Soaking dry food or not?!!

Hi, just a quick query! We have been giving dry food to Beau since we brought her home 3 weeks ago...using what the breeder gave us. Bought some new food today and realised it says to soak the biscuit first......we hadn't been doing this but she will eat it either way- so any suggestions of whether to continue or not would be great! Thanks x

What food are you using? Xx

I never did not that soaking cause any harm but its better for their teeth not to. but its not good to swap food like this you better mix the old one with the new one over few days. What are you feeding her?

We have changed from Purina Beta puppy to Salters Pure food puppy as it was recommended by a Staffie breeder we've spoken to recently. Did think unsoaked would be fine- just wanted to check there isn't a particular health reason for it to be moistened at her age (13 weeks).
Thanks for the quick response! X

No reason to soak and as said it's better for their teeth dry.

Congrats on your new pup! My boy is 9 mths now and is fed dry for the most part, I drizzle a little olive oil on it, or a little water (but never so it's soggy!), or mix tuna or sardines with it and he woofs it down. but at the end of the day I'm not sure one way or another is better, it's just whatever works i think

I've never soaked dry food myself. Have switched to raw though

I always soaked up until 8 weeks with kennel dogs, but no need generally after that! Unless the food is particularly hard?!

I leave my Arden Grange dry & he doesn't touch it all day so I mix some Pedigree Pup tinned meat in it for the evening feed & then he'll eat it - am I spoiling him ?

Niffer wrote:I leave my Arden Grange dry & he doesn't touch it all day so I mix some Pedigree Pup tinned meat in it for the evening feed & then he'll eat it - am I spoiling him ?

My advice would be to try and stop this. We did exactly the same with our last dog and had to do it for 14 years. You could try soaking the kibble almost to mush, then start adding dry gradually.
Pete

It's a tough one because dry dog food is actually virtually tasteless.. The only thing that makes it a little more appetising is the animal fat that they coat it with, so personally, I don't really blame dogs for not eating dry and would never feed it myself. However, I do understand the need for convenience in dog food. I feed nature diet as a staple, with raw offal,tripe and bones as extras. I've never had a problem getting Bug to eat and she does very well on the food.

We give loki a tiny tiny amount of forthglade mushed up in each meal, just makes it moist for him.

Lynn&Pete wrote:

Niffer wrote:I leave my Arden Grange dry & he doesn't touch it all day so I mix some Pedigree Pup tinned meat in it for the evening feed & then he'll eat it - am I spoiling him ?

My advice would be to try and stop this. We did exactly the same with our last dog and had to do it for 14 years. You could try soaking the kibble almost to mush, then start adding dry gradually.
Pete

Thanks Pete - its a real quandry isn't it. You want your dog to enjoy it's food but I know I'm making a rod for my back. Will it be more palatable for him if it's moist?

Rachel33 wrote:It's a tough one because dry dog food is actually virtually tasteless.. The only thing that makes it a little more appetising is the animal fat that they coat it with, so personally, I don't really blame dogs for not eating dry and would never feed it myself. However, I do understand the need for convenience in dog food. I feed nature diet as a staple, with raw offal,tripe and bones as extras. I've never had a problem getting Bug to eat and she does very well on the food.

Thanks Rache. Could I ask how much would I would need to feed Milo who is 15.70 kgs and 10 months old and where do you get your extras ie the bones/tripe etc.,?

Indeed, Biscuit has 1.5 trays of nature diet a day plus extra bits, she's 19.5kg and very active, walking roughly 40+ miles a week plus swimming etc.

I order from Berriewoods wholesale online and it costs me £50 (delivery included) for 72 trays. She takes roughly 6 weeks to get through them as I use them to stuff kongs too. Offal such as heart/liver/kidney and oily fish I pick up from tescos when on offer, bones and other bits from the butchers and tripe from Jolleys in freezer packs.

It does cost a little more, but she's never been to the vets for illness and is very healthy! I add coconut oil to her food also.. A tsp every few days!

Ahh this is an interesting read Rachel!! I have been concidering going raw/just meat as we realised loki wasnt putting on weight not because of the food but because it was too dry, gave him forthglade and he will eat 3 full bowl fulls of kibble with a small amount of meat.

Thanks Rachel - I can see the Natures Menu from Berriewoods - is that the one?

http://www.berriewoodwholesale.co.uk/sec/5620/Naturediet/ here's the link

You'd have to get a decent wet food and most are mostly water/moisture, but I've seen amazing results from nature diet and forth glade! Though the latter is generally more expensive. Raw is best, I'll be going back to it when I can afford a decent freezer! X

Ahhh so helpful they have the barking heads for so cheap as well!!!!

I've just read this again, and I am going to use the nature diet as you are Rachel, we haven't got the freezer space for full on raw, do you feed the offal and tripe every day??