Dog Food

[dallas22]

 I was at TSC getting dog food i tend to get retriever cuase i like the high protein  and low fat. What do yall look for in a dog food?

[Goose87]

First thing I do is flip it over and read the ingredients, most of the time whatever it consist of most is the first then so on, not always the case, I try to avoid anything if the first ingredients are corn or wheat, second thing I look for is the fiber content, low fiber means less grain and more meat based kibble, not saying my way is right or the only way but it's just a personal preference...

Depends on time of year it is as to what feed I'm feeding, a lot of your cheaper feeds will show a high protein but it may not be a source of protein a dog can digest (absorbed by body) some feed manufacturers add hair to the formula to increase the protein  content on paper but in the end result your dogs can't use it....

[dallas22]

First thing I do is flip it over and read the ingredients, most of the time whatever it consist of most is the first then so on, not always the case, I try to avoid anything if the first ingredients are corn or wheat, second thing I look for is the fiber content, low fiber means less grain and more meat based kibble, not saying my way is right or the only way but it's just a personal preference...

Depends on time of year it is as to what feed I'm feeding, a lot of your cheaper feeds will show a high protein but it may not be a source of protein a dog can digest (absorbed by body) some feed manufacturers add hair to the formula to increase the protein  content on paper but in the end result your dogs can't use it....

Thats good info i never new that. So what kind of food do u use?

[Teag_D]

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/diamond-extreme-athlete-dog-food-40-lb
the best I can find for the price, About $1 per lb.
When I can I will mix it with
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/taste-of-the-wild-wetlands-canine-formula-with-roasted-fowl-30-lb-bag
Excellent feed but on the pricey side. I wouldnt just pile on the protein, dogs need and use fat as well. If you go real high protein content it can tax your dogs liver.

[ED BARNES]

high fat is important in the winter

[Goose87]

First thing I do is flip it over and read the ingredients, most of the time whatever it consist of most is the first then so on, not always the case, I try to avoid anything if the first ingredients are corn or wheat, second thing I look for is the fiber content, low fiber means less grain and more meat based kibble, not saying my way is right or the only way but it's just a personal preference...

Depends on time of year it is as to what feed I'm feeding, a lot of your cheaper feeds will show a high protein but it may not be a source of protein a dog can digest (absorbed by body) some feed manufacturers add hair to the formula to increase the protein  content on paper but in the end result your dogs can't use it....

Thats good info i never new that. So what kind of food do u use?

I've recently swapped to the blue bag of showtime and couldn't be happier, seems my dogs don't burn out as quick, eat less, crap twice a day, and look good to boot, I was feeding the value pac made by specialty feeds and after swapping to the showtime could see the difference in overall coat health and muscle tone, since swapping I've had to buy a different brand a time or two and my dogs are real reluctant to eat anything else, of course they'll eat it when they get hungry but don't gobble it up like the showtime....

Another thing I look at, whenever I open a bag of feed I always grab a handful and rub it in my hands to see what kind of grease it has to it, IMO the oiler your hand is the better the feed is going to be....

[Judge peel]

Does that rubbing trick work on can food as well. Lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Goose87]

Sure does JP, you just got to have soft hands and knead it play-do lol....

[Slim9797]

I feed diamond high energy. $32 a bag and I think it's 24% protein and 18 % whatever the other crap is

[Reuben]

in the summer 18 percent or lower is ok...in the winter 20 percent protein because dogs burn more calories and more as the temperature drops...

I was feeding diamond high energy but the turds are sometimes messy and have a bad smell...

I switched back to sportsmix in the black bag and the turds are solid and don't have much of a smell...lots easier to clean up...

[ED BARNES]

THAT IS 24/20. THAT "OTHER CRAP" IS THE FAT.

[Reuben]

like already mentioned some cheap dog foods will have hair to increase the protein and bone to increase the calcium content but neither are digestible...just looks good to the buyer who does not know any better...a slick trick...

and the highest content is stated on the bag first and goes down from there to the least amount...

also if the bag says 100 percent nutritionally complete for all stages of a dogs life then it should be that according to law...

[Reuben]

in the summer 18 percent or lower is ok...in the winter 20 percent protein because dogs burn more calories and more as the temperature drops...

I was feeding diamond high energy but the turds are sometimes messy and have a bad smell...

I switched back to sportsmix in the black bag and the turds are solid and don't have much of a smell...lots easier to clean up...

sorry...meant to say 20 percent fast and 24 percent protein...

[Nannyslayer]

I feed river run 30/20 now while we are hunting.

I will switch them to 24/20 in the slower times.

[Semmes]

I feed river run as well... It's cheap. It'a crap by the ingredients and by the rating sites.
 My dogs do well on it...
They did better on victor and I would feed that if I could afford it
I supplement with table scraps all the time and raw when it's available

[Slim9797]

THAT IS 24/20. THAT "OTHER CRAP" IS THE FAT.

IS THAT BAD???!

[Cajun]

Goose, I also feed the blue bag showtime in the winter. 27/20. In the summer I feed the black bag 24/20. If you do not mind me asking what are you paying for the blue bag & where are you getting it. I am paying 25.00 a bag for the blue & 23.25 for the black. I normally pick up 650# at a time.

[Slim9797]

I usually get 400 lbs at a time

[Goose87]

I'm giving 25.00 a sack for it at  the hardware store in angie north of bogalusa, there's a foxpen around picayune that sells it for around 22.00 a sack, Chad Holston buys it from them he could possibly give you the number, I usually buy 4 or 5 bags a time so it doesn't justify driving over there to save a few bucks...

[bignasty]

its the preservatives that i watch for if i buy comercial dog food

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/red-flag-ingredients/dog-food-preservatives/