Supplementing with Orijen

Positive reinforcement is a much better training tool than tastey treats. Food-motivated house dogs are a pain in the ass and do not behave or maintain discipline to please their owner, as dogs trained for positive reinforcement will. Developing a climate wherein you are the Alpha Dominant leader and the dog is confidently submissive & desires your praise and attention is the best route to take.

If you can afford the food bill...I would suggest feeding your dog Orijen 100% of the time. It is one the higest quality dry kibbles you can get your hands on.

I agree that it is best to choose one food and stick with it. Treats and other foods only disrupt the dogs digestive regularity. If you knew what was really in that "canned food"...believe me, you wouldn't be toppin' off your loved ones' bowls with its contents, I promise.

 

A dog will grow perfectly fine on Kibbles and Bits? Sure, and Fatty McPlumpers' kid down the street will grow "perfectly fine" eating McDonalds everyday.

Just because a puppy grows and gets bigger, and their body parts outwardly seem to function as they should, does not equal anything involving the world "perfectly." Higher quality food is higher quality food...period.

Lower quality foods have killed dogs both violently and slowly. Lower quality foods help feed cancers, illnesses, disease, and discomfort. Lower quality foods contain ingredients that we know are not consumption-grade materials, not even for dogs. Lower quality foods contain more fillers to make your dog feel full, without actually providing their body's systems and sub-systems with the proper nutrients needed for full and efficient growth, development, function, and recovery.

But hey....if you think dogs do "perfectly fine on Kibbles N Bits" .....you go right ahead and keep doing good things for your dog!

 

I dont feed kibble n bits, but you know the old lady that's been buying supermarket dog food for her 15+ year old lap dog its whole life

 

That proverbial 15+ year old house dog who's been raised on crap food also lives a sendentary life with little to zero physical exertion typically required of even "lazy" APBTs. My grandmother smokes 6 packs of cigarettes a day, is just over 90 years old and shows no signs of ever dying. That doesn't mean that just because it's worked for her (and we all know one of those old timers) ...that its healthy or advisable. I don't think anyone can make a valid arguement against a healthier, cleaner, balanced and proper diet - be it for a dog, a horse, a human, or otherwise...

 

i have heard alot of folks say orijen is a good feed but damn its expensive. i feed the mid grade good shit sportsmix exceed etc. i used to think diamond was the perfect food for the working mans bulldogs. until dogs and people started gettin sick and shit but the dogs and pups looked great on it too bad they cant get there shit together!!

 

Orijen is expensive as hell. You could mix in Puppy gold, nurture, SF, etc... with the current kibble fed if you want to introduce more vitamins, minerals, etc... in the diet. I'd also recommend the use of probiotics.

I'd be interested in knowing what the normal kibble is but topping it with a higher grade kibble sounds pointless i'd go with a pre digested supplement.

 

I feed Grandma Mae's Country Naturals grain free

 

When I said topping, I do mean mix. Orijen is too expensive, that's one reason why I dont want to switch her to that. I bought a 5lb bag of Orijen because it was only $15. I have a tupperwear container that im mixing half country nat, half orijen into. Although she is doing great, im only doing this until the Orijen is gone. It is just going to be too expensive for me after awhile.

 

this thread is pointless...,.you have been givin good advice on the QUESTION YOU ASKED!

allow me to drop my 2 cents on pet nutrition as im not really a stranger on the topic...

is it detrimental to "top" your kibble with more kibble? well other than giving your dog the shits i would say prolly not....

is it "healthy" or "usefull"....not really.....if your feeding shit than why try to clean it up by "supplementig" instead of finding a cheaper better kibble of another brand?? if you want to do the most for your dogs health then go raw...

that was a nice attempt at a low blow with the chain comment, but unlike you alot of us feed dogs that cant exactly be free range.....and dont play well with others...

i suggest instead of being stubborn and closed minded, to actually take the time & educate yourself on the topic that YOU asked about instead of lookin like an ass for the world to see..........

 

My dogs do horrible on Orijen. Seriously have not had one dog yet that didn't get explosive shits off it.

 

@Zoe what do you feed?

 

Totally depends on the dog and what they do well on. I've got one on Natural Balance Fish and Sweet Potato. She's got allergies and seems to be the only food she can eat. My senior girl is on NOW as for some reason it seems to keep her chronic lip fold dermatitis somewhat under control. Four of them are on Taste Of The Wild Pacific Stream. Still haven't settled on a food for Moonshine. Just tried NRG with him... a dehydrated raw. Worst food ever! No joke... his shits are full of undigested whole grains. What a waste of freakin money!

 

Could be, that your dogs are detoxin' from the old shit you've been giving them.

 

Just to add.... I do get donated food now and again for the rescues and I'll top off their regular feed with it just to use it up. I wouldn't consider it supplementing but as long as it's a food they do well on, it certainly never hurt them.

 

No. I believe it is just too rich for them.

 

Ever tried Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul ???

 

Exactly!!!

 

It's actually one of the foods I have had donated so sort of. lol I rarely have dogs here that do well on chicken, as well, it's not gluten free and due to my daughters celiac we are a gluten free household to avoid cross contamination. Although I seem to have to be stepping out of the gluten free for Moonshine to find something he does well on.... and he can't eat chicken. lol

 

Detoxing from what? My dogs aren't feed low quality food, or on any unneceassary medicines, our house is chemical free from cleaners right down to laundry soap, etc... I could see detox being a possibility if my dogs were fed kibble's and shits or something and living a chemical laden life. I've fed the same dogs raw over the years and they've made the adjustment without explosive shits. Just because some dogs thrive on it, doesn't mean they all will. I can eat Shreddies but it would literally kill my daughter eventually. Just like people, dogs are individuals and food is definitely not "one kibble fits all".

 

No need to be defensive it wasn't an insult. Good food is good food, if it doesn't agree with your dog it's not the food. If a person eats top quality vitamins the first thing that happens is they get bad breath and bad skin that doesn't mean the vits are not suitable for them. Sounds like you do a good job keeping your house free of chemicals but unless when you do feed raw it's all top quality organic meat then anything shit that the animal has consumed wherher shit food, to drugs, to concrete dust/plastic chips that the animal was fed to add weight for market is passed onto your dog.