So confused about what to feed!

[Gus&Schatzi]

I am picking up my new Rottie pup on Saturday! :D :D :D
My breeder feeds Pro Plan and I was told to feed what the breeder recommends. However, she is not insistent on Pro Plan. It is simply her vet's nutrition of choice. After reading all over the forum different recommendations of food, I am totally confused. People have mentioned that the Pro Plan is not a good idea, Canidae is awesome, Science Diet and Eukenuba are over-rated, etc. I have also been warned of all-natural dog foods that are not healthy to feed your dog. So, the bottom line is that I want to purchase the food that is most healthy and life prolonging of all the brands! Any and all advice is appreciated!

Thanks so much!

[shybird]

I started using Innova alittle over a year ago. After reading all the reasons why I should be feeding a better dog food. I chose the Innova because it was so highly rated here and that was what my local supply carried. They didn't carry Canidae at the time. BUT, the reason I stayed with it is because of a comment my husband made. I have to inject a little personal here for you to understand his comment.. Never once, not even when we were dating did he ever say anything like you look nice today, or I like what you are wearing, or for tha matter you look like he!! today.. Never ever. So when he said "what are you doing to the dog?" answer "what are you talking about?" He said
She is so shiny did you just give her a bath. NOT in 4 months.. She had blown her old coat and her NEW INNOVA coat came in... That did it for me.... Innova was here to stay. Oh my dealer started to carry Canidae and I tried it, but I think I like the Innova better. Sorry for being so long winded.

[Vivianne]

Originally posted by Gus&Schatzi
I am picking up my new Rottie pup on Saturday! So, the bottom line is that I want to purchase the food that is most healthy and life prolonging of all the brands!

Time to do your homework. I found this link for you.
http://www.peteducation.com/article....&articleid=702

It's ultimately your decision what to feed your puppy. Once you're armed with the facts, compare labels and choose the best diet and brand based on those facts.

Congratulations on your new puppy. ;)

[chris nanney]

Shybird,
What food(s) did you feed prior to going to Innova?

[Gus&Schatzi]

Thank you Shybird and Vivianne! I really appreciate the information and the link!

:D

[Troy]

Go with a super-premium:

Innova (my brand), Solid Gold, Canidae, California Natural, Healthwise, Wellness...etc.

I have had wonderful results with Innova. Just put in the time to learn about the foods and make the best decision you can.

Good luck!:)

[Gus&Schatzi]

Thank you, Troy! After researching I think I like Canidae and Innova. I was trying to choose between the 2. What made you choose Innova?

:D

[shybird]

Chris,
For more of why I switched from Purina to Innova read my post in this thread http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/sho...threadid=14846
I made alot of mistakes with Kinder now at the Bridge, but never intentional. I never thought there was anything wrong with the food, I guess I was caught up in the advertisements... Losing Kinder was and is still very heartbreaking to me and I vowed to be more aware of everything I feed and do for my dogs. Kafer has been on Innova since Feb of 2001 and Schatz was started on Innova puppy the day she came home in May of 2001. Her Breeder was using garbage so I just switched. Moose came home in Dec of 2001 from a shelter, being very skinny, and lots of missing hair, was started on Innova. The Vet couldn't believe the differance in one month. I guess I said more than you really wanted to know... I really do believe in Innova.

[Debbie]

I, too, did my research here but unfortunately my three dogs are on three different diets - two eating prescriptions from the vet for kidneys and allergies and the third (my rottie) on Innova.

It has been over two years since we made the Innova decision based strictly on what I learned here. I compared labels of the top brands and decided to try Innova but reasoned I'd switch to California Natural if she didn't like the taste. That was never an issue.

Her coat, like the others here have said, is so shiny, healthy and odor-free even though we haven't bathed her for quite a while - probably about 2-3 months.

My only complaint is that even though I live in Detroit, there aren't too many places that carry Innova or the other premium brands for that matter. The closest dealer is about 10 miles from home and I have to pass some of the chain pet stores to get there. But it seems to be worth it.

And a bonus I hope I NEVER have to cash in on - with it's human grade ingredients I guess our family would be stocked up on food in a disaster!

[myagirl]

Mya also eats Innova and I only have wonderful things to say about it!! She loves it and as others have mentioned her coat is nice and shiny!! I was mortified to find out what is actually in so called "premium" dog foods solds at pet supply chains, and made the switch to a food made from human grade ingredients over a year ago.

[Caesarsmom]

I feed Innova as well (fortunately, my vet carries it). My girls love it, look absolutely beautiful and are in tip-top health. I rarely bathe them, but anytime we stop at the vet's, or a friend who works there comes to visit....they always tell me the same thing......your dogs SMELL so good!

There are many excellent dog foods out there. You'll have to decide which one you feel will be best for you new girl. Congrats on your new addition.

~Cris

[kaiser's mom]

Just food for thought........ Proplan... my Kaiser rotti was on proplan all his life...I didn't know any better about foods back then..well... he did pretty darn good on it..... he lived to a
ripe old age of 13 1/2 yrs.... on nothing but Proplan.......

After doing some research/educating myself.......I have a rescue puppy now..Max.. and we are on Canidae..... been 3 months and his coat is beautiful and staying long and lean..........

[AngelBunny]

Gus&Schatzi:

We feed Wellness--to our personal dogs and all the dogs we foster. We also feed 1-2 frozen raw beef marrow bones/week and lots of fruits & veggies.

I rarely bath our dogs; in fact, I can't remember the last time any of them got a bath with shampoo. They get toweled dry after every walk if they arrive home wet or muddy (from us slogging thru the swamps on our property) before they're bladed (regardless, they get bladed after every walk). In the summer, if ther're really muddy, I'll occasionally hose them off in the yard w/o any type of soap or shampoo.

Our dogs smell sooo good that I'll often bury my nose in the fur around their necks & snuffle around. Our dogs don't smell--Mo has a very senssitive nose & if they smelled, I'd hear about it.

Making sense of what to feed isn't complicated.

Since dogs are domesticated carnivores, it makes sense (at least to me!) that their protein source should be derived from a named meat (like "lamb" or "chicken"--not "meat by-products" or "poultry by-products.") If the protein is provided by corn, the food isn't particularly suited to dogs. Cows do well on corn, grain, & grasses because of their 30' long guts. Dogs, with their 6-1/2' guts, don't. The corn passes thru their systems too fast--anyhow, when was the last time you saw dogs grazing in a corn field? Stick with any of the premium food named.

And if you really want the best for your puppy, go BARF.

[Gus&Schatzi]

Thank you so much for all of your input, AngelBunny! It really helped out. We brought our baby home on Saturday and she is an absolute sweetheart!

:D

[Rajah'sMom]

We have two neighbors who have dogs that eat "whatever is the cheapest food we can find". These women always comment on Rajah's and Brandi's soft shiney coats and the fact that they "don't smell like a dog". I told them it's the food. They are a lost cause though. They'll never switch. They are the type who keep their dogs in the back yard 24/7 and never take them for walks. And they wonder why my girls are so "mellow" and theirs are "wild". Oh well, at least my other neighbor (the one with the Boxer pup) is like us and very interested in the foods I feed my girls.