I picked up a trial bag of Origen at Discover dogs but there are no feeding amounts on the bag, I was wondering if anyone could tell me how much should be fed to a 30kg dog ? ( I know its only a guide but just wondering if I should be feeding the same or less than I am of Burns)

Also for those who feed it, do you find it puts weight on dogs easily ? I have one who loses weight easily and one who only has to look at a gravy bone and he puts on 2lb :(  )

Hi, for an active dog weighing between 20 and 35kg it advises 275 - 375kg and for a less active dog 200 - 275kg, but you may need to adjust to your dogs requirements.
Jane

>275 - 375kg 

lol im assuming you mean grams ;)

Thank you for this, it looks like I will be feeding them the same amount as burns.  Just one more thing, im assuming you feed it, how much do you pay for 15kg ? they were very coy about giving out prices at discover dogs which makes me suspicious !

Sorry yes grams.  I am in the middle of changing Floyd's food over to Orijen Fish but I have to do it really slowly, his is the most expensive one at £57.95 for 13.5kg.  The other Orijen varities seem to be very similar in price which are for 13.5kg is £45.95, I have been getting mine from Zooplus.
Jane

wow that is really expensive.  Mine would have to have the fish one because of Fagans allergies.  The company at discover dogs was challenge pet foods I think, will have a look for their website.

actually it wasnt challenge, I was thinking of something else.  I will have a look when I get home at the website she gave me, there is no way I can't afford to pay that for two dogs though, I was hoping to reduce my food bill

That's actually what I am trying to do, Floyd's food that he is being weaned off at the moment is Royal Canin Sensitivity Control which is just about £70 for a 14kg bag which lasts him about a month, along with a bit of NaturesDiet Fish variety (wet) or a small tin of Salmon / Tuna, just to keep him interested in his biscuit as this is just about all he is allowed, bless him, I think he will be growing gills soon and getting webbed paws.
Jane

I have been feeding Orijen for a while. You don't need to feed as much as other foods go to the main website for feeding guide. Be careful not to overfeed.

I don't find it any more expensive that other brands if you weigh it out -Ktee can tell you more about the product.

I was using RC and Burns before - quite a while ago and all prices have gone up.

www.orijenpetfoods.co.uk

Thanks, will take a look at that website.  I really would like to feed them Origen, it looks fab :)

and I might get the spelling right one day too .....

I would probably put my fat boy on the senior which is cheaper, but Fagan could only have the fish.  I see they do a breeders deal - does anyone use this ? just wondering how much cheaper it is (and how I turn my boys into two breeding bitches ;)  )

I have been feeding Orijen for some time via zooplus. The new Uk importer is just setting up,  I have been in touch with the and I am waiting for info on their breeder club .. fingers crossed it will save me a few £££ but the food is great and worth every penny IMHO

I have been feeding Orijen (fish) for about three months now and am pleased with it, but I find that I have to feed over the recommended quantity or my girl loses weight. Prior to feeding Orijen she was on Royal Canin Sensible, and I had no problem keeping weight on her. She is in the process of growing a new coat at the moment, but what she has feels lovely and has a great shine. She absolutely loves the food, where she was always quite uninterested in the Royal Canin.

Do you have details of the UK importer? :)

sorry I left the leaflet at home they gave me.  I will try to remember to put details on tonight

Hi
the Uk importer is Bern Pet foods 01737 767679 web site here - http://www.orijenpetfoods.co.uk/

Thanks!

http://www.championpetfoods.com/orijen/products/AdultFeeding.aspx  from the website a feeding guide-

I free feed mine have never had a problem :-)

the address I have is that I picked up at DD is www.naturalpetchoice.com (cant get the link to work ! )

It's a pity that foods similar to Origen are not manufactured in the U.K.   I have an issue with using a food that needs to be tranported 3,000 miles or so to get to my dog's bowl.   And also seems to be out of stock regularly - either that's a sign that it is more popular than retailers here expect and delivery times to them are slow, or, Origen serves its primary market first (Canada) and others have to wait.

I have to believe that there is a market in the UK for this type of food - manufactured in this country.  Someday, maybe.

if it wasnt imported it might be a bit cheaper too.

I see your point - however the foods that are made here in the UK almost all import grain from presumably the far East, Lamb from New Zealand etc. So not much different to import the ingredients and make food here or import the finished product.

Hopefully now there is a UK base the availability will be better than buying from internet only stockist in Germany (Zooplus)

Karen,

If you check the Origen site - there is a link above in one of the posts - there appear to be more stockists now than Zooplus.

You are correct - ingredients are now sourced from all over the world for foods for people and pets.  However, I still think there is a difference between importing 100% (all ingredients and packaging) and let's say 50-60% of ingredients.  Not to mention I prefer to buy products that are manufactured here in the U.K., if for no other reason than it keeps people in Britain employed.    I'm one of the people who if I want to buy apples in a store and I have a choice between apples from the U.K. or France - I'll pick the U.K. grown apple; even if I prefer the other variety.  I may be a bit wierd in that, but that's what I do.

For a food like Origen, with no grain, I betcha 90% or more of the ingredients could be sourced in the UK.  I just don't understand why someone has not figured out there is a market here.  Even the small manufacturers - like Joe Inglis (x-tv vet) - why the heck did he choose to produce another rice-based dog food - and not something really special?   Lost opportunity if you ask me.

>However, I still think there is a difference between importing 100% (all ingredients and packaging) and let's say 50-60% of ingredients.  Not to mention I prefer to buy products that are manufactured here in the U.K., if for no other reason than it keeps people in Britain employed.    I'm one of the people who if I want to buy apples in a store and I have a choice between apples from the U.K. or France - I'll pick the U.K. grown apple; even if I prefer the other variety.  I may be a bit wierd in that, but that's what I do.

Not wierd at all IMO - because I'm just the same! Plus, of course, even if the meat is imported it still has to have been passed as fit for human consumption, which isn't necessarily the case for a food manufactured abroad.

Now, where's my "I'm Backing Britain" badge?

I couldn't agree more. and it certainly isn't weird!! The ingredients in Orijen are great. I'm sure local fresh ingredients could be sourced equally as well in the UK.

On the Orijen site you can at least see where they get their ingredienst from - they have links to the farms web sites - I checked them

I think the problem is that  (and this is assumption based on some research) most food in the UK is made by Golden Acres.
They make many different brands. The investment in making a food must be significant if you are going to make a grain free product and need to start from scratch.

So we just need to keep looking.

I don't think so Karen in terms of the investment.  If many brands outsource manufacturing than Golden Acres or whatever can make a food up to any recipe.  There are quite a few grain free foods on the market now (JWB, Arden Grange, and more) so that is not the issue.

The issue is that someone in the "dog world" or even one of the big manufacturers has to believe that there is a big enough U.K. market willing to pay a high enough price for a food with a very high proportion of meat - and still leave room for a healthy profit. 

just had a look at the web site, wow it has a high protine level, 42% in the adult food & puppy, 44% in the fish
I feed wafcol salmon and potato with very good results, £48.49 for a 15kg bag.
don't think i will be changing.

£48.49 for a 15kg bag. Change supplier £38 here with Free delivery ( and it never changes much in price here although shows discount it is always discounted. )

http://www.petplanet.co.uk/product.asp?dept_id=713&pf_id=5904

its high protein because it doesnt have any grain, it is the dry equivilant to feeding raw.

its high protein because it doesnt have any grain, it is the dry equivilant to feeding raw.

I think it is just high protien because it is a quality food with a good quanity of protien. :-)

AG Fish and Potato and JWB Meat and Veg all are grain free but lower protien( by quite a lot) Both OK food but not as good as the origen.

I too would like to buy a home grown product,but until a pet food comes out that i am willing to feed my dogs then i will be forced to feed overseas made products!
The foods manufactured here are utterly horrible!! There is a market here for Orijen et al,because people are willing to pay the $120 that it costs for a 13.5kg bag of orijen

> people are willing to pay the $120 that it costs for a 13.5kg bag of orijen

See I just don't get that. Surely you can buy the meat fresh for less. I'm not saying that everyone should feed grain-free or raw. I think there are dry complete foods that are just fine if - if you're dog does well and is healthy great. Just that I don't understand why those people who have an issue with most complete foods don't feed fresh then? It has to be cheaper. I see the prices some folks quote for their imported food and it's insane. I buy a whole freezer full of meat for the same price as a bag of kibble.