Any Newfoundland owners here? Looking for advice on food etc.

[GrouchyKiwi]

We're getting our lovely Newfie pup in two weeks and I'm getting things organised for her arrival.

I'll initially give her what the breeder is currently feeding her, but can you recommend the best food? I'd prefer wet, I think, but there are so many choices!

I'm also thinking about making my own food for her (I like knowing what's in the food). Does anyone do this?

The other thing I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed about is insurance. Are any of the cheaper providers actually worth it? I'm thinking about Animal Friends; any experiences with them?

[BiteyShark]

I don't have the breed you are getting but food wise I would be careful about cooking your own because you need to be able to guarantee that your puppy will get all the essential requirements it needs to grow which is why most people whether they feed raw/kibble/wet/cooked go for a 'complete puppy' food.

As for insurance there are many threads on here where people have given their experience of different companies. My recommendation is get a life cover policy for the highest limit as you can afford and read ALL the t&cs very carefully because anything you visit the vet for even if you don't claim can be deemed a preexisting condition so moving providers can prove tricky later on. FYI: I claimed £4500 in less than 2 years with petplan so if I moved now most of my dog would be uninsurable.

allaboutdogfood.co.uk is a good place to compare food brands in terms of quality and price.

[Impulsesealer]

If you search on Facebook for dogs completely raw and proud (dog CRAP) you’ll find loads of advice on the group for raw feeding.

No other advice sorry, but please update with pics!

[BiteyShark]

I like knowing what's in the food if you are in the uk pet food is regulated and you will find the manufactures list all their ingredients. My dog eats better than I do

[OrcinusOrca]

Newfies eat so much it will cost you a bomb in wet food. Have a read up on raw, that's probably the most cost effective 'good' diet but some people have the idea of it.

Also, petplan! They look expensive but they don't hike the prices as badly as other providers. Not likely to go out of business and cause issues like loads of high st bank pet insurers did.

[tabulahrasa]

“I'll initially give her what the breeder is currently feeding her”

Why only initially? What’s wrong with it?

[adaline]

I wouldn't feed a dog that size wet food - it'll cost you an absolute fortune!

Raw is great but not for everyone and you'll need to be careful if you have small children or babies in the house. Need to be strict with the hygiene aspect too.

[missbattenburg]

Just to say I make Battendog his own food sometimes. It's not his regular meal as I am not sure it's nutritionally balanced but it does serve to add variety to his food (and I quite like doing it). It also gives me an option of food that is easier to travel with than raw is and serves as a brilliant way to use up veggies etc.

I tend to make up big batches that I then freeze into meal-sized portions, allowing me to defrost one whenever I fancy using it.

I used the following books for guidance and inspiration...

<a class="break-all" href="https://smile.[[//amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007SNRQ5O/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?psc=1&ie=UTF8&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">https://amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007SNRQ5O/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21]]

<a class="break-all" href="https://smile.[[//amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B011H51JYM/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?psc=1&ie=UTF8&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">https://amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B011H51JYM/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21]]

The website Bitey recommended is great for comparing different commercial foods. From the wet aisle, I have found Forthglade, Akela, Millie's all to be very good - but different dogs suit different foods and there are plenty of other (good) foods out there.

[GrouchyKiwi]

tabula I don't know yet what food the breeder is using. It may be that I'm happy to continue with it. I just meant that if I do change I'll slowly do it from what she's currently fed.

Thanks for the website, Bitey. That's a good point about being certain I've got all the right stuff if I make my own.

I was thinking wet because I had read that there's more protein in wet foods, but looking at the site Bitey recommended I can see that's not actually the case!

Thanks for the book recs, missbattenburg.

[GrouchyKiwi]

impulse Thanks for the Facebook page too. I'll definite update with pics when we get her. Got some photos when we visited last weekend but they all have me in them and are blurry.