time.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here is a discussion we had back in October, comparing Nature's Domain to TOTW. As you will see, TOTW is the better food, in both quality and value:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/natures-domaine?groupUrl=t...

[Ruby Goldendoodle]

Thanks!