[aquariangt]

http://www.gravatar.com is the site you create a profile and upload on. It takes a bit to show up once you do it.

That’s Dani-she’s actually a sheltie, though in that picture she certainly has some BC qualities. I don’t think I can handle a BC, even being fairly active in dog sports, haha. I admire them though, and can easily see why you fell in love with them. Their fun dogs and I’m around them a lot.

[aquariangt]

2 Under 1 year old border collies…you must have a lot of energy! 🙂

[aquariangt]

I would say the labels may not tell you as much as you would hope in this case. Purina isn’t exactly known for excellent ingredient sourcing, which wont change the label

[aquariangt]

SkeptVet is like Michael Moore, or Rush Limbaugh. Obscenely one sided in all of his viewing, and only links scientific data that backs his opinion. I dislike anyone that closeminded. When I first started reading some of his blog posts I expected him to be a 80 year old vet practicing for the last 50 years, since he seems to refuse to believe and recent studies. I’m going to assume he uses prong collars and rolls his dogs too 🙂

[aquariangt]

don’t take something that says large breed puppy at face value, some of them don’t actually have the proper formulation. C4C linked an excellent thread with great information, and on page 36 or 36 there is a list of foods that have acceptable calcium to phosphorus ratios for lgp

[aquariangt]

For orijen i’d say that’s way too much. Every dog is different, so calorie intake requirements can vary. I feed my 18 lb dog from 2/3-3/4 cup a day depending on the food, every food is different from a calorie perspective. My 23 lb dog usually eats a cup a day, because she doesn’t get the variation as the smaller one due to some food allergies. Orijen is significantly more nutrient dense than Euk.

Is she in ideal condition right now?
How much exercise does she get?
What extras does she get? Dani gets a ton of training so she eats closer to the minimum, ad I keep unbalanced toppers to a minimum, Liesl doesn’t train as much, so she gets more middle calorie needs. I guess in general I don’t use a ton of unbalanced toppers, mostly canned and dehydrated.

I’d probably cut her down to 2/3 cup a day and watch her weight. Don’t let her trick you into thinking she needs more, dogs are shifty like that 🙂 Doxies also are prone to overweight and back issues, so you want to help keep those at bay by keeping her condition

[aquariangt]

Acana is nice if you have food intolerances, but if cost is no concern, Orijen is where I’d lean due to the great protein levels. Acana is on the lower end of protein that I feed. There are 4 varieties all with a wide amount of animal protein within them. Classic, Red, Six Fish, and the new Tundra (I haven’t found that online yet though ~.~) I don’t stick to one brand however, and certainly would recommend rotational diet even with Champion’s outstanding track record

[aquariangt]

There are plenty of companies sans recalls, just so you know 🙂

A recall doesn’t make me super concerned, it’s how they handle it because it tells me what the company is about. TotW is made by Diamond, who has multiple recalls, and does NOT handle them well. It looks nice on paper but there are plenty of foods of similar or higher quality from a much more reputable company

[aquariangt]

Would you say, in general, that a human diet of dry, processed food, even if considered a complete meal (think perhaps, an MRE, backpackers food, maybe a diet of cheerios, ramen, and V8 Juice? I don’t know, throwing some examples) would be more beneficial than fresh food? If so, what would be the difference for dogs?

That said, I do feed kibble with canned, fresh, raw etc toppers, out of placement in my life right now, though I fully intend to move back towards a homemade diet at some point

[aquariangt]

Yes, the forums are rough for searching-not to mention I apparently lied and it’s in Diet and Health :), here’s a link:
/forums/topic/large-and-giant-breed-puppy-nutrition/

I did go back and read skeptvet link, and that’s why I edited, because for once I actually agree with him in that topic

as far as kcals per cup-the only thing that tells us is how much is in it 🙂 you feed less of a higher calorie more nutrient dense food, so you really want to look more for calcium ratios per calorie. Like I said, read some of those links-though it sounds like your research is going well- and hit up the page of LGP approved foods because that will give you a fantastic starting point. My one word of warning is HDM is quite busy (she actually helps with this site now) so it hasn’t been updated in a bit, so if it were me (I have small dogs these days) I would look up some foods, and verify the #s myself, as formulas change

[aquariangt]

Kibble will only get you so far in training, you definitely want some value. Protein isn’t really the issue when it comes to LGP, its kind of old research. If you go to the canine nutrition forums, there is an excellent thread on this very topic, if you read the first few pages of links, Hound Dog Mom has done excellent in getting some really current research in there (she has Bloodhounds). Page 35 or so has a list of acceptable LGP foods, and it’s really more about the calcium

• This reply was modified 8 years, 9 months ago by aquariangt.

[aquariangt]

Sounds like you need some novel proteins and/or things they haven’t been exposed to in the past. If Farmina has some of those, go for it, I think it’s a great brand. Luckily for me, my girl with some intolerances doesn’t have any issues with animal protein, so I just have to watch for other ingredients, and the other one has an iron stomach

[aquariangt]

I haven’t dealt with any antihistamines, hopefully DogFoodie will see this and chime back in because her Golden is allergic to the entire world, i’m pretty sure 😉

I have a girl that gets itchy from time to time, I’ve cut a few things out, but a lot of it is environmental. I use a product from I and Love and you called “My Skin’s Itchy” but they are about to discontinue it. I have this now to try next when my bottle runs out

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Only-Natural-Pet-Skin-Itch-Homeopathic-Remedy/999252.aspx

[aquariangt]

Kevin, that’s quite a selection! I like most of those brands (pass on evangers). I’d been looking for Open Farm too, I really like the sounds of their company

Edit: I see some good treats too!

• This reply was modified 8 years, 9 months ago by aquariangt.

[aquariangt]

Blackwood is fine. Great Life’s “Withholding” was done silently so they didn’t have to be called out on a recall, which bothers me. Enough good foods out there to not mess around with people who don’t share information and do the right things, I say

[aquariangt]

Great Life is a bit sketchy what with their “silent recall wait not a recall” and all.

I think Ace Hardware’s may be a franchise actually, as they seem to have some pretty different products from store to store. The one in my little town is very small, without any pet supplies at all, but the one in the town where I can actually buy things is gigantic, and while their pet supply is lacking, their kitchen section is better than most higher end kitchen stores in my opinion. Unsure what brands his has, but its likely they may have something (seems like a place Nutrisource would be hanging out, since menards carries it as well)

[aquariangt]

Cyndi nailed it. You need to find why they are barking and work at it from a behavioral standpoint. What you are suggesting is a shortcut to get around what you are looking for. I’m a sheltie owner, so I’m no stranger to what seems like needless barking. Boredom, something out there bothering them, demand barking, etc-all common causes

[aquariangt]

Follow what C4C and InkedMarie said, that thread has a ton of good information. I agree with C4C’s brand recommendations, and would probably try Fromm first, since Fromm Gold is very tolerable for a switch. Odd the breeder didn’t hook you up with some food or information before. I wouldn’t stay on the fromm though, rotate through multiple brands on that list. Good Luck with the pup-and we like puppy pictures

[aquariangt]

I’m saying Wellness is a brand at the box stores I would recommend. There are a couple others as well, but if you are shopping at smaller stores/online, you will always find great alternatives

[aquariangt]

Wellness and Blue can’t really be equated though. Wellness is very transparent on who is their suppliers, who manufactures their food, etc… whereas Blue doesn’t like to disclose that information. Wellness I would equate as a good guy. If you’re feeding PetCo/PetSmart food, it’s one of the few I’d recommend

[aquariangt]

Canine Caviar advertises a bit towards dogs with cancer, other than that I would try to go grain free for the anti inflammatory properties, or even better raw

[aquariangt]

If I finished an entire bag of food, switched, and then had upset, I’m going to pretty safely assume it was the new food. I buy a 4-6 lb (depending on brand) bag of food for each of them, they don’t eat the same food) and it takes a few weeks to go through it

[aquariangt]

Depends on the dog. The first couple times transitioning you can start blending a little at a time in. After 1-2 transitions you can probably just go cold turkey. The only time I mix is if I don’t have enough kibble for a full meal and I mix a bit of the next bag. Otherwise I open up, and use the new bag.

[aquariangt]

Haley-glad you popped over to the forum side, I remember your post from reviews-its sometimes a bit easier to get comparisons like this over here.

As far as my opinion goes: I love Fromm, Dani eats the 4 star grain free in rotation, and Liesl eats Gold and a few of the grain inclusives do to some food intolerances. Fantastic company. With their grain inclusives especially (and to an extent the gf) the protein levels can be a bit low so I supplement with toppers

Wellness is a good brand with a lot of variety in it. I use the CORE on occasion. I’ve never used Horizon. Rotation is best though, so I would say-go with all three!

[aquariangt]

I’m pretty much always a bag ahead on Dry-as soon as I open a bag, I order or pick up the next bag so im not scrambling at the last minute. For their toppers-I usually keep about 2 weeks worth of canned on hand for breakfast, and a 4lb box of THK (usually, Grandma Lucy’s is in there) which is the dinner topper, and I do the same as the dry food for that, when I open a box, I get the next one. More out of I don’t like suddenly being out of food and have to get one immediately than for preparedness, but that’s a nice side benefit I suppose.

[aquariangt]

Precise is a good transition food. Something like 3.5 stars with minimal red ingredients is good to transition food to first, then into something 4.5-5 stars is usually a good bet. I like probiotics when teaching a dog to transition their food

[aquariangt]

I know Susan Thixton really likes Rayne for prescription diets, thankfully I haven’t had to use any before so haven’t looked into them, but from what I’ve read, if I did, Rayne would be one I would be leaning towards.

On balanceit, I believe I read once that they were synthetic vitamins? How do people feel about that?

[aquariangt]

I didn’t read every word here so I may be repeating, but a few things-all of which are behavior related as there is plenty of information out there regarding the health reasons:

Before 6 months is what I would consider pediatric altering, and that can cause a lot of behavior issues. You aren’t letting your dog get to any level of maturity and then messing with their hormones. This is an issue. I often find it interesting when clients come in with a rescue 2 month old, and I watch them interact with 2 month olds from breeders who are unaltered…there is absolutely a difference.

In my opinion, if you are going to alter, 2 is good, 3 is better. If you are a responsible owner and keep tabs on him (keep in mind an unaltered sexually mature male shouldn’t really be left out to roam on his own) you really are going to be fine. I also have worked with rescues and I understand their desire to curb overpopulation, but you can’t really equate that to responsible dog owners. I want to let them reach full on maturity before I even consider altering, male or female. Even comparing my current two even though Dani is 4 years younger than Liesl, she is already maturing much faster than Liesl because Liesl I believe was altered too early (I didn’t have her during her puppyhood)

[aquariangt]

@Red-lol. Uninformed.

[aquariangt]

Is your dog used to changing foods? That sounds like it was most likely a quick change, so some probiotics would probably help quite a bit

[aquariangt]

Of course!

[aquariangt]

Digging into the ground and injecting chemicals to help natural gas and water flow, essentially. Unfortunately the effects of the chemicals don’t outweigh the benefits, imo. I’m not super informed on it myself, even though I live in a fracking state

[aquariangt]

@Naturella- It’s illegal now in some areas, and I think that will continue for most of the front range (the only part you’d want to live in ;)) and maybe the state. I hope at least.

[aquariangt]

Dani is a sheltie-she’s my avatar. I also have a miniature schnauzer

[aquariangt]

Is this Blue as in, the dog food brand? If so, they don’t ever really share any information…at all. I just avoid them

[aquariangt]

Health checkup is always good to make sure you aren’t dealing with anything bigger than a normal behavior issue.

Was she in the room when something loud happened on the TV? Where does she sit when the tv is on regularly? Where does she sit the last few weeks? How long has the harness been an issue? How often does she wear it? How long has she been afraid of sudden movements?

[aquariangt]

Hi Ann-the best route for Shelties are regular brushing and grooming to reduce shedding. Mine get groomed every 6 weeks (bathe, brush, blow out-Shelties shouldn’t really need to be trimmed much and definitely never clipped or shaved) and I brush a few times a week. Weather and brushing/grooming intervals are all that really affect those double coated breeds. Pick a few high quality foods and rotate

[aquariangt]

I never understand why people come here with a question like that. Get to the vet! Yesterday! you say keeps throwing up…that’s multiple times??? A puppy that little doesn’t even have all their vaccines yet, and as DF said, shouldn’t even be alone, get over to the vet ASAP

[aquariangt]

Heh, who touts that? It’s fairly average, they don’t disclose manufacturing information, and it’s only available through private reps. unlikely to make editor’s choice

[aquariangt]

I wouldn’t complain about being the bottom of a puppy pile of those

[aquariangt]

I personally think leaving both males and females but especially females intact for a long time is best for developmental reasons. There are MANY health reasons both ways with a ton of research to read, but from a mental development standpoint, I wait at least three years for dogs I get from breeders, and I don’t do conformation-just performance.

2 intact females can be fine if they mesh well. Less likely to fight than a spayed female, and less likely to have a power struggle than two intact males. Intact male and female-you need to employ some management for unwanted pregnancies, but can be very compatible from a personality standpoint

[aquariangt]

Just a few comments from me on this:

Spayed females will fight other females pretty quickly compared to any other gender/alter combo. Especially if there are two spayed females. and berners already tend to pester other dogs.

Other than that-I find dogs to be a bit better with kids, and more attached to the family. Easier to train in a way, but goofier and like to show off, so don’t always do things right. Females are a bit more precise, but also a bit more stubborn because they think they know it all. They are more aloof than males in an attachment sense.

Of course, all of this is overall, and depending on the specific animal

[aquariangt]

The reviews for Natural Balance are on here. They are owned by Del Monte, and their stuff has gone downhill a bit since that point. Without looking at manufacturing, they are pretty average all around

[aquariangt]

Nulo is pretty cool. Available at some PetSmarts. The PetSmart line and the other line are similar. I’ve used the canned, would use the dry but just haven’t worked it into rotation yet, but they are a smallish company that manufactures themselves, so thumbs up there

[aquariangt]

I keep both high quality. Minimal red ingredients is huge, and then protein levels. With Liesl, who has some allergies, she gets 50% dry and 50% wet. Dani is more 75% Dry and 25% Wet, because she can eat much higher protein kibbles. Liesl’s kibbles that she can eat are more in the 27-30% range, so I supplement with a lot more wet food. Dani is really more like 35-45% protein for her kibble

[aquariangt]

If they are an aggressive chewer, antlers would freak me out. I think a bully stick in a vice grip or stuck in a kong are a good bet. Or instead frozen kongs

[aquariangt]

Nutrisca is a dogswell brand, they’ve had their share of QC issues so i’d avoid. I know a few people who love Zignature, haven’t used it myself

[aquariangt]

Blue is not an editors choice food. A quick google search brought up a few pet stores in your area that carry good brands, though

[aquariangt]

Same-it’s kinda rare to find a duck based kibble that’s high in protein. I have several Chicken based kibbles that push or are over 40%, so even though the chicken looks nice, the Duck is the one my eye is on. I’m hoping they do a lamb too

[aquariangt]

I’d be surprised if this didn’t get a 5star rating. It’s really new which is why it hasn’t been reviewed yet. It’ll also be added to Editor’s Choice since Nature’s Variety is already included as an editor’s choice brand. It’s on my list to try next time I get to duck in my rotation

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