Your thoughts on Orijen?

[Wylie's Mom]

*I think Orijen's adult foods are 40%, 38%, and 40% protein.
*All of their products are manuf. & pckgd. in their own facilities (not somewhere else)
*They say all ingredients are "fit for human consumption"
*They use "fresh" ingredients and list their vendors

Here is a link to Champion Foods (make Orijen & Acana) FAQs.

Here is their White Paper, which I LOVE love love!

If I went back to kibble, I would feed Orijen or Acana (I feed raw).

Btw, for those who switch btwn foods, just be sure to save some proteins in case of food allergies .

[xoxodoglover89]

Originally Posted by Pup-e-Love

Why do you do a rotation diet? I thought it was not good to change their food a lot? Although, I can see how dogs get tired of eating the same food all the time.

I decided to use a rotation diet because Sasha used to get bored with her food very easily, but ever since I began rotating her foods, I'm able to actually get through an entire bag now. I also do it so she gets different nutrients and protein sources. I rotate between EVO, Orijen and Acana.

I also add a little bit of homecooked to each meal (only a forkful) and she usually gets a little bit of cottage cheese around lunchtime as a snack since she eats in the AM & PM.

I think food is always a tough decision especially since yorkies can be such picky eaters, but I found that YT has so much great information on the topic that you're sure to find the right food & feeding guidelines for your little one.

Best of luck to you!

[Pup-e-Love]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Btw, for those who switch btwn foods, just be sure to save some proteins in case of food allergies .

Thanks Wylie's Mom! What does it mean to save some proteins? How do you do that? Sorry if that is a dumb question, but I'm still trying to figure this all out. LOL!

[Pup-e-Love]

Originally Posted by xoxodoglover89

I decided to use a rotation diet because Sasha used to get bored with her food very easily, but ever since I began rotating her foods, I'm able to actually get through an entire bag now. I also do it so she gets different nutrients and protein sources. I rotate between EVO, Orijen and Acana.

I also add a little bit of homecooked to each meal (only a forkful) and she usually gets a little bit of cottage cheese around lunchtime as a snack since she eats in the AM & PM.

I think food is always a tough decision especially since yorkies can be such picky eaters, but I found that YT has so much great information on the topic that you're sure to find the right food & feeding guidelines for your little one.

Best of luck to you!

Thanks for your input. So switching up her food does not make her more picky? I've always heard that if you switch it up too much they will become very picky. I'm still learning. LOL!

[xoxodoglover89]

Originally Posted by Pup-e-Love

Thanks for your input. So switching up her food does not make her more picky? I've always heard that if you switch it up too much they will become very picky. I'm still learning. LOL!

I was afraid that that was going to happen, but with Sasha it didn't. When I was still learning about the good quality vs. the bad quality foods, I had tried several other foods (Nutro, Solid Gold, Natural Balance, etc.) and she would get tired of them after 2-3 weeks.

Once I started giving her the higher protein grain-free foods, she seemed to like those so much better and would eat them with no problems. Like I said before, I'm able to get through an entire bag of food now without her not wanting to eat. Plus, she now eats her meal right when I put it down whereas she used to go all day without eating and would only eat at night.

Now I'm not saying that your baby will be the same way as everyone's furbabies are different, but this is just the experience that I'm having with mine. She became less picky, but more interested in her food once I switched to the grain-free line.

[Pup-e-Love]

Originally Posted by xoxodoglover89

Plus, she now eats her meal right when I put it down whereas she used to go all day without eating and would only eat at night.

This is exactly what Reesie is doing right now. He will not eat all day, try to eat his poop, sniff around the house for any crumbs that might have fallen, and then at the last moment before bed will eat his food. So frustrating! Grrr! I'm going to the store today so I can get this right. I just feel so bad for him. It's so sad to see him this way.

[xoxodoglover89]

Originally Posted by Pup-e-Love

This is exactly what Reesie is doing right now. He will not eat all day, try to eat his poop, sniff around the house for any crumbs that might have fallen, and then at the last moment before bed will eat his food. So frustrating! Grrr! I'm going to the store today so I can get this right. I just feel so bad for him. It's so sad to see him this way.

That used to be Sasha (only she never tried to eat her poop) but she'd always have her nose to the ground looking for crumbs throughout the day...actually she still does that but now she can't wait until mealtime! It makes me feel good knowing that she looks forward to her meals and that I'm giving her something that she's enjoying. Plus, I really trust these brands of foods.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Pup-e-Love

Thanks Wylie's Mom! What does it mean to save some proteins? How do you do that? Sorry if that is a dumb question, but I'm still trying to figure this all out. LOL!

Sorry I didn't explain that better . What that means is...it's good to *not* feed every protein out there that exists. Let's say your dog develops allergies/food allergies (and you don't know which yet), and you need to do an "elimination diet" - and the vet says "well, let's do a mainly venison-based diet or rabbit-based diet, you haven't fed one of those yet, right?" -- and you say "errr...yes, I have...got anything else?" ?

So, sometimes it's nice to not feed, say, rabbit, buffalo etc... or some of the more novel proteins...just in case you need a protein source that she's never had before, in the future. I hope that makes sense .

[Pup-e-Love]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Sorry I didn't explain that better . What that means is...it's good to *not* feed every protein out there that exists. Let's say your dog develops allergies/food allergies (and you don't know which yet), and you need to do an "elimination diet" - and the vet says "well, let's do a mainly venison-based diet or rabbit-based diet, you haven't fed one of those yet, right?" -- and you say "errr...yes, I have...got anything else?" ?

So, sometimes it's nice to not feed, say, rabbit, buffalo etc... or some of the more novel proteins...just in case you need a protein source that she's never had before, in the future. I hope that makes sense .

Yes, that does make sense. So, you do feel it is okay to do a rotation diet as long as you save some of the proteins, is that right?

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Pup-e-Love

Yes, that does make sense. So, you do feel it is okay to do a rotation diet as long as you save some of the proteins, is that right?

Sure do.... You got it.

I really feel dogs can thrive on so many different types of diets. Rotation is one of them .

[Pup-e-Love]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Sure do.... You got it.

I really feel dogs can thrive on so many different types of diets. Rotation is one of them .

Great! Thanks for all your help! I'm at my wits end trying to get Reesie to eat. They can be so stubborn can't they? LOL!

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Pup-e-Love

Great! Thanks for all your help! I'm at my wits end trying to get Reesie to eat. They can be so stubborn can't they? LOL!

I almost hate to say this...lest I help make it worse ...but have you tried the Parmesan cheese trick yet? Parmesan (in the cheapo green can) is nice and pungent, and doggies generally love the smell -- remember dogs eat *first* w/ their nose -- so sometimes it helps picky eaters to sprinkle Parm cheese on their kibble....

[Pup-e-Love]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I almost hate to say this...lest I help make it worse ...but have you tried the Parmesan cheese trick yet? Parmesan (in the cheapo green can) is nice and pungent, and doggies generally love the smell -- remember dogs eat *first* w/ their nose -- so sometimes it helps picky eaters to sprinkle Parm cheese on their kibble....

No, I have not tried that. Why would it make it worse? Do you mean that it will make him more picky?

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Pup-e-Love

No, I have not tried that. Why would it make it worse? Do you mean that it will make him more picky?

Well...there is the thought that, you're adding yet another thing for him to turn his nose up at...ya know?

Honestly though, if this were my kiddo...this is something I would try, bc it's cheap, easy, simple, they can really like it - which also makes me happy.

I recently rescued a sweet Pitbull, and her appetite was a little "down" when she first got to our house, and it worried me - so I used the Parm. and it helped her appetite come back .

[Pup-e-Love]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Well...there is the thought that, you're adding yet another thing for him to turn his nose up at...ya know?

Honestly though, if this were my kiddo...this is something I would try, bc it's cheap, easy, simple, they can really like it - which also makes me happy.

I recently rescued a sweet Pitbull, and her appetite was a little "down" when she first got to our house, and it worried me - so I used the Parm. and it helped her appetite come back .

Wow! This is the best site! I learn so much all the time!

I will try the parm today. he still has about 1/4 of a 15 lb bag left, so I would like him to try and finish it. If I start to switch over his food, should I stop with the parm cheese, or continue if he likes it?