Balf Vrs Premium Dry Food

[buggerme]

Hi All,

Forgive this topic, its prob been done to death but I cant find a post that answers my question, though Im sure its there somewhere. I'm about to get a GSD puppy whos breeder has recommended mostly a brand kibble diet, with the odd chicken frame or the like thrown in for good measure.

While I understand the "advantages" of a BALF diet, they look awfully complicated to work out, and A premium Kibble type food to my brain - while maybe balanced surely cannot be appealing for anyone. It also looks like it could be very time demainding which is ok - part of the responsibility of owning a dog so such is llife. However, surely its next to impossible to truely balance a diet in such a way? my other reservation is the actually quality of Australian kibble - how do you know that it is "premium" and not some fancy marketing in a flashy packet if you get my drift....

Being the type of lad that wants to do the best, but has such limited knowledge, and limited funds I was hoping that you experts would be able to direct me to better choices.

I was thinking of doing a "mix" of the two, (without naming the product as Im not sure if that is allowed on here or not, though Im happy to) with the thinking that the kibble would help provide puppy with essential nutrients that I might "miss" and the BALF component helping with variety and anything the kibble misses etc. While cost is a big factor at the end of the day - I just want to do the best I can.

Also - how in the world do you lot grind up bones etc .. my old food processer would become possessed and try to eat me if I threw a bone in it !

Thanks all for reading, and to those that are willing to help out a new dog, on the old block...

[Tilly]

I currently have 2 GSD and they are both feed on BARF. Previously I was feeding Eukanuba but I didn't like it (long story). I was planning on switching my older boy to another brand and then we got a pup (now 14 months old).

The pup was fed on raw by the breeder but I was planning on feeding Royal Canin or Artimus. When I tried to switch the pup to a dry food he constantly had the runs. I initially gave the pup the BARF patties but have now switched to Canine Country ... both dogs are thriving.

Edited June 18, 2010 by Tilly

[persephone]

Welcome.

First things first To avoid possible stomach upsets etc with the new pup- feed exactly what the breeder is using for the first weeks ...then gradually change over to your choice of food.

how do you know that it is "premium" and not some fancy marketing in a flashy packet if you get my drift....

I think it's label reading time !

The quality of a food is in its ingredients ... Meat is obviously the most important ingredient - this should be first on an ingredient list, ideally.

BARF feeding is popular - and can be done without too much effort

here are some links to threads which may interest you.

LINK

LINK

http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?show...mp;hl=BARF+diet

[buggerme]

Thanks guys, for the advice, the welcome, and for the links - bloody confusing: once upon a time, a dog was a dog: Im thinking mine is more like the King of England with the amount of research Im putting in laugh....

http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?show...mp;hl=BARF+diet

Edited June 18, 2010 by buggerme

[JulesP]

It is really personal choice how you feed your dog but then the dog itself will tell you if your choice is ok! Some dogs don't tolerate BARF, some don't do kibble.

BARF isn't complicated but you do have to do it properly to insure all the correct vitamins & minerals are fed and that the balance is right. Bones are best fed whole. The dogs get the benefit of chewing them that way.

My dogs get 1 BARF meal a day and 1 super premium meal a day. Using the kibble means I don't have to bother with brewers yeast, kelp etc.

[Stitch]

All my dogs are not fed the same thing however I used to feed everyone BARF and for various reasons had to personalise the 'menu' as all dogs are different and do well on different things.

What works best overall for my lot is dry premium dogfood in the morning and BARF of an evening.

They currently have very few stomach upsets except for my IBS girl and they maintain good weight an condition with poos that are small & dry.

I have found Advance, Royal Canin & Eagle Pack to be the best for my lot plus I have to feed the IBS girl Hills I/D.

I now think differently than I did when I was a BARF advocate and totally believe that you feed what your dog does best on as long as it is good quality.

[buggerme]

Hey Stitch (& the others)

Thanks so much for that, your method seems to fit alongside my thoughts ... Im going to give that a go, makes more sense to me than just "doing one or the other"... thanks for the confirmation !

[Red Fox]

There are lots of things that you can add to dry food to make it more interesting - yogurt, eggs, sardines, meat, chicken necks, veggies etc. Doesn't have to be boring :rolleyes:

As far as grinding bones you can get the butcher to do that if need be, but whole is usually better

[heroeswit]

Buggerme I'm also getting a shepherd though i'm getting a white swiss shepherd.

There are lots of things that you can add to dry food to make it more interesting - yogurt, eggs, sardines, meat, chicken necks, veggies etc. Doesn't have to be boring

As far as grinding bones you can get the butcher to do that if need be, but whole is usually better :rolleyes:

what sort of yoghurt is ok for dogs, and do you just put raw eggs or cooked? (raw eggs gave my dane cross the most awful smell )

I've always been told that chicken bones were a no go with dogs (is this an old wives tale?)

[buggerme]

Buggerme I'm also getting a shepherd though i'm getting a white swiss shepherd.

oooohh, congrats dwilds .... I hope you have some fantastic live events with him / her...

[Tiggy]

All my dogs are not fed the same thing however I used to feed everyone BARF and for various reasons had to personalise the 'menu' as all dogs are different and do well on different things.

What works best overall for my lot is dry premium dogfood in the morning and BARF of an evening.

They currently have very few stomach upsets except for my IBS girl and they maintain good weight an condition with poos that are small & dry.

I have found Advance, Royal Canin & Eagle Pack to be the best for my lot plus I have to feed the IBS girl Hills I/D.

I now think differently than I did when I was a BARF advocate and totally believe that you feed what your dog does best on as long as it is good quality.

I totally agree . I feed raw in the morning and Nutro in the evening.

[Red Fox]

what sort of yoghurt is ok for dogs,

Plain natural yogurt, preferably one with all the good stuff in it like ABC cultres/probiotics

and do you just put raw eggs or cooked? (raw eggs gave my dane cross the most awful smell )

Raw is fine, including the shell. I sometimes give my dog warm scrambled eggs in winter but otherwise just crack them in, you don't have to cook them.

I've always been told that chicken bones were a no go with dogs (is this an old wives tale?)

Old wives tail. COOKED bones of any sort are a no go as they can splinter but RAW is fine. Raw chicken bones are soft and easy to digest for most dogs

[heroeswit]

what sort of yoghurt is ok for dogs,

Plain natural yogurt, preferably one with all the good stuff in it like ABC cultres/probiotics

and do you just put raw eggs or cooked? (raw eggs gave my dane cross the most awful smell )

Raw is fine, including the shell. I sometimes give my dog warm scrambled eggs in winter but otherwise just crack them in, you don't have to cook them.

I've always been told that chicken bones were a no go with dogs (is this an old wives tale?)

Old wives tail. COOKED bones of any sort are a no go as they can splinter but RAW is fine. Raw chicken bones are soft and easy to digest for most dogs

Thanks for the info SecretKei. I think I might try my dog with chicken frames, necks,wings. < whats better for a young pup?

Edited June 20, 2010 by dwilds

[Red Fox]

All are fine but if you gives necks (or wings depending on the size of the puppy) supervise very closely in case the pup tries to gulp them down. Or you can try holding the end of a wing while the puppy chews on it.

Frames are good since the puppy will have to chew them

[OSoSwift]

Can I ask one question.

Of all the general BARF methods of feeding most people feed twice daily. Any particular reason for that? I can understand that with breeds prone to GDV that two smaller meals a day are the way to go, but as canine in their natural environment eat when they make a kill which may be daily or even every few days I would have though a more natural feeding pattern would be once daily?? Or a bone one day and a meal the next?

It is something I have been thinking about for a little while now.

[OSoSwift]

All are fine but if you gives necks (or wings depending on the size of the puppy) supervise very closely in case the pup tries to gulp them down. Or you can try holding the end of a wing while the puppy chews on it.

Frames are good since the puppy will have to chew them

Very good point, my young DObe did exactly that and I had to pull a wing out of her throat.

Make sure what ever thay are having needs a good chew to go down.

[Red Fox]

Can I ask one question.

Of all the general BARF methods of feeding most people feed twice daily. Any particular reason for that? I can understand that with breeds prone to GDV that two smaller meals a day are the way to go, but as canine in their natural environment eat when they make a kill which may be daily or even every few days I would have though a more natural feeding pattern would be once daily?? Or a bone one day and a meal the next?

It is something I have been thinking about for a little while now.

Hmmm... I'm not sure why others do it but I feed twice daily for a couple of reasons. First being that I have a breed prone to bloat so prefer two smaller meals, second is that I find it easier to split meals so that the morning meal is RMB's and the other is meat/veg/yogurt/supps/offal/sardines etc - whatever I want to give on that night. I find it easier to get my ratios right that way and find that energy is better spread out over the day too. I also have a dog that vomits on an empty tummy so feeding twice daily is best for us anyway.

All are fine but if you gives necks (or wings depending on the size of the puppy) supervise very closely in case the pup tries to gulp them down. Or you can try holding the end of a wing while the puppy chews on it.

Frames are good since the puppy will have to chew them

Very good point, my young DObe did exactly that and I had to pull a wing out of her throat.

Make sure what ever thay are having needs a good chew to go down.

yep, Kei did that with a neck when he was 9 weeks old!!

After that I taught him to chew by either holding the end of a wing or large neck and letting him eat it that way or giving him bones that were way to big to swallow and taking away if they got too small. Once he got the chewing bit right I started to give necks again but bashed them up a bit first until I was sure he wouldn't gulp them. It didn't take long to teach him though and now he is a real chewer with his bones regardless of how small they are :D

[ShesaLikeableBiBear]

buggerme, we feed 2/3rds homemade diet and 1/3rd Nutro.

Our homemade consists of minced chicken frames which we get from Lenards, pasta, Natural yoghurt, minced garlic, apple cider vinegar and V8 vegetable juice which is easier than blending up the veges.

[buggerme]

buggerme, we feed 2/3rds homemade diet and 1/3rd Nutro.

Our homemade consists of minced chicken frames which we get from Lenards, pasta, Natural yoghurt, minced garlic, apple cider vinegar and V8 vegetable juice which is easier than blending up the veges.

Thanks Hesa... sorry it took so long for me to reply ! Im greatful to all those that took the time to reply !!!