Timberwolf vs. Merricks

[LegendsMami]

Right now I am feeding Legend Merricks Wilderness Blend but I've heard Timberwolf is the best. I was going to try it but didnt no what forumla to get. Legend doesnt have any allergies or anything. We do practice weight pulling(starting to pull heavy weight now that he's almost 17 months old) and agility. I do plan to get another puppy soon(w/in the next couple of months..if I don't take in another dog) so I want the pup on the same brand of food as well. Do you think I should change over? I don't mind paying for it. I just want the best for Legend.
Merricks ingredients are:
Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein (Not Less Than) 24.0%
Crude Fat (Not Less Than) 14.0%
Crude Fiber (Not More Than) 3.5%
Moisture (Not More Than) 10.0%

Calorie Content:
3520 kcal/kg - One pound provides 1600 kcal of metabolizable energy, calculated value. (Caloric content calculated using Modified Atwater Method)

Ingredients:
Buffalo, Oatmeal, Barley, Salmon Meal, Venison,Whole Brown Rice, Canola Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols – a source of Natural Vitamin E and Ascorbic Acid, a source of Vitamin C), Flaxseed, Potatoes, Carrots, Peas, Dried Chicken Liver, Whole Apples, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Lysine, Guar Gum, Salt, Choline Chloride, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Whole Blueberries, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Whole Clove Garlic, Chondroitin Sulfate, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Natural Venison Flavor, Chicory Root, Marigold Extract, Lactobacillus Plantarum, Enterocococcus Faecium, Lactobacillus Casei, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Natural Celery Flavor, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Vitamin E Supplement, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Natural Caramel Color, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Copper Amino Acid Complex, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin D3, Niacin, Lecithin, Ribofl avin Supplement, Biotin, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Cobalt Amino Acid Complex, Folic Acid, Thiamine Mononitrate, Sodium Selenite.

[14rock]

I feed Timberwolf, I feel it's superior to Merrick, which I also fed for a short time. The price isn't that much diffrent, although believe it or not, Merrick WAS bit more expensive per pound here.

I like Lamb and Apples formula, for most cases, although I alternate every couple bags.

[LegendsMami]

Thanks! Tomorrow I will go out and get a bag!:D

[Breogan]

I took 14Rock's advice on this one and I'm glad I did. I switched her over to Timberwolf and she's doing much better on that than she ever did on Natural Balance. I switch up the flavors every bag or so and it seems to give her a good balanced diet. ( Thanks again for the advice 14Rock.)

[chloesredboy]

I took 14Rock's advice on this one and I'm glad I did. I switched her over to Timberwolf and she's doing much better on that than she ever did on Natural Balance. I switch up the flavors every bag or so and it seems to give her a good balanced diet. ( Thanks again for the advice 14Rock.)does it not skrew up your dogs stomach to switch flavors every so often?I always want to becasuse i feel bad for my dogs always eating the same thing but ive always heard it would make them sick like vommiting and diarhea.

[Breogan]

Haven't had a problem yet. I do also keep the food in one of those airtight container things. I put two bags in there so I guess they might mix a bit in the middle. Now another dog might not take to the rapid change as well and get sick. I don't really mind giving them the same "flavor" all the time and I don't think she does either, I just like the fact that I can feed her the same high quality kibble and give her a variety in diet from salmon to chicken to venison.

[14rock]

How big of bags are you opening and putting in the container Breogan? Timberwolf doesn't use many preservatives, and you do not want to open more then you can feed in a month, and have it go bad. Some of the corn-based kibbles you can leave open for a year, and feed them fine with all the chemicals they put in them, do not try this with TW.

When upgrading kibbles, Its rare for stomach problems, as mentioned above. I have had diahrea, and loose stools when switching foods, but never when upgrading, always going from a higher-quality food to junk. I've switched between DVP, TW, Canidae, and Merrick with no cross over time, and no problems what-so-ever. With foods of this quality, it doesn't seem to make too much diffrence, or I should say it hasn't in my situation-ever. I've not had a problem switching premium kibble brands, and I've had no problems switching ingredients within the same manufacturer. If you have both, gradually switch over, there is no reason not to. A switch shouldn't take more then a week, with these kibbles.

I do not alternate kibbles because of variety of taste, but merely because I like to alternate protein sources, as well as tailor the fat/protein content to the required levels. However, I'm sure the dogs appreciate eating something "fresh" every now and then ;)

I'm glad you're happy with the switch, how long has it been?

[Patch O' Pits]

I also feed TW

[mansch]

I also feed tw! It is one of the top three foods imo, my dogs do excellent on it! It is also good to switch up the bags, so they can get different sources of protein!
:D

[Breogan]

How big of bags are you opening and putting in the container Breogan? Timberwolf doesn't use many preservatives, and you do not want to open more then you can feed in a month, and have it go bad. Some of the corn-based kibbles you can leave open for a year, and feed them fine with all the chemicals they put in them, do not try this with TW.

When upgrading kibbles, Its rare for stomach problems, as mentioned above. I have had diahrea, and loose stools when switching foods, but never when upgrading, always going from a higher-quality food to junk. I've switched between DVP, TW, Canidae, and Merrick with no cross over time, and no problems what-so-ever. With foods of this quality, it doesn't seem to make too much diffrence, or I should say it hasn't in my situation-ever. I've not had a problem switching premium kibble brands, and I've had no problems switching ingredients within the same manufacturer. If you have both, gradually switch over, there is no reason not to. A switch shouldn't take more then a week, with these kibbles.

I do not alternate kibbles because of variety of taste, but merely because I like to alternate protein sources, as well as tailor the fat/protein content to the required levels. However, I'm sure the dogs appreciate eating something "fresh" every now and then ;)

I'm glad you're happy with the switch, how long has it been?
Well by me the biggest bag they sell is 16.5 pounds. So two bags last me about 5 or 6 weeks. Yeah I like the fact that the different flavors have different protein sources and levels, and you can tailor the protein and fat intake depending on what how hard they're working.
It's been two months or so since the switch and the dog and I are very happy with it.