i've read that dogs cant digest grains propley and good dog foods have little to none of them and a good food will say exactly what meat is in the food. Well im planning to get a dog soon and i want him on the best food i can afford, I found Orijen, which has lots of fresh meats and is Grain Free, however compaired to other dog foods Orijen is very high protiein, both the adult and the puppy one have 42.0% protein where the ones like Eukanuba: Adult Medium Breed Normal Activity has 26.0%.
Orijen UK website
http://www.orijenpetfoods.co.uk/

Is the higher level of protein safe? or will in increase his chance of getting things like kidney problems, also i thought that puppies shouldnt have a high protein diet while they are still growing, am i wrong?
Also i want to show, will a high protein diet cause him to grow massive?

Orijen is one of the foods that I would use if I were to raise a puppy again. I used to have two of our dogs on it, but had to take them off of it for various reasons.

The protein levels are not a problem and they will not affect the kidneys. (Hight protein levels don't cause kidney problems!).

Vera

I wouldn't believe everything you read!  The grains in dog foods have been processed ... as have the rest of the ingredients.   So whilst it is true that dogs cannot digest grains or any raw fruit/veg properly in its natural state well - cooked grains or mushed/liquidized/cooked veg are most certainly digested.  The problem is fibre (some of which is not supposed to be digested to enable proper "transit" through the system, just as a wild animal would experience eating hair and other indigestible bits from prey) and also starch, the latter which dogs digest less well than meats.  Most "non-grain" based foods use potato instead, which IMO is really  no better or worse than rice. 

A good, processed dog food should be about 90% digestible.  Keeping in mind that there is no such thing as a 100% digestible diet - if there was there would be nothing solid coming out the other end, if you get my drift :-)

< Most "non-grain" based foods use potato instead, which IMO is really  no better or worse than rice. >

Most processed kibble foods are also very low in meat content, in comparison to Orijen, which is why there is such a difference in protein content. Most of the Orijen varieties are 70% meat, 30% fruit/veg and 0% grain (the puppy is 75/25/0). As a dog is basically a carnivore and is equipped to deal with a high protein diet. I'd rather feed my dogs a diet more appropriate to their requirements as a species than a high grain, processed food such as Eukanuba, Pedigree etc. I feed my lot a predominantly raw diet but do also feed a little Orijen from time to time.

Orijen is a good food as far as i'm concerned- in regards to high protein being a problem, there is alot of conflicting evidence. IMO i think its fine, if you are worried there are other grainfree foods with lower protein levels

I changed my youngster BC on to the Orijen fish diet when she hit about 12 months old as she was a really picky eater taking approx 25 mins to eat a meal which to me is not a dog enjoying its food.  She loves this and the bowl is cleared in a couple of minutes.  I am always getting comments as to how shiny her coat is and bearing in mind she is a red and white it is not as noticeable as it would be on a black and white.  There is not half as much poo coming out the other end and it doesnt stink badly nor does she fart (sorry).  The protein level has not made her go nuts or psycho as is the general misconception and in fact she has better stamina that she did before. 

The ingredients for the fish are as follows:

Fresh salmon (includes chinook. coho and sockeye species), salmon meal, russet potato, herring meal, fresh lake whitefish, sweet potato, fresh lake trout, fresh Northern walleye, freshwater cod, fresh herring, sunflower oil, salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherals, a natural source of vitamin E), sun-cured alfalfa, dried sea vegetables (brown kelp, Irish moss, dulse and bladder wrack), leeks, psyllium, crab shell, rosemary, lecithin, apples, black currants..

As I have been so impressed with how her condition has improved in general I have just started to swop my two boys across to the meat one and we shall see how we go. 

Pedlee,

Understand and agree that most dry foods use too much grain or too much potato.   IMO only, that's a good reason for switching to a food like Origen.  Switching solely because Origen uses potato instead of rice as a carbohydrate is not.

Personally, I think a better option is to supplement manufactured food with raw or cooked meat or fish.  Cheaper and of course fresher.  Origen is really pricey ... but if money is no object, seems like a decent food.

it's great your doing this much research before getting a dog :)

many posters here feed orijen and its supposed to be great, but just to point out if your getting a pup your breeder will initially be providing you with a feeding regime. they might also be able to advise you on foods that work well with dogs in there line.

Every dog is different and many don't do well on some foods, even good foods, for example my lad was often sick eating the likes of james wellbeloved but is now doing great on the lower quality Autarky. Some dogs can go a big funny on high protein, some do great on it. some breeds need less protein during growth etc. this is why getting an idea from the breeders a good place to begin.

any idea what your planning to get yet?

<Switching solely because Origen uses potato instead of rice as a carbohydrate is not.>

Couldn't agree more. You say Orijen is really pricey, but I'd rather pay for a meat-based kibble than a grain-based one anyday. The reason I don't feed it as a sole food is partly cost (with 5 large dogs and 1 medium the cost would be enourmous) and partly because I prefer a more natural, raw barf-type diet. But it is always useful to be able to feed a variety (I sometimes feed Naturediet/Natures Harvest as well).

I dont't know much about the science behind it but my 7 month old rottie is now on orijen and doing great.  He has always looked great but now his poos are so much better and the smell isn't as foul as it was.  Although it is expensive I am feeding 1/3 of the volume I was feeding of Beta so works out cheaper.

Ok thanks everyone, i will deff consider slowley putting him one it when he is a bit older. If it works out to cost too much i may mix it with something else, most people i know feed wet mixed with dry, so i could feed it dry and mix with a diffrent wet, that way i will use less or it.
i dont know what the breeder feeds yet but i will ask when when the pups are born, but that wont be untill the end of next year.

Im planning on getting a MALE Swedish Vallhund. (Females are too much hassel, the only female animal ive had and she gave me no end of trouble so im sticking to males.)
Ive spoken to a realy nice breeder who liver near where the rest of my family live, as there are none near me over here in south wales, well there was one but she isnt breeding any more, that is just my luck lol.

> If it works out to cost too much i may mix it with something else, most people i know feed wet mixed with dry, so i could feed it dry and mix with a diffrent wet, that way i will use less or it.

Because Orijen is grain free and that is one of it's main selling points you would have to mix it with something that complements it.  I give my pup raw on the days when he isn't getting dry food - usually the days I want peace and quiet as it takes longer to eat!

I like the high percentage of meat or fish in orijen compared to other foods.  My dogs all have wet for breakfast and then dry for tea.  Also I only feed about 2/3rds of what I was feeding on arden grange so the cost isnt much of an issue.

Has anyone actually weaned a litter on Orijen? Or used prior to whelping? Or after? I would be interested in your experiences, good or bad. I'm planning ahead for next year and investigating as much as I can. Thanks.

I used it for my last litter of GSP's. Mum was already on the adult food and weaned pups onto it. Had 11 little mouths to feed and they all did very well, no problems weaning them and they all ate very well. Soaked the kibble and mashed it with a fork when they were tiny. Puppy packs available from breeder service.

Most puppy owners have stayed with the food and I have been delighted with how the pups have developed, well grown with good muscle but not fat. Three of the bitches have ventured into the show ring a couple of times and have all qualified for Crufts. One is in training with the fire service as a sniffer dog and she has also been kept on the food as she is doing so well on it.  Not the cheapest but I was very happy with it.

K

Orijen is a great food!

Also check out Applaws, they just released a 75% meat one here.