TH is shortly to be weened off Eukanuba Junior Large Breed. Yippee says my bank manager.

Thing is. What should I move her on to? She is a picky eater and only eats when hungry, so sometimes she'll only pick for days and then other times she'll clear a bowlful in one go.

Plus. She's going (finger crossed) to be working towards the end of this season. So I need something that:
1. She'll like
2. Contains all those nice joint supplement things that a clumber should have
3. Is going to be able to sustain muscle and energy, given that she normally only eats like a sparrow
4. Isn't going to cost me £40 a month to feed!

Anyone got any suggestions?

9th if she only eats like a sparrow, then I would say go for the best food that you can afford! If she is only eating a very small amount, then you need to make sure that what she is getting is the best :-)
As for working, there are plenty of good "working dog" diets on the market. Having said that, I always supplement fresh meat on top of their normal food during the season.

Leigh

Rats. This is what I was saying to Al last night. I was hoping that someone would be able to find me some £9.99 for 15kg wonder food.

Ho hum. Eukanuba Adult for Large Breeds it is then! Although I was wondering about Chudley's Sovereign.

I know, deep down, that you're right. She's done really well on the Junior food, well muscled and happy.

I'm never having another one. I'm going to stick to collies, they'll eat anything.

When I can get it I use Walfcol Greyhound Racing or Maintenance as a base food for my adults and it suits them.

Christine

Snap, i always used the Wafcol Racer either the high protein or maintenance. Having a picky one I tried Arden Grange. Ingredients very similar to Eukanuba. the Adult which is 26% protein costs £27.49 for 20KG, and the prestige is something over £30 (this is 30%) which I used on my Anorexic. These prices are on the breeders scheme, and they do free delivery. I get one bag at a time as I am close to a distributor that delivers, otherwise if you order direct you have to get two bags.

I use Chudleys for my dogs who are also picky eaters. When we first got the GSP I was advised to put him on a lower protein diet then the one I was using and ask my local feed supply shop, they said as he was still only a year old I had to be careful not to cut out other necessary things and advised Chudleys as it was good quality but low on protein. Like Leigh I do give them fresh meat and also nature diet occasionally to add a bit of variety. Normally by the end of a bag of food they were getting fed up with it, but we have had them on Chudleys for the last 6 months and they still eat it.

I was given a sack of supadog chicken & rice (15kg approx£8) as an emergency stop gap when I couldnt get down to the wholesaler once. I immediately thought "cheap crap" and fed it reluctantly 'til I could get something better after the weekend. Imagine my surprise when my lot loved it & most astonishingly, no looseness...which they often have on their previous expensive food. Decided to buy a couple of sacks to see how it went, ended up putting 4 adults on it through a very testing working season & it was brilliant. Still feeding it now. Wouldn't rear a pup on it but excellent for working adults. So it is possible to get a bargain..don't despair!

Isn't it amazing how they always love the cheap stuff !!! The only problem that I have found with the cheaper foods is the *amount* that you put in one end appears to treble in size when it *comes out the other end* ! :rolleyes: I would rather spend more and have less to pick up. You are right about it being ok for an adult, but I agree ...wouldn't want to put a dog that is still growing on it.

Leigh

I have to disagree about the 'input' from cheaper food giving larger 'output'. I have fed my elder dog on Supadog (no 1 for active dogs, £14.99 for 15kg) for 3 years and he's always done well on it. My younger dog, a rescue GSD cross, came to us on Hills, more than double the price of the Supadog, but the 'output' is the same now he's on the Supadog!!! He's also putting on a bit of weight as he was very skinny, and has a lovely coat; someone who'd seen him before I adopted him actually commented on it recently!

Well we all have different experiences with foods Sas :-) When I changed my lot over onto a cheaper food, I did end up clearing up three times as much. It was a false economy as far as I was concerned. I didn't say that cheaper foods were not any good. Only that I wouldn't feed a growing puppy on them :-)

Leigh

I have to be VERY careful what I feed my lot as the breeds no.1 killer is bloat & most thoughts within the breed is that cheaper foods are a danger due to the physical volume you need to feed/swelling up in the gut etc, but have to say with supadog I donot feed anymore volume than I did Beta field or wafcol.

Hi no.9, everyone has their favourites, and every dogs different. Mine thrive on Burns. I've now raised a litter on it and very healthy they all are too, and mums looking in pretty good shape. Their website is http://www.burns-pet-nutrition.co.uk
(Maybe Leigh can 'do' a link!!)
Lorna

Ta da !! ;-)