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tokipoki · 07-29-2012, 04:14 AM

I like DogFoodAdvisor just as a reference point for more research. If you stick to 4 and 5 star formulas, that weeds out most foods based in grains like corn/wheat/soy or foods with a low meat content. I also like using it to quickly get the Dry Matter Basis already calculated for certain formulas so I can compare different brands across the board. Ingredients and nutritional content are only a couple factors when I choose a dog food though.

I still contact companies to learn more about their practices and other things like where they source ingredients from. And I find out whether they've had recalls in the past and how the company handled it.

I also like to look at user reviews (which there are a TON of on DFA). I don't base my choices solely on what other people say but it definitely is an important factor. If a significant number of people with small breed dogs experience issues with a food from a good company with a formula that has an excellent ingredients list, I will be more likely to find another option before trying that food. It's pretty arbitrary I guess since different dogs will react differently to the exact same formula but I think it's important to know what other dog's experiences were like (positive or negative).

This website is just a breakdown of the back of a bag essentially. And the author of the website is a dentist and does not claim to be any kind of expert that he is not. I've seen several times where people on that website have him asked for food recommendations and he simply tells them he is not in the position to make decisions like that for them and that they should contact the company or others familiar with the product, which is respectable. It's easy to tell people not to feed their dogs Kibbles n Bits but as far as advising which option to select between higher quality foods, it really is about trial and error and what works best for YOUR dog.

Overall, I love DogFoodAdvisor! Great resource! I do get a little bummed when he chooses a different formula to review than the one I'm interested in from a certain line but it's still helpful!

07-29-2012, 04:14 AM	#7
tokipoki Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Garner, NC Posts: 1,485	I like DogFoodAdvisor just as a reference point for more research. If you stick to 4 and 5 star formulas, that weeds out most foods based in grains like corn/wheat/soy or foods with a low meat content. I also like using it to quickly get the Dry Matter Basis already calculated for certain formulas so I can compare different brands across the board. Ingredients and nutritional content are only a couple factors when I choose a dog food though. I still contact companies to learn more about their practices and other things like where they source ingredients from. And I find out whether they've had recalls in the past and how the company handled it. I also like to look at user reviews (which there are a TON of on DFA). I don't base my choices solely on what other people say but it definitely is an important factor. If a significant number of people with small breed dogs experience issues with a food from a good company with a formula that has an excellent ingredients list, I will be more likely to find another option before trying that food. It's pretty arbitrary I guess since different dogs will react differently to the exact same formula but I think it's important to know what other dog's experiences were like (positive or negative). This website is just a breakdown of the back of a bag essentially. And the author of the website is a dentist and does not claim to be any kind of expert that he is not. I've seen several times where people on that website have him asked for food recommendations and he simply tells them he is not in the position to make decisions like that for them and that they should contact the company or others familiar with the product, which is respectable. It's easy to tell people not to feed their dogs Kibbles n Bits but as far as advising which option to select between higher quality foods, it really is about trial and error and what works best for YOUR dog. Overall, I love DogFoodAdvisor! Great resource! I do get a little bummed when he chooses a different formula to review than the one I'm interested in from a certain line but it's still helpful!