Well, after much deliberation, I've decided to try out the AG Sensitive white fish and potato instead of the JWB turkey and rice I had in mind.  The reason is I got loads of good advice from Ness, the nutritionist and it's been proved to help dogs with colitis / gastric problems.  I'm introducing it over a week (25%, 50%, 75% and then up to 100%).  As Ness suggested, I've popped some warm water on it to soak in 15 mins before feeding it to Pip and she loved it! 

Let's hope this works out for us.  Only problem is I'm going to have to find a local stockist in Bristol - Jolleys, who I know do AG, don't hold the sensitive food so if anyone knows of a local stockist please let me know!  I'm going to get some slippery elm on Tuesday from H&B too.

Went to the Arboreteum today and Pip was scoffing grass and also enjoying the sticky weed that grows (you know, the sort that sticks to your clothes!), I'm thinking she's just fancying a bit of veggies!  She's being very JRT like at the moment with real selective hearing, little monkey she is :-)

Why don't you order from AG direct and get it deleiverd to your door?  They will leave it in a designated place should you not be at home.

Yes, I think that's probably what I'll do.  I've got 6 bags of samples for now but once she gets going they won't last long!!!!

It's currently £37.19 on breeders rates at AG (normal customer rate is £47.59).  That's cheaper than any of the other online stockists (VetUK is £41.79).

If you can't sign up for breeders rates it might be worth trying to find someone already registered as that's a huge saving. 

Let's hope it works for you

AG Sensitive white fish and potato

I think it is a very good complete food far better than most on the market IMHO. :-)

If any of your dogs in your home are working, show or breeding stock then you can join the breeders club, don;t think they have changed their rules at this time.
I know with many brands of food you have to have bitches and also breed, with AG when i joined last year there was none of this requirement.

> AG Sensitive white fish and potato
>
> I think it is a very good complete food far better than most on the market IMHO. :-)

Would you say it's as good as Origen 6 fish? I'm feeding the Origen at the moment but can't say that I'm getting the fantastic results that I expected - both my boys have very dry skin at the moment and Harvey is as itchy as ever.

I think so. :-)

2 bits of good news -

1 - I've found a local stockist so won't get a £3.99 P&P charge (not eligible for breeders as don't show etc)

2 - sorry to be grim but Pip turned out the most solid looking poo she's done for weeks now this morning :-)  This evening I've just put her up to 50% AG/50% wet food so hopefully she'll continue to improve.

Do you think I need to get out more lol!!!!

Hmmm, slight flaw in my cunning plan in that Pip has decided she won't eat the kibble.  This morning was the last time she had it with tinned food (40g of the vet's fish and potato) and she ate out all the tinned food and left the kibble that I'd soaked (plus 2 worming tablets I'd popped in for good measure grrrr!)  She did this with the JWB food too and it's really infuriating.  Think I'll have to try mixing it with some cooked white fish like I did when I started her on the vet food and see how she goes and I've emailed the nutritionist at AG to see if there's a tinned fish I can use instead to save cooking fish all the time!

If you prefer to continue with a dry kibble and the ingredients agree with the dog I'd recommend you persevere :)

The more tastey add-ons to a dry biscuit the more picky the dog will be - would you eat a bowl of weetabix if you'd been eating steak?  If both were mixed together would you eat them equally or have the steak first and then decide you'd had enough?

Dogs are just like people - they have preferences.  If you give them a choice and they select a specific food then that day in that meal that 'treat' was their preference :)

If you're satisfied with the quality of food and it's benefits to your dog then be firm - put it down, leave a max of 10 minutes, remove until next meal.  Be consistent.  It may take 3-5 days to get the dog into the pattern of eating a.s.a.p. or not eating at all but it will work :)  I'd suggest missing a meal entirely, putting a smaller than average amount in the next feed and work from there - tough love style!

regards, Teri

Hi Teri many thanks for your response - I'm feeding the kibble after soaking it in warm water so it's wet - easier for her to digest etc.

This is the response I got from AG - really helpful and I really rate their customer service! 

I was really worried when I saw the title of you mail as I thought you were going to say that Pip's stools were loose again... It's good to hear that things are still going well on that front.

I am not really that surprised about the inappetance as this is quite common when dogs have had digestive upsets and the diet has been changed fairly frequently in the past whilst the owner has been trying different foods whilst establishing the most optimal diet. I think Pip might be expecting something else! The best way to resolve this is to continue to add either the canned food or white fish, and mix this with the soaked kibble in a blender to the point where it will be impossible for her to differentiate between the two foods. It might sound like a step backwards, but you just have to be a bit patient when things like this happen.... which they invariably do sometimes with dogs! But more so with cats!!!!

Personally I wouldn't use tinned fish because although it is very nutritious and fine for most dogs with normal digestions, it is a high histamine food, and if allergies are thought to be exacerbating a digestive problem, then these kind of foods are best avoided. Fresh or frozen is best. I would drop the total volume of food by a small amount regardless of what combination of foods are given, just until Pip is back on track with eating her meals properly. Don't be surprised if she has a couple of days when she leaves some of the food. Just don't panic and offer again a few hours later. If the inappetance remains a problem after the weekend, it might be a good idea to get her vet to check her over just to rule out a medical reason for her loss of appetite. Make sure she drinks plenty of water. Skipping one meal completely is often a good idea as she will be hungry at the next mealtime, and if this is fussiness, it can often be very effective in ensuring that she eats what's on offer at the next feed.

I would decide whether to add canned food OR fish rather than both and then stick to that routine for 3 or 4 days with no variation. Once this food is eaten properly, you can then start to try and phase out the added ingredient once again. Very sneakily though, and at such small reductions per meal that hopefully Pip will not notice.

Looks like I'll be getting the blender out tonight doesn't it!

Got good news - Pip ate all her breakfast this morning with 50g of wet stuff mixed in but tonight I just gave her the mushy AG kibble on its own - she licked up the 'gravy' and then proceeded to eat the whole lot and lick the bowl clean!  She didn't have any tea last night so hopefully she's got the message - eat what's there or nothing for you!

Let's hope she keeps going now.  Lil tinker!!!!

Ignore my post above - back to hunger strike for Pip - licked the gravy and left the rest.  I left it down for a further 10 mins as Teri suggested and then straight into the bin (the food, not the dog!)  She's an obstinate little girl, but so am I and she WILL eat it lol!!!

Ho hum ....

Many dogs don't like the dry food soaked, have you tried it dry?

Yes, I tried it dry this evening and she ate it all up - I've learnt not to count my chickens though lol!  I did it soaked as the nutrionist from AG suggested we do it due to her having a sensitive tummy, but that's no good if she won't eat it is it.  I'll keep going with the dry and see how we go.

Not surprised she ate really though as we've been out all day at the Forest of Dean so she's had HEAPS of exercise.  She loved it - rolled in fox poo within 2 mins of arriving and then took great delight in running through the stickiest, wettest, most disgusting bank of mud you've ever seen.  She's just had a bath and looks so much better; how long will it last I ask myself ;o)

> I did it soaked as the nutrionist from AG suggested we do it due to her having a sensitive tummy, but that's no good if she won't eat it is it.  I'll keep going with the dry and see how we go.

It can be frustrating when you have to waste food can't it.  One semi compromise you might make between soaked and dry is to dampen the food.  Add not much more than a couple of teaspoons of water - and heat it for a few mins in the microwave.  The water and warmth activates the smell and can make it more interesting to a fussy dog (alternatively you can add a splash of hot water).

If the food isn't eaten at the first meal you can still put it down again later as it hasn't turned completely to mush.