[TraciG]

Originally Posted by Dazzles

Hi there!

Just my experience with these two products.

I'll start with Bully Sticks. We ordered from best bully sticks. Optimus was not interested at all. They varied in color from dark to light and we tried one of each color -- he hasn't chewed on a single one yet. I will probably end up giving them away. As far as the smell -- unless you shove them in your nose they are relatively smell-free. I imagine they don't stink until the dog starts chewing.

I was sad because I wanted these to be his special in-crate treat, but he really wasn't interested. Oh well! Doesn't mean they are bad, just that not all dogs will like them. The shipping and service on the site was super fast and excellent.

Royal Canin Yorkie Mix --

He *LOVES* it. FINALLY a food he likes. We couldn't get him to eat regularly (which makes potty training very difficult). He would only eat his food when he was so hungry he had no choice. With this stuff -- he can't get enough. He gobbles it down the instant it hits the bowl, and is eating regularly every single time.

The con? It took a long time to get him "used" to the food. I did the tempering thing and went 3/4 old food 1/4 new food. That was too much. He was sick for almost a week. Eventually we had to do a few nuggets at a time increasing by 2-3 each day. After 2 weeks of tummy troubles (peeing out of his butthole) he finally got used to it and can eat a whole bowl and be fine.

So in the end -- LOVE this brand (so much so we switched our cats to the RC cat food too and by gosh THEY love it). My advice would be to introduce it very slowly. Just for reference we switched from Orijen.

We also use both of the products you mentioned. Brutus LOVES - LOVES his Bully Sticks. I have started ordering them by the 50 ea bag instead of the 25. He will tire of them (maybe they get stale?) after a day. As far as Royal Canin - we switched from Acana as I felt the Acana kibble was a little large and I honestly got tired of grinding it up for him. We transitioned him in about a week - at first he was skeptical, but loves it so much now, I can actually use it as a "treat". Also I can get Royal Canin locally, and I was having to order the Acana on line - so works out for everyone.