Food Choices Help!

[Sam, Risa and Archie]

Hey Everyone,

I know I could put this in the "Food Group" discussion board and I will, but theres so much clutter in there I figured I would start a new conversation here.

Archie is a year old (55lbs) and everyone has told me to get off of Science Diet ASAP.  So...I did some research on the food brands and formulas.  Just to let you know I didn't wanna get too expensive because I am 25 and live on my own with my girlfriend and we aren't trying to splurge on dog food to the max.  Having said that, you will see I have still narrowed my choices down to some good formulas.  Because of my price range I have knocked out Orijen, Solid Gold, Petcurean GO!, Zignature, and ILY.

Anyway, here is what I am down too...all prices are from Chewy.com as well as feeding guide info.

1. Acana 28.6lbs bag & according to feeding guide 3 cups a day.

• Wild Prairie ($61.99) 
• Chick & Burbank ($53.99) (has grain) so not wild about this one...

2. Blue Buffalo 24lbs bag @ $49.99 on chewy.com & according to feeding guide 3 cups a day

• Blue Wilderness Chicken

3. Fromm 30lbs bag & according to feeding guide 4 cups a day

• Chicken A La Veg ($49.99)
• Duck & Sweet Potato ($53.99)
• Surf & Turf ($65.99)

4. Wellness 26lbs bag @ $52.95 & according to feeding guide 2 1/2 cups a day

• CORE Original 
• Super5mix - can't find this on Chewy.com (only see it at PetSmart).

Can you guys give me some feed back on what I should do.  While I like the Fromm 30lbs bag option its 4 cups a day, so at the price you're not really saving much.  I am leaning towards either Acana Wild Prairie or Wellness CORE Original because CORE is pretty cost effective since its a slightly smaller bag at 26lbs vs Acana 28.6lbs, but only about 2 1/2 cups a day versus 3 cups daily.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help with what you guys think I should go with for Archie....Also, if you have any other suggestions please let me know. Thanks!!

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

I think all of these are good choices, Sam. Just go with one and see how Archie does. Don't forget to add the new food gradually, though.

My boys are on Acana Grasslands. They are 86 and 76 lbs and they don't eat three cups a day. It's more like 2 cups for the bigger one and 2.5 for the smaller one.

[Sam, Risa and Archie]

Yeah, even 3 cups a day isn't bad if thats what it is.

Any thoughts on Canidae, Lotus, and Earth Born?

[Stephanie and Ragley]

I switched our family's great pyrenees to Earthborn a few months ago and she loves it. Her coat looks great and I swear her eyes are clearer and brighter. She has tried two formulas so far and has loved both- meadow feast and primitive natural I believe are the names

[Stephanie and Ragley]

My vote would go to Acana based merely on my experience with Ragley on Orijen (both Champion Foods). She is happy, healthy, and her coat shines and is SO soft. Champion also does a frequent buyer program in stores and chewy actually tracks them for you if you order from them. 

[Sam, Risa and Archie]

That was my next question because I spoke to someone at Champion Foods who assured me that Chewy.com tracks the purchases because they told me about their frequent buyer program.

its buy 12 get 13th free, right? 

[Stephanie and Ragley]

Yes! When it is time for your free bag, you just call chewy and they tally the purchases from your order record and send you the free bag!

[Sam, Risa and Archie]

Thats awesome!

Yeah,Yeah, we just went with Acana Wild Prairie, but he has yet to try it. We bought it yesterday and mixed just a little in with his Science Diet since we are trying to ween him off the Hills now. he just goes over to the bowl and either sniffs and walks away or tries to brush his nose over like he's trying to cover it LOL...I figure eventually he will dive in and try it.  But he currently has an upset tummy today as he has had a little diarrhea, so the chances of him eating at all will be much more difficult.  We will see, but I hope he likes the Acana. It looks like the perfect food for him.

If he doesn't touch the Acana by mid week I may go to Earthborn. We shall see. He's not big on food, but a combination of an upset tummy and new food maybe thats why he hasn't tried it yet.

Also, I got the buddy cookie PB treats and he had like 3 of them yesterday...I wonder if that gave him loose stool? Hmmm...

[Kerry Daly]

Disclosure: This perspective is only about Fromm- I have no experience with the others you are looking at since both my doodles have only used Fromm all their lives (breeder starts them on Fromm). :) I have a 58lb doodle and he does not eat 4 cups a day of Fromm. He is on chicken ala veg. It is much closer to 3. He is healthy weight and vet wants to keep him there. He gets treats throughout the day so I can't imagine him eating 4 cups. The nice thing about the 4 star line of Fromm is you can switch up flavors, mix flavors, etc without ever having to wean them off. Both my dogs love Fromm and have had no issues or side effects. There are some pets stores (mutt and co where I live, pet people) that even have free samples you can get of the 4 star line to mix it up for them. Zeus just got his surf and turf treat yesterday. Also there are stores with frequent buyer cards (my pet people does) so I get my 13th bag free! Helps with costs. Fromm sends out emails for free treats too on special occasions.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree with all of this. I'm a huge Fromm fan! 

[Sam, Risa and Archie]

Thanks Kerry!

This information really helps...my only question is how do you feel about the Chicken A La Veg not being grain-free?  my puppy is already showing signs of a sensitive stomach, so I figured to almost def go with a grain-free formula.  With that said, I am really impressed with Fromm and particularly the Chicken A La Veg formula, but just worried about it not being grain-free.

Any insight on this?

Thanks!

[Kerry Daly]

Neither of my dogs have had an issue on the grain. Zeus had some stomach irritations when he was a puppy but it had nothing to do with the food. The 4 star line has grain free too if you want to go there. My father-in-law uses the surf and turf for his dog. That is what I fed Zeus as his sample treat the other day. Honestly like what others said- if you like one buy it- try it out and see how it goes (with proper transition of course). Once you are on Fromm if you want to try grain free then do it- no need to transition at that point. I have two healthy happy doodles eating the grain- but all dogs bellies are not the same. You won't know unless you try! Hope that helps! What sensitivity is the puppy showing?

[Sam, Risa and Archie]

He just often gets diarrhea or really tired after he goes to the bathroom and waits until he eats.  He just shows signs of someone who has a sensitive stomach, but again, this could be merely due to the fact that we have fed him Science Diet all this time (and now we have been educated that it is a poor choice of food).