For those who rotate foods....

[RLC12345678]

What food to you rotate between? How often do you rotate? Have you found that it makes your yorkies more picky at all?

[JCarlson2004]

I rotate their hard food every 3 months. I find that it actually helps make them a more balanced and LESS picky eater. I also find it helps them NOT get sick or diarrhea if they eat something that they don't normally eat -- like if a piece of meat falls onto the floor and they snatch it and eat it up before I can pick it up, they're totally ok -- whereas some dogs will get diarrhea from that. My vet highly recommends rotating every 3 months.

[RLC12345678]

Originally Posted by JCarlson2004

I rotate their hard food every 3 months. I find that it actually helps make them a more balanced and LESS picky eater. I also find it helps them NOT get sick or diarrhea if they eat something that they don't normally eat -- like if a piece of meat falls onto the floor and they snatch it and eat it up before I can pick it up, they're totally ok -- whereas some dogs will get diarrhea from that. My vet highly recommends rotating every 3 months.

Which foods do you use in your rotation?? I have been feeding Chicken Soup Puppy and Canidae All Life Stages, and I am thinking about trying Timberwolf Organics. They have several varieties, all of which received 5 or 6 stars on the Dog Food Reviews Website. Their website recommends rotating between all the varieties of their foods because each variety offers different nutritional aspects.

[JCarlson2004]

Originally Posted by RLC12345678

Which foods do you use in your rotation?? I have been feeding Chicken Soup Puppy and Canidae All Life Stages, and I am thinking about trying Timberwolf Organics. They have several varieties, all of which received 5 or 6 stars on the Dog Food Reviews Website. Their website recommends rotating between all the varieties of their foods because each variety offers different nutritional aspects.

Timberwolf if AWESOME. I am going to give them a try (probably on the next rotation in January). The brands I like are:

Chicken Soup
Evolve
Blue Buffalo
Merrick
Drs. Foster & Smith

I know there are LOTS of other great brands out there. But these are my babies particular favorites, so I use them. I am also thinking of giving Wellness a try. You don't have to ONLY rotate 4 different brands. You can use as many as you want and eventually come back to the original one you started with. But each rotation should be a minimum of 3 months -- so you basically use 4 different brands a year.

[RLC12345678]

Originally Posted by JCarlson2004

Timberwold if AWESOME. I am going to give them a try (probably on the next rotation in January). The brands I like are:

Chicken Soup
Evolve
Blue Buffalo
Merrick
Drs. Foster & Smith

I know there are LOTS of other great brands out there. But these are my babies particular favorites, so I use them. I am also thinking of giving Wellness a try. You don't have to ONLY rotate 4 different brands. You can use as many as you want and eventually come back to the original one you started with. But each rotation should be a minimum of 3 months -- so you basically use 4 different brands a year.

Thanks so much for the info!!!!!! When they run out of the food their eating now, I'm gonna start something new.

Timberwolf has a sample pack for only $10 that has samples of 8 different foods they have. Also, every food that I looked at on their website offered free shipping.

[JCarlson2004]

Originally Posted by RLC12345678

Thanks so much for the info!!!!!! When they run out of the food their eating now, I'm gonna start something new.

Timberwolf has a sample pack for only $10 that has samples of 8 different foods they have. Also, every food that I looked at on their website offered free shipping.

Also one time give Drs. Foster and Smith a try -- my babies LOVED it. Good luck and let me know how it goes!!

[RLC12345678]

Originally Posted by JCarlson2004

Also one time give Drs. Foster and Smith a try -- my babies LOVED it. Good luck and let me know how it goes!!

Thanks so much, Jenn!!!!! I'll keep you updated!!!!!!!

[stewartdogs]

I have always rotated food. I rotate every bag. I go between Nutro, Nutro Ultra, Natural Balance. I use the different formulas within those brands as well. I just don't think any living creature can get a balance diet eating only one food forever. I also believe it helps prevent food allergies. I only have one picky eater and that is my Italian Greyhound. He doesn't like dry food, but I rotate his soft food just like I do the dry food.
Forgive the spelling mistakes please.

[Morkie4]

I don't actually "rotate" their food. I give them three different kinds at one time and mix them together. Natural Balance Vension/brown rice, Natural Balance Potatoe/Duck and just started them on Solid Gold Wee Bits........haven't had any problems and they are getting a variety of taste! I like variety so why not give it to them too!

[Lacy's Mom]

I don't believe in rotating foods because I do think it makes them picky eaters. You hear so much about Yorkies being picky, but I have never had one - all of mine eat dry with no problems. On the other hand my Mom switches food frequently and they have all been extremely picky. Many will only eat those baby food weinies at over a buck a jar!

As far as variety goes, dogs eat to fill their nutritional needs and that is how it should be. Once a person or dog starts eating for "enjoyment" is when they become picky and overweight. Give them enjoyment by walks, playing fetch, etc.

There might be something to them having strong stomachs though because my Mom's dogs eat candy, potatoe chips, pretty much anything she eats and don't seem to have a problem with it.

My daughter and her friends are vegetarians (they do eat fish and eggs though) and it is a real joy to see their kids (all between 1 and 6) eat a meal. They have never been exposed to Happy Meals, cokes, candy, potato chips, etc., but all the children will eat a plate full of vegetables and not push any aside. My kids were raised on Spaghetti O's, macaroni and cheese, happy meals, etc. and they were extremely picky. The only vegetable I could get them to eat was corn! I know now that it was how I raised them, not how they were meant to be.

[Morkie4]

I have a maltese and a yorkie I feed "variety" as mentioned in my preivous post, two times a day and neither are overweight or picky! Guess I just have good puppies!

[Lacy's Mom]

Here's a good link that contains a paragraph that more scientifically explains why dogs should eat the same food day in and day out.

http://lowchensaustralia.com/health/feedingmyths.htm

[Morkie4]

Originally Posted by Lacy's Mom

Here's a good link that contains a paragraph that more scientifically explains why dogs should eat the same food day in and day out.

http://lowchensaustralia.com/health/feedingmyths.htm

Point taken and I did read the link! I guess what I am saying is that they do get the "same" dog food and I did introduce the new food gradually over a weeks time ( I actually learned this the hard way) but they get equal amounts of each of the three different dog foods at each feeding.........so far no problems and it has been a week now since I added the new type and deleted one. But thanks for the information.