Hi,

My father has been recommended this brand of food to rear his up and coming new pup on when he picks it up on sunday. His dogs have always been fed on some cheap complete diet and i think he's really starting to look into the different foods out there, though still can't convince him on AG or the like due to price.
Anyway just wondered, this pup is a working dog from working stock.
We can't find any retailer of this product other than direct online.
I have said go and buy AG as their head office is a few mins up the road.

I have asked as to what they are currently feeding the pups on and he has been told what ever cheap food they can get their hands on. My father is not amused at hearing this by any means, poor pups. When the mating occurred a family friend was there to oversee it all went ok, she has been breeding and in the working lines for many many years. She told them what foods to use to rear the pups on, she wrote everything down and assisted in being a mentor if they have any problems. She has now found out they have not heeded her advice in any way and is very angry..The pups though apparently look healthy and seem to be very lively.
Here is to hoping all is well..

Anyway back top the food any knowledge on this brand?

Owned by BOCM Pauls who are a farm stock feed firm(well the Pauls part is)

No info re what the"meat"content is Probably on sale through farm suppliers

The ingredients woudl worry me re the preservatives.

My concern with any food is the artificial colours, flavours and preservatives, as it is in my food which i eat. In my personal opinion i feel its like eating McDonalds and any other junk food permantly, can't be good for you, but i guess a lot of dogs do survive on it and do well on it.
I know my father is going to a few farm suppliers in the area to try and get some tomorrow, still think AG is going to be best for him. A friend works for them, so may pop in and get a tester bag from her and let my father make the decision - You can always try and point them in the right direction and let them think they have made the decision.

This is not junk food though.  All complete foods sold in the UK are perfectly safe and meet all the requirements for daily nutrition.  McDonalds is simply not intended to meet that role and does not in anyway compare.  Not even they would suggest that it is a complete diet for daily consumption.
I think the fact that the puppies are thriving and lively tells you that they are not going short of anything.  There really are more possible foods that AG you know and they are all worth at least trying :-)

I hear what you are saying Isabel and you are quite right in that these foods do meet the standards which are set. All of the food which we purchase in the supermarket have to meet a standard too, doesn't mean its going to be all that good for you.

All i was merely stating IMO, not saying its best for everyone is that the quality of ingredients can play a huge part. 
I myself don't buy the cheapest goods from the supermarket, i care what i put in my body, plus i like it to taste good. I for myself prefer for my dogs to be fed on good quality food and with as little artificial colours and additives as possible. This is why my boy is on the raw meaty bones diet. Saying that i am interested in this Orijen food and have ordered some.

There is a huge difference in quality of food which is say supermarket branded to that of Pedigree to that of say TimberWolf.
You do hear of some dogs getting very hyper on certain brands of food and some brands i know many dogs love but don't put on weight. I think that you do have to find one that suits your dogs needs as well if feeding complete.

Agree with you suejaw re artificial colours and additives.

If you look at children when they get hyperactive the cause are the artificial additives in food, typically in sweets.  Most people think it's the sugar that causes the problem, but it's not.  (At least per a report on the BBC a couple of days ago.)
I stay away from any dog foods that contain artificial ingredients, it's easy enough to do.  Both people and dogs are now bombarded with more artificial ingredients - whether it be in foods, or cleaning products, in the quality of the air we breathe - and the combination of all of these is believed to be behind the sharp increase in asthma and allergies in people.   I bet dogs are impacted too. 

So if I can avoid artificial colours and additives in my dog's food I do, and it's easy enough to do.

> I myself don't buy the cheapest goods from the supermarket, i care what i put in my body, plus i like it to taste good.

I think a lot of people think that but cheap foods are often very nutritious.  We may enjoy the more luxurious foods but that is not the same as what we need.
Additives is a funny word and appears to have taken on perjorative roll but of course additives are used to improve and add somthing useful in most instances.  I agree with you that colours are wasteful and pointless in pet food but for the majority of pets perfectly harmless. 
Like you say you need to find the food that suits your dog but it makes perfect sense to me to try a cheaper brand first.

> and the combination of all of these is believed to be behind the sharp increase in asthma and allergies in people.

As I understand it the eradication of intestinal parasites is a prime suspect.

im a very severe asthmatic,  but i and the hospital and my gp who i see evey month have never mentioned additives as a trigger factor and people should listen to suffers not media. i and many other suffers think there might be a link between traffic increasing causing more pollution in the last 20yrs but i wouldnt expect to take away peoples choice by telling them to give up their cars and walk. the same choice should also be given to whether owners want to buy £10 food or £60 food. its all suitable to feed dogs and if the dogs do well on it, why feel guilty.its their choice :-)

The cost of the food is not the issue - only the ingredients. :-)  There are inexpensive foods available that do not contain artificial additives our colourings, etc.  

Plus, the cost of the bag of food is not the best way to look at it.  It is the feeding cost per day; which sometimes means what seems like the more expensive food per kg. is actually the same or cheaper to feed than a food that is less expensive per kg to buy.

BTW - there was a program on allergies and asthma not too long ago.  The conclusion - if you can call it that - was that the increase in asthma and allergies is likely to do with a combination of factors.  They did mention traffic, as you note.

and whaever your dogs thrive on:-)

asthma was never counted as a serious condition before.our parents and grandparents could have it but it was put down to a chesty cough.thes days alot of gps take asthma seriously and are finding children with a regular cough more than likely have asthma.you can grow out of asthma every 7yrs until u are 21.because more people are being diagnosed with astha people want to know y and scientists havent a clue becausee not enough reasearch was done a few years back. if its what we are eating how come people had asthma years before processed and additives were introduced.so most probably it is the polluted air we breeath not what we eat. :-)