My pup is come up for 5m now, and is getting fat on her current food (Orijen) and is permanently hungry as I have to watch her portion control. She isn't fed a set amount, I do the add a bit, take a bit away based on feeling the ribs, but its getting to the point she's on sparrow rations and still getting fat!!

I'm looking for suggestions for a food that I can try that I can feed her much more on, without gaining too much weight? Price not an issue, and I'm not going to be a food snob - if it works for her, I'll feed it!

I'm also going to be adding veggies etc to help bulk out her meals.

Thanks

Burns is one of the best food for dogs prone to putting weight on. John Burns' philosophy is to keep a dog lean. Although some on here don't like it, I fing it one of the best complete food around.

I wonder if that's because it fills them up with more than they can utilise?

Burns was looking good til I found that PeTA support that food..

I am not sure if the food keeps the dogs lean because it is John Burn's philosophy but it makes an interesting arguement on his part.  What you will find it it is 65 % rice and a big % of that comes right out the dogs back end  :-D

My two collies are fed on Beta light, they can have a handful twice a day and stay lean. I do feel sorry for them as the borzoi gets eukanuba and the silken orijen but they're happy and healthy. If I feed the collies a 'better' food they put weight on very easily :-( All get raw chicken wings, marrow bones etc several times a week too.

This was mentioned on a previous thread as well.

Do you feed the Orijen soaked or dry? If dry you could try soaking it. I know it doesn't swell much, but that little amount may be enough to make her feel fuller and stem the hunger.

With regard to Burns, which, as Blue mentioned, has a high proportion of rice, why not save your money and cook up some rice to add to a smaller portion of the Orijen? Adding some veg won't do any harm either.

Is she still on the Orijen Puppy or have you moved her on to the Adult?

She's on a tiny bit of Orijen puppy mixed into adult Orijen to use up whats left as my other boy is on Orijen (and never looked better..!!)
She gets it soaked, along with the tiniest bit of nature diet

I've just got a bag of neutered dog royal canin from work to try, as I have no car at the moment to get Beta or anything :(

I'd stick with the Orijen and just add low calorie additions to bulk it out, ie. veg. It seems to be slightly defeating the object of feeding a top-quality food to then add/change to a food with lower quality ingredients.

What breed is she? I'm not sure a neutered dog diet would be best for such a young dog?

> I'd stick with the Orijen and just add low calorie additions to bulk it out, ie. veg. It seems to be slightly defeating the object of feeding a top-quality food to then add/change to a food with lower quality ingredients.

Isn't veg a lower quality ingredient?

Hi,
Im currentley feeding http://www.naturaldogfoodcompany.com/Natural-Dog-Food.html and im quite happy with the results. I use the lamb variety as my staple and then they get raw extras. My spaniel is on the lean side, and hasn't gained any weight since switching to it, so it maybe worth a try.

I havn't any experience of thier puppy food, but thier customer service is excelent so im sure they'd be to answer any questions you had.

Good point! Maybe I should have rephrased that. What I was meaning was cheap fillers, animal/vegetable derivatives, unidentifiable ingredients. At least by adding your own ingredients to a top-quality food you'd know what you were feeding.

The neutered food is a junior formula, she's fine to go on it at her age :) She's a BC

"It seems to be slightly defeating the object of feeding a top-quality food to then add/change to a food with lower quality ingredients."

See I think that about feeding a top quality food, then making 90% of the bowl veggies ;) I'd prefer to feed a lower quality food that suits her, then a higher quality food I need modify. BCs are known for thriving on all sorts of foods, and very few are fed on top quality food as being "good doers" is common :) I obviously don't want to feed crud to her, but I'm also not going to be a brand snob if a food suits her and my requirements

> See I think that about feeding a top quality food, then making 90% of the bowl veggies. I'd prefer to feed a lower quality food that suits her, then a higher quality food I need modify.

I also have a 'good do-er' ....or, as I prefer to call it,  "economical to run" :)
He stayed his best weight on CSJ but coat quality was never ideal and he would scratch frequently. Then in an emergency I tried canned Butchers Tripe Mix from the supermarket and haven't gone back. Superb coat and shine, no scratching, small easy-pick-up poos. The only thing is he tends to put on too much weight on it, and yet he only has ½ to ¾ of a tin a day which doesn't fill him up. Solved that one by giving him a large raw carrot for dessert, which he loves to settle down with and chew :)

> With regard to Burns, which, as Blue mentioned, has a high proportion of rice, why not save your money and cook up some rice to add to a smaller portion of the Orijen? Adding some veg won't do any harm either.

Does it not defeat the purpose of spending a significant amount of money on a grain free food to add rice to it?  Personally I would add veg as this will not take away the selling point of the food. 

I too have Bcs and my youngster is on Orijen which seems to suit her very well.  I found it was the only complete that she actually enjoyed and ate with gusto.  My other two are currently on Arden Grange. 

Had never seen the natural dog food company so thought I would look up the ingredients which are as follows.  Prices are about £40 a 15kg so not much cheaper than orijen. 

All In One Adult Chicken

Dried British Chicken (min 22%), Fresh British Chicken (min 21%), Whole Brown Rice (min 21%) Whole Oats, Mixed Vegetables and Herbs, Whole Barley, Refined Chicken oil, Sugar Beet, Linseed, Brewer's Yeast.

Typical Analysis - Protein 20%, Oil 8.5%, Fibre 3%, Ash 5%

My friends BC is fed on Bakers and "looks" pretty good. But, I'd never feed my dogs on that, no matter how good they looked on the outside - I want to know what is in the food, and wouldn't trust the likes of Bakers not to be doing unseen damage on the inside. A dog is a meat-eater first and foremost and as such meat should be the main ingredient of their diet, which is why I'd prefer to feed the likes of Orijen. You said she has a small amount of ND, why not up the quantity of that, which is after all a good quality, high meat content diet.

ETA: Reduce the Orijen if upping the ND, or feed solely ND.

Have a look at Skinners, I feed my Labs the Field & Trial Maintenance.  They only need 300g a day each but because it's quite light in weight they get a good bowl full.

Its quite low in protein but has a good fat level.

My 2 have fabulous coats and teeth.  2 firm poos a day! and it costs about £15 a sack.

I have tried loads of different food for them as I always feel a bit guilty feeding such a cheap food (well, compared to JWB Origin Etc) but have to say that I always go back to  Skinners because it suits them so well.

I feed raw but used to feed CSJ - great customer service and very reasonable food imo, you can email Ceri Rundle (ownes CSJ) give a description of what your requirements are and she will advise the best food for your dog.  I dont buy their food anymore but do like their herb range.