38-17 what do you think?

[terrym]

My male Brittany pup is almost a yr old so I switched off the Purina Pro Select puppy mix over to a brand called Orijin. It's more expensive but seems to have excellent numbers and ingredients. It has less than 25% carb and 38% protein and 17% fat. So far the dog seems to love it and eats it up faster than he ever did with the other brand. I figure at 12 mths he has another full year of bone development so a quality food is money well spent no? Any opinions about this food's spec's?

http://www.orijen.ca/orijen/products/adultAnalysis.aspx

[kninebirddog]

Way out of balance for my preference...not into body building and fat is where the energy is at. So it is a pass on it for me

[terrym]

Way out of balance for my preference...not into body building and fat is where the energy is at. So it is a pass on it for me

Can you explain more what you mean? If I'm on the wrong track I don't mind switching directions. But "some" body building on a growing dog seems like a good thing but I'm open minded and looking for opinions and experience. I was thinking of trying him on this hi test stuff until he's 2 yrs old and physically mature.

[mcbosco]

Orijen is very well known in the US but it is very expensive, as much as $90 a bag for 28lbs for the red meat formula and $65 for the regular formula. You might find this food to light in fat and carbs for a dog running at a Brittany's pace but it may work for you.

Earthborn Primitive is significantly less money and just as good according to friends that use both if you like this style of food.

Many of us have tried grain free, low carb foods and in my case he lost too much weight on them. You might find that the low carbs does that for your dog.

My dog has done best on the least food when eating either Annamaet Ultra or Dr. Tim's Pursuit. Traditional 30/20 types.

See how it goes.

[kninebirddog]

Way out of balance for my preference...not into body building and fat is where the energy is at. So it is a pass on it for me

Can you explain more what you mean? If I'm on the wrong track I don't mind switching directions. But "some" body building on a growing dog seems like a good thing but I'm open minded and looking for opinions and experience. I was thinking of trying him on this hi test stuff until he's 2 yrs old and physically mature.

Body builder build up muscle to look pretty are are useless when it comes to running and physical action.

Your runner and you weight lifter eat different

Athletes need energy to burn ..protein is to rebuild muscle so yes animals need carbs and proteins both but if the fat is to low then your not going to have the energy to burn and then your body is going to start stripping muscle..this takes longer recoop time. keeping things more balanced I have found in my dogs also encourages faster re coop times for the next days hunt or trial

I can see that fancy food for a show dog the ones that are not Dual Champion type but the breeds where they exercise just enough to make it around the ring a few times and look good doing it.

I rely on my dogs so though I am not about the cheapest food I am about a food that my dogs can serve their purpose in life

[Sue]

Interesting discussion to hear folks' opinions on dog food in relation to a working dog going all day and the issue of keeping weight on.

Does anyone here have an opinion of feeding raw... like this? http://leerburg.com/feedingarawdiet.htm
Has anyone here who runs dogs for all day hunting tried it, or have thoughts about it?

[terrym]

I have talked to a few breeders and trainers who are feeding raw and swear by it. Not sure I want that hassle of sourcing and storing raw. And the way I see it in the raw food how d you know exactly what your fat ratio is? One thing I am thinking of doing is supplementing the dry with venison burger occasionally. Likely not so much in summer but moreso when the hunting season starts up in the fall.

[terrym]

Orijen is very well known in the US but it is very expensive, as much as $90 a bag for 28lbs for the red meat formula and $65 for the regular formula. You might find this food to light in fat and carbs for a dog running at a Brittany's pace but it may work for you.

Earthborn Primitive is significantly less money and just as good according to friends that use both if you like this style of food.

Many of us have tried grain free, low carb foods and in my case he lost too much weight on them. You might find that the low carbs does that for your dog.

My dog has done best on the least food when eating either Annamaet Ultra or Dr. Tim's Pursuit. Traditional 30/20 types.

See how it goes.

It's made up here in Canada so we get it for less money. I can get a 28lb bag for $70.00 and Purina PP goes for around $58.00. I'm only feeding one dog so really not too concerned about the difference. Having said that I want to buy the best for what the dog needs so I'm listening to everybody's opinions at this point. The Marketing info really is too biased to form much of an opinion.

[kninebirddog]

I have to many dogs and not enough of a good source to even consider raw as a viable source of feeding.

Worse thing is you try it and if your dog can't maintain the energy you may desire for hunting then change..PPP is a decent food despite what people may say..I personally like how my dogs do on the loyall feed over how they do on PPP but there are 1000's of dogs out there that are trialed and hunted and do well on it.

So guess I am saying if I had only those two choices between the two you have posted I would do the PPP

[Onk]

37-17...don't think in all the foods i've looked at I have ever seen a 37% protein feed or such a wide protein/fat gap.

[birddogger]

Body builder build up muscle to look pretty are are useless when it comes to running and physical action.

Your runner and you weight lifter eat different

And they are old enough that their muscles and bones are fully developed.

Charlie

[terrym]

37-17...don't think in all the foods i've looked at I have ever seen a 37% protein feed or such a wide protein/fat gap.

http://www.orijen.ca/orijen/products/adultAnalysis.aspx
Have a look.

[bwjohn]

champion foods also makes a brand called Acana that is around 33/18 and quite a bit cheaper. I have had great results with it, highly recommend it.

brandon

[dr tim]

37/17 doesn't make much sense to me for a working dog. I have done raw plus kibble for years, averaged about 1000 lbs of beef a month plus a kibble for our kennel. It is a bit of work. With a 35/25 feed, which I think is a much better balanced food than a 37/17, we feed much less raw beef now. Raw meats do impart more of what are called "growth factors" to the dog. The so called "growth factors" are lost in processing and a hard working dog does respond very well to raw product. What's a "growth factor?" A yet undiscovered vitamin or something like that.

Some interesting observations from fellow forum followers as I am always listening to what folks have seen work and not work with their dogs. There is an old adage about "if it ain't broke don't fix it" that many of us follow. I did and do, but once in awhile try something different to see if it makes something work better. I was amazed when I did that with my dogs and am constantly learning and trying. Time for more coffee.

[MTO4Life]

I'm on the Acana Sport and Agility for my dogs (same maker as Orijen i believe) and it is a 32/24 i think (off the top of my head). Dogs seem to be doing very well as they are active. Was on pro plan performance, but my one dog had an issue with it, so I switched. So far the Acana is working for me, but it is a bit more expensive.

[dr tim]

It is all about finding what works for your dog and getting the results you are looking for.

[bwjohn]

wish i could get the acana sport and agility here in the US, they do not export it to here. have to buy it in CA.

brandon

[mcclinj]

Diamond Extreme Athlete which is 33/25 is $37.00 for a 40lb bag at Tractor Supply.

-John

[rkappes]

Started with Orijen and I must say for what we were paying I was very disappointed, not worth the money in my opinion (got expensive and energy level didn't seem real high, great coat, great stools)
TOTW - (Bit cheaper then Orijen. Energy level still not where we wanted, great coat, great stools)
Diamond Extreme - (Inexpensive, poor coat, inconsistent stools, bad gas but energy level out of this world!)
NutriSource - (Currently feeding this. Great coat, reasonably priced, good stools and great energy level)

All four feeds are readily available in our area. Will probably be sticking with NutriSource for now and switch over to NutriSource Performance eventually.

[birddog1968]

Diamond Extreme Athlete which is 33/25 is $37.00 for a 40lb bag at Tractor Supply.

-John

I pay 34.99 down here.....