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The doghouse

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Original poster

Budget Dog Food

62 replies

OddSocksandRainbowDocs · 15/07/2022 21:00

Can anybody recommend a budget dog food? Our lab is currently on Wainwrights but with the cost of everything going up, I was wondering if there was anything cheaper. We've cut back on everything we possibly can - including our own food - so this is a very last resort.

OP posts:
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BetsysBeended410yrs · 15/07/2022 21:02

Wet or dry?
Butchers dog food is good value for money if you look around online.

Original poster
OddSocksandRainbowDocs · 15/07/2022 21:04

BetsysBeended410yrs · 15/07/2022 21:02

Wet or dry?
Butchers dog food is good value for money if you look around online.

@BetsysBeended410yrs Dry please :) He currently has Morrisons wet food as a 'treat' for Kongs etc :)

OP posts:
Okeydoky · 15/07/2022 21:10

I was going to say Butchers too.

One thing to watch is that it isn't as simple as looking at the cost per 1kg. A lot of the cheaper foods have a lot of filler so cost more to feed than you think. Work out what you currently feed, and what weight of dog that correlates to on the packaging, then look at the cost of feeding a dog of a comparable weight on other foods. I say that rather than going off fhe actual weight of your dog because they often recommend more than they need, so they might need less than the packet suggests.

Okeydoky · 15/07/2022 21:13

Also Wainwrights is grain free I think? Do you need a food that is?

Original poster
OddSocksandRainbowDocs · 15/07/2022 21:18

Okeydoky · 15/07/2022 21:10

I was going to say Butchers too.

One thing to watch is that it isn't as simple as looking at the cost per 1kg. A lot of the cheaper foods have a lot of filler so cost more to feed than you think. Work out what you currently feed, and what weight of dog that correlates to on the packaging, then look at the cost of feeding a dog of a comparable weight on other foods. I say that rather than going off fhe actual weight of your dog because they often recommend more than they need, so they might need less than the packet suggests.

@Okeydoky Thankyou for getting back to me :) With regards to the feeding guidelines, we fed him the correct amount for his weight and despite walks, exercise etc, he started to chunk out and his poos were horrific! We gradually reduced it and now he has half the recommended amount. He's slimmed back to normal and is fine. We wish we could stick with Wainwrights but like I said, the cost of living etc makes it impossible :(

OP posts:
Original poster
OddSocksandRainbowDocs · 15/07/2022 21:19

Okeydoky · 15/07/2022 21:13

Also Wainwrights is grain free I think? Do you need a food that is?

@Okeydoky He has the large breed food which isn't the grain free one :)

OP posts:
Branleuse · 15/07/2022 21:19

I would try smaller packs of the different cheaper ones and seeing if he likes it and is ok on it.

Okeydoky · 15/07/2022 21:20

Just seen that on Allaboutdogfood.com they have for each food the cost per day based on a particular weight. That is a quick and easy way of comparing cost.

The cheapest Millie's Wolfheart (a really.good quality food) looks to be half the price of Wainwright's to feed.

Mariposa80 · 15/07/2022 21:25

Some of the skinners field and trial might work out cheaper than the wainwright's. I don't think you'll be able to save a huge amount. You might end up spending any savings if you have to try a few new foods to find one that suits.

Original poster
OddSocksandRainbowDocs · 15/07/2022 21:39

Mariposa80 · 15/07/2022 21:25

Some of the skinners field and trial might work out cheaper than the wainwright's. I don't think you'll be able to save a huge amount. You might end up spending any savings if you have to try a few new foods to find one that suits.

@Mariposa80 Still too much but thankyou anyway :)

OP posts:
Girliefriendlikespuppies · 15/07/2022 21:42

I think the pets at home own brand are cheaper and not bad quality.

Burns are good as well as is Harrington's.

Original poster
OddSocksandRainbowDocs · 15/07/2022 21:46

Branleuse · 15/07/2022 21:19

I would try smaller packs of the different cheaper ones and seeing if he likes it and is ok on it.

@Branleuse A few people we know feed their dogs ASDA's own dog food so going to try some of that too. He's a labrador though, he eats anything Grin

OP posts:
Lookingforrecommendations · 15/07/2022 21:47

We use the grain free one from Lidl, it's high meat content and suits our dogs very well, it's Orlando premium or something like that. They also get the wet pate in their Kong as a treat!

User48751490 · 15/07/2022 21:48

Dr John's. Can be found at horse food farm shop type places.

User48751490 · 15/07/2022 21:50

I have a giant breed dog. Dr John's working out much cheaper than Harringtons.

Original poster
OddSocksandRainbowDocs · 15/07/2022 21:50

@Lookingforrecommendations Thankyou! :) I'll have to have a look Smile

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fourquenelles · 15/07/2022 21:51

OK sticking my head above the parapet here. I adopt older (age 7+) sighthounds and I feed them Tesco complete kibble at about £10 a 12kg bag or Wagg worker kibble at about £12 for 16kgs. I add a Winalot wet pouch £9 for 40 from Iceland or a tin of sardines in oil (40p each). I also feed human scraps (not cooked bones or anything dangerous for dogs like onions etc). My current boys are 13.5 years old and 7.5 years old and are thriving.

Original poster
OddSocksandRainbowDocs · 15/07/2022 21:54

fourquenelles · 15/07/2022 21:51

OK sticking my head above the parapet here. I adopt older (age 7+) sighthounds and I feed them Tesco complete kibble at about £10 a 12kg bag or Wagg worker kibble at about £12 for 16kgs. I add a Winalot wet pouch £9 for 40 from Iceland or a tin of sardines in oil (40p each). I also feed human scraps (not cooked bones or anything dangerous for dogs like onions etc). My current boys are 13.5 years old and 7.5 years old and are thriving.

@fourquenelles Now they're my type of recommendations!! Smile Thankyou! I can highly recommend Morrisons own wet food but I'll have a look at the TESCO kibble too Smile

OP posts:
Mariposa80 · 15/07/2022 21:54

What about Dr John Titanium, I think that's quite a bit cheaper.

EdithStourton · 15/07/2022 21:56

Okeydoky · 15/07/2022 21:20

Just seen that on Allaboutdogfood.com they have for each food the cost per day based on a particular weight. That is a quick and easy way of comparing cost.

The cheapest Millie's Wolfheart (a really.good quality food) looks to be half the price of Wainwright's to feed.

I found those estimates under-costed when I tried our dogs on Orijen many moons ago. They might have improved since, I suppose, but it didn't work for us.

OP, Skinner's Field and Trial working dog food is good value as there's no VAT on it. There are several varieties and obviously the ones with joint aid in the mix and extra protein and whatever cost more, but the lower calorie ones are pretty cheap and IMHO decent value.

Ashamedteeth · 15/07/2022 21:59

Mine is picky about dry food - tried all the fancy ones and her fave turned out to be iams! Usually on offer for £6 for 2kg. I go half and half with pedigree wet food (tried more expensive and she hates it, she also has a sensitivity to gravy).

Mariposa80 · 15/07/2022 22:02

Usually on offer for £6 for 2kg

That's probably more expensive than what the op is currently using. If you have a Labrador you don't buy 2kg bags!

weaselwords · 15/07/2022 22:03

Autarky or Wagg are good value. Both have a good percentage of meat etc. wagg is the cheapest and I’ve just swapped to that.

Catsdrool · 15/07/2022 22:06

Mine prefer Harringtons to wainwrights (so do I it’s cheaper) but sounds like there’s good options for you!

ETgo · 15/07/2022 22:07

I use Mole Valley own brand dry food which seems to have quite a good protein content and different varieties.
Very good value