Hi all

Im brand new to this forum. Basically I have a 2 yr old spayed choc Labrador Bitch, she is currently on JWB and loves it but the price at my local store has gone up almost 50% since I started buying it and I feel £45 for a 15kg bag that lasts 4-5 wks is getting too much. So im in desperate need of advice on alternatives to feed her, as long as its under £45 im open to any suggestions. I would never feed "rubbish" or low grade food, I want to feed her the healthiest and best stuff I can. I should add, I dont want to feed anything that will make her hyper or over energetic, she is not a working dog or anything like that, just a (well exercised) family pet. Also we,ve had a few problems withher having a "scaly" coat although its not been as bad lately.

I've thought of brands like Arden Grange, CSJ, Markus-Mühle, kirkland or even Burns but I really dont know enough about it.

Any help would be very much appreciated

Thanks.

I always used to feed JWB because my youngest has a maize intolerance and it is quite hard to find food without it these days. I switched them to Skinners field and trial (salmon and rice) it has a very similar analysis to JWB (slightly better actually) and half the cost. i had no problem changing because they are so similar. It is described as a working dog food but it suits my Keeshonds and samoyed fine, no hyperactivity. (well no more than normal!) You can get it from most wholesalers or pet shops by request if they dont already stock it.

good luck

I pay £25.50 for 15kg

I use that as well at the moment.  The reason it is cheaper is because there is no VAT. :)  If you contact Skinners, http://www.skinnerspetfoods.co.uk/index.html they will tell you who sells it in your area. :)

I feed Arden Grange which I consider to be an excellent feed - all four of my dogs are on it (ranging from 15 weeks to 12 yrs using Salmon and Rice, Senior and Puppy/Junior). Direct from Arden Grange it ranges from £31 - £37 (although the sensitive is slightly more expensive).  You can use Berriewood wholesale as they are considerabbly cheaper.

https://www.ardengrange.com/Pet-Food/adult-dog-food.asp

http://www.berriewoodwholesale.co.uk/pages/arden-grange-748.htm

I'm also using this food.  I do find though that I need to feed more than I did of their previous food.  Have you found the same?

My pups are on JWB puppy. Ive found this week that the lamb variety lasts longer than the turkey variety due to the size of the biscuit. To be honest i would of thought the biscuit should be the same size no matter what the flavour???

I have started feeding arden grange and it is wonderful. Firstly the dogs love it but they are also looking good and the poo is solid. My 6 year old has been sensitive to food in the past and she is fine on arden grange. Ingredients is good and not a bad price.
I have all mine on it from 5 mths  - 11 years and they love it.

I feed some some of mine on Burgess Supadog Lamb and Rice sensitive.

This just under £20 for 15kg and is wheat gluten/colouring etc free

Kate

You can buy JWB from Berriewoods for just under £34 a bag if you want to stick with it but get a better price. I prefer AG myself and feed their Premium to one of my dogs in the morning. When my boy ate complete he ate AG and did well on it. (both golden retrievers)

I buy Arden Grange Performance for my dogs and they are doing great on it.  I pay £24 for a 15kg bag.

Thanks for all the posts. I was looking at the Arden Grange premium, what does it mean by "breeder bag" on the Berrywood site? Also what does anybody know about supadog sensitive as its readily availible from my local pet store. Its less than half the price of JWB, is it half the quality?

The breeder bag is just a 15kg bag but comes in a plain brown bag and not the jazzy coloured ones normally sold.  Arden Grange also do breeder bags but you need to be a member of their breeder club to benefit from the cheaper prices - which from memory is that to be eligible you have to have at least 3 breeding bitches and have working dogs.  The Berriewood bags are exactly the same - it does work out cheaper with them but I haven't found their delivery quite so quick as Arden Grange (although usually within 5 days).

I haven't fed the premium to mine as I'm more than happy with the Salmon and Rice and Senior for oldie - I used Prestige when my bitch was pregnant.

> Thanks for all the posts. I was looking at the Arden Grange premium, what does it mean by "breeder bag" on the Berrywood site? Also what does anybody know about supadog sensitive as its readily availible from my local pet store. Its less than half the price of JWB, is it half the quality?

I have to add that my 2nd dog came with Burgess supadog as his puppy food and it was REALLY good imo, in fact thinking about it I may look into feeding it again, he had a beautiful shine to his coat :-)

I changed from Burgess onto Skinners as unfortunately Burgess preserve their food with BHA and BHT (chemicals that have been banned in the USA as thought to be carcenagenic (sp) ).

> BHA and BHT (chemicals that have been banned in the USA as thought to be carcenagenic (sp) ).

Sorry to sound unintelligent, what is carcenagenic?

Carcinogenic means 'causing cancer'.

carcinogenic - thought to be a risk of causing cancer.

Snap JG :)

Thanks ;-)

Wow thats quite worrying that they are allowed to contain such chemicals but like alot of things I guess until it is "fact" they can continue :-(

I think I will stick with my existing food ;-)

I wouldn't get too alarmed :-) this is what the Food Standards Agency who look after our interests in these things has to say
In the UK the same rules apply to dog food.

Wow thats quite worrying that they are allowed to contain such chemicals but like alot of things I guess until it is "fact" they can continue

very true. Its amazing whats in some foods, couldn't believe the shavings bit, I can maybe understand food waste but chemicals and other rubbish that we wouldnt put in their bowl if it was in front of us..no need for it but then of course all the big companies are interested in is our money, so long as agencies say it can't harm the dog then thats fine, keep producing it, even if it is totally useless and provides no nutrition at all and is a waste of money never mind anything else. :(

A small meal of Naturediet (I add steamed mixed veggies and water) in the evening, a little Burns Fish and rice in the morning, 1 Arden Grange treat after their evening walk, 1 Fish4dogs biscuit before I leave in the morning and at lunchtime and a Logic chew at night.  Also, the occasional frozen meaty bone.  Burns mini-bites or tiny bits of cooked chicken breast as training treats and for when we go out.  This, with loads of exercise and plenty of water keeps my dogs in peak condition.  I also believe in little and often where food is concerned as I believe this reduces risk of bloat.  My vet is very impressed with them so I must be doing something right.

Oh and I've started to get my food from VET Uk.  The food is cheaper than from the manufacturers.

By the way - does anyone know where you can get a really good 'wet' cat food that's additive free etc.

> By the way - does anyone know where you can get a really good 'wet' cat food that's additive free etc.

I send mine out to catch there own !!  but alternatively I think natures menu do a wet one, not sure what the additives are though, you can buy it in PAH.  The only tinned stuff mine will eat is that gourmet gold stuff, costs a fortune and probably full of sugars :(

I think Forthglade is additive free. They do wet dog and cat food.

Thanks again for all the help although if im honest i still dont have a clue what im going to feed her. I want to use seither csj, skinners or supadog sensitive because of the price but Im worried because I must be sacrificing some quality. Which means I'll probably end up going for Arden Grange which is still going to save me about £12 a bag although I was hoping to save more.

Im terrible at deciding these sort of things, no wonder the other half gets so annoyed with me!

Why not try them on the cheaper foods?  You will soon know if it is suiting them or not.  It is not as if it is only the increase in dog food affecting our budgets just now.

I know both working and agility people who feed their dogs csj Hi lost (I think) its the gundog one. They say it suits their dogs, and they work and play well on it.

The only thing with Arden Grange is, although it costs more, you may find because of the quality you feed less than some of the cheaper foods that are bulked up with goodness knows what. So using AG may save more than just the price of the sack :)

> The only thing with Arden Grange is, although it costs more, you may find because of the quality you feed less than some of the cheaper foods

I use AG Lamb and Rice, breeders bag £23.79.  We moved from Nutro as it was getting difficult to get hold of.

One of my dogs was previously on 80g of Nutro per meal.  I've had to reduce his portion to 75g of Arden Grange.  I know it doesn't sound a lot but it is an extra 12.5 portions per bag.  My 12 month old is just moving from Nutro puppy and, whilst I'm still adjusting his amounts, he will prob be on a little less too.  Both dogs transitioned with no difficulties.

Considering AG is already a lot cheaper than Nutro but very similar in composition I'm very pleased.  I've also been really impressed by Arden Grange customer service and advice.

If you're on a tight budget then Autarky is a decent food for a very cheap price. My Costco used to sell it for around £11 a bag.

Well I finally decided, and went for AG chicken n rice for about £30 a bag from VET UK so thanks to all for the advice. I was going to buy the premium but on the AG website they say it is more suitible for working dogs. As it happens I think she is about due a change anyway as she has been constantly eating grass lately (not to mention other dogs poo aswell) which I have been told is a sign of something lacking in her diet so heres hoping AG does the trick.

Eating grass is a sign that their tum is upset and they are trying to make themselves puke - OR - as in the case of one of my dogs, they fancy greens.   One of my dogs will only eat grass to puke - and he will eat the entire blade.  My dog with a taste for greens only nimbles at the tender (I presume) tips of the grass blade; they go down and stay down.  :-)