[PrettyinPink]

We just got a 12week old Jack-Rat Terrier Female and I wanted to know what's the best food to change her over too? The breeder was giving her Ol'Roy complete puppy food, I prefer more of the natural food:idea:

[CorkyMax]

There is nothing worse then Ol' Roy!!! I don't feed commercial dog food---I feed raw and home cooked. There are a few good commercial dog foods but most are junk. The best are very expensive---one that I did use while switching to home made was Solid Gold. The best thing to do if you are going to feed commercial is to put words like dry dog food ratings or something on that order in your browser and study what is written about the dif. brands. First though--you have to be able to understand how to know what is good---Companies are very sneaky at making it sound good. Put things in your browser like What is in commercial dog food or How to know a good dog food--Etc.---You get the idea. Here is a good link (in this forum) to get you started:

What is Your Dog Eating?

I am not sure by your wording of things----Did you mean to go raw or home cooked and not do reg. dog food?

[Lunareclipse]

I agree. Table food is better than what's in most dog food. I would just post a list of foods that's dangerous for your dog on your fridge. When you make a meal for yourself, make enough for your dog too. You can add anything to your food that your dog can't have after you take your dog's portion out.

[akismaster]

Originally Posted by Lunareclipse

I agree. Table food is better than what's in most dog food. I would just post a list of foods that's dangerous for your dog on your fridge. When you make a meal for yourself, make enough for your dog too. You can add anything to your food that your dog can't have after you take your dog's portion out.

I agree with this one. You should know instead what not to feed your dog.

In terms of best food, others will say that it's raw food or it's cooked food or even kibbles.

It all depends on you in the end anyway.

In my case, I feed Obi Chicken with rice and I mix in veggies from time to time.

[Lara's mom]

You will get loads of different opinions about what is "the best." Read them, research them and come to your own conclusions. I home cook for my dogs and, they have thrived on it.

[dogowner]

It could help you to choose your dog food:

"The cost of dog food and its brand is only important if dogs can read or pay for his meal. The easiest and best way to find out which food is best for man’s best friend is to observe how their response is to the chow they take in.

The following are tips that one should remember in feeding dog any kibbles, nibbles or whatever kinds of treats....."

Found on dogsownersmanual.blog.com

[reeskujo]

Originally Posted by dogowner

It could help you to choose your dog food:

"The cost of dog food and its brand is only important if dogs can read or pay for his meal. The easiest and best way to find out which food is best for man’s best friend is to observe how their response is to the chow they take in.

The following are tips that one should remember in feeding dog any kibbles, nibbles or whatever kinds of treats....."

Found on dogsownersmanual.blog.com

I would have to disagree as the ingredients especially the preservatives and fillers are extremely important..Especially with dog that have food allergies.

[Deafdogsrule]

I would never get a dog from a breeder who feeds crap like Ol' Roy UGGH!

I feed kibble. I feed several different brands and flavours, plus some canned food, eggs, sardines, raw fruits and veggies, and raw meat.

The brands I feed are:

Natural Balance LID Fish and Sweet Potato (grain-free)

GO! Duck and GO! Salmon

NOW! Turkey, Duck and Salmon (grain-free)

Merrick Wilderness Blend

Acana Pacifica and Acana Ranchland (grain-free)

Orijen 6 fish

and Merrick canned foods, which are amazing! Made with fresh, human grade ingredients, and don't even smell like dog food. If I could afford to feed 5 dogs this food, I would!

I feel that dogs should have a variety, and started feeding like this last year. I will feed one food in the morning, a different food in the afternoon. I might mix in some canned food, or sardines, or eggs, or raw meat, or raw fruit/veggies once a day.

I limit grains, as they're just filler for a dog, and make sure they get a raw chicken leg once a week for a meal to clean their teeth.

Oliver used to get diarrhea if he had any protein other than fish (even peanut butter), until I started feeding like this, not the only time he has a problem is with raw Beef and Pork, he's fine with everything else.

Dont feed any dog food you can get in a grocery store. Try to avoid grains, and anything with by-products or by-product meal in it (that's rendered meat, which is anything not fit for human consumption mixed up together and cooked at really high temperatures). I avoid foods made by big corporations, I boycott Iams, and only feed foods made in Canada or the USA.

[CorkyMax]

I should have given you this link from this forum----about many things that are dangerous to give your dog (or let him get into!). Please read and study it all---> Foods that are hazardous to a dog This long list is a must esp. if you are thinking about raw feeding or home cooking but it is still very important to know even if feeding commercial dog food. Luna had a good idea about putting a list on the refrigerator---This list is prob. too long but you could 'pick out' what is important for you to remember and make your own list.

[lange]

I feed kibble and only add things to it for supplements and such. I use Blue Buffalo but you're pretty safe in picking any high quality food as long as there's not a recall. :roll:

Here's a site that can give you some ideas on how to read ingredients and rate dog kibble: Dog Food Reviews - Main Index - Powered by ReviewPost I try to stick to the 5 star ratings and up. Better quality can be more expensive but you ultimately gain in not having to take as many trips to the vet because of the havoc bad quality foods can have on your dogs.

And if you do switch, switch to the new food gradually over a few weeks so you don't upset your dogs digestive system.

[akismaster]

I fed my dog with the Orijen Regional Red back then. The only problem I had is where to get the supplies. It's a pretty rare find in my country.