Dog food recommendations please 7 month old Lab

[scubadive]

Hi all lab/dog owners.

I have a very strong sturdy 7 month old male golden lab. (30kg already . He came home on Royal Cannin XL which we kept him on for a few months. He is very keen on food (as all labs are) and used to wold his food down so quickly we had to buy a slow feeder which helped marginally, often had hiccups from wolfing food and water too quickly.
Suddenly at 5 months he went off his food completely, but was desperate for our food, took him to the vets in case he was ill, she said he was fine and we were to be firm. (we had been giving him small amounts of our dog suitable leftovers). No luck after being strict, so switched him to Canagan puppy (after lots of research). He was never keen on this but we finally got through a large bag.
More research and I tried Barking heads puppy, he loved it at first, much more than Canagan but now half way through a very large bag he is refusing it.
Discussed with a neighbour who adds nature diet feel good wet food to her dogs kibble. Tried some and he will now eat his kibble with this wet food mixed in but I have heard from lots of sources that wet food is bad for dogs teeth and gums, including the vet. Neighbour also gave us some raw chicken (she mixes raw food in her dogs diet, they love it) My lab loved to 'play' with his raw chicken wing, he didn't want to let it go of it but no signs of eating it so took it away.

Every night when we cook and every time we eat/snack he goes crazy for our food and looks so miserably at his offering. I don't blame him, kibble is boring and I would not want that for every meal, every day. I am told dogs don't mind this monotony but ours clearly does.

Neighbour has also given us some Dr John's, not as good nutritionally as other kibble I've bought but I'm desperate, lab is eating it a bit but I know as soon as I buy a large bag he will be bored.

Has anyone had a similar experience where their lab is happy with any food (no tummy issues ever) but very quickly gets bored. Ideally I would like to try a high nutritional kibble that comes in different flavours to relieve the boredom but most puppy food is only one type per brand. Any ideas?

I am almost considering just giving him what we eat every day (obviously dog suitable only) after all most 'top' dog kibbles (per all about dog food web site) seem to just be varying mixes of meat, brown rice, oats, sweet potato, fish, eggs, vegetables etc, nothing obscure. I can cook him this quite easily and it would be fresh and enjoyable and not boring and bland. Is there any reason why I shouldn't do this health wise.

The vet said no as he might not get all the nutrition he needs as there is in a factory product! However, I managed to feed 4 children perfectly well and I am not sure why this doesn't equally apply to dogs. (I whizzed up whatever food the family was eating for children 3 and 4, no jars as just as easy and cheaper to whizz up normal food.) I cook from scratch every night, is there any problem giving him the same? Obviously not pizza night!

I'm definitely not an expert, but we liven up ldpup's kibble with different complementary food, so chicken, sardines, forthglade puppy, tuna, rabbit pate. An all soft diet wouldn't help their teeth, but I can't see how adding it could actually harm them? She's just been introduced to the joys of rabbit ears, lamb skin braids and lamb tails - which are great for teeth. Pic just because...

Having a similar problem with 12 week old PicPup (spaniel) - she's on James Wellbeloved puppy kibble, which is what the breeder fed her. But she just grazes all day so whilst I make sure during the day she's had the right weight food in her bowl, she won't always eat it!

I've taken to adding a little milk or a bit of cheese, or some chicken or salmon, and this seems to help, but even now at 450pm her lunch is still only half eaten! She's not big on treats either, luckily training being well achieved with loads of fuss instead. She's putting on weight and doesn't appear to be starving, but I may resort to trying wet food too, with the kibble.

Our labs get royal canin xl with a bit of tinned chappie, also fed skinners hypoallergenic which was more cost effective. Never known a fussy lab though!

I've fed my dog on burns alert (formulated for guide dogs) plus a sachet of wet once a day. Got to 10 without a vets visit (booster shots aside)

Re feeding food you are giving your family, I think it would be difficult to know that they were getting the right balance of vits and minerals, any allergies would be difficult to assess and dogs seem to benefit from a diet that doesn't vary too much, a change in diet can have disastrous results on their digestive systems.

Growing labradors are much more sensitive to nutritional imbalance than growing children as you have a shorter window to get it right. For a Labrador all growing happens in 18 months compared to 18 years in a human.
There are lots of studies that show nutritional imbalance cause bone and joint problems in labradors. Along with changing diet cause tummy upsets.
There more you chop and change the more he will try it on to see if he can get something better. Choose a good quality complete food and stick to it,

We use a raw food diet of chicken wings, frozen Mince, other frozen raw foods supplemented with a complete mixer so he gets his veg intake. He will also eat raw carrot and broccoli too. My dog will only eat the raw when it's still frozen.. we think he enjoys brain freeze

Our pup (not a lab) is on James wellbeloved dry puppy, with some tinned butchers puppy food. He was on solely jwb but was drinking absolutely loads and loads of water, like absolutely gasping the whole time. Discussed with the vet and she recommended the butchers. Since he's been on half and half he has normal thirst and seems very happy.
As far as wet food goes, the butchers actually doesn't stink, and according to the vet it's not bad nutritionally either.
Maybe try mixing some of that in, or some tinned tuna?

I've had several labs from pups and only one thrived on an all-in-one diet. The others have had Forthglade mixed with a pelleted dry food mixer, plus the odd egg for glossy coats. The current dog has the Forthglade plus the Hills Science Diet for Joints which is helping with arthritis. Portion size matches dog; present one is only 2/3rds the size of previous dog, so gets 2/3rds of the food. But this is the first time we've had a Lab that doesn't overeat.

Am a huge fan of Markus Muhle Cold pressed. My local Natural Pet Store does its own brand too which is pretty good.
My dog's poos are perfectly formed now. Yes, it's important! He's allergic to chicken so it's important to me that he has single protein source food, and Markus Muhle and the local imitator do this

I would highly recommend Butternut Box. It’s cooked, human grade food, 60% meat, 20% veg, 20% lentils/minerals.

My pup really wasn’t interested in his kibble, we had to hand feed him or hide it for him to get him interested. He was like a different dog for Butternut Box, excited for every meal and licking his bowl clean!

50% off if you want to try it using this code

butternutbox.com/Zoe400

@TheVolturi

Our pup (not a lab) is on James wellbeloved dry puppy, with some tinned butchers puppy food. He was on solely jwb but was drinking absolutely loads and loads of water, like absolutely gasping the whole time. Discussed with the vet and she recommended the butchers. Since he's been on half and half he has normal thirst and seems very happy. As far as wet food goes, the butchers actually doesn't stink, and according to the vet it's not bad nutritionally either. Maybe try mixing some of that in, or some tinned tuna?

This is what I was thinking of trying too, so good to know it ‘goes’ with the JWB dry puppy food, thank you!

Millie’s Wolfheart kibble is fab for our golden retriever. He was on Royal Canin from a pup but kept repeatedly getting tummy upset. Since he’s been on MW we’ve had no problems - it’s really nutritionally rich and there are lots of different mixes depending on the dog!

I've been using Iams for mine (GSDs) for years. I currently douse with a sprinkling of just off the boil water from the kettle to soften slightly (my youngest is funny with crunchy stuff) and add a spoonful or two of Butcher's tinned to add a bit of variety. I've found the easy on the tummy recipes good and the two of them have a 400g between them each day.
I have had several of mine suddenly turn their noses up at the puppy food, though. That's the point I usually swap to the adult variety and monitor for any nutritional issues. My current youngest swapped very early (circa 5 - 6 months) but has been fine. Not sure if that's any help...

Millie's here too for our lab since we got her, she loves it, decent poos, no tummy troubles. She has a low fat kibble and we mix with some low fat Wainwright's wet food

I wouldn’t want to eat the same thing day in day out so I’m not surprised that some dogs don’t either!
There was a great share from one of the behaviourists on the DTAS on Facebook where she showed a week of meals. It was a mix of dog food, ‘human food’ and raw food and I’m sure if I was a dog I would be very happy and healthy on it.

We have had to mix 2 makes to keep pur sproodle. She has eukanuba and also Lily's kitchen. She is a proper fuss pot but is gaining weight well but some days won't eat her food and ends up being sick from hunger even though her breakfast is there!

We used Burns and James well beloved for our Lab, our vet recommended Chappie mixed in for a change.

He’s now on Royal Canin. Occasional boiled chicken, rice, carrots and broccoli - not altogether.

No salt, cheese, peanut butter, or raw hides.

We feed our lab a local feed merchants own brand it is grain free an hypoallergenic. They specialise in working dog foods so mostly labs and other working dogs. It’s also vat free if it is labelled up for working dogs.
Our lab had a lot of problems when she was a pup but is fine now ( the usual Labrador dustbin) but was a picky eater. She has never refused the food we get her although occasionally likes a change of flavour.
We were advised to feed a puppy formula until she was 18mnths due to extended growth needs in larger dogs. It’s higher in protein.
They sell it under the name “Dr Doolittle’s pet foods” may be worth googling it in case you are local to them. You can buy it online for home delivery.
I pay £37.95 for 15kg which lasts about 5 weeks.
They do a salmon and sweet potato which is fabulous for their coat. Makes them really shiny and soft, unfortunately it doesn’t stop them moulting or rolling in fox shit.

@Angrymum22, I think that's a range made and sold through independent pet shops... we have something near-identical-sounding, which is labelled Ron's Pets and it was good until we were recommended to use HSD/joint care by the vet.

As you say, wish it could stop them rolling in fox shit.

My Lab (now fifteen and a half) started on Chudleys Puppy then Chudleys Junior, ditto Working Crunch, then Classic and now Senior. Only once did he seem bored so I added a little tinned food and gradually tailed it off. If he hasn't eaten his meal after twenty minutes, pick it up. No dog will starve himself and though it might take a day or so he should eat what you give him. If anyone has to care for your dog in an emergency it makes it easy if you say a mug of kibble. You are creating a fussy dog. Their nutritional requirements are very different from humans, especially at his age, so pick a reasonable food (ours is roughly £20 for 15kg) and he will eat it. Twice a day for fifteen years, if you are lucky.

Thank you for all your replies it's really helpful. I have lots of questions so grateful for further feedback.

@LDpuppy do you give the other meat raw or cooked? Also I've been told wet diet is bad as it leaves residue on their teeth and so unless you brush their teeth all the time you can end up with large dental bills if you give them wet food. Seems a bit strict though.

@Stickytreacle can I ask what made you add chappie on top? Would your labs not eat it without?

@DartmoorChef we tried a chicken wing frozen and defrosted, he wouldn't eat either, just wanted to run around with it in his mouth, not very hygenic!