I
think it is important to say this: I am
not advertising for RC. I'm not endorsed
or compensated in any way. In fact, I
only know who the regional rep is because I got a blanket email from her saying
thanks for using RC. I am a member of the Breeder's Club, which enables me to
get the product at a slightly reduced price delivered to my door. I was a member of a similar "club"
at Purina, as well.
Original
Post:
Here's
the rub. I know of a great dog food that
does everything I want it to do. It's
high energy, low stool volume, super for the coat and the dogs attack the dry
kibble. The problem is the price. I pay $46/37.5# bag. I can drive 50 miles and pay $36, but if I'm
going to feed this product, I will buy it at my local feed store. I've tried Loyal Performance, by
Nutrena. The price is better, the dogs
love it and the energy level is high, but their coats are dull. I tried Black
Gold. Price is good and the dogs like
it, but the stool volume is large and the quantity to feed is much more than
the premium feed.
So,
I went to the Internet and Googled "the best dog food"..wow, that was
a lesson! Every brand had a DVM
testifying to the greatness of the product.
Every page had do's and don't's in feeding dogs. Every site said to beware of all the other
guys! Chicken meal ain't real chicken, only diseased animal innards are sent to
dog food, dogs need meat and offal and... fresh is best!
C'mon
my friends, in all the vet schools we have in this country, someone has researched the best way to feed hunting
dogs. What is the answer? I guess the
fact that it is a multi-Billion dollar industry doesn't help the flow of usable
information......
What
do you feed? Are you happy with it? Would you recommend it?
Update
12/29/2012
After
much research and trials and first hand investigation, after being satisfied
with one brand and then seriously disappointed with yet another recall on that
brand, I've settled on a brand I think incorporates all the features I think
are important. Royal Canin. For my dogs, Brittanies, I feed Royal Canin
Medium. I've had them on this feed for the last two hunting trips and all the
field trials this year. I put them on
the high powered feed RC Endurance (I think) for one hunting trip, but for the
cost and hassle of getting it, I went back to the Medium, which I can get a the
local PetSafe Store. None of the stuff
is cheap, but with my four main dogs, I think it is OK. The result is healthy dogs with healthy,
shiny coats, less tartar on the teeth, small stools. And, I'm only feeding them between 2 and 3
cups, depending on size....per day!
Update
2/17/2013
Now,
having put a full year of travel, hunting, trialing and training on my dogs
while feeding Royal Canin Medium, I can say with affirmation this is an
excellent kibble. I did notice the coat
sheen, the endurance and the small stools.
For my dogs, I feed between 2 and 3 cups per day- a little more on
trips. I travelled nearly 15,000 miles on hunting trips and perhaps half that
for field trials. Through it all, they
loved the kibble and it kept them going- with no additive. I say all that to
say this: Royal Canin may not be the best fit for you, but don't settle for the
cheapest stuff. Do the homework and find
them a good quality feed that will keep them energized and add years to their
life!
Update
9/26/2014
It's
been two years with my dogs solely on the RC Medium Adult. The results are the same- great energy level
(for competition and hunting), coats are glossy, endurance is excellent. I have changed my formula somewhat, in that
on hunting trips where the dogs are running hard 2-3 hours per day in heat,
snow, rain and over rough and vertical terrain, I will feed them the Puppy
Blend for medium dogs.
"Medium" doesn't mean anything other than the size of the
grown dog. The Puppy formula is 30/20
blend, which I think has more energy available.
Interestingly, I think the RC vets would challenge me and say the RC
medium has everything they need and the Puppy kibble may not have the best
balance of minerals and vitamins, etc. (I went to a meeting with the RC
development team and vets, and that was the message. The feed is specific and complete.) However, I wanted the extra energy and I
didn't want to use any additives and my dogs are only on the puppy kibble for
the duration of the hunting trip- usually 2-3 weeks- and then they are back on
the Adult. I don't feed any additives. I don't water the feed. I wait 20 minutes after feeding and then give
them all the fresh, clean water they want.
(Apparently, that is the best method for the dogs to obtain all
nutrients. Actually, research has shown
that if the dog is fed within 30 of completion of exercise, he will get 90% of
the nutrients in the feed. The numbers
may be off some, but you get the drift. That is not practical for me as I feed
at the end of the day- 5 dogs at once, but it is the best way.)
I've
also learned this. There are MANY good
dog foods out there. This one works for
me. If anyone tells you there is only
one way to feed your dog, be skeptical.
A very good, not too expensive, feed is Purina. They also are one of the only companies with
their own research and development department.
They can afford it. A lot of the
research in to athletic dogs and their nutrition comes from Purina. I have 8 dogs- 5 are athletes. I can afford to feed whatever I want, so I'm
willing to pay more. Many, not all,
times you get what you pay for. I'm
watching the price of feed skyrocket.
I'm convinced a lot of that price increase is due to increased demand
due to increased awareness by the consumer. In other words, if it's trendy and
a "hot" item, the cost per pound will increase. Notice I said
"cost per pound". Purina and RC started inching the price up AND
decreasing the size of their bags.
Originally, with Purina, at least, they were using a 50# bag. It's down to 37.5# now. RC is down to a 30#
bag (35# for the Breeder's Club). Like I
said though, if you find a good feed that does what you want and your dogs
THRIVE on it, go ahead and get it.
