Dog Food

[tam9492]

We're bringing home a pup next week, and I'm interested in recommendations for food - both for a puppy and long-term. He's a Bracco Italiano (large pointer). He'll be our family pet, but he'll also hunt grouse in steep timber. It seems that the dog food scene has exploded since we had our previous dog. What's everyone feeding Fido?

My main concern is longterm health - I want him to be healthy and fit, but I'm not sure that I need him to be an 'athlete'. Is there a dry food that offers quality ingredients and good value? Happy to order online, buy from a box (club) store, or through a local specialty shop.

 

[S.Clancy]

We've always fed our dogs dry food, but supplement with a decent amount of elk/deer/whatever scraps and carrots, other veggies and some fruits. I've personally never seen issues with our dogs and normal dried food. Although, we exercise them very regularly and keep them a healthy, lean BW.

 

[Jason Snyder]

I’m sure you’ll get a lot of varying opinions on this. I feed Inukshuk 30-25 formula. I used to feed Purina Pro Plan Sport Dog formula. My older male quit eating it and wasn’t looking great. I switched foods and were several years on this brand.

I’ve also fed Victor Hi Pro and my dogs did well in that too.

 

[SuperDUECE22]

I'd start with Nutrisource Large Breed Puppy

 

[survivalistd]

Ive had great success with nature's logic chicken distinction.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Ask your vet. How much protein, vitamins & supplements.

My Lab is 11 and I have been feeding Purina Hi Pro Salmon & Tuna for years. My vet says 30% protein or more. She is showing her age, but swims almost everyday in my 2 acre pond and goes on my daily walks too.

 

[KurtR]

I feed kinetic. Tried eukanuba dog did not agree with it at all then pro plan salmon blend and that was pretty good. Inukshuk has also been really good for a bunch of guys i trust. Dont over feed dont want puppies to grow to fast .

 

[sndmn11]

Like @KurtR , I also feed Kinetic. I switched from Inukshuk.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I make my own. This is my old recipe. I make a big batch of it about once a month and then put it in 4-cup containers and freeze it. It turns into a meatloaf and I can give the dog a slice of it for breakfast and dinner. Obviously, that depends on the dog’s size, but our old 50-60 pound dog got 2 cups per day. Price wise, it was competitive with store bought food - not counting the preparation time. Edit - This was for an adult dog - not a puppy!

Dog Food recipe
- [x] 3 lbs brown rice
- [x] 3 lbs ground beef (70-85%)
- [x] 3 lbs ground turkey
- [x] 2 lbs chicken livers
- [x] 6 eggs
- [x] 2 bags shredded carrots (10-16 ounces each)
- [x] 4 bunches fresh spinach (not baby)
- [x] 4 bunches parsley
- [x] 2 bunches cilantro

I am getting a new puppy in about ten days. My plan is to try to alter the recipe so that if I add a sauce (or at least salt and pepper) to my portion, or make a fried rice from it, it tastes good to me too. That will mean getting rid of the liver and altering the greens mix.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[7mm-08]

Purina Pro Plan Sport served us well through many years. I have an acquaintance who worked for Cargill and he claimed that Purina had the best pet food nutritionists in the industry. Whatever you do, don't cheap out and feed crappy dog food because that's the gift that will keep on giving with poor canine health and a shortened lifespan.

 

[AKBC]

My black lab is 12 and has been very healthy. She has only had Kirkland food.

 

[GSPHUNTER]

Science diet dry with 1 TBSP. 100% pure pumpkin and a small slice of pet fresh.

 

[TSAMP]

Like @KurtR , I also feed Kinetic. I switched from Inukshuk.

Same for me. I saw noticeable coat improvements going from inukshuk to kinetic.

 

[pacoalcracker]

7mm-08 has it exactly right. Purina is the best in the business, and they have the absolute best nutrition engineers when it comes to pet food. They have the deepest research group of any pet food manufacturer and the very best food safety and quality program there is, bar none. Their pet food factories are clean....and I mean clean. The Pro Plan line is excellent, as are all of the rest depending on your needs...and don't forget the Purina food for your felines too. They also spend big money to support activities for dogs and felines and their owners too. Trust me, it's not all about profit for this company. tam, I wish your puppy well. Nothing like having a new puppy or kitten.

 

[dr.mooseknuckles]

Actual Veterinarian here:
Ignore Q Sertorious unless you want to run the risk of angular limb deformities due to inappropriate Calcium: phosphorous. That's all fine and dandy once your puppy has reached full musculoskeletal maturity aka adulthood, but not something I would chance with a puppy.

Any Large Breed Puppy food that has an AAFCO statement on the back label is fine. Feed until 11-12 months of age then switch to an adult diet. Or if you have the luxury of time to cook your dog's diet, do that.

If you get the hard on for making food, go to balanceit.com. Run by a Veterinary Nutritionist and can fine tune a home cooked diet plan for you. Or get your Veterinarian to refer to the University of Tennessee Nutritionist and they can do it for you.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Actual Veterinarian here:
Ignore Q Sertorious unless you want to run the risk of angular limb deformities due to inappropriate Calciumhosphorous. That's all fine and dandy once your puppy has reached full musculoskeletal maturity aka adulthood, but not something I would chance with a puppy.

Any Large Breed Puppy food that has an AAFCO statement on the back label is fine. Feed until 11-12 months of age then switch to an adult diet. Or if you have the luxury of time to cook your dog's diet, do that.

If you get the hard on for making food, go to balanceit.com. Run by a Veterinary Nutritionist and can fine tune a home cooked diet plan for you. Or get your Veterinarian to refer to the University of Tennessee Nutritionist and they can do it for you.

Thank you for the advice about only using that for adult dogs. I will check back with my vet.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

Another former Purina Pro feeder...switched to Inukshuk. Only into it one bag with a puppy. Farts are BRUTAL !!

I worry of overfeeding and growing too fast also. I am feeding 26/16 I think. Pup is sooooo hungry tho.

7/8 cup X2 per day. I still see ribs and the pup is BUSY and gets a few miles per day.

 

[molliesmaster]

Like @KurtR , I also feed Kinetic. I switched from Inukshuk.

I feed kinetic. Tried eukanuba dog did not agree with it at all then pro plan salmon blend and that was pretty good. Inukshuk has also been really good for a bunch of guys i trust. Dont over feed dont want puppies to grow to fast .

What made both of you go Kinetic over Inukshuk?

 

[Huntinmechanic]

I have good results with Diamond Natural for my last three dogs. I feed 2 cups of kibble with 2 raw eggs mixed in. We feed once per day. We'll feed a bit more if the dogs have had a really active day. Our dogs also supplement their diet with manure from various livestock species.

 

[tam9492]

Lots of good leads here. As suspected, all kinds of answers, but some trends showing.