A lady that has been coming to training classes for around 4 weeks has asked if anyone has any comments, good or bad on either Skinners Field and Trial Duck and Rice or also Autarky Salmon and Rice. At the mo she has her 2 dogs ( labs) on Burns but they are not doing too well, runny bums, weight loss and dull coats, so she is looking for a non expensive food that is the best she can get for her few pennies. These are both in the £23 ish per 15kg which about the most she can spend. Does or has anyone used these 2 foods and do you have any comments please.
BTW she is ideally looking for something that is not so likely to cause allergies hence the salmon and the duck

I've had my 3 labs on Skinners Field & Trial foods for the past year - and I'm delighted with their condition - all are in beautiful condition - black and shiny coats - in fact someone (admittedly not a dog owner) asked what conditioner I used on them when they were shampooed (havent been bathed since the back end of last summer).

I alternate the Duck and Rice with the Salmon and the Lamb - all are eaten with great gusto.  

The best place I've found for comparisons and recommendations is

www.whichdogfood.co.uk

I'm using Wainwrights Cereal Free, Lamb and Vegetable and it's going very well. Was using Arden Grange Lamb and Rice before that, but this is better, a little more expensive, but definately better.

Dawn R.

I don't know if they've changed the recipe for the Skinners Duck and Rice because ours used to eat it no problems but, for the last year or so, whenever I've tried them on it again, they don't like it (and we've got nine dogs, so not just a case of one or two being fussy).

Thanks Nursey, she has looked at the whichdogfood website but she wanted personal comments from people that have actually used these foods. I think the Wainwrights look s very good but I expect it will be just that little bit too costly for her as she wanted to keep to the mid £20s.

Lokis mum have you noticed any difference in the food as mentioned by marisa? I have looked in the whichdogfood site and I like the sound of the Skinners best, but it is not my choice that matters.
Has anyone used the Autarky salmon and rice? I haven't used either so I am no help at all.

My flatcoat and golden have been on Skinners for about 4 years now + some raw meaty bones and fish for variety. They also do have Butchers Tripe- just a small amount. I also alternate the same three varieties of Skinners as  Loki's Mum. They are currently on the Duck and the size of the kibble is bigger than the salmon which I found odd. All varieties are eaten with equal gusto :)  I had used AG for a long time- but they went off it. Both have lovely coats and (touch wood) are very well.

I know people with multiple dogs who use the skinners field and Trail (min in the past didn't get on with it) and I have used the Autarky (Chicken) for years with it being especially good for some of my oldies.

I have tried the Salmon one, but noticed no difference (Palatability, digestion, dogs condition) and it is more expensive.

I use it half and half with a more (Lamb and Rice) expensive brand, but I ran out of food recently and had not got the more expensive one delivered, and so fed the autarky (chicken) on it's own for about 5 days and the dogs toilets were super.

Someone in my breed feeds the Autarky to their dogs and they are in good show condition, being shown to CC's and Group placements at championship shows.

If the dogs have no issues with Maize then it should be fine.

Mine have only eaten Skinners when they win a bit of it and they get offered bits of kibble as a treat (!), otherwise they are fed on a combination of raw and home cooked gluten free food.

If your dog is very active it may be fine. I mention this only because a friend with two very active medium size gundogs were switched onto Skinners about 10 months ago, and in the last month have become increasingly itchy and have had yeast infections. I wondered whether Skinners' protein and gluten content could be the problem. They improved straight away on a gluten free, lower protein diet.

Many thanks for all the opinions, I will pass them on at class this week.

JAY15 both these foods are gluten free and hypoallergenic so hopefully they will be ok.

I think she will be better getting a small bag of both and letting the dogs choose as there appears to be very little difference in either food ( quality ) so now it is up to her - and her dogs

Quite honestly, as not all food suits all dogs, it's impossible to recommend any specific food.   I've not ever used Skinners, or Autarky (never even heard of that one, perhaps it's a regional brand not known down here?) but I have used Burns, to good effect.   I'm currently using Arden Grange Sensitive (fish and potato) for my Basset who is 'ex' Giardia and was left with just that, a sensitive tummy.   My Whippet is on their Light diet, for obvious reasons, not that I'm getting anywhere with her on that.

I reared all our UK bred Basset puppies on Eukanuba - but now read terrible reports about that.   I had no problems with it whatsoever, much as it was expensive.   The lower output made it worth using with my large Basset puppies however, much as I switched once they were juniors, and down to just those I ran on.

I'm surprised at that reaction to Burns, but again, heard that they sold out to a bigger commercial company, so have probably altered their recipe.

ps   I give mine a tiny amount of Butchers Blend - Tripe mix as well.