I used to feed my doggy poison. :D

[Marley.&.Me]

I feed our dogs Old Yeller dog food.

[Marley.&.Me]

Looks like this:

[Jazi]

I'm just curious, what brands would you suggest for working dogs? Herding-type and working-type, larger, more active dogs? My two eat Innova usually, but are on Science Diet right now for weight loss. I think they just need more excersise. e.e But, why listen to the one family member who knows anything about dogs and training? *Fades to grumbles*

Mocha's not a working dog, but she eats raw venison (given to us by our family hunters) and gets an hour walk every day... used to be more before her hips started hurting her so bad. If she didn't get table scraps, she'd be nice and lean. The hunters in the family give their dogs rabbits and venison. Not sure on what brands would be good to replicate that.

Definitely feel you on the family refusing to listen... I'm the one in charge of walking and training the four that my family all sort of co-owns and yet one of my sisters STILL only walks her GSD/GSP 20 mins/weekly and he's actually backtracked in his training. GAH.

[.yuanfen]

*awkward entrance*

I noticed that there happens to be a kind of Beneful with avocados, and an entire dog food line based on avocados, called "AvoDerm". I can see how avocados could potentially benefit your dog's skin, coat, and such, but I read that they can be toxic...? The AvoDerm website states that "You can feel quite confident in AvoDerm® pet products safety and nutritional value. In the over 30 years since Breeder’s Choice first introduced this product line, millions of dogs and cats worldwide have consumed AvoDerm® with no negative reactions from avocado oil or meal.".
They went on to say that a scientist found that it is mainly the Guatemalan variety of avocados that generates negative symptoms in dogs.
Which, quite frankly, confused me even more.
So can dogs eat avocados or not?
Can they only eat some kinds of avocados?

It's probably not a good thing that I'm reading this early in the morning.

I think they just need more excersise. e.e But, why listen to the one family member who knows anything about dogs and training? *Fades to grumbles*

I'm not going to proclaim that I know an excessive amount about dogs, but I'm the one who does the most research. Unfortunately, since I'm not an adult, I have no authority.
Same thing with the goldfish. And guess what? They died because my family didn't want to get a bigger tank or medicine.

[OneRowdyNight]

Yeah, my dad raises caine about them being untrained and stupid and loud and fat, but does absolutely nothing about any of it. He doesn't bother with them except to pet Molly, yell at them, or hit them. I really do dislike my father. As soon as possible, I'm taking them with me and leaving. Enough off-topic drama from my house... >.>

@BrutusTheBeefcake - I've not looked at the ingerdients on Old Yeller, but I know it's not at all good quality. It's mostly fillers and isn't very good for dogs. If you've fed Brutus that all his life and he does well, you don't really need to change, in fact, it might upset his stomach and digestive system. (;

[Marley.&.Me]

@BrutusTheBeefcake - I've not looked at the ingerdients on Old Yeller, but I know it's not at all good quality. It's mostly fillers and isn't very good for dogs. If you've fed Brutus that all his life and he does well, you don't really need to change, in fact, it might upset his stomach and digestive system. (;

I got Brutus a month ago. We feed our other dogs different food. Other dogs eat IAMS. One of our dogs just got diagnosed with some sort of worms. We're treating them all though. Hopefully it'll all clear up.

[OneRowdyNight]

Ah. Do you what his previous owners fed him? And IAMS is probbably a step up from Old Yeller, not the worst, but not great. Most dogs do just fine on IAMS. Do you know what type of worms?

[Marley.&.Me]

Not sure. I don't think he was fed all that much because he was so skinny when I got him. We think it's tapeworm.

[Cardinal]

Ah. Do you what his previous owners fed him? And IAMS is probbably a step up from Old Yeller, not the worst, but not great. Most dogs do just fine on IAMS. Do you know what type of worms?

Most dogs do 'just fine' on crap brands because the owner has never seen a difference in the animal. My cats did just fine on meow mix until I upgraded them to much better food. I never noticed that their coats weren't as soft and shiny as they could possibly be and I thought smelly poo was the norm. My fat cat was just fine because she had always been on the chubby side, it was 'cute'. I couldn't tell when a cat had lean rippling muscle.

My friends dog made the switch from beneful to Taste of the Wild, grain free. She's a 2 year old chi and now has the softest coat, no more skin irritation, boundless energy, no doggy smell, and lean rippling muscle. However, the dog really was just fine before according to her owners.

When an upgrade is available.. Always take it. Of course their will be some digestive upsets, thats why its important to do it slowly. My boy friend switch one of his dogs over to grain free and the dog is roughly 15 years old! The other dogs are 2 and 8. All three dogs were fine on other foods -but- gained more energy and improved coats and weight loss. The 15 year old can jump higher than he -ever- has to escape bath time. xD


http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food- ... -dog-food/ Old yeller dog food seems aweful.

IAMs is pretty terrible as well. The 'natural' lines aren't -horrible- but I wouldn't touch them.


Edit: I just saw your post on the other page, Cowgirl. I know Orijen and Acana have very high marks for working dogs. Both of these foods are from the same company which uses organic and fresh ingredients. All the animals used are raised in humane, cage free and grass fed ways.. Normally a bonus for most people. =) I'd go with a high protein/high fat food for dogs that work, if you have to go kibble. I know quite a few working dogs on an all raw diet. For weight loss, you still want a high protein food. 'Diet' foods are a scam. They increase the carbs and lower the protein, the very opposite of what you really want. Protein burns fat whereas carbs add tot he problem.

[Bearsy <3]

Does anyone know whether the [better] brands mentioned are available in the UK, and if not what the equivalents are over here? c: I'm getting a rescue dog sometime this year from Battersea and I think they feed Pedigree, but obviously I'd prefer closer to the ~*best*~ out there. :B
Any help would be much appreciated, guys. <33

EDIT~ I actually found Orijen stocked by a shop near me for £18.49 per 2.5kg [Adult Dog] bag, but I don't know what the exchange rate is or anything [for you guys in the US to help] and I don't know if this is actually a good deal. :P