Dog food (total numpty question!)

[Licketysplits]

My first bona fide doghouse post! We are finally finally getting a dog, I'm so excited! She comes home from the rescue next week, and we have just realised as novice dog owners that we have no idea what type of food is best to give her. The rescue have said that she's really unfussy and they give her mostly dry food mixed with a bit of wet so we want to continue with that for a while at least to give her continuity, but apparently she will eat pretty much any brand / flavour, so I was hoping you lovely dog peoples of MN might kindly give me some recommendations as to the 'best' brands to get. There's so many!

She's around 2, and a sharpei crossed with something, not too sure what but possibly a mastiff or staffie. Sort of medium sized (around16kg) if that helps with recommendations!

All About Dog Food is a great website for weighing up food options, particularly as it shows the cost per day rather than just cost per bag of food.

Agree with the above, lots of decent brands, get one with as as high a rating as you can, I really rate the above. Steer clear of any supermarket/ brightly coloured/ highly advertised on television rubbish.

Also, I know you didn't ask this and please don't take it the wrong way, but as a novice dog owner have you researched and prepared for the breed(s) you have chosen?

That web site is great. I hadn't realised how rubbish and expensive the so called 'specialised food' was that the breeder supplied until I found that site.

I changed to one that was very near the top rating and my dogs poos and appetite improved immensely.

Hi whats, yes we have - and we have spent a lot of time at the rescue getting to know her too, it's not at all a snap decision. I have a friend with a Sharpei, and we have researched the likely breed temperament (although it's a bit difficult as they don't really know what breed she is crossed with), and had lots of discussions with her handler about what she's like, what to watch out for etc. She's a very timid quiet little girl at the moment, I guess we will have to see if that changes, it would be lovely to see her become more confident.

I'm not expecting it to be at all easy, and we will have plenty of support from the rescue, they've said we can call whenever we like. I think it will be worth it though.

Thank you trionic for the website recommendation, I've already chosen a few to go on the shortlist to try, and they are brands I'd never heard of, so it's been really helpful.

Wish me luck!

We give our boy wainwrights as he gets a dog form of ibs and mix some chicken in with it. He is a rescue and very fussy about food. The vet said sometimes the cheapest dog food can be best, just really depends on your pooch. Id probably buy a few kinds to see which your dog likes best

My friend has got a shar pei Staffie cross and she is an absolute sweartheart
But she gets skin problems so they've had to experiment with her food a bit

I'm not saying it will happen, but if it does, it could be food related

Aren't there foods sharpeis are supppsed to avoid?

I'd go grain free from the get go because of the chance of skin problems.

Whatever you choose to give your dog in the future, don't change the brand right away! Dogs can get tummy problems when stressed... so best to keep with food the dog is used to at the shelter for a few weeks. After that, gradually change by mixing both foods.
(I give my dogs Autarky dry dog food- they like it and are in great condition!)

ylva they said they are feeding her all different brands at the moment as they rely on food donations - that's my problem, they cannot tell me what to get! So I guess I'm just going to have to pick one and see how she likes it.

Please feed her raw!

Allaboutdogfood is a good site to see the foods, avoid grain if you can in your budget. You usually feed less of the good grain free foods as they are higher protein but you might need to try a few with different protiens to see what suits. Ideally you are looking for small firm dark poo (which doesn't smell too offensive and is easy to pick up!), cheap grain fillers swell and pass through the system and generally give large smelly poo (and wind).

Skinners Field and Trial is one of the better budget foods if you go for grain. There are lots of grain free foods, but you are unlikely to find them in the supermarket.

We feed Millies Wolfheart Country side mix (with a bit of their Salmon & Veg mixed in) and get lovely poo! A 14.5kg bag for £50 delivered (you can get a little cheaper if you bulk buy) lasts around 6-7 weeks for our Labrador.