Westminster... Champions are fed Purina Pro Plan????
 

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What are your thoughts on this?
Do you think it is true?

I obsess over feeding my pups a quality food and Westminster Champions are raised on corn gluten meal & by-products? :confused::confused::confused:
Now I am really confused.
Aren't corn gluten meal & by-products supposed to be "bad" to feed our dogs?

Maybe those 12 all got free dog for for one year first. ;~)

I doubt it... Makes you wonder though!

They often get those foods for free....

Even if the food is free...
There dogs must be doing well on it or "free" isn't free.
Just confused.

Walt eats Purina One, which is a form of Pro-Plan. My dad worked for Purina for a few years and we've always fed our dogs (all labs until Walt) that... I tried high quality/expensive food for the first month (3 different brands) and Walt wouldn't eat them and they made him sick. The vet said they were "too rich". My dad suggested I try Purina-One because our dogs growing up were always very healthy with pretty coats.
Walt's been on Purina-One for a few months now and loves it! It's also the only food that hasn't given him an upset tummy... Yes, it's cheaper, but it's worked for Walt better than the more expensive "high quality" brands :)

Some of them do. If I'm not mistaken the Yorkie on the Purina Pro Plan Extra Small Bites is the granddam to my two pups.

I also feed purina one and my dogs do wonderful on it. I have fed it for over 16 years and have never had a issue with any of my dogs. :)

I think it comes down to what the breeders thinks. I truly do believe they probably got a lot of that food for free, so that is why they feed it.

But, a few personal stories.

When I was looking to get another German shepherd, I talked to a breeder not that far away from me. I can't remember why, but we got on the topic of food and she fed some cheap grocery store brand. She said that she has found that her dogs do best on it. She has tried others, but to her, it just didn't do as well.

But when I told her I fed raw, she totally knew what I meant and said several other area German shepherd breeders in the area did it.

Now, there is a great German shepherd breeder that is right in the same town that I grew up. When I first got Duke, I went to her a few times, she feeds all her dogs raw.

The breeder I got Duke from fed cheap grocery store food, but I do think it is because they get it cheaper and with 7-9 large dogs to feed, it does matter.

I recognized many of the names on the German shepherd side at Westminster as they are local. One of the owners (Kent Boyles) even had a hand in Duke's breeding.

So I really do think it comes down to costs. Feeding a large amount of dogs is expensive. Do I think they would see a difference if they feed better food? Yes. Do I think they would have to do less grooming? Yes. But again, I think it comes down to costs.

The owner of the dog daycare where I grew up, has performance dogs and feeds raw.

"Well" is such a vague term though. One person can think that a dog that is overweight, has horrible teeth and breath, bad gas, eye boogers, and bad hips is doing "well". While others would think that is terrible.

I'm not saying that dogs that eat these foods are necessarily "unhealthy". A person can also do seemingly "well" eating junk and soda and smoking cigarettes every day ... doesn't necessarily mean they are healthy. My step-sister can pound a dozen or more beers every other night, eats nothing but fast food, smokes cigarettes every day and is skinny as a rail, seemingly looking healthy on the outside, but is she healthy? It will probably catch up to her when she's older. But then again, you meet some old people who have smoked their whole lives, etc, and are very healthy. Then you can have the health food nut who works out every single day and dies at the age of 50 from a heart attack. But which way would you rather live? A dog can live "fine" on these so called "lower quality foods"... sure they can. But it may catch up to them later in life.... it may not.

Either way, not enough research has been done to prove one way or the other. But to me, it just simply makes sense for a dog to eat more meat than anything else? I don't see how it would make any sense for dogs to eat byproducts, grains and veggies over meat. Dog food itself has only been around for about 50 years, it's a fairly new "invention". I'd actually be curious to see the average lifespan of a dog 50yrs ago. I mean, all kibble is over processed and I think if I had the time to balance it all out, I'd love to homecook for Jackson, but I don't have time and so kibble and dog food just has to work for us right now.

^^ This, too. It definitely costs A LOT to feed 10 or more GSD's a bag of Orijen over Kibble and Bits. It often comes down to savings. I know if I had a larger breed, I probably couldn't afford Orijen, but I'd find something like TOTW that is still grain-free and what I consider a good food, just cheaper and a bit less meat.

I totally agree. I can get raw through a meat processor pretty cheap. Take a little more work, but can easily feed my GSD for a lot less then high quality kibble or even some of the high quality cheap grocery store brands.

I also know that many places will give discounts for breeders when they buy in bulk and that would bring the costs down.

TY Chrissy! I've always wondered about that too! Glad someone posted about it-especially pointing out the ingredients! Yucky! Would any of you eat it?

I don't use super expensive brands either, I started with Innova until I went totally grainless (stopping brown rice like Innova has-it did help with potty training as it regulates their uh "movements").

Now I feed and swear by Taste of the Wild...its really reasonably priced!

As far as some being "too rich" well what specifically were you feeding duck, fish, cow, chicken? Between brands there's also the flavor or meat ingredient, which just altering that is really important, like I don't feed my mini schnauzer any red meats...they are "too rich" for her, I've heard Evo and Blue Buffalo are great along with a few others but they seem pricey, we're on a budget here.

I do feed Stella and Chewy's RAW Dinner patties for Elvis (he' has seizures and a RAW diet was recommended for him) which can get expensive but seriously feeding a Yorkie really doesn't cost much considering their meal size-not to mention if you feed by making your own RAW food. I hand feed friuts and vegis to my dogs all the time (we call it lunch) I'm not big on the raw meat personally though so I use the Stella and Chewy's for it...

To the person who mentioned "well" in it's definition and usage, I couldn't agree more I just made the same comments regarding someone giving their dog Raw Hide and their comments about never having had any issue or having heard of issues with it etc.

Unfortunately big brand names sponsor shows...hm and give out free food...I'd toss it free or not, no thank you, please.

You're right - I don't worry too much about the cost because it takes almost 2 months for Rio and Bullet to finish a 5 lb. bag of kibble, so I don't mind spending the money. But I also think it depends on the individual dogs. I was feeding Rio and Bullet Orijen but it was way too rich for their sensitive tummies, so I feed them Canidae, which isn't as highly rated but it's less fat and protein. Their tummies tolerate it much better. I sometimes mix a little grain-free Now just for variety. I refuse to buy the cheaper brands of dog food, even though they sponsor every dog competition out there...

Sometimes I wish that the higher brands of food would go together and sponsor something or make some commercial.

My only hope is that more of the grocery store brands are going to "all natural", this "special ingredient added", etc and that will make people think.

I have to tell you this couldn't have come at a better time. Teegy has been hanging out at his gf's house during the day a couple of days a week.
Her mum Brittany gets home before I do and has been putting down Sushi's food and letting Teegy eat it, even though I take him over with food.
She says he likes to eat her's so I don't bother.
I've told her not to do this any more, because he's been getting tearing eyes and goop and I had to explain it's more than goop. Her food is some multicoloured stuff, Teegy eats Orijen Red.
My vet asked me what I fed him on his last check up, I told him and he said no more. Every once in a while when I have a steak or a lamb chop, I chop up a wee bit and chuck it in his bowl. It's the one thing he never turns his nose up at.
I believe the food does make a difference. We are lucky with Yorkies, one bag feeds him for two months, so that extra bit of cash is nothing and I spent more a week on cigarettes when I used to smoke than I do on Teegy's food, treats and pet insurance in a month.

They are talking about this on Dogster too.
do all those show dogs really eat Pro Plan? - Food & Nutrition Forum

I really can't believe that "better" ingredients are not better for your dog.
I don't even know what some of the ingredients in Pro Plan are :confused:.
And as far as "cheaper quality food" being $ cheaper it is not. There are plenty of better quality foods out there (even if they are not grain free). I feed my boys (right now) Nature's Variety Prairie Chicken. $12-$13 a 5 lb bag.
Even Natural Balance is around $14 for 5 lbs and Taste of the Wild is about $12 for 5 lbs.

Many people in the show world are given packages. If you go to many of the large brand dog sites, there are links to add onto a mailing list, to recieve free puppy packages, etc. Puppy packages would include information, vaccine records, free food samples, coupons etc. Great marketing strategy.

I fed Purina Pro Plan to my dogs. I see nothing wrong with the food. However I also understand that there are foods that are of better quality. With my Yorkie, he got bored with it and that's when I switched. But if it's in your means and your dogs like it then go for it. To each their own.

I believe they are one of the sponsors of the show. thus as a large financial contributor they get their name out front.

Just a thought...
 

This is NOT in defense of the lower quality dog foods, nor is it an attack on successful long time show breeders....

Many of the most successful show breeders have been in the business 30 - 40+ years -- long before what we call "quality dog food existed". Purina WAS the big name in dog food and was accepted as the best :rolleyes:. So we have show breeders with kennels that have been spitting out champions right and left using the products that worked for them. When you have a kennel full of champions eating Purnia Pro Plan, it might be hard to convince them to change what they have proven works.

It takes a LLLLOOOONNNNGGGG time to grow a show coat so I'm sure that the "old school" pros hesitate to change what they have found through trial and error works for them.

Some do feed it and that is mostly because there is no proof that a dog fed a "holistic" food is going to be healthier than a dog fed Purina. A lot of the information on dog foods is internet speculation. There are some ingredients that are better than others and there are some foods that a lot of dogs do poorly on (I'm thinking Beneful here). I don't feed Purina because to me, the ingredients sound absolutely disgusting and I don't want my dog eating it. Still can't say it will do harm though... The thing is, where is the proof that lifespan is cut short by feeding Purina?

:thumbup::thumbup:

Breeders use what works...I have fed Eukanuba, combined with Bil-Jac and human food for decades...
Plus IN vitamin, faithfully...they live long and only see the vet for heartworm meds.

I use the Purina Pro Plan canned food which I mix with my home made mix of boiled Chicken breast, rice and carrots. Is there issues I should know about it? I used Chicken Soup for Dog Lover's until after my dogs became very ill with diareah. When I went back to the pet store where I got it, she said she had other complaints out of the same batch. I called the company and they had an issue with it but wouldn't say what. Just said it was something that would not hurt them. I stopped immediately and will not use it again.

E.

What kind of vitimins do you use? I've been looking for a good vitimin for my crew? I use, Kirkland brand dry food, as it had a very very good rating (Believe it or not) and I use Purina Pro plan canned mixed with what I make which is boiled chicken breast, rice and carrots. I free feed the dry and I feed the wet mix once a day in the evening. The little one gets it three times a day because she's only 6 months and tiny. Love to hear what vitimin/s you use. Thanks. Elaine

You are so right in every word you wrote. Thank you. Also, Purina ProPlan is not a cheap dog food.

"IN"..a chewable suppliment...Foster/Smith etc.
I have faithfully fed my Yorkies this for decades...started when I was showing. Said they were good for stress etc...I am a firm believer many illnesses are stress induced...grows good coat too...mine get them at bedtime...I say vitamin time and they run to the kitchen. Must be tasty because they all eat them well...one a day for 5 pounds and under.

I was curious and went to look.... I don't see a supplement just called "IN" on the Foster Smith site. Could you post a link directly to it possibly?

The food topic will always be ongoing. I have learned a lot about the different qualities of dog food from this site but try not to preach to people/friends who feed a lesser quality to their dogs. My sister has a Great Dane and two other medium size dogs. She feeds them the Sam's Club Makers Mark brand and they do great on it. In fact, the Great Dane did horribly on other more expensive foods before trying this one. And he is a very healthy ripe old age. But can you imagine feeding those 3 dogs the same expensive dog you feed your little Yorkie? Wow, that would get pricey. My bigger dogs don't get food as expensive as Tatum's but I feel that it works well for them. And yes, "well" is pretty general but neither of them have ever been to vet for anything other than vaccinations and heartworm checks. So I guess we're doing something right. I say do what works for you and what you feel is the best you can do for your pet.

I feed purnina pro plan have for about 2 years now cheap it is not.
I tried the all natural and all life stages just felt I had issues with them not to say everyone does pro plan works for me and my dogs and pups when I have them are as healthy as can be so i feel if it is not broke no need to fix it.