My 15 week old JRT isn't a fussy eater but he isn't a glutton either. Having had a terrible battle getting weight OFF an older cocker spaniel I'm far happier that the pup eats till he's had enough and then stops. However, he's still supposed to be on three meals a day but seems to have copied my eating habits and can't face anything challenging first thing in the morning! I feed him fresh homecooked organic meat or poultry with plain mixer for supper which he loves and at lunchtime he wolfs down a free range boiled egg.  His diet seems to suit him since everything that comes out the other end is, er, well as you'd like it (!)and we've never had any tummy upsets.

I do like him to have something in the morning though and he has previously had Bakers Complete Puppy (it's what his breeder weaned him onto) but I don't like the additives in it. What else would people recommend for a dry complete food? I'm not bothered about the cost - he's only a small dog after all - but in any case I put quality above economy with food myself and don't see why he should be treated differently. 

Hi roz.
We feed max iams.Thats what we have fed him from day one.It makes his coat so shiny and he's very healthy on it too.Our vet said to keep it up.
julie :-)

If I was to feed a commercial food I would choose Naturediet as it is vacuum packed meat, rice and carrots, no additives and extremely digestible.

If you prefer a dry food then I would go for Burns or JWB.

These do not have colourings, preservatives or a lot of other unecessary or potential harmful ingredients in them and are a far better option than Bakers.

I personally would not feed a commercial diet which had as its main ingredient maize/corn as I do not believe it is a suitable food for dogs, it is at the bottom of the league as far as protein availability is concerned in the grain group and is tryptophan and lysine deficient.

I would avoid those containing wheat too as the gluten can be a problem for many dogs.

HTH

Thanks tohme, I think I'll give Burns a try. Only I'm very anti-additive (particularly colours, preservative and other rubbish - and don't even start me on factory farming!!) in human food generally so keen to ensure the pup steers well clear of them too.

I've just changed my pup over from Pedigree to Naturediet and he loves the stuff! I feel very satisfied that I'm doing the best for my baby now.

Hayley x

I've heard good reports of Nature Diet but I thought it was "wet" rather than a dry complete. Or am I barking up the wrong tree?

It is a 'wet' food but also complete. It has carrots, rice and a boney substance in it, Harvey loved it and so long as it agree's with him (proof is in the poo which I've yet to see!!!) then we'll be sticking with this one!

Hayley x

Cheers! I'm actually looking for another brand of dry complete though because I cook his "wet" dinners myself.

In that case, everyone seems to rave about Burns and JWB and my vet recommends Hills but then again thats probably because they stock Hills!

Hayley x

Hi Roz,
As far as i know Burns has Rice as it's No1 ingredients instead of meat,this is the main reason i dont feed it.

I was flicking through a doggy mag the other week and i noticed 2 new pet foods i've never heard of before that sound good.One is called best choice dog food,it doesnt say much about it other than it has a high meat content,wheat gluten free and is made from natural GM free ingredients.Sorry dont have the website. The other is eaglepack,the holistic line(not the normal range),their website is www.postalpets.co.uk.

I havnt looked at either of these foods,so hopefully they are of high quality,and i havnt steered toward a pile of crap :o :p

I tried the usual brands before changing to JWB.  Very happy with JWB

Hailey, there is NO commercial dog food that exists which has MORE meat than cereal in it!

Therefore I would be interested in what commercial diet, if any, you feed your dogs! :D

My lot get Burns - not cheap but it is a fab food (they think so anyway). 

>>Hailey, there is NO commercial dog food that exists which has MORE meat than cereal in it!

Really?  What about this one?

Turkey, chicken, turkey meal, chicken meal, potato, herring meal, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a natural source of vitamin E)...

It is, BTW, Innova Evo.

I beg your pardon, you are correct, however EVO is a bit special, as it is the only one that is acceptable to some of us pure raw feeders.

I would consider it myself if it was sold in the UK however it is not and never likely to be unfortunately.

Or this one? 95% meat.

Chicken, Turkey, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Carrots, Peas, Tricalcium Phosphate, Lecithin, Calcium Carbonate, Egg Product, Potassium Chloride, Flaxseed, Montmorillonite, Clay, Kelp, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Blueberry, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cranberry, Kale, Whole Egg, Sweet Potato, Artichoke, Garlic, Zinc Proteinate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Barley Grass, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Clove, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Rosemary, Sage, Inulin, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Parsley.

Btw it is Natures Variety.

Yes I know 123 however this is a frozen raw food diet ;)
 
Not a kibble!

>>I beg your pardon, you are correct

No problem.

i'm a Burns advocate-have been using it on mine for 2 yrs, with a break into Arden Grange at one point-went back to Burns though. My dogs look great on it, and they wolf the lot.

nicola

Completly confused now, feed Alfie on Autarky as thought it was of the best but it seems burnd and jwb are, please help as he does not really like it that much and mess around with it.  Also any info on the nature diet as am considering it or a raw diet. we have less mess on autarky but he is quite lose and very windy!!
Colette x

If he's loose and windy and doesn't like it, it doesn't sound like a good choice for him, I'm afraid.

Burns and James Wellbeloved would also be my first choice for dry food.  If you want to feed wet food, Nature Diet would be my choice there.

What breed is Alfie?  It might work out quite expensive to feed him just on Nature Diet if he's a medium or large breed, so you could mix in some Burns or James Wellbeloved, or just feed the Burns or James Wellbeloved.

Have a look here:
www.burns-pet-nutrition.co.uk
www.wellbeloved.co.uk

Don't know if any of you are aware of his article and how true it is, but it makes worring reading.

I feed Coco JWB but am wondering if its the right food for her after reading this article.

http://www.uncaged.co.uk/petfood.htm

Try reading "FOOD PETS DIE FOR" by Ann N. Martin. Quite shocking!!!

Kizkel i posted a couple of quotes from that book on the locked pedigree thread.I agree,it does make for a shocking read :(

Yes, I've read that one too.  At least in the UK we don't feed cats and dogs to our living cats and dogs - like it seems happens in the US!

Alfie is a TT X BC, hes 8months old at the moment.
Colette

Just to say thanks for all your helpful suggestions. I went onto the Burns website to check the nearest stockists and got an email back offering samples of their Small Bites which arrived today. And by heck it it was positively wolfed down by Nips! And not in small bites either! :)

So I'm off to get a bigger supply tomorrow!