Here at Winding Creek Ranch, we realize that choosing the right dog food is one of the most important decisions we can make. Not only does it affect our dogs and their ability to produce healthy puppies but it will affect those puppies for years to come. How is that? Every new owner will ask us, "What food have you been feeding my puppy?" We know if we tell you we've been feeding Brand X, then you will go out and buy Brand X for your puppy. If Brand X has the nutritional value of cardboard, well then, your healthy puppy will not stay healthy. He will, in fact, develop many issues ranging from minor to serious but all expensive to treat and emotionally exhausting. Winding Creek Ranch knows they would be a major contributing factor to the poor health of your dog. It is our responsibilty to educate our puppy families and to make sure your puppy is started on the absolute best food available. We are going to list the most important things to be concerned about, when looking at your dog's food.
1. No corn, No wheat, No soy - dogs will develop allergies
2. Fish sources should be ethoxyquin (carcinogen) free
3. First ingredient should be a specific listed meats as the main
ingredients, preferably in "meal" form, ex. chicken meal, lamb
meal, etc. (should not simply say "meat meal" as that could literally
mean roadkill)
4. First 5 ingredients make up the majority of the recipe so they
should be meat heavy and high quality ingredients.
5. No artifical dyes or food coloring
6. No by-products of any kind...GROSS23.
7. Made in small frequent batches for optimal freshness
8. Probiotics/Prebiotics added 9. Chelated minerals - which increases absorption 10. Concentrated food without lots of fillers: Feed Less = Less Waste
We see a lot of dogs out there who are suffering complications due to nutritional deprivation and food allergies. Their immune systems are not working properly due to malnutrition, toxic ingredients, perservatives, vaccinosis (Learn More). The general public knows very little about the canine diet and what is really in our commercial dog foods. Unfortunately, the average veterinarian also has very little knowlege when it comes to canine nutrition. Where are you to turn? Well, there is a wealth of knowlege on the internet for sure. Also, you can certainly look at a dog food label and ask yourself, would I eat this? One thing I can tell you for sure, if you've heard about a dog food on TV, it is probably not good a high quality food. The most heavily marketed dog foods are sold at your local, superstores and groceries. Those are the ones you should avoid at all costs. Learn about what makes a dog food high quality and then use your own judgement. Do not accept your neighbor's, friend's, or even your vet's advice, if it doesn't match what you've learned. What my point is......you are in charge of your dog's health. Don't fall prey to the marketing giants out there. They sell cheap food for cheap prices and your dog's health will certainly pay the ultimate price.
Learning to Read Labels
Since ingredients are listed on the ingredients list in order of weight, it is important to read your label to know what is in your dog's food. If the first ingredient is a whole meat instead of a meal, then it would not be first on the list if the water were removed. You do not need to feed a food with the highest protein % available. A dog's food should have several high quality sources of nutrition listed on the label. Again, when you look at the ingredient list on the back of your dog's bag of food, you should ask yourself, "Would I eat this?"
The Bottom Line...
If you feed a high quality food, your dog is going to have the best shot at a long and healthy life. You will have reduced vet bills and will have the confidence in knowing that you are doing everything you can for your dog to insure he has the best chance at life. If you like to compare prices when shopping for dog food, remember to compare the daily feed amount. When purchasing a 40 lb bag of food, one brand can cost a great deal more than the other but what if the more expensive food tells me to feed half as much as the other brand? Well, that's simple math. There is a lot to consider when judging one food against another and cost of feeding your dog is not cut and dry. We feed at least 1/3 less of our current food, in comparison to what we originally started with years ago. That means less waste for us too! Regardless of which food you decide is the best food for your dog, don't settle for less. You won't save money, in the long run, by skimping on your dog's food.
We will be recommending a very high quality food, shipped right to your door, with FREE shipping! Part of working with us is knowing that we have done so much work for you already and will be guiding you every step of the way!
Feeding your dog a high quality food, giving it the recommended NuVet supplements each day, and regular grooming every 6-8 weeks....well that's the recipe for a happy, healthy Doodle! If you'd like to discuss anything on this page, please don't hesitate to call me. Thank you!
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Psalm 27:4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.