What dry dog food do you use?

[PUPupTheJam]

Is Auturky ok? For pups especially.

Can't afford orijen and the likes but don't want shite.

[BiteyShark]

I would compare some brands for price and quality on allaboutdogfood.co.uk.

[ContadoraExplorer]

We've started using Tails.com after talking to our groomer. You key in specific info on your dog (breed/age/activity levels etc.) and they give you a specific mix. He has done really well on it - much better on his stomach than his original puppy feed, coat looks and feels great and it's not too expensive - plus you get an 18 day free trial (postage is charged).

[PUPupTheJam]

I read up on tails but I read it was expensive for what it is nutritionally.

[ContadoraExplorer]

Not too sure about that one, I just went on a recommendation cause we don't have much experience and everything was confusing!

The comparison websites are great in the respect that you can see the cost per recommended serving and it breaks it down by quality but, for me, it was mind boggling -.at what point do you strike the balance between quality and value and what's is good for some dogs isn't for others (a colleague feeds his dog a pretty cheap brand because it's the one that works for the dog)

Our vets, who are generally great, haven't been too much help on that front either, they won't make a recommendation on brand but night be worthwhile asking yours?

[BiteyShark]

I picked out a few brands that came out as good quality on that website and compared price followed by range and delivery etc.

I then tried a couple of brands to see how my dog liked them and whether it suited him. I have actually swopped a couple of times to find the right food for my dog including when he just stopped liking the flavours.

It is a bit of a trial and error as one food may suit one dog but not another. Therefore I recommend you get some samples or small bags at first to try.

[geekone]

We use guru and Tlc both awesome

[thegirlsallgrowedupnow]

We have Gentle cold pressed kibble and use the fish based one for sensitive stomachs. We then put a very small amount of tinned or cooked fish on top, once a week a raw egg and occasionally a tsp of coconut oil. She has plain boiled turkey or chicken for treats and the occasional raw marrowbone and dried fish stick.
Our old Labrador who had a cast iron stomach was good on most food including Autarky, ate fruit and veg, anything that was going and lived to ripe old age of nearly 17. Young dog needs more thought and a cleaner, simpler diet to achieve health and small, firm poo.

[BrokenWing]

Our lab is on millies wolfheart, it does appear expensive but a bag lasts ages because you feed much less. Very happy with food and service.

[weaselwords]

I have tried all sorts with my fussy hounds and they like the cheapo Autarky chicken stuff the best. The bitch turns her nose up at the salmon one that is better quality and James Wellbeloved etc. I’ve given in to their fussy ways. It’s not very high protein and I think makes my boy dog itchy, but they eat it and it’s cheap.

[SilverHairedCat]

Nature's Way or Harringtons. Dog has very tender stomach and ends up with the squits on anything else.

Recommend allaboutdogfood.co.uk as well for comparison.

[sweetkitty]

Millie’s Wolfheart

[Honeyroar]

James Wellbeloved Turkey and Veg or Salmon and veg for the one with allergies and intolerances.
James senior for my 9yr old lab that is getting stiff.
Skinners Salmon and rice or Turkey and rice for the normal lab with no ailments who eats like a horse and would cost too much on James Wellbeloved. All our dogs were on this Skinners feed until they got old/got issues! It's ridiculous- buying and storing three different sacks of feed, but hey ho.

[Tutlefru]

Started on AVA from PAH which given it's price point I thought was good. Scores 4.1 out of 5 on AADF.

On Applaws now as no longer a pup.

[RoseTheHatt]

Barking Heads.

[Moodycoo]

Skinners

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

The comparison websites are great in the respect that you can see the cost per recommended serving and it breaks it down by quality but, for me, it was mind boggling -.at what point do you strike the balance between quality and value and what's is good for some dogs isn't for others (a colleague feeds his dog a pretty cheap brand because it's the one that works for the dog)

I pretty much put a finger in the air and said I wanted a food of at least 4/5, then I sorted by lowest price, and came out with Markus Muhle. DDog is doing well on it, and it's a lot cheaper than many other dog foods.

As for what's good for each dog - admittedly I don't have a dog with a sensitive tummy, but I think it's a bit of a case of trial and error - but at least a comparison website gives you a good starting point for it.

[SureIusedtobetaller]

Did use Barking heads which was fine but he wasn’t keen on it. Tried Lily’s Kitchen and he loved it so stuck with it.

[TheFaerieQueene]

We feed our lab Orijen. We are very happy with it - so is she!

[PUPupTheJam]

I'm swaying towards millies wolfheart,
Im just not 100% sure

I find the comparison sites so confusing.

They say, for example, 63p a day, but that's right now at 8 weeks, based on her weight, soon she will be on more so the cost will go up.

I don't want to feed her shit but I also don't want to get her used to something I may not be able to afford long term.

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

You could always put in the weight you think she will be eventually and then see what you can find at an acceptable price point :)

[HomeOfMyOwn]

I actually disagree with a key part of the website. It automatically assumes that an 80/20 feed (80% meat and 20% veg) is better than one with 60% meat and then rice and veg making up the remainder.

In reality a lot of dogs don't do very well on an 80/20 diet particularly as it can be much harder to digest.

I have 2 young entire male spaniels. The first I fed grain free from the start and always had trouble with his tummy and balancing getting enough food in him to keep his weight up enough, without it upsetting his tummy.

Once I got second pup, my first dog could no longer maintain his weight (i think it was all the nutty spaniel playing they did together burning calories I couldn't replace) and couldn't increase food because he got diarrhoea and lost more weight. So I tried going not just grain free but for an 80/20 diet - both dogs (even pup2 who had been fine weight wise until that point) lost weight on this and got diarrhoea if I increased amounts. It was then that I discovered that it's actually a fairly common issue for these super high protein 80/20 diets to cause digestive problems and weight loss. The vet told me to feed chicken and rice and introduce a "lower meat food, with rice in, instead. I went for "barking heads TLC" it's still got something like 60% meat, has rice but not grains like wheat (pup1 is allergic to wheat). I am finally able to feed enough to put weight on pup1 without upsetting his tummy - he is doing great.

So now my requirements for food are

1. No wheat but still contain rice / not grain free - just wheat free
   
2. 40-60% meat content (approx) from decent meat sources.
   
3. No added crap (if you aren't used to deciphering dog food labels the all about dog food website can be good for that part).
   
4. dogs tum stays settled even when I need to feed extra to put weight on him.

[HomeOfMyOwn]

• I actually disagree with a key part of the allaboutdogfood website.

[BiteyShark]

HomeOfMyOwn I found my spaniel was similar and had lots of diarrhoea and wouldn't put any weight on but it turned out that he had inflammatory bowel disease and kibble was too harsh to digest on top of his condition. Simply switching to a wet food from the same manufacture with the same ingredients solved most of that (millieswolfheart). That is why I think it is key just to start with one and try it but be prepared to change if it doesn't suit.

OP I have swopped my dog to different brands and in fact I swop flavours every day so he has variety as I am not keen on just feeding one thing every single day plus my dog gets bored.

[Nesssie]

I used Dr Johns (Silver) which all my dogs have loved from puppies to adults. VAT free as well so not as expensive.

I've now changed to Skinners Working as we do a lot of high energy exercise.

[SunflowerJo08]

We use Harrington's Hypoallergenic for our dogs. When we just had one we used Skinners which is probably the cream of the crop.