Million Dollar Question....

Goose · 09-09-2011, 02:59 PM

1.5 year old GSD. 87 lbs. A city dog that is very active. 2 mile run to 20 mile hikes, we do it all.

Currently using Canidae ALS. He does great on it. Energy levels are high, coat is good and no allergy issues. HE EATS ANYTHING…from lettus to egg shells, so him eating food is never a concern.

However, I need feed him about 4.5 CUPS of the Canidae ALS and he is ONLY maintaining his weight. (he is NOT under weight, looks normal and has his ribs barely showing, but that amount of food seems high to be feeding him.) The manufacture calls for 3-4 cups with a dog his age and weight.

I am researching more dense food, what some may consider “premium” food….grain-free. I am willing to pay about $1.50 –ish a pound.
In my budget I have found Canidae (grain free), Pinnacle and Taste of the Wild.

What are the thoughts on these products or something within that price AND performance range???

Any help, advice, thoughts, concerns and comments would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

VaBeachFamily · 09-09-2011, 03:23 PM

I am not an expert, but per personal advice...

I am not a Taste Of The Wild fan, have seen whole corn kernels roll out of the bag, and had first hand experience with some horrible effects. It is a Diamond Food ( as is Chicken Soup so we just decided against using it anymore).
Canidae, grain free,.... loved it, have awesome programs for the buy so many get one, plus if you own multiple dogs and compete, show, breed, etc you can get an even better deal!
Never used Pinnacle!

Now... our elder Staffordshire female is on grain free... completely, but we have started using grain inclusive foods for the shepherds! Cullen is 83 pounds, very active, and eats about 4.5 cups per day, Panzer is 60, active also, holds weight well at about 3-31/4 cups per day.....(active meaning, we walk, they swim, run, hiking, schutzhund, tracking, frisbee, agility, etc) I am actually using Premium Edge at the moment, they have NONE grain seafood , and they have " good grain" others ( have some with rice, millet, barley, oatmeal, potato, etc) depending on the variety. I payed $28 for a 35 pound bag, and the dogs love it, no adverse reactions, and it is cost effective! Hope this helps some? I have tried almost every food ( especially the grain free) and so I can give my own opinion, but not something that you should prob. take to heart!

trudy · 09-09-2011, 03:47 PM

my thoughts are if it ain't broke, don't mess with it. Have you read all the problems with digestion?? allergies etc?? well if your dog is doing well, leave it alone. And 4.5 cups for a teenage boy is Not a lot!!!

fuzzybunny · 09-09-2011, 03:50 PM

I don't think that's a lot of food at all. He's young and VERY active. If he's doing well I wouldn't change a thing.

Emoore · 09-09-2011, 03:50 PM

Kopper's 9 months old, 65lb, and eating 4 cups a day, so 4.5 cups for your boy really isn't that out of line. They're like teenaged boys right now-- eating machines with ultra-high metabolisms.

Packen · 09-09-2011, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuzzybunny

I don't think that's a lot of food at all. He's young and VERY active. If he's doing well I wouldn't change a thing.

Yep. If it is working well, do not mess it up by experimenting. I have a puppy and an adult on Canidae ALS, both get 4 cups/day with raw on some days. Health, conditioning, performance is top notch.

ChancetheGSD · 09-09-2011, 04:16 PM

@ VABeachFamily, Diamond makes Canidae and Premium Edge.

I wouldn't go for TOTW for an active dog, it's REALLY low calorie. You'd be feeding a lot more than 4.5 cups to maintain weight!

Chance needed a lot of calories to keep on weight. I fed him foods that had close to, or more than 500 calories to keep kibble amounts to a minimal. EVO was my favorite, California Natural Chicken & Rice also was a good one. For a budget food, we used Sportmix. But if you're not ok with corn then that wouldn't be much of an option. EVO is a little more expensive but well worth it IMO. California Natural cost about the same as Canidae, maybe a little less.

VaBeachFamily · 09-09-2011, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChancetheGSD

@ VABeachFamily, Diamond makes Canidae and Premium Edge.

Hm, will have to make a call about that! I called both companies before I tried them and was told otherwise!

Emoore · 09-09-2011, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VaBeachFamily

Hm, will have to make a call about that! I called both companies before I tried them and was told otherwise!

I want to say Canidae is bagged by Diamond but not made by them? Sort of like Solid Gold.

BlackGSD · 09-09-2011, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChancetheGSD

@ VABeachFamily, Diamond makes Canidae and Premium Edge.

I wouldn't go for TOTW for an active dog, it's REALLY low calorie. You'd be feeding a lot more than 4.5 cups to maintain weight!
.

Not necesarily. Even though Canidae has quite a few more calories per cup, my dogs all ate the same amount of TOTW as they did of Canidae.

09-09-2011, 02:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
Goose Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 59	Million Dollar Question.... 1.5 year old GSD. 87 lbs. A city dog that is very active. 2 mile run to 20 mile hikes, we do it all. Currently using Canidae ALS. He does great on it. Energy levels are high, coat is good and no allergy issues. HE EATS ANYTHING…from lettus to egg shells, so him eating food is never a concern. However, I need feed him about 4.5 CUPS of the Canidae ALS and he is ONLY maintaining his weight. (he is NOT under weight, looks normal and has his ribs barely showing, but that amount of food seems high to be feeding him.) The manufacture calls for 3-4 cups with a dog his age and weight. I am researching more dense food, what some may consider “premium” food….grain-free. I am willing to pay about $1.50 –ish a pound. In my budget I have found Canidae (grain free), Pinnacle and Taste of the Wild. What are the thoughts on these products or something within that price AND performance range??? Any help, advice, thoughts, concerns and comments would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

09-09-2011, 03:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
VaBeachFamily Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,267	I am not an expert, but per personal advice... I am not a Taste Of The Wild fan, have seen whole corn kernels roll out of the bag, and had first hand experience with some horrible effects. It is a Diamond Food ( as is Chicken Soup so we just decided against using it anymore). Canidae, grain free,.... loved it, have awesome programs for the buy so many get one, plus if you own multiple dogs and compete, show, breed, etc you can get an even better deal! Never used Pinnacle! Now... our elder Staffordshire female is on grain free... completely, but we have started using grain inclusive foods for the shepherds! Cullen is 83 pounds, very active, and eats about 4.5 cups per day, Panzer is 60, active also, holds weight well at about 3-31/4 cups per day.....(active meaning, we walk, they swim, run, hiking, schutzhund, tracking, frisbee, agility, etc) I am actually using Premium Edge at the moment, they have NONE grain seafood , and they have " good grain" others ( have some with rice, millet, barley, oatmeal, potato, etc) depending on the variety. I payed $28 for a 35 pound bag, and the dogs love it, no adverse reactions, and it is cost effective! Hope this helps some? I have tried almost every food ( especially the grain free) and so I can give my own opinion, but not something that you should prob. take to heart! __________________ ~Kristi in Virginia Beach Mommy to my 8 year old son... and ~ Cullen Vom Sandstranden, Purebred GSD, Black/Red Male : 12/16/09 ~ Panzer Vom Sandstranden, Purebred GSD, Sable Female : 11/29/10 ~ Gizmo , Amstaff, Brindle/White Female : 5/5/2000

09-09-2011, 03:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
fuzzybunny Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Ottawa Posts: 1,822	I don't think that's a lot of food at all. He's young and VERY active. If he's doing well I wouldn't change a thing. __________________ Carolyn Jazz, Shiloh Shepherd, 2.5 years old, CGC HIC Bunny, GSD X, 5.5 years old

09-09-2011, 03:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
Emoore Crowned Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North DFW, TX Posts: 9,214	Kopper's 9 months old, 65lb, and eating 4 cups a day, so 4.5 cups for your boy really isn't that out of line. They're like teenaged boys right now-- eating machines with ultra-high metabolisms. __________________ Rocky vom Backyard- 10 years young Kopper vom Felssclucht Bach - 17 months At the Bridge: Cash van der Animal Shelter 2006-2010

09-09-2011, 04:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
ChancetheGSD Elite Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,910	@ VABeachFamily, Diamond makes Canidae and Premium Edge. I wouldn't go for TOTW for an active dog, it's REALLY low calorie. You'd be feeding a lot more than 4.5 cups to maintain weight! Chance needed a lot of calories to keep on weight. I fed him foods that had close to, or more than 500 calories to keep kibble amounts to a minimal. EVO was my favorite, California Natural Chicken & Rice also was a good one. For a budget food, we used Sportmix. But if you're not ok with corn then that wouldn't be much of an option. EVO is a little more expensive but well worth it IMO. California Natural cost about the same as Canidae, maybe a little less. __________________ Gretchen -7.5 week old GSD Zoey -14 year old Pekapom Chance -(GSD/Kelpie) 6/2007-6/23/2011

09-09-2011, 03:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
trudy Master Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 920	my thoughts are if it ain't broke, don't mess with it. Have you read all the problems with digestion?? allergies etc?? well if your dog is doing well, leave it alone. And 4.5 cups for a teenage boy is Not a lot!!!

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