Best dog food?

[ktw1016]

Originally Posted by Britster

Food is... complicated.

There really is no "best food" but I will say that I have learned that companies and where their sourcing, what their manufacturing facilities look like, their testing, their quality control, etc, is more important than simply reading an ingredients list.

Personally, I have found my dog has done best on Acana. We switched away from it for a while, because frankly, I don't think Champion is all it's hacked up to be, but with that said, I can't deny it's what my dog does best on and we always end up back with it. He's eaten it for the longest time out of any food. Approx 2 years, then we stopped for a bit and now he's been eating it again for about 5 months? We do the Singles line tho (Lamb & Apple, Duck & Pear) and rotate between the 2. I prefer them to their GF line (especially with the new additions of all the lentils, chickpeas, etc).

I don't think most pet dogs will need a food like Orijen and wouldn't recommend it.

Canidae is in the process of moving away from Diamond (Thank God for that!) and they have a new GF line coming that will be made at their new Ethos plant. The line actually looks really decent and I will even consider feeding it in the future.

I'd stay away from most Earthborn GF's (too high ash content, their calcium/phos levels are too high for my liking, even though it's a bigger concern for growing large breeds, I still wouldn't choose it for any pup). Their grain inclusive line is much better IMO. They also make Pro Pac.

Btw, the amount of glucosamine in the food is probably miniscule. I wouldn't worry about it or even think it's helping with anything.

There's a lot of really good price friendly foods that probably 80% of pet dogs will thrive on. My pup seems to get bigger/softer poos on chicken, and a little bit more eye gunk, otherwise I'd probably be feeding a more 'plain' food from a company like Precise or Royal Canin, but a lot of the grain inclusive options all include chicken.

I also really really like Annamaet, amazing company with loads of expertise, but my dog doesn't like the taste of the food.

Thanks a lot for the information! I 100% agree with everything you said from what I've just researched! I decided to try Acana!

[ktw1016]

Originally Posted by Britster

Keep in mind, this is coming from someone who FEEDS their food. But I've learned most dog food companies are, well, very clever at marketing. And I've become more... well... every company is going to have something wrong with it. I guess it's just what you're comfortable with.

They actually have been recalled. Issues Surrounding Champion Petfoods Orijen recall in Australia


- Acana had an importation ban at least once for salmonella.
- Documents produced after the Australian recall named Griffin Industries in Alabama as the source of Chicken Meal.
- Their 'fresh fish' is basically just by-product. It states they recently signed an exclusive contract with Champion Petfoods has an exclusive contract with Freshwater Fish to sell them all their minced by-products. Prior to that Freshwater Fish "had been paying to have the waste trucked to a rendering facility". The article says that after Champion tested some samples, "a product was developed".
http://www.freshwaterfish.com/system...ter%202011.pdf

But basically I've decided it's not much different than most other food companies so I try not to worry too much. But I just wanted to put that out there as I think a lot of people think they are the almighty pet food.

My dog is healthy, in good shape, bloodwork perfect, etc. So I am happy feeding Acana.

Oh wow this scares me now..Thank you so much for the info tho

[ktw1016]

So would you still recommend Acana?

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by ktw1016

Well there is nothing wrong with Canidan ge but not so much more expensive, I figured I caet just better quality foods so I thought why not?

Canidan is great quality food I would leave the pup on it for awhile.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by ktw1016

Hi, I have 3 months old puppy currently fed Canidae. I was planning to feed him Earthborn next but I'm convinced to switch the food to Acana because of the Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate in the kibble. Would the amount of Glucos and Chondroitin in the food help at all with his joints?(because he's a little puppy, I am hesitant to give him any supplements) If it doesn't I probably will feed him something else..

Secondly, I do not want my puppy to gain weight. In fact, I was told it's better for his joints to be little skinny. And from what I heard, Orijen will make puppy gain more weight so I assume Acana would be similar? What are your thoughts on Acana about this? Could I just put food in the bowl like how I'm doing right now?(because he just eats good amount himself)

Also, I've seen lots of articles that Orijen poop smells the worst. How about Acana's?

Finally, if i was to get Acana, which one do you recommend for this little guy?

If you don't recommend Acana, anything else you recommend?
I'm still considering Earthborn, and TOTW

Now small breed is what I like. Puppies have to gain weight if they don't then something is wrong with them and they should be free feed until they are an adult.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Britster

Keep in mind, this is coming from someone who FEEDS their food. But I've learned most dog food companies are, well, very clever at marketing. And I've become more... well... every company is going to have something wrong with it. I guess it's just what you're comfortable with.

They actually have been recalled. Issues Surrounding Champion Petfoods Orijen recall in Australia


- Acana had an importation ban at least once for salmonella.
- Documents produced after the Australian recall named Griffin Industries in Alabama as the source of Chicken Meal.
- Their 'fresh fish' is basically just by-product. It states they recently signed an exclusive contract with Champion Petfoods has an exclusive contract with Freshwater Fish to sell them all their minced by-products. Prior to that Freshwater Fish "had been paying to have the waste trucked to a rendering facility". The article says that after Champion tested some samples, "a product was developed".
http://www.freshwaterfish.com/system...ter%202011.pdf

But basically I've decided it's not much different than most other food companies so I try not to worry too much. But I just wanted to put that out there as I think a lot of people think they are the almighty pet food.

My dog is healthy, in good shape, bloodwork perfect, etc. So I am happy feeding Acana.

I think every one thinks the food they feed is the best when they all have something wrong with them and are not perfect you just have to pick the best you can that your dog does well on. I fed Acana before feeding Callie Now and she did pretty good on it but I was having to break the pieces so I had to go to a food with smaller pieces. I would still feed her Acana though. My mom feeds her dogs Acana and Sammy does great on it. I think its not so much about the recalls that bothers me although it kinda does its about how they handled it that speaks volumes about what kind of company they are. I love Now because its grain free and the pieces are really tiny and kinda look like Cat food lol I even double checked the bag after seeing it. I wish they had more flavors in the small breed but I have never seen Callie like a dog food like this and we have been through 4 bags and she is still eating it like the first day.

[sganow]

We are currently feeding Amicus and all 5 of our dogs do great on it. Amicus is made by Horizon, a small Canadian company that makes its own foods in its own facility using mostly locally sourced ingredients. Amicus is formulated for small and mini breed dogs and the kibble is nice and small for the little dogs, but not too small. They make adult formulas and a puppy formula. We feed all our dogs the adult formula, even our 4 month old silky. Jeff from Horizon told me the adult formula and the puppy formula are the same except the puppy formula has a little more protein and fat, but that the adult formula would be just fine for our puppy. She loves it and wouldn't eat the food that the breeder gave us for her. She went straight to the Amicus immediately when she came to our house. It is just another option for you if you're interested.

[chestermama]

chester is on the chicken and potato in acana and does well on it, he drinks alot of water on it though, chester was on sundancer by solid gold and done very well on it, he just got bored with it, will go back at some point in time. He has no stinky poos