I'm doing my research now before we get our Chessie pup this summer... I am just wondering what everyone feeds their Chessie's?... I am probably not going to feed raw meats however I am steering towards the natural dry foods such as Orijen, Innova and Fromm. Anyone have their own spin on dry foods and experiences? As well, does anyone mix in canned wet food periodically? I have also heard that Chessie's should not have a high protein food while they are pups due to that making their bones grow too fast? Please share your own experiences. Thanks everyone!

I like Eagle Pack Large Breed puppy....it is specifically designed to be lower pro/fat than most puppy foods (if not all) on the market.

Juli

We do not have Costco brand dog food here in AR, but I do like feeding the Diamond Lamb and Rice formula. Seems to keep coats shiny and a good body condition. It is priced a little under some of the "premium" foods, but is more expensive than some others.

Do you have a Sams I buy Exceed chicken and rice and give mine 1/2 can wet. When they were puppies I threw in Cottage Cheese. They loved it. And sometimes yogart.

Put me down as another fan of Diamond puppy and performance brands.

Haven't got my new Chessie pup either. But I too have had great results with Diamond on other dogs.

I feed Eukanuba and add a heaping spoon of Merrick wet. All three do well on this food.

As far as Eukanuba price, I have partnered with a couple other people and we buy about 1000lbs at a time of the Eukanuba direct from a distributor at about $15 less than the local feed store and $5 less than sale price at the big chains. And I buy about 3 cases of Merrick at a time.

quote:

Originally posted by Hedgehog:
Anyone have their own spin on dry foods and experiences? As well, does anyone mix in canned wet food periodically? I have also heard that Chessie's should not have a high protein food while they are pups due to that making their bones grow too fast? Please share your own experiences. Thanks everyone!

Here's a link to some science on the subject in readily read form: Relationship of Nutrition to Developmental Skeletal Disease in Young Dogs

As I understand it, relatively high protein and relatively low fat are the tickets for a healthy growth rate in large breed pups. And while it's probably not much of an issue in pups without some genetic predisposition to problems and won't save those with serious ones, I see no reason not to hedge my bets all I can with large breed (28% protein/13% fat) formula puppy feeds at least until most structural growth is complete and the pup is working hard enough to benefit from the fat in (30/20) performance formulas.

I do not give wet feeds or supplimental raw or table scraps.

And though we've experimented with both Eukanuba and Diamond large breed puppy formulas the pups haven't done particularly well on them, and we've always come back to Pro Plan and Purina One's large breed puppy formulas, the two of which are nearly, if not, identicle.

(I'll note that our Diamond use was prior to their aflatoxin woes. Having been caught and clobbered for ignoring the FDA and their own safegards against the deadly fungus that killed their customers' dogs, it may well be that they won't take that chance again. And I don't know whether I'd take the moral stand of not using such a company's product if my dogs had done better on it...)

Just remember every dog is different and just because someone's dog does well on brand X, your dog might not...learned that the hard way LOL Once you get the pup home, I would suggest feeding him/her the food it was weaned on for at least a couple of weeks. Going to a new home is stressful enough so, why risk upsetting the pups digestive system as well...can also make potty training a nightmare LOL

quote:

Originally posted by Hedgehog: I have also heard that Chessie's should not have a high protein food while they are pups due to that making their bones grow too fast?

From my experience when CBR pups start having growing issues (i.e. knuckling over, etc.) they are usually being fed a high protein puppy food. Once they are put on a lower protein "premium" food the issues usually go away. For years I fed all my CBRs and weaned my litters on a premium 26/14.5 diet with no problems.

Noticed something interesting in the article Rick posted: "A growth food should contain > 22% protein (dry matter basis) of high biologic value (Table 1).11". Key words being "high biologic value" which doesn't include grains but, eggs, some dairy and meat (best protein sources). JMO, if someone is feeding a premium food with quality protein sources they can get away with feeding a lower protein food (as stated in the article).

My philosophy on this dog food thing- you wouldn't feed an athlete a diet of grains but, a diet of the best protein sources available...why should a dog be any different.

Good luck with your search!

Susie, I think you're off base about protein and grains, but knowing it's safer to get between a lioness and her cubs than a show breeder and her diet theories, I'll run away while shouting, "Look at what the big gundogs thrive on." over my shoulder.

quote:

Originally posted by Rick Hall:
Susie, I think you're off base about protein and grains, but knowing it's safer to get between a lioness and her cubs than a show breeder and her diet theories, I'll run away while shouting, "Look at what the big gundogs thrive on." over my shoulder.

I feed Eukanuba, raw hamburger meat & cottage cheese plus cod liver oil supplement to 12 wks. A growing puppy needs to fat so it does not burn protein for energy. Diets too low in fat & protein are not the best for a growing puppy.
Raw diets with enough fat are fine. It is up to the human who fills the bowl to watch how the pup looks and the amount of food it eats.

Pro Plan caused too much loose stools and I do not like that it is made in various locations (like South America) without knowing
where it was made. Dogs are not grain eaters as their main source of protein.

Dyane

quote:

Originally posted by Rick Hall: Susie, I think you're off base about protein and grains,.

Guess the USDA and many others are also "off base"...it's simple nutrition 101 Rick LOL

http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/e.../basics/protein.html

I made a simple observation from an article that you continually post on other forums when ever someone mentions dog food (slapping myself upside the head)

quote:

Originally posted by Rick Hall: but knowing it's safer to get between a lioness and her cubs than a show breeder and her diet theories, I'll run away while shouting, "Look at what the big gundogs thrive on." over my shoulder.

Boy, didn't think I'd see the day a duck huntin Cajun would get his panties in a bunch about dog food LMAO Guess I should take the show breeder comment as a compliment since out of four litters in the past seven years (25 pups), only three have ever seen a show ring and I own two of them. As for my theories, I am entitled to my opinions, have always respected yours and thank doG have never resorted to personal sly comments to try to make my point.

Susie
(Who has made a mental note to go back to being a lurker cause Rick seems to be the authority and only knows what a "gundog thrives on".

I was trying to be cute, so who's got the wedgie? But skimming through your post I did apparently read too much anti-grain, per se, into it, and you have my apology for that.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Rick Hall,

And that's another thing! Susie stooped to calling me a "Cajun," and besmerched that fine heritage, when this displaced hillbilly is barely a naturalized coonass.

Might could add that I just finished a four mile midday run when I sat down to read this, and it's just occured to me that I'm drinking a diet coke and munching Lays potato chips as I post. Now if those ain't credentials for a coonass health expert, I don't know what is.

quote:

Originally posted by Rick Hall:
Might could add that I just finished a four mile midday run when I sat down to read this, and it's just occured to me that I'm drinking a diet coke and munching Lays potato chips as I post. Now if those ain't credentials for a coonass health expert, I don't know what is.

I think to be a real coonass that meal would include some roadkill, no? Rick, I knew you weren't a Louisiana native, but a hillbilly? Kent can usually spot us dusting off our robes and finna tend our stills I thought you were just a garden variety Yankee from Ohio that done moved to the swamps.

Although I have to say I'm always surprised by how strident you are on the 'foodie' threads, you'd do a show forum proud. I admit to enjoying some of the food fights though.

Juli, I was a "damn (WVa) hillbilly" (and remain so by birth and inclination) in Ohio before coming down here and being demoted to yankee. Been wearing dese little white "Camron cowboy" boots, eating dat poule d'eau (coot) and goose gizzard gumbo for Christmas, and talkin' 'bout dem teals and dose shrimps for twenty-six years - and the ink still ain't dry on my naturalization papers.

And I must confess seeing red every time a dog food analist site is invoked to make folks who don't know any better feel guilty about feeding Pup something with corn in it. But I've much more interesting character flaws...

Wow, how come every topic I bring up becomes so controversial LOL? I must say, you Chessie owners are a passionate group I'll have some big shoes to fill when I get my pup this summer... I promise to not disappoint!

Stick around Hedgehog, once you have your own SilverFreak you can jump right in and stir some more

But just so you know, this food fight had nothing to do with you. If you can roll up your pants and wade through the kibble there were some good suggestions on the first page of the thread.

Bottom line, all dogs are a little different. Not all do well on the same feed. Fortunately there are many good ones to choose from these days. Some people are rabidly opinionated on why their feed is best (or their way of feeding, or their dog's coat color, or texture, or hunt test organization, etc., fill in with anything you want).

My own personal experience, shared by a lot of breeders, is that most CBR pups seem to do better on a good quality adult food right from the start. Range of approx. 25 percent protein, 15 percent fat. CBR pups can be prone to knuckling or 'quaking joints' is the reason most don't use puppy food.

Speak to your breeder, as I'm sure you selected a good one during all your research. See what the breeder recommends and keep an eye out on your dog because, as I said, they don't all do well on the same type of food. I send my pups home with several days worth of kibble and four or five recommendations. This way the new pup can eat what he's used to while the owner finds it or a comparable quality food to transition to.

quote:

Originally posted by Rick Hall:
Juli, I was a "damn (WVa) hillbilly" (and remain so by birth and inclination) in Ohio before coming down here and being demoted to yankee.

....
And I must confess seeing red every time a dog food analist site is invoked to make folks who don't know any better feel guilty about feeding Pup something with corn in it. But I've much more interesting character flaws...

West-By-Gawd, huh? LOL...then we all know you like your corn from a jug