[Mart]

Hiya all, just after a bit of advice really ?? we’ve just got a 10 month old chocolate Labrador cross Springer and we was just wondering what would be the best food to give him

so any advice would be very greatful!

Many thanks
Mart

[doganjo]

Whatever he has already been eating is the obvious answer.   Any new food you choose will depend on a) your pocket b) persuasion of your vet c) persuasion of any shop assistant (Pets at home seem to think every food is bad for your dogs except what they recommend!) d) what your friends and fellow forum members use e) his exercise regime

Higher protein and fat content needed for high exercise (25% upwards)  less for couch potatoes (18%)  whatever you choose that's different to what he has been used to  bring it in gradually over a period of two weeks.

There are a lot of makes on teh market.  Mine are high exercise, high output working dogs, but they get PAL or WAGG Worker.  It's down to personal choice in my opinion - and trial and error.  If he has a shiny coat, remains bouncy, poos and wees normally you've got it right!  Good luck.

[HappyHippy]

Hi Mart,
It really depends on what you're going to do with him. If he's a working dog then the complete working dog mixes are good, but only if he's working otherwise he'll get too much protien and may get fat ! (something most labs & springers are prone to IMO)
If he's a pet then you can go for a complete dry mix, wet food is inclined to be bad for their teeth (and breath). I would avoid Bakers mixes at all costs, they contain colourings and I found that my german shepherds went hyper on it (the same way a child would go hyper with colourings) and as springers are not the calmest of creatures at the best of times..............well, I'd be wary !
There is another post in the dog section under 'what dog food do you recommend' where folks have posted regarding specific foods & their experiences.
But as long as he likes it and it's not full of junk (check the label) you should be fine. Doganjo is one of the forum experts on dogs and may advise you different though (ooops she beat me to it !)
Hope that helps,
Karen

[Mart]

Whatever he has already been eating is the obvious answer.   Any new food you choose will depend on a) your pocket b) persuasion of your vet c) persuasion of any shop assistant (Pets at home seem to think every food is bad for your dogs except what they recommend!) d) what your friends and fellow forum members use e) his exercise regime

Higher protein and fat content needed for high exercise (25% upwards)  less for couch potatoes (18%)  whatever you choose that's different to what he has been used to  bring it in gradually over a period of two weeks.

There are a lot of makes on teh market.  Mine are high exercise, high output working dogs, but they get PAL or WAGG Worker.  It's down to personal choice in my opinion - and trial and error.  If he has a shiny coat, remains bouncy, poos and wees normally you've got it right!  Good luck.

Well he is a very very happy playful dog, he's got a lovely coat, very nice teeth, wees ok but it’s his poo His first poo is fine in the morning then as the day goes on it slowly gets softer and softer too nearly runny  ?? But then it’s all back to normal again in the morning  ? Also its very light in colour Sorry for going a bit too much to detail ?!?!?

thanks
Mart

[Mart]

Hi Mart,
It really depends on what you're going to do with him. If he's a working dog then the complete working dog mixes are good, but only if he's working otherwise he'll get too much protien and may get fat ! (something most labs & springers are prone to IMO)
If he's a pet then you can go for a complete dry mix, wet food is inclined to be bad for their teeth (and breath). I would avoid Bakers mixes at all costs, they contain colourings and I found that my german shepherds went hyper on it (the same way a child would go hyper with colourings) and as springers are not the calmest of creatures at the best of times..............well, I'd be wary !
There is another post in the dog section under 'what dog food do you recommend' where folks have posted regarding specific foods & their experiences.
But as long as he likes it and it's not full of junk (check the label) you should be fine. Doganjo is one of the forum experts on dogs and may advise you different though (ooops she beat me to it !)
Hope that helps,
Karen

Thanks for getting back ... god I wouldn’t let him have bakers to save my life!!!! ... I might as well let him have a kebab and chips with a cup of sugar every day lol ...
But if you have any advice to what I replied to doganjo I would appreciate it ...
Thanks
Mart

[doganjo]

Exercise can make their poos softer as the day wears on - do you think that might be the reason?  What food is he on just now - we could take the discussion further from there.  Also look at the other thread to see what advice people have given there.
http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php/topic,1603.0.html

[Mart]

Doganjo,
Thanks for getting back again. Well he is on pedigree (puppy) dry food .. We got him as an unwanted pet, and the person who had him just said she was feeding him dry food ? And scraps !! .... But we forgot to ask what dry food she was feeding him ?? (And the scraps have STOPPED now with us ... I might do him a roast now and then once we sort him out ?)

As I said before he seems very happy and playful in his self ... he don't woof back his food either !? He does actually walk away from his food from time to time. We've had no accidents in the house from him ! So he can hold it ?

Do you think we might just be worrying over nothing  
 
cheers
Mart

[doganjo]

Aaarrrggh!!!!!   Pedigree Chum goes right through mine.  I haven't used it since I was a pet owner!  (about 40 years ago)  Maybe the formula has changed since then mind you.
There's a nwe brand recently launched - my friend Sharon Pinkerton owns it - Challenge - they have a great range of natural products but I really like the salmon and potato - nothing else in it.  Dogs love it and I could almost eat it myself - I have tried it, my dogs never eat anything I haven't tried first.  It's £28.50 for 15kgs  Think she has a website, will have a look.

[Mart]

Cheers again ... going back to the exercise thing ? It could be partly due to that ? As my misses has just said to me his poo is worst when I’m back!!  (Coz I play and fight and generally wear him out?!  Probably a bit too much ?? lol)
I’ll be very interested in this new food ?! Where abouts can I find it ??
mart

[doganjo]

Here's Sharon's websiet - http://www.challengedogfood.com/

The more exercise a dog gets, the more it will need.  A puppy needs rest as well as play and socialising.  I never give pups free running for more than ten minutes at a time till they are about 8 or 9 months old.  otherwise it's lead walking only - a flexi is fine though.

[Tullywood Farm]

This has been an interesting read.

We have been having problems feeding our Pedigree Rotti who is now 8 months old.

We had him on Royal Cannin for Rottweilers and he thrived on that and it didn't go through him - we hate pedigree puppy as we fed the Cavaliers on that and your just paying to scrape it up - can't be in there long enough to do much

We need to change his food, as the Royal Cannin is 76 euros per bag here, and so we have had to try other feeds, but have had the same runny poo and bad tummy stuff as mentioned on this link.

We have seen also that the poor boy is losing condition and looking thin at the back end.  We have ordered
a bag of wagg worker which a friend is bringing down for us from the North tomorros, as you have suggested it is good and a friend of ours uses it too for her five big dogs.

Will hopefully see an improvement on Zeus soon, poor thing, hes a real big boy and full of love for his daddy Joe.
Isn't he a handsome boy ( THE DOG, not Joe  )


Julie

[doganjo]

I love Rotties.  A lot of folk are scared of them but I've never met a bad one in 65 years.  He looks a real cutie.  I had a Brittany with very similar markings and lots of people used to ask if he was a miniature Rottweiler.  Hope the Wagg works for him.  I don't think they have a puppy version but so long as he gets calcium and minerals in other forms he'll be fine.  Check the ingredient percentages in other quality puppy foods against the Wagg,  and that'll give you an idea if he needs anything else.

[Tullywood Farm]

Thanks Annie

Joe was brought up with Rotties and never had a problem either, we love having him on the farm as
people are wary of him, and in this climate, it can't be a bad thing to have him around - the ones that
are wary, have probably got reason to be, and it should keep them out

Julie

[doganjo]

German Wirehaired Pointers have the same 'aura'  I like having my Hester around living on my own.

[Tullywood Farm]

Hello Annie

Zeus loves the Wagg Worker and all the protein seems right for him - it says on the bagfrom 8 weeks and he is 8 months now, and looking shinier and better already.

Thank you for your good advice - 

Julie