While looking around a different pet shop to usual, I noticed a dry dog food called Gusto, at only £5.80 a 10kg sack.  It came in 3 varieties, Spring, Summer and Autumn,  the same as Autarky makes. 

Basically, does anyone know if it's any good?   I'm all for saving money if possible at the moment!

Thanks   

I would use Autarky (mainly because of the herbs and because my dogs do not react to maize) but not the Gusto which is a cheaper version, no herbs and less emat content and more filler.  Might use it as a mixer with meat.

If It was a choice between some of the others (well most of the others) sold in the supermarket I'd go for Gusto - it has no colourings/flavourings and is naturally preserved.  My own dogs improved dramatically last Christmas when I bought a sack (emergency).  They had been on Burns and weren't looking very good, no muscle, dry coats, skin and bone.   After a few weeks on Gusto they were in great condition, had muscled up and their coats had improved no end.  

I try to avoid Maize in their food as it seems to affect their ears ;)

Not sure I'd want to feed it constantly - I prefer a more detailed ingredients list.  But if money's short then you could do far worse ;) 

I'm waiting on a bag of CSJ Herbie Rings - will let you know how they do ;)

My old dog used to love Gusto and she was one of the hardest  dogs to feed ever I,m sure she thought I was trying to poison her.
Someone reccomended Gusto to me when she was about eight years old and she ate it from then on wish I,d found it sooner as she looked better than she ever had and looked forward to feeding times her coat was great on it she looked really well.

Mine has it as it's the only food he's really thrived on. I've always struggled to get weight on him but since being on Gusto he's filled out and looks really good, IMO. I have tried better quality brands but they just didn't suit him.

I have tried a couple of the CSJ food,  'That'll Do'  and the Lamb and Rice.  My dogs weren't very keen on either, they did eat it it but were a bit reluctant to really tuck in.

I picked up a bag of the Gusto,  which they ate this morning with gusto!   So I will just see how it goes.  (I think it smells much better than the CSJ too).

I have a friend that feeds her boxer this and he looks craking Gusto has been around about 3 years i think, she would not change him over from this, he was a fussy eater before he started eating this, she is very happy!  I think they do a gusto range now for puppies, she buys her gusto from tesco. Like you have said wait and see how you get on. :-)

I've used Gusto in emergencies; the dogs enjoyed it and seemed to do well on it. I don't feed it fulltime because if anything they became slightly constipated on it.

Three days in, with the Gusto,  and I have to agree with you JG.  The dogs are enjoying it, but their no. 2s have changed dramatically!!  I would suspect that it would be an excellent food for any dog having sloopy poos! 

I was wondering what I could do to loosen the dogs up a little bit.  Don't want them straining to go to the loo!   Do you think mixing it with a small amount of beta  might help?   (Got some in the cupboard, and it always make them a bit loose!)

Lovely subject as usual!!

Can you tell me where they sell it as i want to give it a try .

I think they sell it in Tescos?

some liver? but you can give that sll the time...

Got mine from cheap and cheerful local pet shop.   I think you can order online.  Google autarky and it gives you the website which sells both foods online.

Tesco £5.80 for 10kg i checked it for you! :-)

im going to try this with our bernese im tring to find a food that dont give her the runs !

Well, my Labs are certainly enjoying it.  I haven't even added any tinned meat  or extras to it.   Their output has become very very small and firm in just three days.  It's like after they've had a marrow bone, only a lot lot less!

It'll be interesting to know how you get on with Gusto,  Although my dogs didn't have the runs at all, this food certainly seems to reduce and firm things up.  Can't be bad!

going to get a bag tomorrow if thay do it for puppy? as she is only just coming up to 6months , but our gsd can try that 1 still :)

great going to get some today it might stop him having sloppy poo's.

sounds like a GSD owners dream <LOL> I have owned GSD's for too many years;) and tried over the years many different diets sticking with a local firms L&R gluten free.
I am certainly going to give this brand a try - nice firm stools is music to my ears:)))
You could always add veggies and live yoghurt to the diet to stop constipation - however firm stools helps keep those anal glands clear!

Issey

They do do it in a puppy range but have not seen it in tesco, maybe pets at home or wilsons do that. Have a look around online, Gusto might also have a website will a store finder.

im going to look now thankyou !x

You can order Gusto online via the Autarky website as it is basically a cheaper version as it is an inferior product nutritionally. Autarky is the company's premier food followed by the Chudleys range and Gusto is aimed at the cheaper end of the market but is still a good product for the price. Goldline produce Autarky and Gusto along with Hamster & Guinea Pig food called Four Paws and also a cat food called Salubrious. Goldline is the sister company of Chudleys who produce the Chudleys range. The same production plant also manufactures the foods for CSJ. Probably useless information to most of you but hopefully of use to a few!

clio1 been looking at web site and there its that price for 2kg bag are you sure you got the price right ? and if so where did you see it please ?

Thats very helpful Vista. :-)

RRP for a 10Kg bag is £5.95 on the official website but £5.80 at Tesco

15p saving (Every little helps) :-)

Must only be the big Tescos that sell it, as the one in my town doesnt!!!!!
Lea :) :)

Yes Lea you may be right there! :-) The smaller one i use from time to time hardly have any dog/cat food half the amount as our big one!

hi,
ive fed gusto for a few year now to my staffords,
they get tuna or sardines now and again and meat occasionally,
they have allways thrived on gusto,
there poo is allways solid,easy to clean up after them,
it comes in
puppy,adult and mature/light

i pay between £3.20 (when its on special) upto £4.20 other times.

if you know anyone who shops at batleys cash n carry pet section....most you will pay is 4.20. 10 kilo bags.

jayne
xx

I have used this once or twice , and it was only because i could not find Autarky . (the man in the pet shop said it was ok .but  i thought he was just trying to sell me his old stock ...lol..synic that i am )Now i have read this i have wondered what would the disadvantage's be of me feeding this with my Autarky , say half and half ...would it be a bad thing . Or even mixing it with a premium brand . Would mixing it with another food cause upset , or just be pointless ? Have never used it long enough to see a difference in my dogs but this thread has made me wonder .

imo i think it would be ok as long as your dogs dont get the runs ,add it over a week untill its half and half ,my dogs like it and im doing half gusto and half james wellbeloved and there doing great on it :) (well only one of the dogs is having it at the mo the other is still nurseing but will be back on it soon and the other carnt have rice so shes on fish and potatoe wainwrights and suits her well now , it does save some money half & half and mine doin well, but only been a week but her weight is still good ,so time will tell :)

Thanks for that .I too have the salmon and potato wainwrights and they are not too keen...(only one will eat it )I think i might give it a go , mine are fed raw too so have stomach's of steal ...lol... but i am all for saving a bit of cash ...as long as it does not affect my dogs ... have tried another cheap brand and my dog's had the squits for days even with a bit of raw ...

Hi my hubby came back from tesco on thursday with abag of gusto that he paid 5.80 for when doing some shopping,i was a bit unsure as to whether to try it as on AG normally.Well gave my GR girls some mixed into AG...well the last 2 days they have both had the runs terrible,so i dont think i will be giving them anymore of that.   Never mind that will teach us to leave alone.