We have recently got a 9 week old boxer puppy. He is currently fed on Beat puppy food. Over the last few days we have noticed he doesnt seem to like this food and is hardly eating any and im not a fan of Beta anyway. He is fed 4 times a day. I have done some research and like the sound of the Burns mini bites, JWB or Nature diet. Can anyone offer any advice which is the best product and why?? I would consider mixing the dry food with the Nature diet if thats was best.

I have 2 toy poodles who are very fussy, having tried various foods I now feed them on natures menu which they seem to prefer to nature diet and certainly to me smells nicer which they have in and evening and they get kongs filled with either Royal canin mini sensible or james wellbeloved lamb and rice kibble, which they get in the morning. I have to say they don't always eat the kibble but as they are adult now I try not to worry as long as they eat the natures menu in the evening. Hope this helps.

I brought up my previous WSD on Burns mini bites and naturediet and he did well on it.  My current pup was weaned onto Arden Grange Puppy with naturediet and I have put her onto Genesis Puppy Food with Naturediet in the morning.

In the end different foods suit different dogs.

I'm afraid I get quite confused with all the different types and found you sometimes think you're feeding one brand when actually it's another.  Or, the food you're feeding your dogs has used animal testing as part of its research in ways I personally find appalling and unacceptable. In the end I researched nutrition and don't feed a complete food at all.

Having said that, when I did feed complete I used JWB and was happy doing it but, on speaking to a manufacturer of another food was told JWB is no longer JWB but taken over by Royal Canine and the recipe changed accordingly.

It's a real minefield trying to work out what's best for your dog.

Wellbeloved every time for me, both our dogs are on it (SBT) and they have glossy coats, healthy shiny eyes and loads of energy, wouldnt ever use anything else :)

Just stay away from Bakers I think is a main point!

My puppy is just really not enjoying his food. weve tried everything to make him eat it. I got a free sample of the JWB and burns through the post and just put a few pieces of each in a bowl. He refused the burns but he scoffed the JWB all up. He seemed to love it. I was going to wait two weeks before i gradually made the change but im worried he'll just not eat at all. We have only had him 4 days now so will he be ok if we start to change his food over now??? I was going to do it over a week but again im worried he'll loose weight. Will it really do him harm if i say change over to JWB over a shorter period?? 

>We have only had him 4 days now so will he be ok if we start to change his food over now???

What was his breeder feeding him?

All puppies seem to go off their food when they go to their new homes, so that's perfectly normal. Changing their food at a time of such major stress can lead to severe stomach upsets that are far more harmful than a few days of pickiness. As long as his breeder was feeding a decent food then keep him on that for at least 2 weeks before introducing changes.

She was feeding Beta puppy mix. Ive heard its not that good? 

I have reared a couple of lovely litters on Beta.  I thought is performed just as well as the litter reared on Eukanuba at twice the price.

Nature Diet everytime for me.  My JRT scratches big time and can't tolerate JWB even as an odd treat when training.
But then he cannot be fed a complete dry diet because of a stomach ulcer.   Dry foods fed also seem to upset my big girls tummy.
I prefer wet to dry foods.

Hi there,

Iv asked lots of questions of different topics and received some really good advice - thankyou to everyone!

This time however, I would like to ask for advice on my 14 week old Newfoundland puppy, at the min I am going with what the breeder has recommended which is 120gms x 4 per day - his weight is 18.95 and as you know, Newfs grow everso fast! I do email the breeder regular with updates on food and his weight BUT i want to stop doing this emailing them all the time so I am trying to find out now WHAT to give him and HOW MUCH as he grows,

AT the min, he is on 'pet at home' own dry food all natural with high protene as that is what they said to me to put and keep him on until he's 18 months - but, i'm not sure about this!!!! looking at all the different foods, there is so much to choose from and they all say more or less the same thing.  My boy (after his feeds) is always 'mooching' and in the bins looking for food so I am thinking are we feeding him enough?? shall I increase his food to, say, 125 x 4 a day!! please don't think I am mad, or stupid, but I honestly don't know as to how much to give him as he is growing, AND I DON'T want him to be overweight.  I am hoping to show him at 6 months so obviously I can't have him growing too fast.

Is there anyone with a Newf knows WHAT to give him that is the best food AND HOW much to give him as he is growing and when to increase, he just seems to be hungry all the time and jumping if we are eating anything like a snack or something! or are Newfys generally greedy??

Iv read the info from the Newfy Club but it doesn't tell you much, it just says increase food as the dog grows and get a good quality food but as I say, I would like to find out about anyone with a newf who possibly shows him/her and tell me what to feed him on and how much and when to.

sorry to go on but I hope someone can help me - thank you so much...

Debi
xxxx

Im the other way around my Cocker doesnt eat much at all, whilst our Border eats for Britain and raids bins!! I think you feed to the recommended levels (on the bag) I do use Natures Best for the Cocker but Border has been on Beta from Day 1 fron the breeder and Oh sees no reason to change from what suits him. Cocker has just (18 months) changed to an adult feed. Border will change at 18 months as well, if your Newfi gets fat cut back a bit and exercise more. Youngsters do tend to be a bit chubby and lean out as they are becomming adult. Other Newfi owners will advise better than me in a while I expect.

Hi my newfi girl is going on for 11 wks and weighs 17 kilos, she is on 120 gms 4 x a day, but i'm expecting that very soon she'll be going on to 3 meals a day.
I've had Newfs for the past 12 yrs and they are all different, from my experience i think that Newfs are greedy, my 2 yr old would eat all day if I let her.
It sounds to me that you are giving him the correct amount. Maybe you could give him the odd raw chicken wing between meals.They love them.

Many thanx for your reply whistler, ill take that on board, it's hard tho isn't it trying to do what's best!

thanx again Debi x

thanx Wilma, I do worry what and how much i am giving him!! I have had a Newf in the past but it's all different now, as when I had my last Newfy, (4 years ago) I done everything wrong feeding him and he ended up with a skin disorder - he was so despressed never away from the vet having steroids and antihistameans ect... but god, I don't want that to happen ever again !!!

AS I say, I am going with what the breeder has recommended but my god, he scavenges if I let him, and I have to watch him all the time, he just looks so hungry all the time - he is on 120 x 4 a day and I am hoping to cut one meal out but what age do you think it would be best to do this??? he has his last feed at 10,30 pm so I am hoping to cut that one out and increase the other 3 feeds!!!! but again, Im not sure as, as you say, all Newies are different!! I just wish I could be told what to do for the best instead of guessing all the time and reading so many different food ingrediants as there is so much choice and I dont know (as I mentioned) what is best for him!!

Are you sure raw chicken wings are ok? wont they upset their diet? i mean, I feed him on the dot the 4 meals, he get no treats (only when im training him) so giving him this may upset his stomach or am I being just stupid again!!

God, I could go on, as I so want to end up with just a lovely family dog as I know it's the food you give him/her shows what they will become later on....

Many thanx again Wilma

Debi
xx

Hi No you are not been stupid and it is very confusing with all the different foods that are available. What suits one dog wont suit another. Maybe you should start increasing his breakfast dinner and tea and try and stop his supper. But saying this our 11 wk old is showing no signs of going without her supper! She's sat waiting for it at 10 pm on the dot!!
Chicken wings are absolutely fine and wont upset him.

hi feed my border collie on burns chicken and rice shes a fussy eater as well i open a small tin of sardines or mackerel and use this over a 3 or 4 day period take the bones  out. and mush the fish and oil up  works  a treat