Cheap dog supplies?

[BrianC]

I've finally managed to persuade the wife that we should get another dog (last one pasted away nearly three years ago) and we are currently going through the vetting process that the rescue agency requires. Assuming we get through that ok we are going to need to stock up on bit and pieces for the new dog.

Where do you recommend for the essentials and feed? I'm looking to switch to dry feed (our last dog was fed tinned dog food, yuk) if that makes any difference?

[Mep]

Personally we always support out local pet shop as opposed to the supermarkets or warehouse type places.

[Garrett]

Id start the pup of by mixing some food you want him to be on with the food the breeder used (they should give you some to take home with you), gradually over a week- or two.

Don’t add additive like adding calcium, the slower a dog grows the better.

I would recommend Burns dried puppy food, and if that’s not available James Wellbeloved.

[Mep]

I think dogs prefer meat to dried food and would recommend you check out Nature Diet.

[Jammyb]

It's a rescue dog and most likely not a puppy but I agree with your recommendations. Supporting local petshops is good.

Well done to the OP for getting a rescue dog.

I'm looking myself at the moment and am also considering not using dog food full stop, instead feed it cheap chicken, oily fish etc. Been doing a lot of reading about it and I think it may be the way to go, though how long I can be bothered to keep it up for is another matter.

[BrianC]

Yup, its not likely to be a puppy as all we have asked age wise is one under six years old, obviously we wouldn't turn a puppy down if offered one but I'd probably prefer a slightly older dog that has gotten past its "teenage" years.

I'd love to support our local pet shop but they don't have a decent range as they are a hardware shop as well. Our next nearest is a pet city (or whatever they call themselves these days).

I'll admit to looking at dried food for selfish reasons, we go camping quite a bit and as fridge space is limited when we go camping we won't have room for anything that needs the fridge. Tinned dog food will be avoided at all costs this time.

[Jenn]

I believe having dry and tinned food is good. Dry food is certainly good for the teeth and tinned food can be a bit of a treat.

My parents used to have two german sheperds and they eat A LOT so my mum used to cook their food with chicken or some other meat and potatoes and sometimes rice etc. Can't remember exactly everything that went in it... But they really liked it and were healthy.
Not sure it's recommended by professionals though, it's probably better to check what's best for a certain breed.

[Jammyb]

Apparently most vets know very little about dog nutrition. The only info they get at university is from lectures by dog food company reps, so not exactly impartial....

The author of this site makes some good points:
http://www.rawlearning.com/rawfaq.html

She feeds her dogs raw meats of all kinds, raw fish and eggs, that's it. Her dogs need far fewer trips to the vets and they poo a lot less because she's not feeding them a load of cereals (i.e. dry dog food) that they don't need in their diet.

I like the idea as well because we recently looked after a friends Staffy for 5 weeks, feeding it top quality dry food we were given. It ate it, but with no enthusiasm... A dog doesn't have a lot to look forward to in a day, going for a walk and eating it's dinner being the main to. I'd like to feed my dog something I know it's going to enjoy.

[jodenice]

Well don't trust just what your vet says. Ours recommended Hills Science (which gave our dog dreadful upset stomach) and then we realised that Hills Science sponsored them, provided all the food for them to sell etc!

We asked some dog breeders and some nutrionalists which one was the best and bizarrely they all came out with the same name.... Chappie! Because its cereal and meat based its really good for your dogs without making them totally hyper (unless you have a working dog) and we give them a tin in the evening and dried food in the day, only one that doesn't upset my female schnauzers stomach. plus its the cheapest. And I get my food delivered, for a fee of about a pound, from mobile pet foods a company that delivers to London and South East.

I would love to have given them fresh raw and healthy veg cooked every day but thats just not possible with my shifts etc - so they have normal dinner in the week, and special cooked meals (and roast dinner!!) at weekends.

[Pat_C]

Originally Posted by Jenn

I believe having dry and tinned food is good. Dry food is certainly good for the teeth and tinned food can be a bit of a treat.

I wouldn't let my dog anywhere near tinned food, and I've never come across a good breeder that uses it. I would suggest a good quality dried food (Burns or Royal Canin if you can find them, otherwise Science Plan) supplemented with tuna or chicken (doesn't need to be chicken breast but I suggest using only chicken you would eat yourself).

If you want to see food disappear almost instantly put a bit of scrambled egg in front of my dog

[LFC_SL]

That's true that. Dogs lover yolk? The puppy always rushed over when you cook (back when it was younger, now 8-10 months old), and when my idiot brother got startled and dropped his fried egg, the mutt gobbled up the yolk first, looked at you for more and when it wasn't coming, finished off the white.

[Jenn]

Originally Posted by Pat_C

I wouldn't let my dog anywhere near tinned food, and I've never come across a good breeder that uses it.

Sorry if it sounds stupid, but can I ask why? I'm not a dog owner and am intrigued as to why it wouldn't be good (other than maybe they use all the **** to make it) ?

[PAH]

My parents, who also only get rescue dogs to hopefully give them a better life, used to feed them pet mince from the local butchers which was dirt cheap, obviously made from the stuff they couldn't sell to us humans. Doubt it was very healthy and used to stink the kitchen out as they'd always heat it up first in the microwave. Fortunately they got the dogs their own microwave as I couldn't imagine cooking anything for myself in there afterwards, the smell alone used to make me feel sick.

Nowadays following advice from the vet (which by the sounds of it might not be all that good!), they use dry food and measure it out so the dogs don't put on too much weight.

[Mr_Wistles]

Originally Posted by Pat_C

I wouldn't let my dog anywhere near tinned food, and I've never come across a good breeder that uses it. I would suggest a good quality dried food

I think exactly the same about dried food. Puts a much larger strain on the internal organs as have to drink so much more water.

[Pat_C]

Originally Posted by Jenn

Sorry if it sounds stupid, but can I ask why? I'm not a dog owner and am intrigued as to why it wouldn't be good (other than maybe they use all the **** to make it) ?

You seem to have answered your own question Jenn. I don't even like to think what goes into tinned dog food.