What do you feed your dog?

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

I started my dogs on Purina puppy chow and then went to Purina dog chow, however I had a friend that told me how bad that food was for your dog. He compared it to feeding them twinkie's! So...I have recently started them on a dog food called Precise. It's more expensive because it has more protein and real chicken meat.My friend approves of it!I was just wondering what everyone is feeding their dog?

[Danielle]

I have been searching to find just the right food for Koda being that I had him on Purina brands and learning about how bad most of the more well known brands are I looked long and hard to get him the right food. Many places do not carry the better dog foods (although I have noticed more and more carry them) but finally I have settled on Wellness which I can find at a few different stores and is ranked high on the dog food analysis website. Koda seems to really enjoy the wet dog food (the 95% chicken one), but the dry took some time. He eats it happily now though. All and all I am very happy with the brand. Just thought I would share!

[1v8tjudo8jkre]

Our dog has a ton of food allergies, so we feed him a vet prescribed food by Royal Canin that is called Rabbit and Potato. Since he has been on it we have not had any problems with food sensitivities, ear infections, hot spots, you name it. It somewhat expensive, but has saved us from all the vet visits we were having before. He also loves it.

[Nancy Cavanaugh]

Hi Amy:

Your comment caught my eye I didn't realize Royal Canin has a rabbit and potato food. Is it kibble or wet? and do I have to go thru my Vet? I've never seen this blend in Royal Canin. My Koji has Allergies to alot of things - I had him tested (intra dermal) and he is allergic to grass, leaves, mold, dust you name it. I had him on food trials; started with fish and have him on nature's Variety Rabbit ( raw) which is unbearably expensive. Good news - his allergies or at least the scratching and itching have subsided Hurrah - but I'm looking for a food that will work and also be OK for his sensitive stomach ( yes, that too) and one that I can afford. The raw rabbit is now $35.00 for 12 patties and he eats over 3 a day.

[sru1who5u9zu]

I am feeding Butter the Horizon Legacy a high protein grain free dog food. I just switched him to it from Canidae All Life stages less than 2 months ago. When I got Butter back from the rescuer, I fed him Purina Beneful. He had runny poop for more than a week, then I asked the rescuer, she recommended Iams. He was much better, then I switched him to Canidae when he was 5 months old...

[38kijwn0b88tn]

#1 rule, make sure there is no Corn or By-Products in the first 4-5 ingredients. Corn is like sugar to dogs and by-products are all the unmentionables that just get thrown in as fillers. After that, most food isn't too bad. Just think, back in the day (and now of course) wild canines lived on raw meat alone. Now "we" give them hotdogs and broccoli. Everyone will tell you something different about what to feed your dog. Just stay away from corn and BP and your pups will be good. Of course, corn and BP won't kill your doodle, but just read up on the http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=betterproducts analysis and you decide. Every dog is different! Good Luck!

[2zw8n9vphfrc6]

We feed our dogs raw and also throughout the day they get an abundance of other treats such as Lincoln Doodle loves 2 bananas at 1045 EVERY evening lol

Dog food has only been around for maybe 40 yrs or so before that it was they eat what their people ate

[TrevorDoodle]

I feed my Doodle - Dry::Chicken Soup for the Dog Lovers Soul - Large Breed Wet:: Merrick canned(all flavors) I also supplement with Salmon Oil daily.

[Loreta Janca]

you actually want to stick with foods that have a meat "meal" listed high on the list. Meat meal is the acual meat once the water has been taken out, whcih gives the food a much higher meat content.
dogfoodanalysis.com is a great tool. Never use dog food that has corn in it, AT ALL. Very allergenic and not digestible. No nutritional benefit. Look for grains like rice, or sweet potatoe.
We feed Canidae or Fromm. Canidae has recently changed their formula and now includes some fillers, like tomato pumace, but still is a very low percentage of the food. No wheat and soy products either.

[jessica (Rufus)]

i have mixed feeling on this i have come from growing up dogs we have had that have lived till there where 17 years old on grocery bought dog food purnia and were  fine  with a little fresh vegs and wet food  before there was dry dog food what did  dogs eat ????? my cats are 16 years old and eat purnia as well as well as my dog ..... not sure how long these expensive dog dry foods have been around have they been around longer than purnia ?? my dog came from a breeder and she gave all her dogs and puppies purnia puppy chow and dog chow and i asked my vet and they said  if u feed them purnia they will just poop more than if they are feed more expensive stuff i also feed my dog hamburg and chicken and fresh cooked  vegs and wet food as well in his food so he get a assortment of things besides just the dry food  he is not over weight or under weight either so i guess its in what u prefer i also have him snack on a apple and carrots one in a while   as for his poop its fine i did in the beginging was trying different brands and he kept getting diarahea soo i just stayed with what the breeder was giving him

[Mike Gruenke]

My wife and I are constantly watching the dog foods that we feed. It seems that about the time we find one that our dogs really like and it actually has good nutritional value, the company will make a change to thier formula. Sometimes the change is good, as in nutritional, but a change the dogs don't like and they start to turn thier noses up at it. Other times the change makes sense only to the owner's of the company that makes it, (cheaper to make), because it surely isn't for the good of the dogs that eat it.

We fed Black Gold dog food for quite awhile and it ranked high in dog food comparisons, but then a change happened, the dogs started to turn away and then we noticed the food changed. Now it's ranking among dog foods has gone down.

Recently we started to feed 4health dog food. We'll see how long they stay good.

Many dog foods in recent years have gone through recalls. Here is a site of the list since 2007 http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/newpetfoodrecalls/#Dog 

 

[Elizabeth & Cosmo]

Jessica and Michael, this is a pretty old discussion--from 2008.

You can find more current info and discussions on food in the Food Group. Look at the navigation at the top of the page, click the "Groups" tab, and you'll probably find the Food Group near the top of the list. It's really popular!

Hope you'll join us foodies there!

[Mike Gruenke]

hey thanks... I was just noticing the dates on this ....