Which is the best dog food?

KaHn said:
If you have sufficient storage go for a BARF diet. Not for everyone but much better for the dog.
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This isn't actually true - in the same way humans can use technology and science to optimise our diets for longevity (ie increasing certain amounts of something which is hard to come by naturally), the same can and has been done for animals. Just because it is primitive and 'natural' doesn't mean it is better.

It's tapping into a myth and fallacy people all too often fall for. That's why you'll find a lot of sentences on BARF sites and BARF vendors' sites start with 'we believe' ;)

Obviously, a BARF diet is far better than cheapo dog food (wet or dry) from Tescos, but it absolutely isn't the case that BARF is better than good quality dog food from Royal Canin/Science Plan, and normally isn't worth the expense.

The ash content in dog food is one of the important nutrient elements, which is rare in most of the 'raw' diets without some kind of additive.
 
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Hatter The Mad said:
This isn't actually true - in the same way humans can use technology and science to optimise our diets for longevity (ie increasing certain amounts of something which is hard to come by naturally), the same can and has been done for animals. Just because it is primitive and 'natural' doesn't mean it is better.

It's tapping into a myth and fallacy people all too often fall for. That's why you'll find a lot of sentences on BARF sites and BARF vendors' sites start with 'we believe' ;)

Obviously, a BARF diet is far better than cheapo dog food (wet or dry) from Tescos, but it absolutely isn't the case that BARF is better than good quality dog food from Royal Canin/Science Plan, and normally isn't worth the expense.

The ash content in dog food is one of the important nutrient elements, which is rare in most of the 'raw' diets without some kind of additive.
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Excuse me? Ash content? Look at wild dogs, where is the ash content in their food? Dry food are pushed by vets due to the huge amounts of funding given to uni's/vets by the dog food companies.

I still follow a barf diet with Max as closely as I can with the limited storage and all the vets I have seen have agreed with the good condition of Max.

So I'll base what I feed Max on my experience and what he prefers as he won't touch try food, a friend leaves their dogs dry food down all day and when max is staying with them he wont touch their dogs food.

But nevermind, you wont listen to anything anyone else has to say anyway.

KaHn
 
Ours was raised almost exclusively on a raw feed diet, as he didn't take well to tinned dog food as a pup.

Recently we've started mixing it up a bit, so he gets dry complete feed for a couple of days, raw feed for a few, and back across again. Messy business, though -- at the moment he's been tucking into raw hearts in the morning. Coming downstairs is like stepping out of the shower and into an abbatoir.

Will definitely have a look at this Royal Canin stuff. :)
 
KaHn said:
Excuse me? Ash content? Look at wild dogs, where is the ash content in their food?
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You must have missed this:
Hatter The Mad said:
This isn't actually true - in the same way humans can use technology and science to optimise our diets for longevity (ie increasing certain amounts of something which is hard to come by naturally), the same can and has been done for animals. Just because it is primitive and 'natural' doesn't mean it is better.
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Why don't you go the whole shebang, and not get your dog vaccinated? Where are the vaccinations in the wild?

PS: Do you know what 'ash' is?


Dry food are pushed by vets due to the huge amounts of funding given to uni's/vets by the dog food companies.
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I am sure this is what a lot of BARF followers would like to believe in order to discredit what scientists say (in the same way that doctors are in the hands of 'big pharma' in the same way, pushing unnecessary vaccinations, right?).

While dog food companies sponsor some university events (free pens etc) and will visit vet practices to try and get them to adopt their own dog food, do do not 'give huge amounts of funding' to either. Secondly, there are tight corporate controls on the involvement of commercial companies in universities, including any seminars they can give (the same as with medical students).

Thirdly, when vet practices subscribe to a specific vendor, they sell wet and dry food. For many dogs, for example, a wet/dry mix is ideal. Yes, vets have a financial interest in selling dog food, but if you really think that the majority of them allow this to pervade their training and medical knowledge to the extent that 'everyone is in on it', you need a tin foil hat.

Or wait, have I been bribed by the Dry Food Consortium in order to perpetuate a bunch of myths!? I didn't realise!


So I'll base what I feed Max on my experience
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Oh great sample size there :p Is this the same kind of experience that someone who undergoes homeopathy experiences feeling better? ;)


But nevermind, you wont listen to anything anyone else has to say anyway.
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Of course I will, but only if you'll validate your claims rather than perpetuating myths. But really, it sounds like you're the one who won't listen to anything anyone else has to say.

I'm sorry it pains you to hear it, but the BARF thing sells into exactly the same kind of false instincts people fall for when they buy dog food shaped and coloured like peas and carrots, or owners who buy 'dental chews' instead of taking the dog for a proper dental, or when people drink organic certified milk (which doesn't actually have to be organic) - purely to make the owner/buyer feel better, not necessarily what is actually better for them or in your case, the dog.

Lastly, if you really wanted to give your dog a natural diet, you'd feed it largely stripped caucuses and waste, and it'd live for about 5-7 years maximum.
 
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krooton said:
Dogs eat differently to other pets, more often than not they will gorge on food that is available instinctively (in the wild you never know when your next meal will be, so eat all you can).

What breed is it? Some breeds are more prone to over-earing, smaller ones tend not to do so.
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He is a Havanese, about 8 to 9 weeks old. I put out 105g of food per day and he seems to be eating about 75g per day.

BARF could hurt your dog, also I am a vegetarian (I'm not saying my dog needs to be a vegi) but I don't like handling and the smell of raw meat.

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081014040714AAC8eGF

Our last dog was a Maltese and again he would only eat what he needed.

He should grow to about 7kg
IMG-20120626-00090.jpg
 
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To be honest I find Skinners Field and Trial (Working 23) pretty good. A lot of working dog breeders use it so I have been told, by some that own and work their dogs for a living. We tend to mix half wet food in every now and then. Plus he gets a full human dinner once a week or once every two weeks, depending if we have a roast dinner or not. His poo's are small and firm unless he's had some of my curry the night before :-)

Edit: Plus its much cheaper than other dried brands. Half the price in most cases. Skinners.
 
@KaHn - I am sorry if I have come across as agressive or short on patience with you personally. That's not the case. I am however short on patience when it comes to misinformation, and will attack it. While I respect you might hold your own beliefs about things, I just get agitated when people try to preach them to others.
 
Hatter The Mad said:
You must have missed this:

Why don't you go the whole shebang, and not get your dog vaccinated? Where are the vaccinations in the wild?
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My dog isn't vaccinated (bar the puppy ones), in the same sense I have never seen/heard farmers getting working dogs vaccinated.

PS: Do you know what 'ash' is?
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Yes its the stuff left after you burn the food to make "dry" food.

I am sure this is what a lot of BARF followers would like to believe in order to discredit what scientists say (in the same way that doctors are in the hands of 'big pharma' in the same way, pushing unnecessary vaccinations, right?).

While dog food companies sponsor some university events (free pens etc) and will visit vet practices to try and get them to adopt their own dog food, do do not 'give huge amounts of funding' to either. Secondly, there are tight corporate controls on the involvement of commercial companies in universities, including any seminars they can give (the same as with medical students).

Thirdly, when vet practices subscribe to a specific vendor, they sell wet and dry food. For many dogs, for example, a wet/dry mix is ideal. Yes, vets have a financial interest in selling dog food, but if you really think that the majority of them allow this to pervade their training and medical knowledge to the extent that 'everyone is in on it', you need a tin foil hat.

Or wait, have I been bribed by the Dry Food Consortium in order to perpetuate a bunch of myths!? I didn't realise!
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As I said before I do not disagree with dry food, but when I've spoken to my vets about the food they (and also what insurance they recommend) they have said they can only talk about one due to funding and refused to discuss any other in great detail. I prefer to feed Max a mix of left overs (what ever was for my tea), green tripe, bones and some wet food if there isn't enough.


Oh great sample size there :p Is this the same kind of experience that someone who undergoes homeopathy experiences feeling better? ;)
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Please, stop trolling, bringing in homeopathy into a discussion about different diets its utter nonsense. As for sample size I am not saying BARF will work for every dog, some dogs won't eat bones etc but I will suggest it as something to consider.

Of course I will, but only if you'll validate your claims rather than perpetuating myths. But really, it sounds like you're the one who won't listen to anything anyone else has to say.
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Again, I have only said, find what works best for you and your dog, good quality dry food, wet, barf/raw, I prefer barf for the reasons I have said before, I find it a lot easier for the dog and he seems to prefer it.



I'm sorry it pains you to hear it, but the BARF thing sells into exactly the same kind of false instincts people fall for when they buy dog food shaped and coloured like peas and carrots, or owners who buy 'dental chews' instead of taking the dog for a proper dental, or when people drink organic certified milk (which doesn't actually have to be organic) - purely to make the owner/buyer feel better, not necessarily what is actually better for them or in your case, the dog.
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You can just have one of these for that paragraph :rolleyes:

Lastly, if you really wanted to give your dog a natural diet, you'd feed it largely stripped caucuses and waste, and it'd live for about 5-7 years maximum.
Click to expand...

You think the only reasons dogs die in the wild is due to diet? Surely you are not that narrow minded? The whole host of other contributing factors about life in the wild (infection, being able to find food, fast enough to hunt, etc). I'll continue to feed my dog on the diet he has had since a puppy and will continue to do so.

But to go over my point again. Dry food - Skinners Field and Trial, however I find a raw based diet (with the right planning) is better and cheaper than dry food.

KaHn
 
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Have used Oscar's for years having switched from Science Plan. Same quality of ingredients, dogs are happy and a nice man delivers it. He usually rings about a week before I am likely to run out as they know what dogs you have and gauge usage.
 
i just feed my dogs on what ever is on offer. and treat them to a tin a few times a week

mainly because they eat my left over meat's and other stuff i have around such as stuff thats just gone out of date. both have coats that are shinier than neighbors dogs.

my boys love raw bacon i tell ya and vegetable spread
 
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