Hi everyone.

I am planning for a litter of large breed puppies that are due in december and was wondering if anyone has used the beta breeders scheme? I normally feed my litters Hills science plan large breed and bought it online through their breeders scheme, but they are no longer running, so I am looking for another food to change to. I have heard that beta is a good food for puppies and that they give breeders free weaning food - anyone got this? what/how much do they give? Any other breeders schemes that ye can reccomend before I decide? I am also looking at redmills.
Thanks

I would be using what I believed was the best food to rear them on, not whatever I could get the most of free. :(
For me that's Proplan but that irrelevant of their breeder scheme.

If you are wanting a complete, I would recommend Simpsons, particularly their Sensitive (no grain) range. Not because of their breeder scheme but because I think it's a good food.

The breeder I got my current pup from used Beta. It's not a food I like so within a few days of her arriving home I gradually changed her food to Arden Grange and she's looking pretty good on it.

Pro plan do a breeder scheme where you get food for each pup and a large bag for whelping

Beta is one of the worst foods on the market.  Just above Bakers on the whichdogfood.co.uk site which says a LOT.  I actually got a bag of this free with my pup as his breeder had used this and on the way home, I dropped it in to local rescue kennels.  I wouldn't feed my dogs such food.
All dog food manufactors do breeder schemes.  Find the best food, not just who gives the most free.  I personally like Millies wolfheart and like their breeder scheme too.  You need to buy bags of food to get any freebies but it's a great food.

Have you looked in the dog food analysis web site? Just type in google very helpful site I was shocked when I checked out a few what I thought were excellent dog food to find the 3 stars or lower!  I always use it now if I am thinking of changing my dog food. How that might help out

My preferred foods no longer give puppy size bags for new owners and to buy small bags works out very expensive so I have bought two large bags to weigh out and give the new owners with the product literature, so will be able to send pups off with 4kg of food enough for about 3 weeks, for my medium size breed.

My preferred foods are Arden Grange and Simpsons, and I also like Autarky as for those who live near country stores/feed merchants it is a reasonably priced food available at all horsey suppliers being made by Dodson & Horrell (who make the herbal horse mixes).  it has added herbs, and in the past one of my adults who sometimes got yellow bile in the mornings never had this problem on this food.

I feed at least two puppy foods so new owners have a choice re price and availability.

All dog food manufactors do breeder schemes.

Plenty do not, or you have to buy the packs for a fair bit of money. So much better to feed your preferred food and just make your own puppy packs up. I don't think what you get in the average puppy pack is much cop anyway, these days. I like to include toys and bones and grooming equipment as well as food, personally.

Hey everyone. Thanks for all your replies. I don't think the breeders scheme is important thing when picking a food. I was just curious as to what beta were referring to when they said free weaning food - I am not just looking for free stuff, but I think it is nice to give a small bag of the food fed to each new owner and it's always a bonus when it is provided complimentary by the manufacturer of the food you are using, but if they don't do puppy packs, I would just buy the food myself to give to the new owners.

I live in Ireland and unfortunately proplan and simpsons are unavailable for me to buy at any local vets/shops.

Thank you jodi for your comment! It is making me rethink the beta food idea.

Brainless - I also like to feed two different brands of food to give the new owners a choice and pick a food that is affordable to their budget. So far I have decided to go with redmills as one of the foods.

Sianb - I will definitely google that.

cracar - just looking at that website now. Thanks

Goldmali - Yes I make up my own puppy packs consisting of all the relevant paperwork in a Plastic folder with leaflets,vouchers and cards on local vets, foods, puppy classes, toys, general information, etc. I also give each new owner a collar and leash set, a toy, some blanket - with all the puppies smells, and food and treats. Also I give them our contact details for any questions or problems they may have. I am probably forgetting some stuff off the list :/

Ash12ling
I came across Redmills for the first time recently at a country show local to us. Whilst I was discussing ingredients with the rather nice Irishman, my pup scoffed a bowlful set down for dogs to try! So she liked it. Seemed quite a good food and nice that it seems to be a family business with most of the village working for them.

It might help you choose what food to use! Like I said it was an eye opener for me! My girl was weaned on a famous dog food thought to be of a very high standard only for me to find out in fact it's very low down on the list as far as ingredients go. I now use csj sooper dooper for my girl but will have another look on there for when/ if she has pups.

ive just ordered from the Hills science web site it is still running ??

Arden Grange is sold in Ireland.

Redmills looks interesting.
I prefer to keep mine grain-free though, wherever possible, and note that maize is high on their ingredients list, and even the Sensitive has rice.

Depends on your dog/s of course, but one of mine used to scratch a lot when he was on CSJ Lamb & Rice and since going over to grain free (raw, with grain-free kibble when necessary) he no longer does. When I had a cat, I could tell almost instantly if he'd managed to pinch any of the cat kibble as he'd start scratching almost straight away.

I am shopping around for food atm and whichdogfood. Is my point of reference.  Currently trialing autarky and got my locak feeds store to order me in salmon.  Since feeding all on f4d im sticking to salmon and fish variety.  I like proplan and often feed the smaller dogs I this to cover me between orders. Got some samples of millies wolfheart at a show and my fussy frenchy lurved it. So going to try them on that. Got a bag of simpsons but they didn't have the fish in and they are not that impressed. My pug only ate it when she was very hungry after leaving 2 meals. Puppies should be weaned on to the best food you can afford and fed this untik at least a year imo but I know puppy owners budgets differ. Whichdogfood is priceless site and one for the bookmarks