Diamond

big steve46 · Post by **big steve46** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 9:58 pm

I know there are pros and cons about the several different premium dog food companies but I have used Diamond premium 26-18 for several years with great results. I think some dogs do better with one brand or another due to that dog's individualistic digestive system etc. Sometimes instead of switching brands, you may need to switc h formulas within that brand. Of course, levels of dog activity determine formulation primarily. I pay 18.04 tax included for 50 pounds at a local drive-thru feedstore. I know there are several good brands but boy it's hard to beat Diamond!

ohiogsp · Post by **ohiogsp** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:33 pm

I fead that for a long time and liked it. I feed performance now also good results just less feed.

big steve46 · Post by **big steve46** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:48 pm

I should know this but who makes Performance? What is the cost for 50 pounds?

ohiogsp · Post by **ohiogsp** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 11:29 pm

Diamond's performance. Sorry about that. I don't know the cost retail I have it delivered for 17.50 40lb bag.

ohiogsp · Post by **ohiogsp** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 11:32 pm

My guess if they made 50lb bags and it were retail it would run $23.00 bag. They only come in 40lbs.

big steve46 · Post by **big steve46** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 7:27 am

Thanks for the clarification. I know there is at least 2 other brands that have a performance product. I think my feed store gets 22-23 $ for the Dia Performance. Of course, they sell a lot more of the 26-18 that I use due to cost and need of the dog. Cost could be about the same if the dogs need less. May try the performance.

ohiogsp · Post by **ohiogsp** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:42 am

I am feeding 2.5 cups a day to my dogs and they get ran all the time. They are from 40 to 55 lbs.

big steve46 · Post by **big steve46** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 9:27 am

Just bought another bag of Premium Adult yesterday @ my feedstore for 18.04 tax included. I wonder how the guys can justify the high prices of a few of the other brands just because they sponsor trials, especially Purina. I appreciate reciprocal loyalty but they would save money perhaps by paying higher fees at trials and a lot less for feed, but each to their own. :roll:

ohiogsp · Post by **ohiogsp** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 12:01 pm

I am training a dog now that is on purina and he is eating more than my dogs are with diamond and it's more money. That stuff is out of my league I guess.

big steve46 · Post by **big steve46** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 1:37 pm

Maybe that dog just likes the flavor more but I doubt that's the reason. If other dogs of the same size look good, process good, and perform well, why not save money. I use the 26-18 formula year around as my L. Setter don't get worked too hard. Which Diamond do you guys use and what are your experiences in comparison with other good brands?

wannabe · Post by **wannabe** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 3:57 pm

big steve46 wrote:Maybe that dog just likes the flavor more but I doubt that's the reason. If other dogs of the same size look good, process good, and perform well, why not save money. I use the 26-18 formula year around as my L. Setter don't get worked too hard. Which Diamond do you guys use and what are your experiences in comparison with other good brands?

I feed my dogs Diamond Performance. I pay $20 for a 40# bag at Tractor Supply. They eat 2-3 cups per day in the off-season, and I am feeding them 4+ cups during the hunting season.

I just bought a 40# bag of Eukenuba Performance for a friends dog that I am boarding for a few weeks. It cost me $40, and I had to go to a pet store to find it.

My dogs look and perform great on the Diamond, and I see no reason to pay twice as much for a fancy name and package.

big steve46 · Post by **big steve46** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 4:13 pm

Good comments wannabe: If my health allows me to work my dog more this year, I may try the D. Performance for a couple of months possibly. Either formula would work well for most hunters. Best regards,

Post by **pear** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 5:12 pm

I buy Diamond Premium by the skid, varies as to the promotion, as to bag size but normally 50lb bags, for $16.00 to 16.50 per bag. Like "wannabe", I see no lack of performance and drive in my dogs. I also see no need to pay double for name. There a some of other foods I have considered a couple of times, Arkat and Black Gold being a couple, but aren't that readily available in my area. Price is not a factor when it's a couple bucks a bag, but double, nope not here.... Diamond is just fine here. "pear"

ohiogsp · Post by **ohiogsp** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 6:43 am

I would have tried the arkat feed also but it is not avaliable here either.

Post by **Ayres** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 9:45 am

I feed a 60/40 blend to a 50/50 blend of Purina Pro Plan Performance and Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach. The Performance formula is 30 protien, 20 fat, which I think is a little high for normal use, even during hunting season, and that's why I cut it down a bit with the SS&S. The SS&S formula has so much fish and fish meal in it that I really don't need to add anything in the diet for omegas, such as fish oil.

My dog loves the blend. He eats it better than anything else I've ever fed and looks great, weight and coat. The only thing I add to his feed is a 1/4 oz of Next Level Joint Fluid (Farnam Horse Products) for a boost of vitamins to help out his joints (preventative measure).

As for the cost.. well, I got a good deal going where I get it for free for building and maintaining a kennel website.

So, I know that's not a fair comparison for cost-effectiveness.

snips · Post by **snips** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 10:43 am

We hve fed Pride (28-eighteen) for around 5 yrs, we have tried most foods, including Arkat, and like this better. It is made in Ky, don't know about avilability. We pay 15.50 (50lbs) delivered, may be 17.-18. store price. Dogs run and look great on it.

big steve46 · Post by **big steve46** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 12:57 pm

Steven, I believe you have constructed a good blend. My only problem with Purina is the cost which I understand you handle in another way. As one who has seen you dog up close, I can say he looks even better than his picture. Best regards.

big steve46 · Post by **big steve46** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 1:08 pm

Brenda, I'm not familiar with Pride but it sounds good. There are several good brands comparable to Diamond that some of us might try for comparison and curiosity reasons but dealers just aren't close. I believe there is a Black Gold dealer about 45 miles but I only travel 9 miles now to a good drive-thru feedstore that my family has used since I was a pup and that was a long time ago. I check several of the brands out occas on their web as I have knowledge and training in chem and nutrition so it's a hbby sort of. Thanks for the info.

volraider · Post by **volraider** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 9:08 pm

I fed diamond for 3 years and I like the results until they swapped formula's. The new formula made for loose stools and I can't have that when it comes time for clean up.

I now feed Exceed 30-20 from sams and I like the stools but the coats don't seem to look as good as they did on Diamond.

kj · Post by kj » Fri Oct 20, 2006 1:32 pm

I fed Diamond for about 5 years. It is probably the best bang for your buck but, there are better foods out there. Diamond also gave my dogs terrible gas

They stopped clearing rooms as soon as I switched their food. I recently switched to NurtiSource and have been very happy. Their ingredients are the best I have seen: http://www.nutrisourcedogfood.com/produ ... mance.html

big steve46 · Post by **big steve46** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 3:45 pm

kj, I've heard that NutriSource is a very good product. No close dealers makes in inconvenient for a lot of us. I've never had any problems in several years of feeding Diamond Premium with my dogs but they are strictly outside dogs. Which Diamond did you feed? I'm sure there are several good products.

big steve46 · Post by **big steve46** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:19 pm

Which Diamond did or does everyone feed?

Post by **pear** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:50 am

Maintenance and Premium. Currently use both..

Post by **ezzy333** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:26 pm

I fed both at different times. Like the Maintenance for most of the time. Used premium with the pups.

Ezzy

big steve46 · Post by **big steve46** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 10:11 pm

Wish they would put Glucosamine and Chondroiten in the Premium and charge an extra buck perhaps. Don't need the Performance but would like the joint stuff added. I may suggest that to them.

GsPJustin · Post by **GsPJustin** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 10:21 pm

How many 50Lbs bags are you guys buying, I was buying one 33lb bag of Innova for 38.99 and it was 39.99 for 40 lbs of Diamond. What do I do to get that deal??

big steve46 · Post by **big steve46** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 9:59 am

The price you are talking about for 40 ponds of Diamond must be for their Performance. You were getting ripped off. It is about 20 here. I use the Premium 26-18 which for 50 lbs costs me 18.04 tax included at Valbert's drive-thru feedstore in Flora, Illinois. I buy 1 bag at a time. Some will say that the Diamond plant in Missouri produces a better product than the other plant due to where they get their ingredients but I don't know if that's true.

big steve46 · Post by **big steve46** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 10:02 am

I should have realized that feed would be higher in California but I wouldn't think it would be that much higher!

ohiogsp · Post by **ohiogsp** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 5:05 pm

GsPJustin wrote:How many 50Lbs bags are you guys buying, I was buying one 33lb bag of Innova for 38.99 and it was 39.99 for 40 lbs of Diamond. What do I do to get that deal??

I don't think the diamond is that much even where you are. Even though the innova is a smaller bag it should be more than the diamond. I think? Unless arnold passed some weird law on that also.

Post by **pear** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 5:49 pm

Just got a quote Friday,for Diamond Premium 50# bags by the skid $14.99 each buying singles $17.99. Two of use split a skid so it's $14.99, plus tax. "pear"

big steve46 · Post by **big steve46** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 7:50 pm

Pear, your prices are about right. I pay 18.04 tax included for a single 50 lb Premium so that's about 16.99 plus tax. Man, I couldn't believe the prices Justin pays. Must just be California. emailed Diamond today with a suggestion of how they could improve the formula. Be interesting to see their response.

big steve46 · Post by **big steve46** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 8:17 am

Even though the Diamond Premium formula is very good, I suggested to them a couple of ways to improve it to no avail as they did not want to increase cost. I suggested leaving out Ferrous Sulfate and adding more chelated iron. Ferrous Sulfate is inorganic and poorly absorbed and perhaps contributes to stool problems in some dogs. I also suggested adding Glucosamine and Chondroiten but it was again a cost factor. Perhaps they should hire me as a consultant and develop a new product between the Premium and the Performance. Maybe I'm the only one who cares.

gwgdog66 · Post by **gwgdog66** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:15 am

I caught the 50# bag of Hi Energy on sale at the local Orscheln Farm & Ranch for $13. I think this week the Premium goes on sale, (reg 15.xx) fo a 40# bag.

I have good luck feeding Premium during off season, and the Hi Energy or Performance starting a month before bird seson starts. My GSP does real well on Diamond.

big steve46 · Post by **big steve46** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 5:12 pm

gwg, You sure got some great sale prices! 50lbs of Diamond Premium costs me 18.04 tax included at the local feed store.

HUTCH · Post by **HUTCH** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 8:05 pm

I feed black gold and I pay around 16.xx per 50 lb bag. I don't know why but recently all the places around here have raised the price of diamond. I personally wont feed it after the bacteria scare a while ago.

georgejg · Post by **georgejg** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 8:14 pm

I feed Diamond Natural Puppy. Dog seems to be doing good on it. I get the 40lb bag for around $20 here in a feed store in the city. Wondering if I should just ditch the Naturals though seems like I feed him more than I should be and it is hard for him to put on weight. What is the serving size for adding some of that Next Level® Equine Joint Fluid? Sounds like that would be a pretty good supplement.

big steve46 · Post by **big steve46** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:16 pm

Diamond had a problem with Aflotoxin which is a fungus, not bacteria, about a year and a half ago. It was only feed made from i believe their plant in S. Carolina or some such place. The plant in Missouri that makes feeds sold in the midwest was not affected. Diamond,s over all quality control is probably superior now to most companies.

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:46 pm

You are soooo lucky. Here you would be paying anything from $80 to over $120 for 501b quality dog food.

HUTCH · Post by **HUTCH** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:52 pm

well Big Steve what you said made good sense to me. Diamond is probably safer than many other brands because they now what a hit they will take if something goes wrong again. So I was in need of some feed and went with the Diamond Premium and I paid 12.99 per 50lb bag. the price was really good so that helps. thanks for the advice.

Brandon

big steve46 · Post by **big steve46** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 10:01 pm

Brandon, You are getting some bargain prices! Must have been on sale. If not, I may have to find your store. I pay about 5 bucks more.

bondoron · Post by **bondoron** » Sat May 19, 2007 6:25 pm

I saw Diamond Hi-Energy today for $13 a bag. I currently feed Pro Plan at $28 a bag. So I am curious if anyone knows if the two are some what comparable.

big steve46 · Post by **big steve46** » Sat May 19, 2007 9:37 pm

I feed Diamond Premium 26-18 which is a good food for the price, about $19 for 50lbs. I don't remember looking at a hi-energy formula, but will check it out. Pro-plan is a good food but bit over-priced to suit me. I haven't looked at formulations lately to give you a good opinion on comparing, but both Diamond and Purina are good.

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Sat May 19, 2007 10:00 pm

It is interesting that Diamond has made the Performance formula in 50# bags for so many years and the others in 40# bags. I wonder why? It is still a bargin.

Sure reminds me of Iams Chunk 30 years ago. Chicken-by-products meal (organ meat only) and ground corn. That formula fueled a lot of dog in the day.

By looking at the ingredients of the Diamond Performance 30/20 which used to be called Professional formula now adds Chicken as the first ingredient then Chicken-by-products meal. Much higher in calorie too.

The High energy is just 24% P but 20% F.

All have ground corn and wheat flour.

bondoron · Post by **bondoron** » Sun May 20, 2007 7:30 am

Sounds like I might be better off with Performance or Premium. Hi-Energy is 24/20 Performance is 30/20 and Premium is 26/18. Where the Pro Plan I have been feeding is 26/12. Diamond's website didn't have a good breakdown of what is in Hi-Energy. They had the ingredients but not the vitamins and such.

gwgdog66 · Post by **gwgdog66** » Sun May 20, 2007 9:56 am

georgejg wrote:I feed Diamond Natural Puppy. Dog seems to be doing good on it. I get the 40lb bag for around $20 here in a feed store in the city. Wondering if I should just ditch the Naturals though seems like I feed him more than I should be and it is hard for him to put on weight. What is the serving size for adding some of that Next Level® Equine Joint Fluid? Sounds like that would be a pretty good supplement.

George, I switched my GSP to Diamond Premium at 7 months, and she started filling out nicely. The Preformance has Glucosamine and Chondroitin in it. I feed that only during hunting season. Off season I switch back to Premium,she gets fat on the performance if I keep her on it during the off season.