Huge question

mustistuff said:
I would have to beg to differ on the fact that quality dog food or change does not make a difference. sure, if the dog mostly doesn't get used to any extent, most anything would work and if you have a generally normal dog, you won't see any difference from one food to another. that said, I run shorthairs and have for many years and before Christ I ran labs. for a days hunt anything will work and in a pinch on the road, they love to go to the drive inns. but for me it is very clear that if you are to run your dogs several days in a row and 3 to 4 days per week during a 4 or 5 month hunting season, they need fat and quite a lot of it like about 20% or more. with a dog being used that much it is impossible to keep weight on them, gone will be their love handles and that is probably a good thing. what shows up and shows up very clearly is their stamina. without the fat they absolutely will run out of gas, sure they will still kinda run but you will notice that on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, day while they may be moving their nose isn't connected to their brain and they are just going through the motion, you would be pleased maybe cause finally you can keep up with the dog but he ain't really hunting any more than you function well after an all nighter. dogs eat by smell so if they like the smell, they will eat it and or if hungry enough will also eat about anything. dogs need fat for energy and quality fat is better than low quality fat, protein while also is necessary in the long run, fat is what gets them through the day, apparently fat cost more than protein, that and it sells better but fat is where it's at. on extended hunts there are some theories about when to feed your dog, like once a day, evening, within 1/2 hour after the hunt, snacks, and for the most part they are just guesses. the biggest problem you will have on an extended hunt is to trick the dog into eating, period, ie: keeping it awake, so it is able to hunt the next day, to do that you might have to change the smell somewhat, like adding something different to their food. from what I see in the field it is the rare dog that ever gets to experience hard work. most seem to get to spend most of their time riding around in the pick up cause their owners are not up to walking 6 or so hours per day several days in a row and those will find what I am talking about, foreign. anyway

cheers
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Yeah my dogs don't hunt at all.:rolleyes:

My opinion is if you hunt hard the dog food doesn't make that much difference because you've got to do other things to keep the dogs going regardless. I add fat and kick down a lot of table scrapes to my dogs. They also enter the season without love handles.
 
Purina = USA

Yes, Purina is made in the USA. There is a factory in Denver on the south side of I-70.

The research is also extensive and done in the US.
 
Added fat

Year round I buy chicken leg quarters for the grill. They come with a lot of fat. I trim the fat and then render it on the stove. Google rendering if you don't know how. The fat comes out clear and golden. I then keep it in the fridge and nuke a couple tablespoons to ladle onto his food. Gives him a great tasting healthy treat one or twice a week and that added fat a hard working bird dog needs.

Try it, your dog will love it, and it will keep that extra fat off your middle where you probably don't need it.:cheers::cheers:
 
I've owned strings of between 5 and 12 bird dogs for 40 years and fed Pro-plan up until their last blend change, some of my dogs simply wouldn't eat it. I gave them about 6 weeks to get used to it and then started looking for something else.

Ended up with Nutri source grain free chicken, its American made and very high quality and its expensive. The expense has been slightly offset by the fact I feed less of it per day to each dog because its so nutritious.

Purina is good stuff and a good company but IMO Nutri-source is a better food.


You can buy many dog foods with free shipping on Amazon ( what can't you buy on Amazon LOL). The gas savings can also offset the additional price.

Nutri source gives a "free bag" every tenth bag, which for me is every month, so while I know its a marketing ploy it does make the price a little more palatable.
 
bobman said:
I've owned strings of between 5 and 12 bird dogs for 40 years and fed Pro-plan up until their last blend change, some of my dogs simply wouldn't eat it. I gave them about 6 weeks to get used to it and then started looking for something else.

Ended up with Nutri source grain free chicken, its American made and very high quality and its expensive. The expense has been slightly offset by the fact I feed less of it per day to each dog because its so nutritious.

Purina is good stuff and a good company but IMO Nutri-source is a better food.


You can buy many dog foods with free shipping on Amazon ( what can't you buy on Amazon LOL). The gas savings can also offset the additional price.

Nutri source gives a "free bag" every tenth bag, which for me is every month, so while I know its a marketing ploy it does make the price a little more palatable.
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:thumbsup: Been feeding NutriSource Adult for 5 years. Dogs love it and have done very well on it. I buy it at Runnings and get a free bag with every 12 I purchase. I buy it on sale for $37.99 per 33 lb. bag so with the free one it averages out to $35 per bag. Not bad for a Premium dog food made in Perham, Mnnnesota.
 
Is it just me? Or is everybody else tired of the dog food discussion. Heavens sake go back into the blogs....there are dozens and dozens, recommendations, who shot john stories..... or I eat it myself! This should be in the dog column somewhere, or castigated to a column where people want advice on shotgun shells, advise on where specifically to hunt, pros and cons of a food plot vs. pheasant nesting or brooding cover, and "when is it right to start a puppy? E-gads.:rolleyes:
 
oldandnew said:
Is it just me? Or is everybody else tired of the dog food discussion. Heavens sake go back into the blogs....there are dozens and dozens, recommendations, who shot john stories..... or I eat it myself! This should be in the dog column somewhere, or castigated to a column where people want advice on shotgun shells, advise on where specifically to hunt, pros and cons of a food plot vs. pheasant nesting or brooding cover, and "when is it right to start a puppy? E-gads.:rolleyes:
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it might be just you, maybe not just you but maybe almost. some guy's are new and some whatever. besides, thar ain't much else to talk about, I don't know yer wife so that's out. anyway lighten up, in a couple of months we can get down to business

cheers
 
oldandnew said:
This should be in the dog column somewhere, or castigated to a column
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That I agree with. I think we'll be moving this baby to the dog forum.

Upland if you can keep your "dog based" threads in the dog threads that would be great.:)

Thank you very much:cheers:
 
You guys go ahead and talk dog food all you want. :cheers:
I'll put it in the dog forums.
 
1pheas4 said:
That I agree with. I think we'll be moving this baby to the dog forum.

Upland if you can keep your "dog based" threads in the dog threads that would be great.:)

Thank you very much:cheers:
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Personally I love that he puts his questions on the main board. I mean heck this one has 30 responses. In the dog section I might never have even looked at it.

And the titles they really draw you in.....remember that one...(if there wasn't, was) every time I saw that I just had to look.
I guess what I'm saying is, what is the harm in leaving them be?
 
Just one opinion

Normally and presently, two English setters. Off season use WalMart Hi-Pro mixed with scraps and/or Alpo. Run them 3 times a week min. 1-2 hours per run.

Hunting season and just before stops come out. Alpo, scrambled eggs, boiled chicken and beef livers, hamburger etc. mixed in with dog food. All they will eat at night, small portion two hours before activity in the AM. Look good going in, but look like scare-crows after 30 straight days in SD pheasant hunting. About 30 days rest and then another 30 days on quail in 5-6 day trips.

Useful hunting life averages about 11 years, then retirement as house pets. Average life span about 13-14 years. This from over 30 years of experience. So we couldn't be doing much wrong.

Couldn't even begin to estimate annual feed cost! Forget vet bills and specialty items such as dental treats and such - probably $1500-$2000 per dog per year.

Hunting dogs ain't cheap!
 
hopboyd said:
Normally and presently, two English setters. Off season use WalMart Hi-Pro mixed with scraps and/or Alpo. Run them 3 times a week min. 1-2 hours per run.

Hunting season and just before stops come out. Alpo, scrambled eggs, boiled chicken and beef livers, hamburger etc. mixed in with dog food. All they will eat at night, small portion two hours before activity in the AM. Look good going in, but look like scare-crows after 30 straight days in SD pheasant hunting. About 30 days rest and then another 30 days on quail in 5-6 day trips.

Useful hunting life averages about 11 years, then retirement as house pets. Average life span about 13-14 years. This from over 30 years of experience. So we couldn't be doing much wrong.

Couldn't even begin to estimate annual feed cost! Forget vet bills and specialty items such as dental treats and such - probably $1500-$2000 per dog per year.

Hunting dogs ain't cheap!
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Wouldn't it be easier and less expensive to just feed a high quality dog food rather than mess with the Scrambled eggs, boiled chicken beef liver and hamburger?

FYI, the Humane Society where I use to live would not accept Walmart (Ol' Roy) dog food as a donation because of the lack of nutritional value and the problems they experienced feeding it.

Buy hey, whatever works!
 
Dakotazeb said:
Wouldn't it be easier and less expensive to just feed a high quality dog food rather than mess with the Scrambled eggs, boiled chicken beef liver and hamburger?

FYI, the Humane Society where I use to live would not accept Walmart (Ol' Roy) dog food as a donation because of the lack of nutritional value and the problems they experienced feeding it.

Buy hey, whatever works!
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most likely cause the bag had a picture of a hunting dog on it and they are anti-hunting. while I don't feed ol' roy and don't have a clue whether Sam did or not, I have read the labels a number of times and I would say the stuff in the bag is as good as at least half the stuff out there and for less money. I also feel that a number of the really large mfg. of dog food do just about everything they can to keep the quality just so so and the price up. maybe you should go to his house and eat better, joke

cheers
 
Dog food labeling is very confusing I researched the heck out of it and the more I studied it the more confusing it was.
 
bobman said:
Dog food labeling is very confusing I researched the heck out of it and the more I studied it the more confusing it was.
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the bottom line is the people producing the stuff have lots and lots of reasons to make sure you don't know much, they could list chicken for example but is it eye lid, beaks, butts etc or some parts of the chicken a little higher grade, is the protein part of the ingredients or added to the food as it is made or just sprayed on as a mist just before they bag it. sure they use maybe wheat and corn, beets or what ever but what is the quality and or condition of it. most of them have a sincere interest but mostly it is not you or your mutt. they know you can't tell and most animals most of the time can't either. maybe the salmon in your food is the part that the bears wouldn't eat

cheers
 
mustistuff said:
the bottom line is the people producing the stuff have lots and lots of reasons to make sure you don't know much, they could list chicken for example but is it eye lid, beaks, butts etc or some parts of the chicken a little higher grade, is the protein part of the ingredients or added to the food as it is made or just sprayed on as a mist just before they bag it. sure they use maybe wheat and corn, beets or what ever but what is the quality and or condition of it. most of them have a sincere interest but mostly it is not you or your mutt. they know you can't tell and most animals most of the time can't either. maybe the salmon in your food is the part that the bears wouldn't eat

cheers
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Why be so negative about dog food and the companies that produce it. Your comments are speculative in nature and have no proven basis. They represent your personal feelings and opinions but nothing factual. If you can't add something beneficial to a discussion then don't reply. Just calling it the way I see it!
 
Well dog food is dog food and everyone loves to argue. Some are paid or supported to promote / argue while others are not. I do not see mustistuff being overly negative. Dog food companies love to reduce cost and use a variety of methods to produced food at lower cost.

By-products if used in moderation add protein for what humans used to eat and still do in other countries. I would much rather see dogs and cats eat meat by-products than livestock consuming themselves. :eek:

NutriSource is likely a great brand and hopefully it is more than just "marketing" from a company that also makes Barrel O Fun chips and Tuffys Dog Food (two brands that often succeed on lower price points). Small companies need to be innovated if they want to compete and survive in a world where bigger is most often stronger.

Humans love to tinker and dog food is no exception. Buying food and supplementing has been going on for a looong time. Sled dog owners, hunting dog owners, show dog owners all have their "secretes" to success.
 
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