[Mary22]

I am getting a new puppy and I need some advise on what kind of food to feed her. I've been reading about the commercial brands and I am aware of all the poor ingredients. Can someone recommend a food that's not tooo expensive, but also good enough for my puppy so that I'll be able to sleep at night! (well maybe not for the first few weeks)... but you get my drift.

Any help would be greatly - no, GREATLY, appreciated!

By the way, my puppy is a Wheaten Terrier

[MagicToller]

Well, it depends on the energy requirements your pup needs (or is going to need.) Whether or not she will be an active runner/jogger, agility star, swimmer, earth dog, couch potato, etc. should be a few dimensions in selecting food - apart from the initial review of ingredient quality.

Seeing as she's a terrier, she's going to need activities that will challenge her mentally and physically - so she may have to be on a performance diet, but it depends on how you feel on that. Here are a few brands that are among the most recommended

Canidae
Innova
Blue Buffalo
Solid Gold
Eagle Pack
California Natural

(..just to name some)

[Captbob]

Natural Balance rates pretty high on a brand to brand comparison.

http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/dogformulas/home.html

[Buddy]

well it matters about age
if ur pup is about 7 weeks then give ur pup some nutricuis dog food (hard) but get it softer with some water so its nore or a mush type of food
if ur pup is 3-4 months then i suggest nutricuis hard dog food and some meat every ounce in a while

[magaritas]

We use Royal Canin but it is pretty expensive if you buy the small bags.

[SCWT]

Well, congrats on the best dog there is ! (biased)

I would suggest that you buy something which does not contain wheat or corn as Wheatens can be very allergic to it. Also, please don't base your decision on price as most cheap foods are just that. Read the ingredients.

We use Nutro Natural Choice Lamb and Rice large breed puppy food. Some people really like DVP Duck and Potato but I have not been able to find it in my area.

Good luck and post some pics

[lawlady]

My jack russell terrier, who is now 16 months old, was raised on Wellness Super-5 Puppy food. When he was 15 months old, we switched him to the Wellness Lamb (adult dog food). Wellness is a really good food as well, and when i rated the Wellness Lamb on the 'grade your dog food' chart someone posted, it came up with a 111-A plus. Wellness is available at some feed stores. I think on their website they have a store locater. That's how i found it in the town i live in.

A good rule of thumb is this: if you can buy it at the grocery store, it's crap. And not everything Petsmart sells is great either. Science Diet is crap as well.

BTW, you asked the $64,000 question!

Linda and Zavie

[Mary22]

Thank you so much! That's really helpful. What is your dogs name? Any advise going in? This is our first Wheaton, and we are super excited but very nervous.

[keegen]

Canidae is a pretty good food and is priced really decent! It contains no soy, wheat or corn which are all very high allergens. You can get it at most feedstores and alot of pet stores. Congratulations on your new puppy!

[Alpha]

My trainer breeds Wheatons!

A rare breed, but starting to get more popular, it's not even my dog but I love to brag up my trainer's accomplishments, her dog won BIS at the terrier speciality here in Ontario, Canada! Had to put it out there! LOL

Toller mentioned some great brands, all of which are known to be "higher end".

As for formulas, most breeders I know of, do NOT feed puppy food. There's no need for it. For instance, most of Eagle Packs formula's are for all life stages, and are fine to be fed from puppyhood until their senior years.

I feed Eagle Pack, and I know recently they've come out with a power formula, for dogs who are considerably more active. May be something to consider depending on the amount of excercise.

I like all the brands Toller listed, specifically Solid Gold and Eagle Pack. Mainly because they are the higher brands that are available to me.

Royal Canin IMO, is in the middle, between Iams and brands like Solid Gold.

[Mary22]

Has anyone ever tried Chicken Soup for the dog lovers soul dog food?

[Wimble Woof]

I'd prolly suggest Solid Gold Barking at the moon,( im not really sure how that is for puppies though ) or Canidae for kibble.
But all in all, i'd have to say RAW !

[Captbob]

Here are some foods graded by a system that looks at the ingredients in the food. The scale is A+ to F

Authority Harvest Baked / Score 116 A+

Bil-Jac Select / Score 68 F

Canidae / Score 112 A+

Chicken Soup Senior / Score 115 A+

Diamond Maintenance / Score 64 F

Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice / Score 92 B

Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula / Score 99 A

Natural Balance Ultra Premium / Score 122 A+

Natural Balance Duck and Potato / Score 106 A+

Hund-n-Flocken Adult Pet (lamb) by Solid Gold / Score 93 B

Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 D

Innova Pet / Score 114 A+

Innova Evo / Score 114 A+

Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+

Merrick Grammy Pot Pie/ Score 118 A+

Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B

Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice / Score 23 F

ProPlan Natural Turkey & Barley / Score 103 A+

Purina Beneful / Score 17 F

Purina Pet / Score 62 F

Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 F

Royal Canin BullPet / Score 100 A+

Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult / Score 106 A+

Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice / Score 97 A

Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ / Score 63 F