Puppy Food SLightly Confused

Hi, my pup Ralphy is 11 weeks now. I`ve been feeding him on Pedigree puppy dry with a tiny bit of pedigree puppy meat, as its what the breeder was feeding him on. I now realise this is abosulte rubbish, so i`m going to change it over the next few weeks, which is my 1st question.

Do i just mix the new food in with his old food bit by bit? then eventually it will just be the new food?

I went to whichdogfood.co.uk and i searched using these figures

Breed = SBT
Age = 3-6 months
Gender = male
Weight = 5-10kg (he`s not quite 5kg yet but he soon will be)
Pysique = healthy weight
Excersice = 30 - 60 mins a day
Budget = over £5 a week
Breeding = No
Preferred = complete dry

The top 2 results were these -

1st Orijin puppy

13.5kg £62.99 = (5-10kg dog) 240 grams a day = £1.12 per day = Will last (My calculation) for 56 days

Boneless Fresh Chicken, Chicken Meal, Boneless Fresh Salmon, Turkey Meal, Herring Meal, Russet Potato, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Sweet Potato, Peas, Boneless Fresh Turkey, Fresh Whole Eggs, Fresh Chicken Liver, Boneless Fresh Lake Whitefish, Boneless Fresh Walleye, Sun-Cured Alfalfa, Pea Fiber, Boneless Fresh Herring, Organic Kelp, Pumpkin, Chicory Root, Carrots, Spinach, Turnip Greens, Apples, Cranberries, Blueberries, Licorice Root, Angelica Root, Fenugreek, Marigold Flowers, Sweet Fennel, Peppermint Leaf, Chamomile, Dandelion, Summer Savory, Rosemary, Vitamin A, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Selenium Yeast, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Enterococcus Faecium. Total Meat Content: 80%

Crude Protein (Min.) 40.0 %, Crude Fat (Min.) 20.0 %, Crude Fibre (Max.) 3.0 %, Moisture (Max.) 10.0 %, Calcium (Min./max.) 1.5 % / 1.7 %, Phosphorus (Min./max.) 1.2 % / 1.4 %, Omega-6 (Min.) 3.0 %, Omega-3 (Min.) 1.2 %, Dha (Min.) 0.6 %, Epa (Min.) 0.3 %, Aa (Min.) 0.1 %, Carbohydrate (Max.) 20%, Ash (Max.) 7.5%, Taurine (Min.) 0.35 %, Glucosamine (Min.) 1500 Mg/kg, Chondroitin (Min.) 1200 Mg/kg, Microorganisms (Min.) 120m Cfu/kg

2nd was Acana grain free

13.5kg £62.99 = (5-10kg dog) 124 grams a day = 58p a day = Will last (My calculation) for 108 days

Boneless Beef, Lamb Meal, Herring Meal, Russet Potato, Peas, Beef Liver, Herring Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Deboned Bison, Deboned Lamb, Sun-Cured Alfalfa, Salmon Meal, Lamb Liver, Pea Fibre, Pumpkin, Spinach, Turnip Greens, Tomatoes, Carrots, Apples, Kelp, Cranberries, Blueberries, Juniper Berries, Chicory Root, Licorice Root, Angelica Root, Fenugreek, Marigold Flowers, Sweet Fennel, Peppermint Leaf, Chamomile Flowers, Lavender Flowers, Summer Savoury, Rosemary, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Maganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Selenium Yeast, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product. Total Meat Content: 60%

Crude Protein (Min.) 31%, Crude Fat (Min.) 17%, Crude Fibre (Max.) 3%, Moisture (Max.) 10%, Calcium (Min.) 2%, Phosphorus (Min.) 1.8%, Omega-6 (Min.) 1.4%, Omega-3 (Min.) 1.5%, Dha 0.5%, Epa 0.5%, Glucosamine (Min.) 400 Mg/kg, Chondroitin (Min.) 250 Mg/kg

Now these are both obviously top brands of food and i`am thinking of givin one a try.

I am slightly confused (if my calculations are right) as both are same price, both very good but, the Acana grain free will last nearly twice as long (108 days) as the Origin (56 days) because it states that for a 5-10kg dog the feeding amount per day, you feed nearly twice as much of the Orijin 240 grams as with the Acana its 124 grams per day, making the Acana much better value for money as it will last twice as long, but can say a 9kg staffy be satisfied on just 124 grams a day?

Something must be wrong, probably my calculations (i have had a few beers) as i can`t see a 13.5kg bag of food lasting over 3 months.

6th on the list is Natural dog food complete puppy
15kg = £46.95 = 5-10kg dog = 150 grams per day = cost per day 47p = will last 99 days

Dried Chicken (min 29%), Fresh Chicken (min 26%), Whole Brown Rice (min 20%), Mixed Vegetables and Herbs (min 9%), Whole Barley, Linseed, Refined Chicken Oil, Brewer's Yeast.

Protein 25%, Oil 11.0%, Fibre 3%, Ash 6%

If this is the case, i am wow`d at top brand foods only cost around 50p to £1.12 a day and they will last (2 out the 3) for 3 months each bag, surely im wrong lol

Here are some other foods for you to consider as well.

http://staffy-bull-terrier.co.uk/dryfood.html

We go by the giudelines on the package and the overall look of the dog as well. Yes you will have to mix the new food in gradually or it will upset his stomach.

If you're feeding totally dry then you don't need to feed all that much. An adult dog would only need about 250gms of dry food a day (depending on the brand).

Moo is on fish4dogs which I reccomend, but I don't go on guidelines but what suits her

Thanks, so if i feed by the guidleine which roughly correct if i feed just this dry, then a 13.5kg bag of Acana will last me over 3 months, OMG this alot cheaper than i thought it would be, that`s fantastic.

I may aswell buy one of the ones that website recommends either Orijin or Acana. Even £1.12 a day (1st on the list Orijin) will last me nearly 2 months.

What one would you experts recommend? Orijin or Acana grain free, going by the Ingredients and analysis please?

Another thing to keep in mind id the Acana can be fed from weaning till old age where as the orijin is only up to 12 months.

Hi Janey, as you don`t go by the guidlines, how long would a 15kg bag of fish4dogs last you please?

Its a 12kg bag and lasts about 5 weeks, when there older you can't go on guidelines but the look shape and exersize/activity the dog gets.

I reccomened fish4dogs, and to start with yes, guidlines, you'll soon find your own eating styles Xx

Going by that website Orijin is the best, but with total meat 80% & 40% protien im worried it might be too much lol, here`s the link

http://www.whichdogfood.co.uk/compare.php?comparison=foods&limit=20&rank_by=1&show=1&compare%5B%5D=0083&compare%5B%5D=0081&compare%5B%5D=0231

Protein is important to help them grow and devolp into healthy adults.

If you can afford the orijin then go with that but looking at your workings the acana looks like the more value for money, I will be getting my first SBT in a few week and i've read loads of topics on feeding and its all got a bit confusing so I've got to point where he will get what's given to him if it doesn't suit him then I will gradually try him with summet else as long as I stay away from the brands that fill their food with rubbish then am sure he will be fine.

Just another little point for ya dodge, orijin and acana are both produced by the same company according to some google answers.

Yes i was the same, read so much, not sure what to choose. I guess the best answer is, get the best you can afford. Im going to go with the Orijen as i think just over a quid a day is superb, just hope he likes it and it agree`s with him.

Although im still slightly confused as the orijen is similar to the acana but only need to feed half as much of the acana lol.

Orijen is the best although it's closely followed by the Acana. Although it does depend on what agrees with you dog, you may find Orijen doesn't agree but the Acana does or vice versa Feeding guidlines are just that, you may have to adjust accordingly if you dog starts to put on/loose weight.

I'm feeding Applaws at the moment and my 7kg JRT gets just 100 grams (the guideline for his weight) a day whereas my Lab, who has a fast metabolism needs about 450 grams a day when the guideline for his weight is 320 grams.

well at the mo he`s eating pedigree which is the equivalent to smart price mince beef (i have tried it) which is IMO is un-edable for dogs or humans, so the orijen will be like sirlion steak, or so i hope lol.

The Orijen turned up yesterday. For some reason it came from Germany. Took 4 working days and cost £56. Been mixing it in with his pedigree rubbish, and he laps it all up, so all seems good. No dodgey poo`s so far. Can tell just by the smell its high protein, smells like some stuff i used to use for carp fishing many years ago, called high pro.

Fez wrote:If you can afford the orijin then go with that but looking at your workings the acana looks like the more value for money, I will be getting my first SBT in a few week and i've read loads of topics on feeding and its all got a bit confusing so I've got to point where he will get what's given to him if it doesn't suit him then I will gradually try him with summet else as long as I stay away from the brands that fill their food with rubbish then am sure he will be fine.

Hi Fez, if i knew what i know now about the types of food out there, then i would have put my pup on a high quality food 3 weeks ago when i got him. He was happy eating the pedigree rubbish that he was bought up on, but i think he will benefit from a much better brand like Orijen. Im not supprised he likes it, but rather relieved lol.