The Best Dog Foods; What should I feed my dog?

12/19/2012

Dog nutrition is a critical part of your dog's well being and health and the food you choose to feed your furry family members will help to determine how healthy they are during their lifetime with you.

Just like with us, food drastically impacts health. If you eat nothing but fast food for your entire life, you won't feel good nor will you be healthy and strong. The same applies to our pets! Eating junk kibble is the equivalent of eating nothing but greasy, over-processed fast food loaded with sugar, unhealthy fats and harsh chemicals and preservatives.

In order to prolong our pets lives and give them the very best in nutrition, we must determine which healthy, balanced diet is perfect for them on an individual level. Species-appropriate, wholesome and balanced nutrition can prevent illness and disease, while allowing our dogs to achieve the best physical condition.

A raw food diet for dogs is the ultimate in canine nutrition. Dogs are facultative carnivores, biologically designed to consume raw meat, raw bone and raw organ. The benefits of a raw food diet for dogs are phenomenal; Owners often see drastic improvements in physical condition, alleviation in allergy symptoms, cleaner teeth, fresher breath, less shedding, more energy, softer and shinier coat and a drastic reduction or removal of doggy odour. Those are just a handful of the benefits a raw food or BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) diet can provide.

A homemade dog food diet is your next best option, combining fresh fruits and vegetables with wholesome real meat to create balanced, nutritious meals for your dog. Unlike with kibble, these homemade recipes are whole, real foods that you could readily eat. The only downside to homemade meals is the preparation time. Unlike with raw, you have to spend some time cooking the meals. It is also important to mention that cooking food causes some nutrition loss (heat kills some vitamins, minerals and enzymes). This can be remedied by adding a whole food supplement, probiotics and digestive enzymes to the meal.

Dehydrated dog food and freeze dried dog food rank third in my diet and nutrition selection rankings. This food is not cooked, the nutrition is preserved without damaging fragile nutrients. With dehydrated dog food you will need to add water. With freeze dried dog food, it is as easy as filling their bowl! These are excellent options for owners who do not want to feed raw food, but don't have the time for homemade diet preparation. This food is also an excellent option for raw feeders that need safely stored, convenient options for traveling, camping and visiting friends and family while away from home.

The last option for your pet is a high-quality, whole food kibble. The first recommendation would be a grain-free kibble which would be species appropriate for dogs. The second recommendation would be a kibble with whole grains (wheat free, corn free, soy free). When selecting a wholesome kibble, you should make sure the kibble is wheat free, corn free, contains no by-products, contains no fillers, contains only food you would eat (boneless salmon, beef, carrots, spinach, etc) and is made without harsh chemicals and preservatives.

In summary, the best dog food for your pet is ranked as follows:

Raw Food Diet for Dogs
Homemade Dog Food
Dehydrated Dog Food or Freeze-dried Dog Food
High quality, whole food grain-free Kibble
High quality, whole food Kibble

My top five most recommended and trusted kibble brands are as follows:

Orijen (Champion Petfoods)
Acana (Champion Petfoods)
Go! (Petcurean)
Now! (Petcurean)
Nature's Variety Instinct

K9 Instinct can help you determine the best diet for your furry family members. If you are interested in having a diet and nutrition consultation, e-mail me for more information or visit the Diet and Nutrition section of this website! Together we can change your dog's life with proper nutrition! Online consultations are available for non-local clients!

If you want to learn how to feed a raw food diet successfully, you can also purchase my eBook: A Guide to Raw Feeding.

If you are in need of some homemade dog food recipes, click here for my recipe eBook containing nutritionally balanced meals!

Angel
K9 Instinct
www.k9instinct.com

94 Comments

Black Dog Kangaroo

12/21/2012 03:02:42 am

Perfect! I shared on my FB page for all those that feed their dogs 'crap'

K9 Instinct

12/21/2012 03:08:57 am

Thank you kindly, glad you enjoyed this article!

Kim

1/9/2013 07:52:53 pm

If I could afford to do that I would. I love her very much. The economy right now is very hard on me. I will see what I can do. Thanks

Lena F.

3/5/2013 05:15:07 am

Kim, you can only do the best you can. I too am in a tough financial situation. I have found a brand of kibble that uses local products, nothing from a foreign country, and I try to supplement it with cooking good whole foods, like chicken that hasn't been treated with antibiotics, vegetables from my garden or a farmers market. Don't feel guilty if you can't get the expensive all natural stuff.

K9 Instinct link

4/1/2013 11:47:31 am

Totally understandable! There are some great, cheaper grain-free food options as well!

Patti

10/13/2013 06:21:45 am

What is your take on the Lifetime dog kibble?

K9 Instinct link

10/13/2013 06:47:21 am

Lifetime is a good kibble, especially for people on a budget... it is certainly the cheapest good quality food on the market. Again, would prefer a grain free kibble.

Angela

7/22/2014 10:16:24 pm

K9 Instinct. We feed our 9 month old german shepherd Blue Buffalo basics. Is this a bad choice?

Laurie Lamarche

4/20/2015 05:01:58 am

Do what you can afford to Kim. We are in the same boat. Even if all you can manage is kibble, you can easily supplement it. Are you having a piece of beef or chicken tonight for dinner? Cut off a small cube before you cook it and give as a snack. If you're cooking a healthy veg, give them one or two pieces after steaming. Even on kibble, you can manage to give a small piece of raw meat, a couple veg pieces, and maybe even a bit of apple or a blueberry (just 1 blueberry a day will do it). That's a nice bit of fresh food in the day of a dog on kibble! :) I buy one sweet potato and steam it in cubes. One cube a day per dog as a lunch time snack. Excellent fibre and a vitamin packed snack. We all do what we can.

Hayley

2/11/2013 11:45:49 pm

I thought by-products (or maybe I'm thinking "chicken meal") were okay because it was all the lesser parts of the animal... but in the wild, wouldn't those parts be eaten by the dog? Is there a difference between the meal and by-products?

K9 Instinct link

2/11/2013 11:51:30 pm

The by-products have no regulations as to exactly what "by-products" contains... so you never know if you're getting the parts of the chicken a wild animal wouldn't be able to eat. Ground beaks, feathers, feet, etc are notorious for being hidden in cheap, low-quality dog foods. SOME companies, very few, will use organ meat and bone as "by-product". The issue is that there are very light regulations on exactly what can be labeled "by-products", so it is simply not safe.

Arie

3/5/2013 12:03:29 am

Both my dogs have food allergies so feeding raw with chicken isn't an option. Its also expensive though i'd love to be able to do it for my girls. Right now they're on a grain free beef kibble that seems to be doing the trick so far. I do add pumpkin puree to their food every day.

Celeste

3/21/2013 04:02:05 am

Can I combine option 1 and 5?

K9 Instinct link

4/1/2013 11:46:44 am

Not in the same meal, but yes. Ideally you would combine 1 and 4. :)

Susan Royal

11/22/2014 09:57:12 am

I have started my raw food journey for my Belgian Malinous. I am curious why one could not combine Option 1 and 4 in the same meal?
Thanks..

Cheryl Ann

3/21/2013 09:42:38 am

I must say, my dogs have now been on a raw food diet for 4 days. My GSD LOVES IT! She can't wait for me to fix her a bowl of healthy, raw meats and organ meat. My black lab isn't too interested, which kind of surprises me since she is my "dumpster diver"...always in the garbage! I think she's insulted...sigh...My GSD already has more energy, looks better, and plays more! :-) She is 6 years old.

Krystle

4/1/2013 08:16:32 am

We have a mastiff x boxer and we feed her a little bit of what we have not every single night, but she gets a bit spoilt is this ok to do or do we need to prepare her own proper dinner, when we do give her a little bit of what we are having she also has her dog meat mixed in with it

K9 Instinct link

4/1/2013 11:49:13 am

There are foods that are toxic to dogs; such as garlic, onion, chocolate... It is better for you to provide her with a proper balanced diet and supplement with safe, healthy goodies from your fridge like cottage cheese. plain yoghurt, carrots, green beans... :)

Dawn

5/2/2013 01:57:48 am

My dogs get air dried garlic granules every day.

Bill

4/1/2013 08:40:10 am

Wellness CORE Grain-Free is also an excellent kibble!

HollySue

4/1/2013 10:37:36 am

Iswitched to wellness core in December seems to be doing good just started adding some SoJo dehydrated vege's it seems to have taken all the gas out of them which is a blessing !! They look great and all have great energy

K9 Instinct link

4/1/2013 11:46:00 am

Agreed! Wellness Core is an excellent grain-free option.

Karin

4/1/2013 08:46:11 am

I let my GSD eat food from my plate when I'm finished. I was told that feeding him pork chop(bones) or chicken is bad for their digestive system. Is this true? I still feed them Blue Buffalo dog food. Is this a good brand for them? Plus he gets beef knuckle bones smoked from the butcher.

K9 Instinct link

4/1/2013 11:51:18 am

Hi Karin!

I don't recommend allowing your dog to clean your plate, since there are certain foods that are toxic to dogs such as onions, garlic and chocolate.

Feeding COOKED bones is bad for dogs and can cause serious problems, but uncooked/raw bones are safe - weight bearing bones and knuckle bones should be fed a recreational chew not a meal.

Christine

4/1/2013 10:18:06 am

Thank you so much for this site a have a one year germen sheperd and i would like to know whut kind of rew food and how much to give plz

Cheryl Ann

4/1/2013 10:39:26 am

Well, my GSD has been on a raw food diet for a month now. She LOVES it! My black lab...er, ugh...NO! The GSD sits by the fridge at feeding time, wagging her tail in anticipation. Now, I give my lab Taste of the Wild kibble ($$$), which she used to like, but she turns her nose up at it and walks away. What a difference! I've offered her the raw foods, but she will NOT eat them...sigh...Anyway, it is making a HUGE difference, at least, with the shepherd! :-)

Tristan

4/1/2013 11:30:17 am

For those intending on feeding a raw diet, PLEASE talk to a veterinary nutritionist before you start. Some dogs take to it well, some don't. It can be difficult to balance the diet so your dog has all the nutrients they need to grow and flourish. Really look into joining a proper co-op to get a variety of GOOD meat product for variety. Research from several sources before starting. A cooked diet is generally better for a transition period before going entirely raw.

If you have a larger breed puppy and this is the first time you have ever tried raw diet... keep in very close contact with a specialist!!! The diet needs change rapdily as they grow.

(off soap box now. Good luck! The results can be stunning!!!)

K9 Instinct link

4/1/2013 11:45:11 am

Unfortunately most veterinarians have very little nutritional training so I do not recommend going to them for nutritional advice. On top of that, they do not often support raw feeding. They would much prefer you feed their corn-filled veterinarian diets sold right in the clinic (I would know, I worked in an animal hospital for years).

Raw feeding isn't as terribly complex as people may think, as long as you feed your dog the way other wild carnivorous mammals have been eating for millions of years you won't see any issues. Raw meat, raw bone and raw organ from a variety of prey species is the ideal diet for a carnivorous canine.

jean

4/4/2013 12:29:34 am

Hi, i have a 2year old female GSD. Aggressive lately at two of my kids. Not spayed-planning on doing so. Also eats a raw diet of tripe, mixed meat and Blue Buffalo chicken and rice kibble. She seems to like both. Can the raw meat be adding to aggression?
Thanks.

K9 Instinct link

4/18/2013 12:09:46 am

Jean,

Raw meat does not create aggressive in animals whatsoever, they make no connection between the food in their bowl and the act of killing it/connecting it to a live creature.

Rossana Salazar

11/26/2013 06:31:21 am

Hi, I am very interested on my 8 month male GS' nutrition, I am currently feeding him Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken recipe for large breed puppies, I saw your recommendations on kibbles, and I don't see this brand... I want to know if there is something wrong with this brand, i have read just awesome reviews about it, and that is why I chose it... Will appreciate your response.. Thank You

Suzie

4/8/2013 02:46:31 am

I would love to feed raw to my 5 German Shepherds but do not have the proper time or money at this point in my life. I do feed Taste of the Wild Bison Vinicon and top it with fresh cooked chicken and broth. I was wondering if TOTW is a good kibble food? I tried Blue Buffalo and California Naturals but it was a waste of money because not one of them ate it even with added fresh cooked meat...

K9 Instinct link

4/18/2013 12:10:51 am

Suzie,

Taste of the Wild is great in terms of quality, but my concern is always that Diamond (who makes Taste of the Wild) has had so many recalls on their food, especially recently.

Jillian

4/9/2013 12:10:47 pm

After trying several different brands and doing my own research, we switched our dog to 'Canine Caviar'. Are you familiar with this brand and do you recommend it?

K9 Instinct link

4/9/2013 12:13:22 pm

Jillian,

I am not familiar with this brand as it is not sold near me in Canada, but a quick ingredient read of the grain-free formula seems pretty good!

kerri

3/24/2015 08:00:16 am

I live in W.V. an iv noticed tht iv never heard of most of the brands tht have been mentioned in these comments...if u could list me a few of the best brands of dog food around here tht are reasonably priced I'd rly appreciate it..I have it extremely hard financially like most do..they eat dry food with moist chewy bites...they like it an all its just I'm sure theirs healthier brands out there for them...just want the best for them i loveeee my babies soo any info or opinions would be great <3 thanx

Maria

4/17/2013 02:33:56 pm

Thanks for the articles. What do you think about Royal Canin Maxi for adult dogs? I feed my shepherd with Royal Canin kibble and Pedigree canned food.

K9 Instinct link

4/18/2013 12:08:02 am

Maria,

I never under any circumstances recommend Royal Canin, as it is full of grain and fillers and very poor quality/low quality meat. Royal Canin focuses more on marketing than food quality.

David

7/1/2013 02:59:40 am

I used have Royal Canin for my GSD for last 5 years since she was puppy. Last year, my dog started not to eat normal schedule, she would not eat entire day sometimes 2 days. The Vet said she's healthy, but I don't believe it. After research, I found this website and took consultation, and switched to raw meat, and does make difference for last a month, she eat normal now, and look healthier.

Rodena

4/17/2013 10:13:20 pm

We feed our dogs 4 Health, is this a high quality food?

Mary Hershiser

4/30/2013 09:05:53 am

What's your opinion of Blue Buffalo grain free kibble and also all the grain free stews made by Merrick? I also use Merrick canned 96% duck or tripe and supplement with raw bones and veggies. Have also used Sojo's freeze dried grain free. Thanks

Gail Fairman

4/30/2013 09:28:06 am

Thank you so much for your very valuable articles. I am learning lots of info about feeding, although I do not have a large dog but do have 2 Maltese, one of which has a terrible time with stomach upsets and now inflamed eyes which the vet thinks is allergies. I am going to switch to one of the grain free dog foods that you have mentioned and will report back in a few weeks if there is an improvement. Thanks so much.

Tracey Bagatta

5/5/2013 10:06:44 am

FYI - Nature's Instinct rabbit is sourced from China.

matt

5/10/2013 10:17:52 am

We feed Back to basics kibble. We have had amazing success with it.

Roxanne Scanlon

5/17/2013 09:43:45 am

What's wrong with Blue Buffalo dry and canned food?

Melissa

5/20/2013 10:20:19 pm

What a great educational artical. Thank you I am inspired to start a raw diet with my 4-year old GSD. He is a skinny 110 lbs and eats A Lot. I am excited to educate myself further and feed him more nutrient rich foods. I've seen several people ask about the dry food brand Blue Buffalo, I also ask if your opinion on this Brand? Thanks again!

jean

5/20/2013 10:48:19 pm

Hi, in response to the question about blue buffalo, i have fed my dog this with a combo of raw meat and tripe for 2 years now and my vet says she is doing excellent. She is 75 pounds and very muscular. She is also exercised a lot. I hear Orijen is a great kibble food but very expensive. Blue isnt cheap either but we make do.

Kimberly

6/12/2013 03:27:21 am

I have been feeding Merrick for years, I feed Merrick Grain Free. My Lab does wonderful on this food, her coat is soft, shiny and it has never upset her stomach and she loves it. I like the fact that it is made in the USA and the ingredients are also from the USA, nothing is imported from China or New Zealand like some of the other "big name" foods.

Diane Apere

6/16/2013 12:46:21 am

What about high quality canned food? Such as Wellness 95%, Newman's Own, etc?

Cathy

6/16/2013 07:22:47 am

we feed kibble. we buy orijen, acana and natures variety all fish based and mix them she like the variety and is doing well. lily has allergies and this seems to be working. we also feed her local honey and coconut oil daily.... allergies are stable so far this year.

Doc's Mom

6/24/2013 08:29:26 am

What are your thoughts on NUTRO ULTRA?

K9 Instinct link

10/13/2013 06:46:12 am

I am not a huge fan of Nutro, simply because they have too much grain for my liking. Not enough protein, a little extra junk that isn't necessary in a dogs diet,

wendy

7/15/2013 03:03:18 am

I was wondering your thoughts on simply nourish??its the best I could afford, I use it on my cats and dogs, , my mom tried it one her cats and dogs and find its not the best for her animals? im confused as to what to do, my animals aren't ribby, but you can feel them, they shed, as normal with the breeds, my cats are Persians, my dogs are pugs, please let me know

K9 Instinct link

10/13/2013 06:44:53 am

Simply Nourish is a medium quality kibble, would be much better if it were grain free. For a budget though, it is a good option!

Colleen

8/27/2013 01:31:45 pm

What is the opinion of Fromm dry food?

K9 Instinct link

10/13/2013 06:43:26 am

Fromm dog food, especially the grain free variety is what I consider to be a high quality kibble brand.

lynda perry

11/16/2013 11:13:41 pm

I noticed many people inquiring/asking about Blue Buffalo and you haven't given your opinion ... we are just starting to transition our 10 mo. puppy to this. ??

Damien

11/26/2013 06:15:15 am

in the UK, we have an excellent dry food made by Eden Holistic. An ancestral diet formulation, our year old puppy is thriving on that and your homemade treat recipes

Andy

11/26/2013 06:31:09 pm

Hi

This was very interesting. I have been thinking of using BARF for my dogs for some time. My wife is not to happy about it, but I Think with a Little more info, she might be all for it.

I am using Hills perfomance right now and have been for a very long time. I have Heard that it is very good for the dogs, but I would be very interested in your thoughts on it.

My old female underwent surgery when she was 8. They told me to switch to hills senior, because she would gain too much weight. However, after only a short while she had a lot of pains and had trouble standing up and so on. She got some pain relief, but I also switched back to performance, although in smaller portions than Before because she was no longer training, and she got much better again, much better fur and energy and certainly no pain.

So, I hope you can give me an idea as to how hills might rank and I'll see about starting to use some raw food :) (A colleague uses some form of frozen raw food. Ill look into that.)

Thanks from Sweden.

Kayla Matter

12/26/2013 05:49:26 am

What would you recommend for dehydrated dog food? I've been hearing a lot of good things about The Honest Kitchen and am thinking of switching our dog over to it.

K9 Instinct link

12/26/2013 05:51:21 am

I recommend Orijen Freeze-dried/dehydrated food, The Honest Kitchen or Canisource if you want to go dehydrated.

Jackie woods

6/20/2014 02:10:52 pm

What is your opinion on life's abundance. I feed this to my collies. Breeder recommend

JRT

6/21/2014 05:04:52 pm

Angel, for Canadians on a budget. Actrium Hollistic is made local near you in Elmira. Ingredients read very well with no corn or wheat filler and no harmful chemicals. Price per meal is comparable to the cheapest Purina crap. My 2 Shep's are doing very well on it with some good supplements. Raw is my ultimate goal though.

alana

10/14/2014 07:23:07 am

HI,i have 1 yr old american pitbull,i give him usually chicken cooked mixed with dried food and sometimes i add some spinach and carrots,i give him liver ,and sometimes beef,but i confused if this food will give him every day,or maybe u can tell me what can i give him.thanks

annette

10/29/2014 12:43:17 am

What is your opinion on the Hills ranges and also their new range Ideal Balance? I am from South Africa

Keith

12/1/2014 05:28:00 am

I started our boxer on the raw diet slowly. I cooked it at first and over time I cooked it less and less. It took a month to finally get to the raw meat. She gets two chicken drumsticks a day (beef meat on others with some organ meat like liver and chicken hearts)with some ground up green beans or Pease and carrots, and an Apple that has been cut up or a banana.
Over all (7 months now) she has lost twenty pounds (she was a fatty), and her energy has increased. She actually chases the cat again. She eats less quantity but more nutritionally.
Thank you for getting me interested in this. Gracie thanks you too.

Beth

12/1/2014 06:06:37 am

What about Bil-Jack? Our 2 year old GR has been on this since 8 weeks but she is slow to eat, and a finicky eater. Suggestions?

Paul Brooks

12/1/2014 07:03:03 am

What do you think of ziwi peak food?

Marion

12/1/2014 09:23:13 am

I use a high quality dog food kibble (Merrick) and Nature's Variety Instinct Raw bites about 50/50; did wonders to clear up her itchy skin. I also add plain Greek yogurt, canned pumpkin, and low fat cottage cheese. Does that equal you #1 and #4 recommendations?

tracey

12/1/2014 10:35:52 am

I give my 3 year old PitBull,,4 health,,and I add a few carrots,and some apple slices,,she really loves the carrots

Sherry

12/1/2014 11:49:18 am

we have a shep/ lab pup who is 8 months old we feed her blu and she has very white teeth a healthy shiny coat and has no doggie smell what so ever what is your opinion of this food? Its expensive like 55.00 a bag but seems to be worth it.

Donna

12/2/2014 11:39:20 pm

Hi, I have two lhasas both are allergic to chicken. I have been feeding them iams naturals sensitive . I also boil hamburger and rice they also get small amounts of 100% pumpkin..they are 8 and 13 in age....I'm wondering if this is a good diet for them? I would love your input. ..thanks..I really enjoyed this post and I'm sharing this for sure! ♡

Mary

12/5/2014 01:38:23 am

Would love to know what you think of the Castor & Pollux Natural Ultramix Grain free line. I have begun to transition my 4mo golden to the duck/sweet potato recipe and he seems to really like it! So happy to have found your website!! Thanks!

Maureen Liimatainen

12/20/2014 03:48:22 pm

K9 instinct thanks for sharing so much good info. I have a st. bernard shepard/husky mix. Jake is 9 months. He's a good dog and smart. Every once in a while he will not eat for a day or so. I feed him 4 health from tractor supply stores. Your information has been helpful. Looking forward to follow your site.

Pat Burroughs

12/22/2014 05:36:34 am

I feed Acana I tried the raw but one of my dogs had a reaction to it so I switched back nice to see you have Acana on your list of good dry kibble 😃 I do add things to the kibble coconut oil,salmon oil I also make bone broth and mix it in just made a batch yesterday ,I also only make their treats I do not trust the store bought ones if I have to buy treats if I am travelling I read the ingredients .

Rakesh

12/22/2014 07:33:35 am

What an informative article you wrote.. Many thanks for this service.
We just added one family member. He is a 8 week old Golden Retriever.
I want to provide him as much as natural food as possible and we have access to wide variety of Vegetables.
Can you guide me in that? What vegetables should i give him and in what form? When can we start him on rice?
By raw diet do u mean totally uncooked raw chicken or red meat? When can i start him on raw diet? How much qty per day?
Thanks again.

Shannon

12/22/2014 08:17:51 am

We feed our lab/golden retriever mix and GSD both a little over a year old Kirkland brand Salmon and sweet potato. Do you have any feedback on that? I know it is grain free and we tried the turkey and the other meat one they offer and have had to be selective with our GSD as she seems to have severe allergies to most foods. This is the only one we have been able to give her that hasn't sent her straight outside a dozen plus times a day and finally kept her tummy straight for a few months. Our vet just said she had a sensitive tummy and would have us keep her on the BRATS diet, but it was causing her to lose way too much weight for my liking.

Rose

12/22/2014 10:24:26 am

I feed both my dog and cats Merrick dry and wet both. If money is tight I may slip in a bag of Taste of the Wild dry but stick with Merrick wet. I too worry about Diamonds past history. Another thing I tell folks is don't ruin a good thing by feeding crappy treats! Beggin Strips and Old Roy biscuits NOT the way to go!

Janet link

12/22/2014 12:03:12 pm

I'd like to feed raw food but I'm worried about the quality of meat and whether or not it is loaded with bacteria, antibiotics , etc. Can you tell me where to get good quality meat and organs? Thanks.

Judith

12/22/2014 07:11:00 pm

So you say cottage cheese is ok cuz i heard queso isn't good for them

Kevin

12/22/2014 07:27:49 pm

i have three seven year old Wire Haired Fox Terrier, one has bladder stones, we have fed them carrots apples and broccoli along with Burns Organic Kibble, the vet has put him on the Royal Canin to break down the stones! Can you advise me? We feed them blueberries, i am a vegetarian however i would be happy to feed them all meat, is liver and heart raw ok? X

Rose

1/8/2015 11:12:10 am

What are your thoughts on Taste of the Wild?

Colleen

1/9/2015 12:24:56 am

Hi...lots of great info here. Thank you! I have an Australian Shepherd Blue Merle (Monty) who is sensitive to everything as well as an absolute knowing what is good for him. I had him on Taste of the Wild High Prarie & recently switched him to Halo Spots Stew Surf & Turf (fish & turkey) because he started refusing to eat tow. Is halo a good dry kibble? Also I have another adorable & very interesting mixed breed who creates an awwww stir wherever we go which says a lot because the Aussie is strikingly beautiful (as is Tocho). Tocho seems somewhat alergic because he sneezes a lot. I feed him the same food plus I keep them on DE and dust them with it as well. The Aussie (Monty) cannot have conventional flea control (AKA poison) So I limit the amount of flea control products. What would you recommend for that & heartworm prevention? Thank you for your time & help it us greatly appreciated!!! I adore my dogs, more than people.

Rob

1/9/2015 09:39:31 pm

We have two Maltese,they both started having seizures at around two years old,our vet told us its common for the breed.We were told that they could be put on medication that they would be on for life.We fed them expensive "grocery " store food from birth,we decided to switch to Taste of the Wild the seizures have stopped.hope this info helps someone else's best friends.

Lauren

1/17/2015 05:32:10 am

I enjoyed the article BUT was very surprised to see that you left out TASTE of the WILD as one of the best brands as it is. It''s made here in canada as well and is comparable to orijen and acana almost identical.

Liz

1/17/2015 05:42:16 am

I have been feeding my pugs wellness core forever but recently took notice of the refrigerated food called Freshpet. They don't use any preservatives and none of their meats are from China. I've seen all fantastic reviews for their food and was just wondering if you have any opinions of this food? The pugs ADORE it and can't eat it fast enough. I use the kind that comes in the rolled loafs. They have grain and grain free varietys. Also, I've asked the opinions of two vets and both said (to my surprise) that grain free is just a waste of money and it's the food companies creating a profitable fad. My vet said that 95% of allergies in dogs are not food related. What's your opinion on grain free? It is WAY more expensive and would get to be buying something that's not needed. I'm sure SOME dogs do have food allergies, but mine seem ok on food with grain so was just wondering! Let me know if anyone has opinions of Freshpet! It sure seems like a fantastic product/company.

Tina Cleckley

1/17/2015 11:29:59 am

Hello there...I've been reading all the comments and they are very interesting. ..we have a 6mos. Old German Shepherd ..we were feeding him purina for puppies until we realized what was in it..we now feed him simply nourish grain free..is that a good kibble? There are just to many out there with different reviews!!!please help

Janet Hands

1/18/2015 01:40:31 am

I am slowly shifting my 2 Goldens (9 and 12) over to the raw food diet as I line up economical sources of meat. My 9 yr old has always had thin, brittle fur and is always prone to hotspots. She's been on low doses of prednisone most of her life. She's also on phenobarbitol since she's been having seizures since she was about 3. Since I've been feeding her raw, (only for a couple of weeks now) mixed with Blue kibble, her fur is already starting to come in thicker and healthier! My older girl has trouble with the bones so I'm planning on grinding them. Waiting on a friend to bag me a deer and I'm planning on raising chickens starting in the spring! Seeing a difference this quickly has me sold!

Theresa link

2/28/2015 06:31:09 am

As far as feeding raw foods, what meats are we able to give my pitt mixed girls from Wal-Mart grocery side?
We are on a very strict budget. I've been worried about ingredients in their food. I know they contain all the bad stuff. I'd like to be able to give them better food. Is there any brand at Wal-Mart or maybe some where else I can get cheap hard food? They are 8 nths old. As as fresh fruits and veggies which fruits and veggies are acceptable for my girls/sisters :-) I'm only used to paying $25 per bag of dog food. Whether it's a 15lb bag or 50lb bag. I've never paid over $25. So if you can help me find a hard dog food for cheap my girls and I would be very grateful. Thank you.
K9 please please direct me in the right direction

Theresa

2/28/2015 08:19:51 am

Well I looked into a bag of Purina puppy chow. I was giving that to 2 puppies before they died of parvo. And there's nothing but chemical words being used.

(No I'm not highly intelligent but I can tell their very bad.)

So I can only guess just how bad my nonname brand dog food is. Please help me find solutions. Thanks

Ashkey

5/24/2015 01:02:41 pm

I have a question,
I would like to feed my brindle dog 3 years old a grain free, limited ingredient diet due to a fish allergy. What would you suggest? She's on Acana pork and butternut squash right now, but is a bit overweight?

danielle

12/11/2015 04:12:59 pm

I just started my 6 month old saint Bernard on 4health grain free is this a good dry food for him? I want to make sure what I'm giving him isn't crap. I picked this because its in my price range and the first ingredient is chicken.

Megan

12/29/2016 08:24:03 pm

I've currently got a 16 year old Border Collie, 2 year old pit bull, and recently lost my 8+ (not sure how old he really was, he was from our local shelter and was already grey muzzled) GSD... and I help my brother care for her service GSD... and I'm getting a GSD puppy next year...

I'm feeding Taste of the Wild, per my vet's recommendation, though I have supplemented home made meals and raw food when and where possible (against my vet's wishes with the raw: "Risk to you, risk to them!" is her adage!). How about TOTW? I only recently made the switch to that from Wellness Core (because my collie will no longer eat that and so goes one, so goes the rest usually) but it is a grain free food as well... The vet had recommended Canidae but I didn't like the idea of "meals" being listed, and also I believe it's more plant based than TOTW was?

Anyway, I'm curious on your thoughts on that particular brand. I haven't got my puppy yet but I want her to live long and happy (and I will be doing with her as I've done for my 16 year old: a mix of foods seems to keep them healthiest and happiest, he only now is showing what MAY be kidney failure, and even then the numbers are just a hair above normal so the we are just watching him!).

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The Best Dog Foods; What should I feed my dog?

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