Picking up pup this weekend - food recs please!

irishwench69

Hi everyone Smile

Logan is 7 weeks today! So we finally get to bring him home on Saturday.....

I'm trying to get everything ready, so I've been looking at foods for him. I'm not bothered about keeping him on what the breeder has been feeding him, and I think a complete food sounds best. I presume the ones for large breeds would be right?

I'd heard good things about James Wellbeloved, Hlls Science Plan and Iams, do any of you agree that these are good choices for labs? Are there others I should consider?

I am quite limited in where I can get to - pets at home is about it really!

Any help would be really appreciated Smile

Thank you!

IW x

Ettinsmoor · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 12:33 pm Post subject:

Just to say that you really will need to keep your pup on what the breeder has him on at least for a couple of weeks until he has settled in with you. It will be stressful enough for him coming to a new home without changing his diet as well.

I won't comment on the feeds you have listed as they aren't favourites of mine, although James Wellbeloved is probably the best of those three.

Best of luck with him and I like the name Logan Very Happy

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rach_willibob · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 12:35 pm Post subject:

Out of the foods you have mentioned I only have experience of JWB - which is a good food and my boy did well on it.

Even though you say you're not bothered about keeping the pup on what the breeder is feeding him, I would continue feeding that food for a few weeks at least (which food is it?).

He will be going through enough change as it is when he comes home, so trying to keep as many things consistent as you can is a good thing for him. Plus changing food at his age (or any age for that matter, but particularly with young pups) can cause a tummy upset...

AngelaC · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 1:11 pm Post subject:

I feed mine Naturediet, which is a good quality moist food.

Of the three you've mentioned, JWB seems to be a good and popular one. I don't feed products tested on animals so I haven't used the others for my dogs but if you are looking for a dry food there are lots to choose from.

The general recommendation is as mentioned to move to a new food gradually.

I have however put dogs straight onto Naturediet for various reasons (like I couldn't obtain previous food/didn't know what it was/really didn't want to feed it) without a problem.

Arden Grange and Burns have a good rep as dry foods, although Burns puppy upset my pup's tummy, and I'm sure you will get plenty of other recommendations on here too.

irishwench69 · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 7:34 pm Post subject:

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your replies Smile

Just to clarify, I know that its important to keep Logan on the food the breeder is giving him right now, I just know that I don't want to keep him on it long term (he's on bakers complete - I've heard this has a lot of additives etc in, and makes especially pups quite hyper, aggressive etc)

I just want to try and get recs for what to transition him onto. Is wet better than dry, or are there other recs you have?

Thanks,

IW x

Ambersmum · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 7:43 pm Post subject:

My pup was on Eukanuba and we have changed her over (several weeks ago) to skinners field and trial puppy, she likes it as it's quite small bites whereas Eukanuba was large and she wouldn't eat it. Eukanuba smelt absolutley awful too and ambers breath is much better on Skinners.

AngelaC · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 7:44 pm Post subject:

Others may disagree and this is just my personal opinion, but if I brought home any dog on Bakers they would be off it and onto the new food, Naturediet in my case, immediately.

Ettinsmoor · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 7:45 pm Post subject:

Oh I see you are quite right Bakers Complete is not brilliant. I think everyone just wanted to make sure you knew not too make the change straight away.

As far as I am concerned I feed Skinners Field and Trial Puppy but I am afraid this is not available from Pets at Home. It is a good quality food(without the rubbish that a lot of pet foods contain) that does not have VAT added to the price as it is for working dogs, but lots of pet people use it as well. At around 6 months I change to Skinners Field and Trial Duck and Rice.

There are a few outlets that sell it online or if you have a pet shop nearby you can usually get them to order it for you.

_Sam_ · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 8:30 pm Post subject:

Finn is/was on Skinners and he did really well on it. Coal was on Hills to start with but i changed him as he never had solid poops and they were yellow! Shocked

Coal then went onto Burns high energy lamb.

If you find a local independant pet store, they will order the Skinners /burns etc in for you. If you contact either of these they will send you a list of local suppliers.

Burns - you can buy online too Very Happy

direct from burns