Your Questions About Organic Dog Food Reviews
Lisa asks…
What type of do food is the best to feed my dog?
I don’t no what type of dog food to feed my new dog. Please help.
admin answers:
Not all pet food is made equally. A lot of it is full of corn, by-products, dyes, unhealthy preservatives, filler grains and all sorts of nasty stuff. A lot of pet food companies are perfectly happy to the dump cheap leftovers and things that aren’t safe for human consumption (from human food processing plants) into their foods. Will it kill your dog? No, it has to be nutritionally complete and safe to even be marketed. Is it healthy? Not by a long shot.
Corn is a low quality ingredient you never want to see in your pet food. Corn and low quality grains are two of the biggest culprits when it comes to food allergies in our pets.
Thankfully, there are some excellent dog foods being made these days that include organic, human grade ingredients rather than trash not fit for human consumption.
Examples of low quality foods to avoid: Anything you can find in a grocery store will be low end, Purina, Iams, Eukanuba, Science Diet, Royal Canin, Pedigree, Kibbles n’ Bits, Beneful, Ol’Roy.
Examples of high quality foods to look for: Innova, Wellness, Solid Gold, Canidae All Life Stages, Fromm Four Star, Merrick, GO Natural, Nature’s Variety Prairie, Nature’s Logic, Artemis Fresh Mix, Timberwolf Organics.
Although the high quality foods are more expensive, you’re getting what you’re paying for. Less filler material means more concentrated nutrients… This means you typically need to feed far less of the high quality food than you would of the low quality one. Which also means less poop!
Before following your vet’s food recommendation, keep in mind that vets get /very/ little nutritional training during their schooling. Besides that, what training they /do/ get is usually sponsored or taught by the crappy pet food companies! They also often get paid to sell some of their products at their clinics (Science Diet, Royal Canin etc.)
A great option is to go with an entirely grainless diet. Many of the high quality foods now put out grainless formulas. Some good grainless diets include: Innova EVO, Wellness CORE, Blue Wilderness, Nature’s Variety Instinct, Orijen, Horizon Legacy, Merrick Before Grain, Canidae Grain Free All Life Stages, Fromm Surf & Turf, Now! And Sold Gold Barking At The Moon, Taste of the Wild.
Some pretty decent foods can even be found in common pet stores. Petsmart carries Blue Buffalo products (such as the excellent grain free diet Blue Wilderness). Petco carries Wellness, Solid Gold, Natural Balance, Eagle Pack Holistic, Blue Buffalo, Castor & Pollux Organix, Pinnacle, and Halo. If you can’t find a food, most of the high quality food brands have websites with store locators on them.
Another option, if you can’t find anywhere around you that sells good foods, is to order your pet food online. Here’s an excellent place to do so: http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/
Remember that foods should be switched gradually (mixing new slowly in with the old over about a two week period), especially when switching to a higher quality one, so as not to upset tummies.
Another option for feeding dogs is to feed raw. This is something that should be thoroughly researched before being attempted:
http://www.barfworld.com/
http://www.rawfed.com/
http://www.rawlearning.com/
http://www.wysong.net/controversies/rawmeat.shtml
More on dog food:
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=main (Learn how to determine the quality of your dog’s food.)
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/ (Dog food reviews. Four stars is a decent food, five stars is a great food, and six stars is an excellent food.)
Steven asks…
I am feeding Science Diet but want something better- What should I look for in dog food?
After some research, I’ve found that Science Diet isn’t a good dog food. Since my vet recommended it, I’d thought it would be fine!
So, I want to switch my Papillon and Yorkie’s food to something healthier and with better ingredients.
Any suggestions? When I look at the ingredients and nutrition, what should I look for or avoid?
admin answers:
Read the ingredients before you buy.
Here is my “short list” of rules when I am looking at dog food ingredients:
1) When I chose a dog food, I chose one high meat content. I want to see preferably at least 2-3 out of the top 5 ingredients be meat or meat meal (first ingredient must be!). Meal is simply the meat with the moisture removed.
2) I want to see higher quality grains, such as barley, brown rice, and oatmeal, instead of seeing wheat and corn. Or an alternative starch/carbohydrate such as potatoes or sweet potatoes.
3) I don’t want to see any byproducts.
4) I don’t want to see a lot of fillers.
5) I don’t want to see preservatives that are believed to be carcinogens (BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin).
6) I don’t want to see artificial colorings such as the Red, Blue, and Yellow dyes.
7) I don’t want to see added sugars (sugar, corn syrup).
8) I don’t want to see mystery meats (meats identified only as “meat” or “poultry”.)
Here is an article about byproducts:
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=ingrd
And an article on what ingredients to avoid:
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=badingredients
—
There is no food that is the *best*, different individual dog may thrive on different foods. What is best for one may not be the best for the next. And just because a food is good quality, it doesn’t mean it will jive the best for your dog.
What you want to find is the HIGH-QUALITY food that *your dog* does best on.
Here are some examples of GOOD dog foods:
* Artemis Fresh Mix
* Blue Buffalo
* California Natural
* Canidae
* Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
* Eagle Pack Holistic Selects
* EVO
* Fromm Four Star
* Innova
* Merrick
* Nature’s Variety
* Orijen
* Solid Gold
* Taste of the Wild
* Timberwolf Organics
* Wellness
* ZiwiPeak
Or check this website; the 4, 5, or 6 star rated foods are all good foods. Http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/
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Higher quality food may seem more expensive at first, but it evens out. The higher quality the food, the less fillers eaten (and therefore the less poop comes out the other end). Your dog eats more of a low-quality food to try to get the nutrition it needs, and most of the food just passes right on through. Also, higher-quality food will make your animals healthier, so you save money on vet bills in the long run.
—
What *NOT* to buy:
Stay away from grocery stores brands. They are low-quality foods chalk full of fillers, preservatives, dyes, etc.. (Grocery store foods are those like Beneful, Old Roy, Alpo, Pedigree, Purina, etc.)
Beware “premium” foods. “Premium” does not always mean good nutritionally, and is not a nutritionally high quality food. Most of these foods have the same types of ingredients as grocery store foods, just a bit better quality of those not-so-good ingredients. (Premium foods are those like Iams, Eukanuba, Science Diet, Bil-Jac, Royal Canin, etc..)
Another thing to be wary of: A lot of vets will recommend what they sell in their office. They get profit from the brands they keep on their shelves, that’s why they push it. Truth is, vet schools don’t focus a lot on nutrition. It’s not saying that a vet is a bad vet because he recommends those foods, a lot of vets just are told “this is good food”, so they pass the message along without proper nutrition knowledge. Also, some dog food brands (like Hills) support vet schools, so vets have heard of it from the time they start college, which makes them think it’s good as well.
Hills company, the makers of Science Diet, are heavily involved in vet schools. “Hill’s scientists author more than 50 research papers and textbook chapters each year and teach at leading schools of veterinary medicine” (Source of quoted section: http://www.hillsvet.com/zSkin_2/company_info/company_info_general.jsp?JSESSIONID=HMz2B3Jn3hv0rnSoxCobfbBhOec35ODG7yh5t3P0vcvhOtzRlQ9M!598359213!167846923!7005!8005&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302026072&bmUID=1196192566575 )
—
“Big box” petstores like Petco and Petsmart rarely have quality foods. (There are some higher quality foods at those locations, but most of the foods aren’t.)
* Blue Buffalo
* Castor & Pollux
* Eagle Pack Holistic Selects
* Natural Balance
* Solid Gold
* Wellness
Also, grocery stores and Walmart aren’t good places to buy food either.
Your best bets for getting quality dog food are:
– small, locally owned petstores
– holistic pet food stores
– dog boutiques
– farm supply stores
—
When switching foods, do it gradually. I do this over about a two week timespan:
1/4 food A, 3/4 food B
1/2 food A, 1/2 food B
3/4 food A, 1/4 food B
all food A
.
Maria asks…
what is the best brand of dog food for a a very small puppy?
right now im feeding him science diet but its more expensive then other foods and it comes with less? I hear that science diet is a scam that they dont give you what you pay for.
what is a good brand of dog food that my dog would like and i would be good for him?
im just interested in dry food.
admin answers:
Science Diet is a poor quality diet despite being expensive! You got a lot of horrible dog food suggestions here, but a couple of really good ones too.
Not all pet food is made equally. A lot of it is full of corn, by-products, dyes, unhealthy preservatives, filler grains and all sorts of nasty stuff. A lot of pet food companies are perfectly happy to dump cheap leftovers in. Will it kill your dog? No, it has to be nutritionally complete and safe to even be marketed. Is it healthy? Not by a long shot.
Corn is a low quality ingredient you never want to see in your pet food. Corn and low quality grains are two of the biggest culprits when it comes to food allergies in our pets.
Thankfully, there are some excellent dog foods being made these days that include organic, human grade ingredients rather than trash not fit for human consumption.
Examples of low quality foods to avoid: Anything you can find in a grocery store will be low end, Purina, Iams, Eukanuba, Science Diet, Royal Canin, Pedigree, Kibbles n’ Bits, Beneful, Ol’Roy.
Examples of high quality foods to look for: Innova, Wellness, Solid Gold, Canidae, Fromm, Merrick, GO Natural, Nature’s Variety, Nature’s Logic.
Although the high quality foods are more expensive, you’re getting what you’re paying for. Less filler material means more concentrated nutrients… This means you typically need to feed far less of the high quality food than you would of the low quality one. Which also means less poop!
A great option is to go with an entirely grainless diet. Many of the high quality foods now put out grainless formulas. Some good grainless diet’s include: Innova EVO, Wellness CORE, Blue Wilderness, Nature’s Variety Instinct, Orijen, Fromm Surf & Turf, Now! And Sold Gold Barking At The Moon.
Some of the high end foods can be found in common pet stores. Petsmart carries Blue Buffalo products (such as the excellent grain free diet Blue Wilderness). Petco carries Wellness and Solid Gold. If you can’t find a food, most of the high quality food brands have websites with store locators on them.
Remember that foods should be switched gradually, especially when switching to a higher quality one, so as not to upset tummies.
Another option for feeding dogs is to feed raw. This is something that should be thoroughly researched before being attempted:
http://www.barfworld.com/
http://www.rawfed.com/
http://www.rawlearning.com/
http://www.wysong.net/controversies/rawmeat.shtml
More on dog food:
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=main (Learn how to determine the quality of your dog’s food.)
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/ (Dog food reviews. Anything with five or six stars is a great food.)
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Your Questions About Dog Training Classes Denver
Linda asks…
How can I raise some money to meet my grandfather?
I never met my biological grandfather on my mother’s side and i just found him. I want to go take a trip down to where he is but it will cost $700 and I don’t have a job. I am a mature teen and I would love to see him. Is there any ideas as to how i could raise that kind of money? I did take a babysitting/ cpr training class at the red cross but i need to update my cpr this april and i probably should take first aid too.
I dont feel comfortable asking him to pay for anything because i never met him before and he only knew my mom had 3 kids
My parents can’t afford to give us allowance since we are tight on money and none of my neighbors has children since they are either grandparents or have kids my age or older
admin answers:
You can make up to $20 an hours as your own business picking up dog droppings in backyards. It is a job no one likes doing, and are willing to pay to have it done. A woman in Denver is making $75,000 a year doing it. You just need a small garden rake, a handle dust pan, plastic bags, and transportation, which can be a bicycle.
Robert asks…
Dog agility question????
What are the requirements for entering my dog into the stock show in January? You know, the one in Denver that happens mid-January every year. I have a Border collie who will be 9 months old next year in January, he was born March 6th of this year, and I want to enter him, but how old does he have to be? And how old do I have to be? I’m 13, I already have agility classes set up, so he should be ready by then, but he’s a Border collie/Aussie mix, can you tell me the requirements for entering him into the competition? Thanks!
admin answers:
Most agility/obedience clubs won’t let your dog start classes and especially competitions until the dog is at least a year old. I’m not sure about larger breeds, but I have a Papillon I plan to do agility with and we have to wait until he is a year to avoid joint development issues from the jumping and hard running.
Contact your local agility/obedience club, most of them will have agility training courses in stages for you to take with your dog. I found the club we are going to sign up with through Google, most have websites now. Usually the clubs also host competition/events, so when you sign up for courses, after you have completed the basic and beginner level agility training, the club will have lots of information on how to sign up to complete within the club, and also at other events in your area. Or just contact the organization that runs the event or visit their website, I’m sure they have lots of sign-up information on-line.
Lisa asks…
What kind of dog should I get?
Hi, within the next couple years I plan on getting a dog. I am trying to do all my research to get the best one. I am looking for a 3 year old female since I know in my heart I am really not up for the commitment and time it takes for an active puppy, and I really want a girl. With that said, this is what I am looking for.
under 20 pounds because of apartment restrictions, but not necessarily really tiny.
low energy but can still fetch a ball a bit. I also plan on giving a 10-15 minute walk mid-day and a 30-45 minute walk in the evenings.
on the quiet side because of below.
can handle being alone about 4-5 hours a weekday. I work all day and live alone but my apartment is close enough to come home for lunch.
fairly long lived since I am already getting an adult. (12-15 years ideal)
I want an affectionate dog that is really loyal and enjoys cuddling, but am told the more independent ones are better for being alone.
I prefer not to have a dog that has to go to the groomers or at least doesn’t have to go often, but have no problem with daily brushing/grooming myself.
I do not like the terrier personality and look for the most part.
I have taken bunches of quizes on dog breeds and of all the ones I like, the pug keeps coming up. What do you think? I also am mildly interested in some other breeds but most of them are prone to separation anxiety according to their descriptions. I had a dog as a small child but never one as an adult so I don’t think I would do well with a dominating or aggressive dog.
I am not adverse to getting a mixed/pound breed but it is harder to make sure all the above criteria is met. I would love some ideas.
also, I don’t care if it sheds or is hypoallergetic, drools, snores, etc that is all part of having a dog for me lol.
I live in a large suburb and it does get in the triple digits in the summer here, but my dog will live in a nice air-conditioned apartment. Also, when I mentioned the exercise I was willing to give, that is the max, I am quite happy with a dog that takes less.
admin answers:
Pugs have about the best personality of any dog, period, towards humans. (I speak as a non-pug owner – I have an awesome corgi, but we get outside a lot more than you do, and I’m home all day.) They’re ideal for the kind of apartment living you want. They are real people lovers, and don’t need a lot of exercise or space. The thing to keep in mind about pugs is that their heads are too big for their own birth canals, so they can’t give birth naturally. They have to have a c-section. That eliminates backyard breeders from the mix pretty much completely. As a result, with only ‘real’ breeders raising pugs, habits of aggression, etc have been bred out. They really do have great personalities.
The flip side is that, with all the inbreeding, they’re genetic disasters, with all kinds of health problems, inward sneezing, water on the brain, weak bones and joints, etc. You’ll have to keep this in mind, and have any new dog carefully checked out – not that that should stop you from adopting a dog with a few difficulties, but keep it in mind.
You might consider a pug-something mix for the health benefits. I’m only familiar with puggles, pug-beagle mixes, but that’s WAY too active for you. The one I know, admittedly a pup, gives the local jack russells a run for their money. On the subject, one drawback of pugs is that, with such fragile hips and bones, they can be easily injured in a dog park by bigger dogs just playing, so if you have a local dog park that you want to attend (it can be fun, and a good way to meet people) that has a fair share of bigger dogs like Labs, etc., be warned. Sounds like you’re in a city, but I don’t know if it’s Manhattan or Denver – big difference in dog park dogs.
This (head too big, great personalities) also applies, though not quite so dramatically, to Boston terriers, which you should also consider. Really, I’m not sure many pugs can keep up for a 45 minute walk, especially once they get past 8 or so. Boston terriers top out at 25 pounds, but there are classes of them that top at 15 and 20 pounds too, and female dogs are often smaller than the boys, so you might well find a winner there too. Don’t let the ‘terrier’ in the name fool you, or their origin as fighting dogs – these are happy apartment people-loving dogs that don’t require more exercise than you plan.
If you are really looking for a three year old dog, you’re pretty much locked in to a shelter or a rescue dog. Your first plan should probably be to figure out what kind(s) of dog you want, just as you’re doing – the more you’re ok with, the better your odds – and then visit your humane society pretty often. It may take a dozen visits to find the dog you want.
Three year old dogs are pretty much in the prime of their lives, though, so the most likely way to find one who hasn’t been abused or completely untrained at that age would probably be to contact a rescue club for the breed(s) you’re interested in. They are more likely to find dogs that an elderly person might have to give up, or someone who is moving into a building that doesn’t take dogs, etc. Right now, with the economy as it is, you probably are more likely to find much-loved and well-trained dogs in both spots than normal – a lot of people are moving from their own places into rental spots or relatives’ homes and can’t take the dog.
Don’t lock yourself into a three-year-old, though – a 6 year old is still plenty young, in a smaller dog. Fortunately for you, dog longevity is very strongly correlated with size. ‘Giant’ breeds like Great Danes or St Bernards usually make it to 7 or so; ‘toy’ breeds often make it to 16 or 17 or even more. (My mom’s neighbor’s 18 pound Italian greyhound just died, but almost made it to 20, and ran every day of her life with her ‘dad’ until the last week or so.) Any dog under 20 pounds is likely to make it to 14 or 15, maybe more, if there is no particular health issue and you don’t let it get fat.
One thing you haven’t mentioned is your climate. Both of the dogs I mentioned are short muzzled dogs which don’t do well in a lot of heat because of that short muzzle; at the same time, both are short haired, so they don’t do so well if it’s really cold, either, though of course they can wear coats and booties for walks. Keep your climate in mind as you pick.
You should also consider a bichon frise. They’re full of energy, especially when young, but have a wonderful personality, are super easy to care for (though they do have to have their hair cut every 6-8 weeks or so; you can do it yourself, though, with a little training and patience and a pair of clippers). Since you’re going for a mature dog, a 6 year old Bichon would be just great. And unlike the other two, you can let the hair grow out in winter, and clip short in summer, and they have a long muzzle, so they’re fine in any climate within reason. They don’t have the inbreeding problems that the big head guys do, either. They are notoriously slow to house train, but that shouldn’t matter in a mature dog.
One thing to keep in mind, as you ‘interview’ dogs, especially mutts, is that while you do want a fairly independent dog (ruling out some toys), you don’t really want a smart, inquisitive dog either. You want one who loves you, then is OK lying around.
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Your Questions About Organic Dog Food Brands
Charles asks…
What dog food should I buy my puppy?
I can’t get out to a pet store now and I’m planning on ordering my dog food from now on so I’m going to go to Walgreens for now to get some. Which dog food in the best out of the ones they have available for now? BTW I know they all suck but I now it will take a few days to get the food if I order it online.
Cesar
Kibbles ‘n Bits
Pedigree
Pet Shoppe
Purina
admin answers:
WHAT IN GODS NAME IS GOING ON HERE? Lol All these people are feeding their dogs this stuff??? Number 1 you should NEVER just go to a store and grab some brand. You should always research this. If you do you will learn how to read a dog food label. You will learn what is good for them and what isnt. Trust me 3 months ago I was asking this question myself (well not with these brands), but what dog food is best? After careful research we chose:
BLUE BUFFALO
Yes, it cost a COUPLE (seriously a couple) of dollars more than the crap on the grocery store shelf BUT it has no fillers, its organic, so good for them, and a meat product, not to mention my dogs LOVE IT!!!
Betty asks…
What it the best/healthiest brand of dog food for yorkie pups and pug pups?
For Christmas I am getting a Yorkie and my husband is getting a pug. We really want to do whats best for them and keep them healthy. Does any one have any recommendations on the best/heathiest food or food brand we should buy for them?
admin answers:
This talks about dog food. If you don’t want to read it all just scroll down and it gives a list of good foods and a list of bad foods. The lists are in green so they are easy to find.
Http://www.dogster.com/forums/Food_and_Nutrition/thread/518898
I recommend raw. Its the best thing you can feed a dog. It can be cheaper than kibble but its more time consuming but there are so many benefits so its worth it. My dog has white teeth, lots of energy (he acts like a puppy even though he is 10 years old) his fur is soft and shiny, he doesn’t have that dog smell and his poops are very small and are not very odorous. Do lots of research if you want to feed raw. That website that I gave a link to has tons of into on raw.
You don’t have to get organic meat. You can just get any meat. Dogs don’t need veggies and herbs. I feed my dog veggies sometimes for treats and when he poops them out they are the same as when they went in. Dogs cannot digest veggies.
Its actually safer to feed raw. There have been a lot of recalls from contaminated kibble and thousands of dogs have died because of contaminated kibble. While nothing you give your dog to eat is 100% safe, raw is the safest. Here are some myths.
Http://www.rawfed.com/myths/
People say its dangerous to prevent other people from switching to raw or people say raw is dangerous because they didn’t bother to do research and just listen to what other people tell them.
Daniel asks…
What is the best brands for all natural or organic dog food?
No brands that abuse animals to test their food please! I thought Iams was good food because thats what my vet recommended : (
I was using Iams Naturals, but then i saw that they abuse the animals they test their food on.
admin answers:
Nutro makes excellent food. They have 3 lines: Max, Natural Choice, and Ultra. With all three lines you will get an all natural, human grade food with added vitamins and minerals; no ground yellow corn, which is a filler and a big allergen among pups; no by-products, which can include heads, feet and intestines; and no artificial flavors or colors. Nutro also has the highest levels of essential fatty acids (Omega 6) to help promote healthy skin and coat and also reduce shedding. And all of their foods are 100% guaranteed! Max is your basic premium food, and from what I’ve seen, the lowest priced premium food on the market. Natural Choice has taurine added and is more geared towards dogs with specific needs (i.e. Sensitive skin, sensitive stomach, allergies, etc.). And Ultra is a holistic food with more fruits and vegetables, also known as super foods, which help with your pups immune system, joints, heart, vision, brain, etc.
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Your Questions About Dog Training
Charles asks…
what is the best dog training book to read for an apbt puppy?
i recently ordered pit bulls for dummies, and will soon acquire a copy of dog training for dummies.
the lady that lives downstairs from me gave me a book titled ‘Smarter than you Think’ and it tells you to throw things at your dog to teach it to come, and to stick a match in its butt to poop, and not trust dog food companies, and all this weird stuff, not too sure about that book.
any other suggestions? or tips?
admin answers:
When I had just got my APBT I went to my local library’s site and in the keyword box i put Pit Bull and it came up with alot of good books that were really useful so try looking up your library. They have alot of info on APBTs. Good luck
William asks…
What to put on a dog training registration form?
i have a little dog training business and i use to have this form on hand but it has somehow gone missing. i know what information i need from the owners and what not but i cant remember what i put in the release/waiver at the bottom. any ideas?
admin answers:
I would employ an attorney to draft the release language for you. In today’s society, people will sue you for just about anything. You want to be as well-protected as possible in case there is a mishap and a dog or person is injured or killed (so, not only making sure the release language is legally sound, but also carrying an appropriate amount of liability insurance for your business). To me, it is worth the expenditure to have something professionally done that is specific to your business in instances like this.
Lizzie asks…
Which do it yourself dog training ebooks are the best?
I want to learn a positive approach to dog training I can do myself.Which do it yourself dog training ebooks are the best?
admin answers:
In my opinion the best e-book so far that I found on the web regarding dog training is secrets to dog training.
It will teach you how to train your dog like a professional trainer, so you can have your dog obey you no matter what the situation and solve any specific problems that you may have with your dog – this is truly cutting-edge material!
Over 63,997 dog owners worldwide, just like you, have used this unique course to fast-track their dogs learning, while having loads of fun in the process. To see what “Secrets to Dog Training: Stop Dog Behavior Problems!” can do for you, in just 3 easy steps.
Http://jack-dogtrainingreview.blogspot.com/
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