[SunsetSam]

I'd love to hear suggestions and ideas for the best dry food for a Golden Retriever. He's almost 11 months old and the previous owner was feeding him Beneful. After research and reading here, I see that that is a BAD idea. I don't think raw feeding is right for us, so what is suggested of the dry dog foods? We aren't wealthy and probably can't easily afford the super-premium foods, but we're willing to price it out to see.

Also, what supplements are recommended for the best health possible? I see fish oil, does it matter what type of fish oil? Is it safe to just feed him a can or two of (cooked) salmon every week?

Sam is currently 75 pounds and the vet estimates he'll get to about 85 pounds. He was neutered at 6 months. (too young, I guess, so it may affect how much protein he needs until he's done growing? I think?)

We hope to find a food that can be found easily at our local Petsmart or Pet People store.

Thank you so much for your thoughts and opinions and time.

[CinnamintStick]

I have feed both premium and store brands (One and Beneful) depending on where I am shopping. I live in the sticks (desert). On month ago I changed from Beneful Radiance to Blue Wilderness on my adult dogs. I have liked Blue products in the past but had not tried the Wilderness high protein low carb food. Here is a link I wrote when I changed. http://www.dogforums.com/5-dog-food-...new-puppy.html (Help with feeding new puppy) I think it is wrorking realy good. It is expensive but I am feeding so much less that I think it comes out to close to the same cost. I would try it and see if it works for you. It does have fish in it already. I do give a sardine in their food to add a little more Omega 3 to there diet. It is just my way of treating them. They love it.

Blue is sold at PetSmart http://www.bluebuff.com/

[Noel Redwood]

Originally Posted by SunsetSam

I'd love to hear suggestions and ideas for the best dry food for a Golden Retriever... can't easily afford the super-premium foods...

We hope to find a food that can be found easily at our local Petsmart or Pet People store...

Purina 'Pro Plan' Chicken & Rice Formula for Puppies would be a good option. And if he does well on it, you could continue with one of their Adult recipes. My dog's done well on 'Pro Plan', and I know several knowledgable people who feed it, including my vet, a couple of breeders and a dog show person, etc.

[SunsetSam]

Thank you for the info on different foods. We'd been considering the Blue Buffalo after some research. My question is-our dog's old vet felt he was getting big enough/too big and didn't need puppy food anymore. I wonder if that's true? If so, do we feed him adult food as though he's full grown, even though he's still growing? Do we feed him a bit more food, or as though he's an adult?

Also, how do you know how many calories per day your dog needs? Especially if you're not sure if he's done growing?

This is confusing!

[rosemaryninja]

There are two foods out there that I find to be very decent and fairly affordable: Natural Balance and Premium Edge. I am trying Premium Edge Lamb & Rice with Honey now and she is doing great. Both dogs just came off NB's Fish & Sweet Potato -- didn't work any wonders, but NB is a very reputable brand and I think it just didn't go over well with my dogs.

Here's a recently posted thread on calculating your dog's calorie requirements:
http://www.dogforums.com/5-dog-food-...ood-those.html (Good Dog Food For Those On A Budget)

Ideally, your dog doesn't really need supplements right now. I feed Solid Gold Seameal, as well as fish oil capsules and Spunky gets a glucosamine pill too. Your dog doesn't need the glucosamine -- Spunky doesn't really, either, but it's more preventative than curative since she's getting a little old.

I like the Seameal, so you may want to try that; and fish oil capsules are a good source of Omega 3s, though like you said, adding some sardines or salmon to his food once or twice a week can substitute for that. You can feed the sardines or salmon raw instead of cooking it -- less minerals are destroyed that way. With sardines you can just toss him the fish whole.

[RawFedDogs]

Originally Posted by SunsetSam

If so, do we feed him adult food as though he's full grown, even though he's still growing? Do we feed him a bit more food, or as though he's an adult?

It really doesn't matter. Puppy/Adult is nothing more than a marketing gimmick to make you think this particular food was made with your dog in mind. There is virtually no difference between the 2. Same with "senior" or other special sub-brands.

Also, how do you know how many calories per day your dog needs? Especially if you're not sure if he's done growing?

You don't need to know calories. Feel your dog's body. You should be able to easily feel his ribs without pressing. He should have a definate "waist line" behind the rib cage and his hip bones shouldn't be prominent. If you can't feel the ribs, feed less. If his hip bone is prominent, feed more. It's as simple as that.

One thing to remember, its better to be on the thin side than the fat side. Thin is healthy, fat isn't so much.

[Noel Redwood]

Originally Posted by RawFedDogs

It really doesn't matter. Puppy/Adult is nothing more than a marketing gimmick ... There is virtually no difference between the 2...

I just want to make sure that the OP or others who read this thread looking for information know that puppies and adults have quite different nutritional needs. Proteins, fats, carbs, vitamins and minerals in food recipes are formulated on the basis of these differences. And puppies require vastly greater calories per their size compared to fully grown dogs. Likewise certain breeds, especially those that have expected adult sizes at either end of the bell-curve, have specific and different nutritional needs.

[CinnamintStick]

Originally Posted by SunsetSam

Also, how do you know how many calories per day your dog needs? Especially if you're not sure if he's done growing?

This is confusing!

With the Blue Large Breed Puppy its says

Meal Frequency
3 meals per day until 6 months old
2 meals per day 6-18 months of age

For 51-100 lbs 7-12 months- 3 1/2 cup-5 cups

I would start with 3 1/2 cups unless your dog is very skinny. I like to keep them thin. They will reach the same size in the end. Slower is better and thin dogs live longer. They seem very satified on a small amount of this food.

[RawFedDogs]

Originally Posted by Noel Redwood

I just want to make sure that the OP or others who read this thread looking for information know that puppies and adults have quite different nutritional needs.

Thats just absolutely not true. The nutritional needs are the same. Puppy kibble and adult kibble are virtually the same. Only the packaging and marketing are different.

Proteins, fats, carbs, vitamins and minerals in food recipes are formulated on the basis of these differences.

Nope, they aren't. Take a look at the ingredients of any adult dog food then look at the corresponding puppy food. You will find very minor insignificent changes such as the 4th and 5th ingredients have changed places on the list. Other than that, its the same stuff. It's a marketing gimick.

And puppies require vastly greater calories per their size compared to fully grown dogs.

Thats somewhat true. Feed your puppy the same amount of food as you would feed him if he wee an adult and his needs are taken care of. From 12 weeks I fed my Great Dane pup exactly the same thing I fed my adults. He grew as perfect as possible.

Likewise certain breeds, especially those that have expected adult sizes at either end of the bell-curve, have specific and different nutritional needs.

There is no nutritional differences between breeds. A dog is a dog is a dog.

[Noel Redwood]

Originally Posted by RawFedDogs

Thats just absolutely not true. The nutritional needs are the same...

There is no nutritional differences between breeds. A dog is a dog is a dog.

No reasonable person should be expected to consider the opinions of anyone who thinks that the nutritional needs of puppies and adult dogs, as well as toy and giant breeds are identical. And as several of your posts on this subject clearly indicate that you are fanatic and entirely uninterested in fact, I will not waste my time by continuing to discuss the matter with you.

[CinnamintStick]

Originally Posted by Noel Redwood

No reasonable person should be expected to consider the opinions of anyone who thinks that the nutritional needs of puppies and adult dogs, as well as toy and giant breeds are identical. And as several of your posts on this subject clearly indicate that you are fanatic and entirely uninterested in fact, I will not waste my time by continuing to discuss the matter with you.

There is so much BS on this board that is is almost scarry to think some people might believe it. It is a shame.