My dog doesn't seem to like ToTW fish formula.

Reacher · 10-12-2009, 04:19 AM

I started him on the red meat formula and then did the wetland foul formula and he did great. He just doesn't seem to care for this formula as much. He still seems to be gaining weight just fine but he seems to leave lots of food in the bowl. I've mixed with some wet food and he eats it all. I am pretty sure it's just the taste he doesn't care for.

To prove this, I have a story.

I am a roofing estimator and drive around all day and look at roof damage. Ranger rides with me and hangs out on the floorboard of the back seat as he has decided that is his mobile den. The other day, I was at a customer's house and on learning I had my dog with me they insisted he come in while I talked with them. They had 3 boxers all in the back yard and were very much 'dog' people. When Ranger started sniffing around their dog's food, I shooed him away. They said he was more than welcome to eat it and that it was really good food. Expecting to hear Purina One or some other standard food, I asked what they were feeding and they said Evo red meat formula. Surprised, I talked with them about different foods while Ranger ate everything that was in the bowl. He descended on it with vigor and would have ate more if they had offered it.

The above convinces me that his appetite is fine and it's the taste he isn't wild about. I'll probably end up donating the rest of the food I have to a shelter and then get him one of the other formulas again. I would be just as happy to give him Evo, but in El Paso, it costs about $25 more per 30lb bag than ToTW.

skelaki · 10-12-2009, 04:48 AM

In this case, since he's not just turning his nose up at dry food in general, I'd either just keep adding a bit of wet food to his food until this bag is completed and then go back to another formula, or I'd donate it as you're thinking of doing and return to another formula. It's possible he just isn't wild about fish since it's probably not a flavor he was given to eat during the important puppy stage of life.

Labsnothers · 10-12-2009, 08:15 AM

What is he? I would be very careful about weight gain for a young large breed. Perhaps he is eating all he needs of the TOTW. Your dog definitely should be narrower at the waist than the hips and chest. You
should be able to easily feel the ribs, but not see them. Each dog is different.
Standard recommendations are a good place to start, but each dog must have its
food and exercise adjusted to its individual needs. Here is a link to a good
illustrated guide, http://www.longliveyourdog.com/twoplus/RateYourDog.aspx

dieterherzog · 10-13-2009, 02:43 AM

Don't worry, my mini dachshund doesn't like "fishy" kibble either - he didn't like the ToTW Pacific Stuff or the Orijen 6-Fish so we just never get those. One day I dropped a shrimp on the floor and he pounced at it, put it in his mouth and spat it out. This is from a dog that eats parsley, cilantro and lettuce with great gusto - so some dogs are really just averse to anything fishy.

GTAlumnus · 10-13-2009, 11:01 PM

That same bowl of food in his own surroundings might not have excited him too much.

Reacher · 10-14-2009, 03:47 AM

Thanks for the replies all. He is a Cattle Dog, Sheltie mix. He is currently about 30lbs at 6mo. It's funny, he will eat canned salmon no problem but seems to have trouble with this formula. There are some days that he eats more than others and I am assuming that is based on his hunger at the time. He seems to be very fit and perfectly matches the description that Labs gave above. He seems to have plenty of energy so I am not sweating it too much. He just seems to be eating less of this formula than the other formulas I have tried.

GTA, I think you make an excellent point about the Evo, in his own bowl, he might not have been as excited about it.