Hi

My two - a lab (about 35kg too fat!) and a mongrel (15kg hound type!) have been on Orijen for ages but I think I'm overfeeding them. I've just got a new internet rescue dog - an English Setter (23.3kg) and I want to switch him to Orijen too although I'm scared he will get too hyper. He is also on meds for anaemia as he was abandoned for a long time in Southern Italy.

I've read all the posts on this thread (!) and it seems you Orijen users feed a lot less than the packet says. Can you let me know how much you DO feed?

Thanks!
Fiona
www.petsinitaly.com

I've never measured out the amount of Orijen I give my pair, I just look at it and think ''that'll do the fat wee oik ( Abby )'', I give Arran a wee bit more as he's bigger and is more active than Abby. Abby came to me a couple of kilo's overweight and she is now nearing a decent weight for a sheltie. I do know a lot of people who think that you should reduce what it says on a packet of dog food by 25% and that does seem to keep their dogs in good condition.

Terri

I feed slightly less than on the packet except for my springer who is fed the amount for active dog - he is out working a lot and needs the energy. As for being hyper, I have a rescue spaniel cross breed who was very hyper when we got her but has calmed down a lot and is fed Orijen. I would say start at the lowest end of the feeding guide and increse if they get to skinny.

If you know anyone who is a member of Costco they are selling Autarky Summer for 12-99 a 15 kg sack

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Chudleys Pet Store: Welcome

these sell the aukarty cheap if you dont hace access to costco

well so far never had any problem - it has always been spot on with me
Ordered on Tuesday, arrived Thursday cant complain



On the hyper thing I dont think you need worry too much with Orijen - its not so much the level of protein as the additives/preservatives/sugary stuff (all the junk food) that makes dogs hyper so with Orijen you should be safe
You need to adapt the food according to your dog; does he finish the bowl quickly, does he seem hungry during the day, does he look over weight or under weight...


xx

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When i fed my greyhound complete feed i was feeding almost 1/2 what the packet says. All complete feeds seem to recommend too much hence why so many folk have overweight dogs. As you've already mentioned someone fed there's 1/4 less other 1/3 less. Like humans dogs will have different metabolisms.

I now have two Saluki crosses [both 18 kg]; the 2 yrs has a 1/3 more than the 4 yrs old as she is a more energetic dog... and just needs a bit more. I weigh them every couple of months and weigh their food each meal [although i'm now feeding a wet diet]. I do think weighing a dogs food is important - a mere oz of extra meat will result in the 4 yr putting on weight although the 2 yr can have a bit more and not appear to put weight on.

Just for your interest quantities for a wet diet are easier to calculate. The guide for decades has been; for meat feed 2 % of body weight + 1/2 of biscuit/mixer.
18 kgs = 40 lbs. so feed 0.8 lbs meat per day = 13 oz.

I give 6 oz meat + 3 oz mixer per meal for the 4 yr. 8oz meat + 4 oz mixer to the 2 yr as she needs a bit extra. This guide i've found is spot on. Even tinned food recommends far too much.

Hope this helps.

Hi, I'm new to the Forum and have enjoyed reading everything here. I would really like some advice. I have been feeding my 2 year old collie on Genesis for a year now - this is what she was having when we got her. She really doesn't like it that much but has been thriving on it. She is really healthy and looks great. Having read all the comments on dry food, I have learned a lot, such as high protein foods make for hyper active dogs (which I have) and also have read a lot of comments about itching (which she has). I wonder if this diet could be responsible (protein is 26%). Has anyone else either used or heard of Genesis, and do you think I should change? Would appreciate any advice. Thanks.
PoppyM

Genesis isn't one i had heard of but i looked on their website. It seems to me a quality dry complete if the price is anything to go by. For a maintenance diet protein level is a little high... but as a comparison ProPlan [who claim to have spent £Ms on research] are closer to 30% protein.

There are now so many makes available and it is bewildering to know what to feed - i'd say stick to one of the well known ones. Visit the factory and hear what they say. I live about 7 miles from Spillers so i would be feeding that - but i'm not feeding dry complete at present.

Price isn't necessarily a good guide. Spillers have their own factory which reduces their costs. Some makes use a process factory and thus pass on a higher cost.

If you change do a lot of research beforehand as it's unwise to keep changing their food. I don't know much about Collies and nil about their digestion and metabolism. I would think due to their working origin that they are a low rate of metabolism and thus a lower protein would be more appropriate. My Saluki-Collie seems to have a faster rate of metabolism that expected and so i feed her more.

hi all,
i just answered on another post regarding wet and dry food, i thought appropriate to post here my experience hoping it will help:
quoting: "HI all,
sorry to intrude.
I'm new and still not fully aware of the etiquette of forum...however the debate wet or dry has taken up a lot of my time in the past and i wanted to share my opinion/experience:

Wet food is 70% - or more - water...to feed a large dog (30+ kilograms) on that you'll need around or more than 1 kg of food per day to supply your dog's needs. this is 1) very expensive, 2) put under stress the tummy and 3) -by consequence- produces excessive amount of smelly poo (with the problem that can cause to the dog to pass it several times a day and whoever picks it up).

In my opinion the best way to feed our companions is to vary their diet as much as possible and i use dry food and cook for them (once a week and then freeze the lot). their bowls is usually 1/2 of dry food, and 1/2 of mix of meat, vegetables and rice (I do not use onion obviously) sometimes i add stale bread and some gravy. (fresh and clean water should always be available either with dry or wet food).

I suppose that for small dogs wet food can be fine (but still, in proportion, the problem will be the same); for puppies, especially of large breeds, i am planning of applying the same principles that's working so well with the mother and "aunty", except puppy food goes in the blender with added puppy formula milk and water .

In choosing their feed, i always look for small and independent companies that have some sort of arrangement with vet colleges for trying their products on a long-ish term basis. there is only a little number of these companies left in the UK, however they are still out there! the problem with these companies is that they have a network of suppliers very underdeveloped and more often than not i have to buy over the internet.

At the moment and for quite some time, i am buying Sneyd's Wonderdog, the company is based in Doncaster and has a range of very high quality food, without additives. the only draw back is that the BestBefore date is not as long as the high-street brands (that's because Sneyd;s does not contain any additives) so you cannot buy in bulk. however the price is extremely competitive (about £10-£12 pound for 15kg for adult dogs) and a bit more expensive for puppies and juniors.

By the Way, i am in no way connected with this company, or any other company, for that matter...i just like their products.

I hope this contribution helps in the choice!" end quoting.