Best food for bird dogs?

Jonah's Revenge · 02-24-2004, 02:19 PM

Does anyone know where I can get an unbiased (i.e. not from the manufacturer) opinion or data on all the different dog foods out there?
I've tried to find articles on the internet without any luck.
What does everyone out there use?
Is there much of a difference between the top companies such as Pedigree, Iams, and Purina?
I know there are some other top dollar stuff out there too but am not sure if there is a significant difference.
I'm getting another dog soon (a puppy to keep my older dog young) and started to think about puppy food and what I currently feed my lab.

Whata ya guys think?

brdkdg · 02-24-2004, 03:08 PM

All of the foods that you mentioned are good. Many, of the spendy ones, have fewer fillers and you use less so that the price evens out. Less to pick up in the yard also.

I use Iams and Science Diet. In the winter, when my Lab. is hunting, I go for the higher fat content.

My vet has me keep young dogs on puppy food, for a full year. Dogs put on bone and muscle mass for a full year and need the extras in puppy food.

Salty Walty · 02-24-2004, 03:09 PM

I have used the Nutro products and have had good results. I feed both dogs Max during the year and the higher 30% with a little more fat type during hunting season. Both dogs hunt waterfowl and upland. They are both labs and 80# and 90# a piece. The best advice I would have is find a good brand and stick with it. Check the ingredients corn is bad. It is a filler and dogs don't digest it. You will find it in your yard a day later. The premium dog foods are highly concentrated so the amount to feed them is low. Less than 5 cups each daily for my dogs. It would be about the same amount in the other premium foods also. Some of the bargain foods call for 8-10 cups daily and you can guess where that ends up. Good luck on your decision and with your new pup.

Salmo · 02-24-2004, 03:20 PM

Nutro works for my GSP!

Mad Mikey · 02-24-2004, 04:09 PM

Safeway tasty nuggets and table scraps worked fine for our lab we had when I was growing up. She made it to 13, with no major health problems except for old age stuff. She hunted and fished with me for years and years. Maybe she was lucky but methinks $30 for a 20lb bag of dog food is a bit overkill.
Nothing wrong with giving your best friend the best but some of these dog chow companies have got to be in cahoots.
Maybe I'll change my mind if I ever get another dog again though....

fishstik · 02-24-2004, 04:17 PM

science diet for my gsp girl

Lured In · 02-24-2004, 07:02 PM

Diamond Premium Adult (Diamond Pet Foods). Goes for just under $20 for 40# bag. Recommended by our pro trainer and I can't complain about the results. Lots of energy, good coat and no identifiable skin problems. It is available at most feed stores.

Rather than varying her food type, I just cut back her servings in the off season. Now if I could just figure out when her off season was. [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img] :grin: Gotta love labs. [img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img]

Bait Bucket · 02-24-2004, 07:18 PM

I think dogs are like people - some foods are good for some and not for others. I feed my GWP Iams and all the vets have told me he is in top condition. I have seen some dogs practically starving eating dog food with too much filler. Stick with one of the top brands and visit the vet regularly for check ups.

blackdog · 02-24-2004, 07:50 PM

I second what Lured In said - I feed my labs Diamond brand dog foods. Stick with Premium during the bulk of the year then switch for a while during the fall to the next one up when they're working real hard.

I did a bunch of reading on working dog discussion boards, much like this one, and it seems there are many breeders and trainers out there who entrust their dogs with Diamond. Performance without the price tag of some of the others like Iams and Science Diet.

periwinkle · 02-24-2004, 08:41 PM

A Boeing Dog Club had a person talk about this once. She pointed out that there is no 'truth in labeling' law for pet food like there is for human food.. In other words, the mfgs can lie without recourse about the contents according to this spokesperson. She recommended Precise because she knew the owners

and believed them to be honest.
She also said that you can make your own w/ veg and meat products and a processor...

and then you know what your dog is eating.. I have used Precise for 7 years w/ my GWP and she does fine..

James in Idaho · 02-25-2004, 07:06 AM

Add me to the Diamond fan club. My chessie is what I would call a "hard feed", I have always had problems keeping weight on him. The two foods that have worked great are Blackwood ($$$ and not easy to find)and Diamond. He gets the high powered Diamond during hunting season, and since I ran out of food this mornig, I'll switch over to maintance until October. New lab puppy gets Diamond puppy, and he's doing fine on it. BTW, Diamond makes the food for Fred Meyer. I know several hard core field trialers, all of them feed FM Diamond to most of their dogs.

Crayfin · 02-25-2004, 09:11 AM

Diamond and Nutro--both awesome for "Molly's Chocolate Queen" :grin:

Lamb and Rice is what I usually feed her. I know Fishinpoor uses both of these on the dogs that he trains (about 20 of 'em) and he really likes the results

Crayfin

Tilla · 02-25-2004, 01:08 PM

We look for 27% protien for starters for the active dog.

Fish Hawg · 02-25-2004, 01:47 PM

Steak and chicken :grin: maybe thats why my lab weighs 120#s

He's not fat he's just a big dog :smile: .....Ross

Jonah's Revenge · 02-25-2004, 03:06 PM

Thanks for the info everyone!
Checked out the Diamond Pet Food website. I was impressed with their product. Of course, it's hard to figure out what is best for my dog, the large breed 60+, senior 8+, premium adult, changing to professional during hunting season dog that I have.

I know I won't go wrong with any of those, but I have read alot about the glucosamine/ chondroitin benefits and will probably lean toward one of those bags.
The only bummer is that Wilco doesn't carry it. Guess I'll have to drive a bit to get it. Someone else posted about freddies. I'll have to check that out too.

1eyed · 02-25-2004, 03:23 PM

I have had very good success with Nutro Natural Choice. I kept my GSP puppy on the food until he was 15 months old and then switched to the large breed adult food.

These products are free from all animal by-products. Nutro also has the glucosamine/ chondroitin you are looking for.

Dave

[ 02-25-2004, 04:25 PM: Message edited by: 1eyed ]

SalmonSeason · 02-25-2004, 09:01 PM

Eukanuba or however it's spelled is what I use for my English Pointer and Yellow Lab

Lab don't care as long as it's food Not cheap
but seems to work well for the two of them

Labsforme · 02-26-2004, 08:24 AM

We've been feeding Costco Kirkland Lamb & Rice and I hunt my dogs hard.I believe it's made by Diamond.Excellent coat,stool,etc(around 2 cups per day for 55 lb lab).What ever food it is look at the label,they do have to list ingredients by order of percentage from most to least.ie if corn is near the top it is probably better for pigeons
than dogs.