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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Bakers dog food. How bad is it?

31 replies

Branleuse · 10/10/2019 07:45

Ive tried so many dried foods for my dog. Loads of posh expensive ones. She is so damn fussy. Ive tried putting hot water in it to soften it. Mixing it with tinned food ( she manages to leave most of the biscuits still somehow) mixing it with sardines. Ive tried loads because shes had a few skin issues.

She does eat it eventually when shes hungry enough but reluctantly.
The other day i bought her some bakers chunks and she really enjoyed it.
It says its a complete food, but is it not more like feeding them skittles?
Ive had her a few months and shes an older rescue. Im not sure how long i can be bothered with the stress amd expense of all the different foods she doesnt like.
Im tempted to just get her bakers complete if she genuinely likes it and its loads cheaper. Is anyone elses dog fine on it?
Or even alternate it?

OP posts:
Disfordarkchocolate · 10/10/2019 07:47

Our older dog liked it until an illness left him with digestive issues.

Honestly, if you've got a fussy eater buy what they like and add some nice treats every now and then. Our dog was very fond of a bit of brisket or chicken.

dementedpixie · 10/10/2019 07:48

Probably not great as the first and largest ingredient is cereals rather than meat.

TwattingDog · 10/10/2019 07:56

www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/dog-food-reviews/0012/bakers-adult

It gets 23/100 for nutritional content so it's crap.

However, many dogs live on it, so they'll survive but it's a poor diet.

Original poster
Branleuse · 10/10/2019 08:35

yeah I know it scores pretty low on nutrition, but i find it stressful to keep trying her on food she doesnt like. Maybe i'll just give it now and again

OP posts:
Original poster
Branleuse · 10/10/2019 08:36

I mean I must have wasted hundreds on bags of food she wont eat.

OP posts:
Disfordarkchocolate · 10/10/2019 08:38

Have you spoken to your vet? If it's not the best perhaps they can suggest supplements?

BiteyShark · 10/10/2019 08:41

My dog doesn't like kibble.

He will eat wet food and we buy good quality wet but we also buy a mix of flavours and rotate them each day so he doesn't get bored.

cathyandclare · 10/10/2019 08:44

We mix it in with some good stuff, so they get a mixture. Older Dog will wolf everything but the younger one is super, super fussy ( weird for a lab) the 'meaty chunks' are enough to whet his appetite and he tolerates the bits of kibble then.

weaselwords · 10/10/2019 08:48

It’s better she eats something than nothing! At her age I’d just go with the flow. Have you tried Butchers tripe tins? I’ve never known a dog not eat it.

Cherylshaw · 10/10/2019 08:55

bakers isn't great, chopping and changing will be making your dog fussy as it will always be waiting for something better.
I always told my clients to do the 20 minute rule
pick a food you are happy with (dry being the best I wouldn't advise mixing with wet as it's not good for teeth and would end up being too much protine) and put it down for 20 mins. if they don't eat it pick it up and don't give them anything els, no treats no left overs etc untill next feed.
and again put it down for 20 mins if they don't eat, pick it back up.
your dog will not starve themselves and it will teach them to eat there meal and not wait out for something 'better'

IckleBear · 10/10/2019 08:59

Mine got fussy with me always trying new foods.. Now I've stuck with Markus Mühle and they love it

missbattenburg · 10/10/2019 09:25

Can you mix it in with a higher quality kibble? That way, she'll be getting most of her nutrients from the kibble and just some flsvouring from Bakers?

Original poster
Branleuse · 10/10/2019 11:34

butchers tins are what i sometimes mix kibble in with. I dont want to give her just that as it makes her fart so bad.
Ive been mixing it with sardines a lot which has helped her skin, but its working out expensive and I just wanted to find a decent quality kibble she will actually enjoy eating. I wonder if its because she doesnt have great teeth that she doesnt like it?
I was feeding her chappie at one point, but then it turns out thats not a great one either.
Im starting to get annoyed with the whole thing tbh.
Tried her on raw food too which made her shit herself

OP posts:
adaline · 10/10/2019 12:54

Chappie is better than Bakers.

Have you tried Encore? My fussy dog wouldn't touch anything from Bakers to Butchers to the really high end stuff, but loves Encore and has eaten it without complaint for about five months now.

FilthyBiscuit · 10/10/2019 13:00

My rescues have it in the adoption agreement that we are not to feed Bakers! It's like giving kids McDonalds. Of course they like it, it's full of crap.

ElizaDee · 10/10/2019 13:13

Bakers is just additives in lumps.

Try Salter's.

Disfordarkchocolate · 10/10/2019 13:20

Bad teeth meant we had to cut down on the amount of dry food, he just couldn't eat it.

Hayleycunn · 10/10/2019 14:37

It has to be one of the worst foods there is. Unfortunately even the expensive brands are just as bad. Have a look on www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/ it's a fantastic page that will help you see what other options there is. Maybe your dog just doesn't like biscuits mine don't so I raw feed Which is not for everyone so you could also try forthglade too. Wet food may not be as good on there teeth but as long as you keep on top and give her lots of natural chews. I'm a dog walker and I can tell a dog fed biscuits from a raw fed or on a good wet diet. There so much more healthier.

Original poster
Branleuse · 10/10/2019 15:09

Thanks for this. Im probablygoing to keep the bag and use it as treats then rather than meals. Trust her to only like the junk food

OP posts:
StrongTea · 10/10/2019 15:16

What about pure dehydrated dog food? Just add water and let it sit, think they have their starter packs on offer.

tabulahrasa · 10/10/2019 15:16

It’s terrible food - but it does have the nutrition needed to legally be a dog food, so yes if it’s starve or eat that, it’s eat that...

But, will she actually starve on other foods? Or just not be as keen on them and hope for something better?

Original poster
Branleuse · 10/10/2019 15:34

she will eat the others eventually, reluctantly, so no, she wont starve. Was just quite a surprise to see her wolf down any dried food at all. Even if i mix it with wet food normally she seems to be able to leave most of the dried food. I was kind of hoping people would say "my dogs on bakers and its absolutely fine" haha, no such luck. Back to the drawing board

OP posts:
TwoPupsandaHamster · 10/10/2019 15:52

I have always fed my dogs on raw. However, I have one fussy madam who turns her nose up at it. I think we have just about gone through every quality dry food on the market. She would eat, reluctantly, once a week and very little at that.

I called in my friends about 3 months ago and fussy madam are a bowlful of friends dogs food. It turned out to be Chappie! Since then I have given her Chappie dry to graze on every day and a sachet of Forthglade or half tin on Butchers Tripe every other day. She now eats no problem 🙄

Dog 2 won't touch either. He gets stuck into his raw food.

Looking back when I was growing up our dog was fed on table scraps and winalot biscuits or a tin of Pedigree Chum. He never had to go to the vet for health related problems and lived until he was 15.

So I'm not sweating it. If madam is happy with Chappie plus some wet then that's fine by me. It's easier than stressing that she's not eating.

koshkat · 11/10/2019 12:26

God no OP. Just look at the colour of that crap! I will confess that, many moons ago when we were struggling a bit for money, we fed ours Bakers for 4 weeks. Two of my dogs started to lose their fur, got pot bellies and ended up being tested for Cushings.

It truly is diabolical 'food' and I believe has carcinogens in it which have been banned in other countries.

bornonasunday · 11/10/2019 12:39

Have you tried either a raw egg in with your dogs food, or even a boiled egg chopped in?
I’ve always had German Shepherds and they are notorious for sensitive tummies. My current dog is a greedy girl, but will occasionally turn her snout up at everything except cooked chicken, raw beef etc!.
I also give her sardines with dry biscuit mix and tuna. You could try scrambled egg or a mix of grated carrot and cheese folded in, if your dog enjoys these. Their powerful sense of smell means they are usually fond of ‘whiffs’’ foods, tripe, eggs, meat. Mine really loves a baked potato skin with a bit of cheese left in it. Sometimes, like us, I think they get bored with same old stuff.
My Shepherds have never been able to stomach Bakers food.