Dick Van Pattens bought out by DelMonte!

[Jennifer and Jack]

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-news/del-monte-buys-natural-...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm not sure what connection your trainer thinks there might be between hyperactive behavior and food. There are some trainers who believe that extreme aggression is related to high protein content, but the NB food is quite low in protein, and Chloe is not aggressive, lol. Behavior is shaped by a combination of genetics, environment, age, and training, and not related to food. I doubt very much that any food is going to make a dog less hyper or calmer. 

Just about any protein source other than chicken should be fine for Chloe, and probably a limited ingredient formula would be best. The Great Life website had these stores in your area: http://www.doctorsfinest.com/Articles.asp?ID=252

But you could also try any of the Wellness Simple Solutions formulas. I switched JD from NB to Simple Solutions and he's doing quite well, even though we switched protein sources. The Wellness food has a higher protein and fiber content, both of which are beneficial. 

Blue Buffalo also has a turkey/potato LID formula that might work.  

Canidae's Pure land has bison and lamb but is not an LID formula. The TOTW bison formula might work, too, but it's also not an LID formula and has even more ingredients than the Canidae food, so I'm just not sure that it would be the best choice for Chloe, especially if she tends to have a sensitive stomach.

[Dee & Chloe]

Thanks Karen. I already feel better. Chloe is so submissive it is sad.  But she is getting a lot better as she matures. I did not realize that Farm supply, which is within a mile from me, had dog food. I'll try to get there this weekend! I had looked into the Wellness brand previously, but it was too confusing for me. Thanks for the specific info on that too. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Dee, if Chloe can eat bison, there's a line of limited ingredient foods, Great Life, which I have just heard about recently; they're not on our Recommended Brands list yet, and I'm not sure how easy they are to get, but they are sourced and made in the USA and look pretty good to me. They don;t have a lot of options, no venison, but they do have a grain-free bison & potato formula that might work for you:

http://www.doctorsfinest.com/Grain_and_Potato_Free_Buffalo_Dog_Food...

[Dee & Chloe]

Karen,  I have been to several stores searching for an appropriate food for Chloe and am even more confused. I do have at least one more  question. NB has a protein level of 20 %. The Good Life and Wellness have considerably more. Also, I am currently feeding her 2  cups of NB per day. Good Life recommends 3/4 cup for her weight. Wouldn't that leave her ravenous?  I did find Solid Gold bison, Wolf King with protein level of 22%. I thought it said grain free at the store, but the web site says it is a healthy grain. Can you give me some further advice for all of this? Thanks(: PS I have 2 more small stores in my area I plan to visit this week.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The protein levels in the NB LID formulas are too low. I had to supplement with boiled white meat chicken. So going to a food that's higher in protein is a big plus. 

Which NB formula were you feeding? That will help us know what alternatives to look at. 

[Dee & Chloe]

She is on venison and sweet potato. She cannot tolerate chicken, even in treats. If I  feed her 1/2 of what she is currently getting on the new higher protein food, how would I make the transition proportionately? Does the higher  protein formula expand more in her stomach or will I have to add something like vegetables to fill her up?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Nothing expands in their stomachs. I'm confused by your comment about feeding her half of what she is currently getting. Feeding amounts are calculated by calories and not by protein. Protein is just one of three macronutrients from which we derive calories; the other two are carbohydrate and fat. Carbohydrates and protein contain exactly the same number of calories per gram, so a higher protein food doesn't necessarily mean a higher calorie food, although the NB formulas are lower in calories than most kibbles. The only way you would be feeding half of what she is currently getting would be if the new food contained twice as many calories per cup as the NB, and to my knowledge, there is no food with that many calories per cup. You might be feeding less, depending on the calorie content of whatever food you choose, but it won't be half the amount, I assure you. 

[Dee & Chloe]

I'm sorry that I was not clear in my post. I got a sample of Great Life Buffalo and was going to try that until I realized it was not grain free. (They do have a grain free but that store did not carry it). However, the guidelines for feeding state for a dog between 26-50 lbs to feed 3/4 to 1 1/2 cups. Since Chloe is 31-32 lbs. I figured I would give her a cup. I currently feed her 2 cups of NB. The Great Life states there are 405 calories per cup and I could not find the calorie count anywhere on the NB packaging or website. I think I was the one confused to begin with. So sorry. I have been looking at the Wellness Simple and although the protein amount is higher, the feeding instructions are about the same as NB.  I just may go with that in the lamb. Again, thanks for your response and sharing your knowledge!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Karen, I beg to differ. Of course it,s not from the protein per se, but kibble expends like a magic sponge in their stomachs. I can attest to this when on occasion it reappears.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Right, F, but that would be all kibble, regardless of protein content. 

Actually, it doesn't really "expand" so much as soften and spread out, lol. I'm pretty sure the volume is still the same.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Dee, I really like the Simple Solutions line. But I do feed less than I did with the NB formula JD was eating. I think it just depends on the calorie content of the old and the new foods.

The NB Venison & Potato formula has 300-something calories per cup, maybe 350. I had it written down here somewhere, but can't find it. I had to call the company to get the calorie content of some of their foods. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Oh, and the Simple Solutions lamb formula has oatmeal, so it's not grain-free either. But oatmeal is in a lot of LID foods, and shouldn;t cause a problem unless you know that your dog is sensitive to it.