Gun Dog Forum

Is a dollar a pound still a reasonable expectation to pay for feed given the current economic climate?

The current dog food that I feed (Loyall Active Adult) has been increasing in price and I was wondering if that is just an industry increase or more a company specific increase in costs. I live in California, so I don't know if the price increase in dog food is state specific or nationally.

I know that the Costco dog foods are still under $30.00 a bag.

-Hondo

It surely is......plenty of decent feeds under a dollar a lb.

I have never fed $1 a pound feed and cant see the reason to. My dogs are athletes and are fed as such, but a $1 a pound is overkill.

I still pay a little under a dollar a pound for loyall.... And I get coupons from everyone I know.

ultracarry wrote:I still pay a little under a dollar a pound for loyall.... And I get coupons from everyone I know.

I used a few coupons that they had in a few magazines.

However, I have never received any coupons from Loyall even after signing up with them on their webpage.

I am paying $26 for 50 lbs of food & feeding 9 adult dogs on it all doing fine!! I switched from Loyall when it went to over $40 per 50 lbs here in this area.

I'd say from 70¢ a pound up to $1.25 is a reasonable expectation of cost. Under 50¢ a pound, single bag price, and you may want to question the quality of the product.

On a teachers salary I have to keep my costs below .70/lb. I dropped Loyall when they hit $39.99/40 lbs. I' currently feeding ProPac and its running me .625/lb. Decent feed and fits my budget.

Is it good that I'm paying 47.00 for a 50 lb bag of high performance???

CHJIII wrote:On a teachers salary I have to keep my costs below .70/lb. I dropped Loyall when they hit $39.99/40 lbs. I' currently feeding ProPac and its running me .625/lb. Decent feed and fits my budget.

It isn't so much about cost per pound -- it's about cost per day (big difference)



.

Doc E wrote:

CHJIII wrote:On a teachers salary I have to keep my costs below .70/lb. I dropped Loyall when they hit $39.99/40 lbs. I' currently feeding ProPac and its running me .625/lb. Decent feed and fits my budget.

It isn't so much about cost per pound -- it's about cost per day (big difference)



.

+1. That's why I made that spreadsheet.

Very few feeds actually come in 50lb bags anymore. Our diamond, sportmix, exeed, etc are almost all 40lbs unless you are getting the very low cal 21p/12-13f.

Is it good that I'm paying 47.00 for a 50 lb bag of high performance???

It's a tremendous thing for the feed store, and dog food company.

Vonzeppelinkennels wrote:I am paying $26 for 50 lbs of food & feeding 9 adult dogs on it all doing fine!! I switched from Loyall when it went to over $40 per 50 lbs here in this area.

I used to pay $20/50lb bag until the trainer was having a hard time getting the supplier to drop ship on time it. I switched to PPP, which is great food but the price tag shocks me. I think I may have purchased my last bag of PPP because even getting it on sale and with the weight circles it is still nearly $1/lb. My trainer is back getting a good supply of his food so I am switching back and it is only $25/50 lb.

You know people can talk all they want about ingredients, quality,etc but at the end of the day if my dogs are doing just as good on this cheap low quality dog food as the high quality food that is 1 1/2 times the cost why would I choose to pay more.I feed about the same amount,actually just a little less of the cheap food as expensive same kind of stools,all being equal I'm way ahead financially & very satisfied with the results.I have owned DOGS not just 1 dog for 40 yrs so I,ve used quite a few different foods & will probably use more in the future,The proof shows in the dogs not what it says on the bag or high price!!

Vonzeppelinkennels wrote:...people can talk all they want about ingredients, quality, etc but at the end of the day if my dogs are doing just as good on this cheap low quality dog food as the high quality food that is 1 1/2 times the cost why would I choose to pay more...The proof shows in the dogs not what it says on the bag or high price...

Totally agree. After trying both and getting pounded on price. I am switching back. $25/50lb bag OR $45+/37.5lb bag...hmmm my 4th grade daughter can do that math!

You guys are coming around to what I have been preaching(that's what some people call it) on here for some time. In actuality there is little difference in the quality in most of the feeds but a tremendous difference in marketing plans. Sadly, it seems to work with many one dog and pet owners and usually those are the very dogs that just don't need the extras. Ted, I am sure you remember when we used to feed 10 to 12% protein feeds and 8 to 10% fat and the dogs did good on them.

I think our feeds have improved but that doesn't mean that all dogs need or even use the added nutrients. You have to be able to read your dog and not the label or the price if you are going to feed your dog properly.

Ezzy

Of late I have been running an experiment. I am spending an extra $20 a month (divide that by 7 dogs for a per dog cost) to feed a grain free food that is 32/18 vs the sportmix that is 24/20. Mind you Grain Free for MY CONVENIENCE not for the dogs but the food is $18 more a bag and less weight. Have not calulated the actual per dog per day estimate. But its less than $4 dollars per dog per month to feed the other food. Also cleanup is easier with better and fewer stool saving me money in simple green and so far about 5-10 minutes a day in sb time AT LEAST.

Doc E wrote:

CHJIII wrote:On a teachers salary I have to keep my costs below .70/lb. I dropped Loyall when they hit $39.99/40 lbs. I' currently feeding ProPac and its running me .625/lb. Decent feed and fits my budget.

It isn't so much about cost per pound -- it's about cost per day (big difference)



.

Pro Pac HP is around 570 cal/cup. Kinda works out to be less per pound and less per day of feeding. It's a great feed for the price.

Vonzeppelinkennels wrote:You know people can talk all they want about ingredients, quality,etc but at the end of the day if my dogs are doing just as good on this cheap low quality dog food as the high quality food that is 1 1/2 times the cost why would I choose to pay more.I feed about the same amount,actually just a little less of the cheap food as expensive same kind of stools,all being equal I'm way ahead financially & very satisfied with the results.I have owned DOGS not just 1 dog for 40 yrs so I,ve used quite a few different foods & will probably use more in the future,The proof shows in the dogs not what it says on the bag or high price!!

While I agree, there is a thing called Opposing Opinions. Without one there would be no discussion.

What is your personal expectation of your dog(s)? We are all humans...breeding, feeding, and training domesticated canines. If the food you're feeding fits your human bill and your personal performance expectations then that is the sum of your own equation. I could not agree more! But, there are some looking to push them further, run harder and longer, recover faster, live longer, proliferate the breed, etc, etc. I believe this where in lies the cultural rift on the feed question.

Angus wrote:

Vonzeppelinkennels wrote:You know people can talk all they want about ingredients, quality,etc but at the end of the day if my dogs are doing just as good on this cheap low quality dog food as the high quality food that is 1 1/2 times the cost why would I choose to pay more.I feed about the same amount,actually just a little less of the cheap food as expensive same kind of stools,all being equal I'm way ahead financially & very satisfied with the results.I have owned DOGS not just 1 dog for 40 yrs so I,ve used quite a few different foods & will probably use more in the future,The proof shows in the dogs not what it says on the bag or high price!!

While I agree, there is a thing called Opposing Opinions. Without one there would be no discussion.

Opinions are something we all have when we don't have results. Once you know the resilt then it becomes a fact. Seems to me Ted has results you can hang your hat on.

Ezzy

Northupland so your telling me you have had dogs live over 15 yrs old,run Hr stakes,hunt all day,very seldom been to the vet acept for emergencies & all your other expectations because you feed more expensive food? How old are you how long you been breeding & raising multiple dogs tell us your experience.

Vonzeppelinkennels wrote:Northupland so your telling me you have had dogs live over 15 yrs old,run Hr stakes,hunt all day,very seldom been to the vet acept for emergencies & all your other expectations because you feed more expensive food? How old are you how long you been breeding & raising multiple dogs tell us your experience.

I think it has more to do with the breeding then the food you feed.

Vonzeppelinkennels, I think you missed my point and jumped to conclusions. I didn't post to judge the value of cheap vs. expensive, good vs. bad. My opinion is that performance is based solely on an individuals expectations. If the feed your dogs are on has met your own overall expectations, then that is exactly the right feed for your dogs. You asked about me personally. For more info; http://www.northupland.blogspot.com/ or http://drtims.com/mark-northup/ Thanks. -Mark

northUpland wrote:Vonzeppelinkennels, I think you missed my point and jumped to conclusions. I didn't post to judge the value of cheap vs. expensive, good vs. bad. My opinion is that performance is based solely on an individuals expectations. If the feed your dogs are on has met your own overall expectations, then that is exactly the right feed for your dogs. You asked about me personally. For more info; http://www.northupland.blogspot.com/ or http://drtims.com/mark-northup/ Thanks. -Mark

Why I feed Dr. Tim’s

“What separates Dr. Tim’s food from the rest of the pack is, at the end of the day, it is reassuring to me to know that an actual vet who knows the real nutritional needs of canine athletes made this food and truly cares.”

I wouyld think you would have more faith in a person with a Doctor's degree in animal nutrition rather than vet medicine. I fed Dr. Tims for a couple of months and it did well but not one bit better than the Diamond Hi Energy which was less tham half the price. This was done after he sent a couple of bags and wanted me to try it. Good feed but no better results than other good feeds at a more reasonable price.

I will not go to a nutritionist for vet care or a vet for nutrition care.

Ezzy

Wow I am a little jealous you guys are able to find food so cheap.

I am feeding a food right now that is $68.00/30lbs.


Actually now that I think about this has gone up again since my last bag so I will be dropping it and looking for a substitute.

Perhaps Horizon as he did well on it before I switched.

I dont mind paying a little extra for time saved on clean up duty but man dog food is getting expensive.

ezzy333 wrote:

Angus wrote:
While I agree, there is a thing called Opposing Opinions. Without one there would be no discussion.

Opinions are something we all have when we don't have results. Once you know the resilt then it becomes a fact. Seems to me Ted has results you can hang your hat on.

Ezzy

You're right some of the time. Other times a Fact is when your opinion agrees with someone else s. I wasn't disputing what he said or any results. If we all agreed on everything there would be no cause for discussion.

So when my opinions become facts and they differ from your facts, who's right?

RyanGSP wrote:Wow I am a little jealous you guys are able to find food so cheap.

I am feeding a food right now that is $68.00/30lbs.


Actually now that I think about this has gone up again since my last bag so I will be dropping it and looking for a substitute.

Perhaps Horizon as he did well on it before I switched.

I dont mind paying a little extra for time saved on clean up duty but man dog food is getting expensive.

Are you feeding EVO?

Any feeds from Petsmart that you guys could recommend? I received a sizable gift card there so that's why I'm shopping there.

Northupland I have owned dogs for 40 yrs,multiple dogs I own 9 adult dogs now,I have fed all the major brands untill their prices go haywire & have always been able to find reasonable priced foods that my dogs do just as well on.I believe it's the demand more then anything else that drive the prices up & as long as people are willing to pay those ridiculous prices it will continue.I could care less what others feed aslong as I can feed my dogs for a reasonable price & they do well on it.My dogs performance or health don't suffer one little bit & I think my vet will tell you how well my dogs are taken care of even though he don't see them all that much!!

Just so you know I work with several board certified nutrtionists to help in balancing out our formulas. Working in the sporting circles for 20 years has helped a lot with finding what works best to optimize performance but the nutrtionists are still needed to do the fine tuning and to bounce ideas off of. Performance diets are a different beast than other types of dog food.

I have only seen one nutritionist ever out racing dogs in all the years so far.

ultracarry wrote:

RyanGSP wrote:Wow I am a little jealous you guys are able to find food so cheap.

I am feeding a food right now that is $68.00/30lbs.


Actually now that I think about this has gone up again since my last bag so I will be dropping it and looking for a substitute.

Perhaps Horizon as he did well on it before I switched.

I dont mind paying a little extra for time saved on clean up duty but man dog food is getting expensive.

Are you feeding EVO?

Blue Buffalo. He cant handle the protien levels holistics have.

I will not go to a nutritionist for vet care or a vet for nutrition care.

Ezzy[/quote]

Ezzy,I was told you worked for Diamond. Is that true?

northUpland wrote:

Ezzy wrote:I will not go to a nutritionist for vet care or a vet for nutrition care.

Ezzy

Ezzy,I was told you worked for Diamond. Is that true?

Nope, I never have had any dealings other than feeding feed from there for the past few years. But then, I have fed a lot of different feeds over the past fifty years.

Ezzy

I fed a food that was $26/40lbs. and my dogs did well. Because of a coupon I have been feeding PPP for the last couple months and honestly I can't justify the extra cost over the $26 food. I just bought a new brand that is made by Fromm and costs $32.95/40lbs. It's lower in protein and fat than what I had been feeding so I am waiting until my hunting season basically ends before I try it.

Grange wrote:I fed a food that was $26/40lbs. and my dogs did well. Because of a coupon I have been feeding PPP for the last couple months and honestly I can't justify the extra cost over the $26 food. I just bought a new brand that is made by Fromm and costs $32.95/40lbs. It's lower in protein and fat than what I had been feeding so I am waiting until my hunting season basically ends before I try it.

Gold? I'd like to know your results. Rep has been pushing me to pick it up.

Cajun Casey wrote:

Grange wrote:I fed a food that was $26/40lbs. and my dogs did well. Because of a coupon I have been feeding PPP for the last couple months and honestly I can't justify the extra cost over the $26 food. I just bought a new brand that is made by Fromm and costs $32.95/40lbs. It's lower in protein and fat than what I had been feeding so I am waiting until my hunting season basically ends before I try it.

Gold? I'd like to know your results. Rep has been pushing me to pick it up.

The brand is called American Natural Premium, which is made by Fromm. I was planning on starting it around the new year.