Raise your paws if you have no tummy issues!

[Texas Doodle Mom and Molly Rose]

Okay, our puppy arrives home next month and I have been staying clear of the food group lately as it is raising my worry level over food and tummy issues.  So, I thought, there surely are folks out there with a positive experience?  Raise your paws and respond here if your puppy has never had long-term tummy issues, and tell me if you have a goldendoodle or a labradoodle.  Also, which food do they eat? Just looking for some reassurance - thank you!

[Diane, Hurley and Sidney]

What I for got to say is that Hurley is a MultiGen Labradoodle.  I have been researching Solid Gold products and placed  call to the company to see what they would recommend for Hurley.  Hope to hear back from them today.

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

We can raise our paws, my girls started in royal canin. (Breeder recommended), then we switched to TOTW but with recent concerns we decided to switch again to orijen. I was nervous as heck since we hadn't had any problems up to this point A few issues in the beginning but that was probably because of the blunt transition. Both girls absolutely love the orijen, it's been well over a month and they still gobble it up (no toppers needed either, required with the TOTW). I'm no doubt one of the lucky ones, we have never had tummy or diarrhea issues. In the beginning with orijen they were throwing up every once in a while but we tweaked their serving size and problem solved. My girls are approaching three, one is a Labradoodle and the other a whoops-a-doodle (lab/poodle/ greyhound). Good luck and enjoy they grow up so quickly!

[Pam Thomas]

What are toppers? I get my doodle this summer and have been terrified reading all the tummy issues. So glad to hear of doods without problems. Thanks all for posting.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

"Toppers" are any type of fresh or wet food that some people add to their dog's meals to make it more appealing or entice the dog to eat. It can be anything from some canned food to a spoonful of yogurt to a scrambled egg to green beans to cooked meat, but there is really no reason to do this. You can create a picky eater who won;t eat his food unless you add something to it. 

[Elena Joseph]

My puppy is 16 months and came to us at 8 weeks.  My breeder informed us of which puppy food she was using and we bought a huge bag of it.  I can't remember the name, but it was a Costco brand.  Our puppy didn't eat it.  We tried again in the morning, and again, she didn't want it.  I went out and bought another brand which I still use.  It's the Blue Buffalo grain free mixed with either the beef or bison high protein formula.  I've gone back and forth with formulas and always mix in some new with some still remaining so that she gets used to the switch.  I've NEVER had a problem with her digestion.  I have read so many issues by other owners, that it was a little disconcerting to me, too.  HOWEVER, WORD FOR THE WISE, DO NOT FEED YOUR PUPPY TABLE FOOD, because once you do, you will create a very picky eater.  They are very smart and learn very quickly that our food tastes better than theirs.  They will hold out eating until they break us into submission.  Sooooo, I had to go out and purchase some wet food to mix into her dry food.  An extra $50 every two weeks.  

[Julie, Eloise & Beasley]

Paws here are raised, too!  Eloise is a goldendoodle and she's just over 2 yrs old.  She's always been a good eater and has had no major tummy troubles (knocking on wood).  Minor tummy upset last month for a few days (long story, but thankfully she's fine. Had her tested and she was negative for giardia and parasites, and after a few days of chicken & sweet potato, she was back to normal.)  She eats Blue Buffalo lamb & brown rice, and ate the puppy version of it until 1 yr of age.  Aside from that episode, has never had any issues.  I've often contemplated switching her to Orijen, but at this point, I keep thinking why rock the boat as long as she's doing well.  I'm watching it though, in case they get acquired... 

She's also eaten all kinds of treats - Cloud Star, Fruitables, Zukes (but no more) and freeze-dried liver.  And Cheerios.  Those were often her training treats.  I've always fed her doggie-safe veggies & fruits, too, and occasionally will allow her a bite of cheese or meat.  The only time she's ever grabbed anything off the counter was for Cheez-its!  But, probably more than any of these foods, she'd rather eat a paper towel or kleenex.  :)  Crazy dog.

Congrats on the new puppy coming home!  Looking forward to pics and stories

[Julie, Eloise & Beasley]

I should clarify - by "always fed" the fruits & veggies, I mean that I will give her a couple blueberries or a spinach leaf or carrots, etc - if she's being good while I'm in the kitchen.  I don't regularly feed her people food.  And it's always random, so she doesn't expect it.  I didn't want to create a beggar.

[Texas Doodle Mom and Molly Rose]

My sheltie absolutely loved baby carrots and apples.  She knew by the sound of the knife slicing the apple, or the kids chomping on carrots, that it was time to come surfing the floor under the table =)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If you never feed "people food" directly from the table OR the kitchen counter, but only in the dog's bowl (or from your hand elsewhere, as in the case of training treats), you will not create a beggar. It's only when people are eating or preparing the food themselves and "share" with the dog that the dog begins to expect something. 

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Agreed! Karen, can you email my husband these wise words of wisdom??? ;)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

 :-}

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Paws up

3 dogs, plus a grand dog puppy - 3 of which are doodles:

Ned, Small Australian Labradoodle, age 6, absolutely NO tummy troubles - ever ever ever

Clancy, medium goldendoodle, age 6, tad bit more sensitive tummy than Ned, but basically NO tummy troubles.

Junior, labradoodle, age 5 months, NO tummy troubles (even when he had Giardia)

Gordie, English Springer Spaniel, age 10, NO tummy troubles but does get anal gland build up.

My guys have always eaten kibble.  They have eaten several brands from the food group list with some agreeing with all three more than others.   They currently eat Orijen.  Ned, who used to be a light eater, LOVES Orijen and gobbles it right up.  They seldom get treats, but do get EPO in a glob of peanut butter, and once in a while a spoonful of yogurt.