Livi Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 OK I'm being negative, cynical, skeptical, untrusting, or whatever word you would like to call me (choose anything, I've probably been called worse :D ) BUT...how do you really know that the Super Premium Foods are all that good ?? I look at the cost per kg and think well I can mix up some mince and vegies myself for much less than that, and after all it is still kibble how good can it be ??? I've often considered trying one, but at around $100 for a large bag I find using a mix of home made and a mid range kibble (I use Supercoat Special Care) much more economical. I'm still trying to weigh up how far wrong I am on this, maybe if I really added up the amount I spend per week on food I would be better off but I would need to be convinced the premium food was really worth the money it costs. Can anyone sell me on it ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sayreovi Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 (edited) The thing is you would have buy heaps of the raw food too outlast the kibble, with super premium foods you dont need to feed as much as the protein it is packed into every bite. Ive tried one of mine on the raw diet and he had to eat about a kilo and a bit every day to just keep the weight on and it was expensive with kibble he doesnt eat that much but still looks really healthy and keeps weight on easily. So the raw diet wasnt effective or cost effecient in my case. In your avatar you look to have a large dog and a medium breed puppy, you would have too feed a fair bit of raw foods to keep them looking great. Plus you need to make sure you balance all the nutrients and supplements that a raw food diet needs which can be costly. You can always buy smaller bags to try out. Just for info i feed my dogs kibble at night (sometimes with mince, eggs or sardines) and either a carcass or necks for breakfeast. Edited October 11, 2006 by tollersowned Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Livi Posted October 11, 2006 Author Share Posted October 11, 2006 Yep, the big boy is a Dobe, the little girl is a 6mth mutt who I would say would be medium sized when full grown. We think she has GSD/BC in her, going by her size now I would say she will end up more BC sized :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sayreovi Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 What do you feed them at the moment? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morgan Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 My boy needs 5 cups a day of Royal Canin to maintain his weight, as well as turkey tails and chicken necks. If I try to feed him an el cheapo food like Bonnie Working or Coprice Working, he cannot physically eat enough of it, and loses weight, as he needs to eat much more than 5 cups. He also produces twice as much at the other end due to the higher grain and filler content, which just go straight thru. So a high quality food works for him, and me, as I have far less to pick up and have a healthy looking dog with great coat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nadia Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 With the Super premium foods, you generally find that meat is one of first ingredients,and real meat instead of just by products, they have a guaranteed analysis, they do not swap ingredients around according to market prices. Most of your cheaper brands are cereal based and use very little real meat, and tend to have more fillers than your top shelf brands. Most of your premium ranges cater for special diets, allergies, sensitivite tummys etc. Joint supplements, skin and coat additives, herbs, etc are all more likely to be found in your top of the range foods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Livi Posted October 11, 2006 Author Share Posted October 11, 2006 OK so if the kibble I'm currently using lists rice as the first ingredient, then poultry meals (whatever the hell 'meals' means ??). If it is the same as human food that would mean rice is the main ingredient don't know what % is rice though ? The third listed is rice bran, then poultry fats, linseed, iodised salt and then a list of some vitamins/herbs. It is called a "premium" food according to the label and is about $30 for 10kg. For a 10-25kg adult dog the puppy feeding guidelines for 6-9 mths is 200-340g Going on the puppy one because I have an empty bag handy to read from !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KitKat Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 With the meat content...there is another trick to it - Some companies weigh their meat whole/fresh - so still with a high water content - hence it's at the top of the list no matter what. Other companies dehydrate the meat and then list it...so it doesn't always show at the top of the list. However i think they are supposed to note if they are weighing wet weight or dry weight these days - i know some of them are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShesaLikeableBiBear Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 Having fed a super premium food for 6 years with great results in coat condition, skin condition, less stool volume which is firm, I would be loath to making up a homemade diet. A super premium food ensures that mine get the correct balance of protien, fat, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and joint supplements. When feeding a super premium you feed according to the weight of the dog e.g. Adult maintenance for a 20kg dogs costs approx $1.60 per day which I dont consider to be a huge amount ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phatdex Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 My dogs have eukanuba performance. ($98 for a 16 KG bag, last ~7 weeks for two 23KG dogs) Guaranteed to have over 30% protein. (the most I have seen) My 23KG dog eats ~2 cups of it a day and that is it compared to ~4 cups of supercoat energy that he was on before. He poos less than half what he used to also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Livi Posted October 11, 2006 Author Share Posted October 11, 2006 Thanks for that I was just thinking I probably do spend a lot more than I think on food. I have to buy the dry from a pet supplies but buy meat from a variety of sources, supermarket (rolls and chicken necks), chicken shop is cheaper for necks/frames/bones/mince but I don't always go there. Plus I buy a variety of bones for 'recreation' and sardines, eggs etc Would probably save a lot of time to just buy some fresh chicken stuff in bulk and freeze it and then buy a big bag of super premium each..I'm always buying dog food !!!! Eagle Pack told me their Holistic Chicken would be suitable for both my 3yo Dobe and my puppy, the Dobe gets dandruff and itchy if I feed him garbage food so I might try that one. Nobody dare tell my OH I'm spending $100+ on a bag of dog food okay I also hate poop scooping so any less of that is a bonus ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintlysusan Posted October 12, 2006 Share Posted October 12, 2006 I just went and bought Proplan. My breeder showed me how much better it was for my pup (which I havnt got yet) So the way I understand it is, it costs alot more but because its not full of crap and water/filler, the dogs dont need to eat as much of it so it basically lasts longer anyhow. And a few bucks a day is nothing for our family! We spend more money on crap every week, do you eat rice for breakfast , lunch and dinner? Why should they?? My friends dog died recently after years of liver/kidney troubles, That dog was allowed to eat the cheapest rubbish, and its dead now. And it wasnt old.. AND she spent a fortune at the vets, if only she had spent that money on better foods. I'd rather not own animals than have them and not give them what they need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mersonmalinois Posted October 12, 2006 Share Posted October 12, 2006 BUT...how do you really know that the Super Premium Foods are all that good ??Can anyone sell me on it ?? Your dogs would be the ones to sell you on it. You can tell if a food, super premium or otherwise, is good by the condition of your animals. If their skin, coat, teeth, eyes, muscle tone, eagerness to eat are all top notch, then the food is worth the money spent on it. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norskgra Posted October 12, 2006 Share Posted October 12, 2006 I agree with MM. I have tried my dogs on a raw diet, Eukanuba, Iams, Royal Canin, Science Diet, Advance, ProPlan, Optimum, Nutrience, Bonnie, Coprice and even Supercoat trying to find a food they will all eat and do well on. The only food they will all eat is Nutro which is a super premium food. Since I started them on it, they have smaller stools, eat less of it and are in the best condition they have ever been in. They also do not lose as much coat. They actually get excited when they know it is dinner time instead of me having to hand feed them. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KitKat Posted October 12, 2006 Share Posted October 12, 2006 As my sig says... "The best food for your dog is the food your dog does best on! Packaged or Unpackaged!!!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Livi Posted October 12, 2006 Author Share Posted October 12, 2006 How do I know what they do best on unless I try every single one though ?? I know they don't do well on cheap supermarket kibble regardless of what I add to it..so that is out. Do good on Supercoat Special Care (gluten free, not available in supermarkets)...haven't tried anything else yet. Too lazy with my shopping and kitchen skills to commit to a full BARF diet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KitKat Posted October 12, 2006 Share Posted October 12, 2006 Easy - if you think your dogs looks great, eating well, pooing ok, etc - then stay with it - if you think they can do better...try something else If nothing else we are full of suggestions of which one to try next! I mean...my dogs do great on Royal Canin - but don't do so well on Advance - had a great deal on Advance so got a 20kg bag...well...what a pain that was! lasted for ages as i added a lil to the RC each meal...lmao. But i know other GSD's that do wonderfully on Advance *shrugs* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tramissa Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 Just buy the small bags to start off with Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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