Comparing dog food! - Page 10

Oh gawd, think twice about grinding chcken bones. I tried it, bought myself a state-of-the-art home version meat grinder. When I was finished my kitchen looked like a butcher shop - blood and guts everywhere. Never again.....

I was told that turkey bones are better since they are larger and that the necks and backs are best. True or false, I don't know. The first time Blitz vomited up a pile of splintered chcken bones, I ran out and bought a bag of RC. I can't debate that raw food isn't great, but the poultry bones part is not for me unless it's already ground by a butcher.  Also I know a few breeders who started to feed raw years ago when it first became popular and have since gone back to commercial food. Some said their puppies didn't grow as well, some felt their adults weren't as healthy, one had to have surgery on a dog when a bone puctured its intestine .Now don't shoot the messenger, no saying raw feeding isn't the greatest, just sharing some negatives about raw diets and there are some negatives.

So....tell me, Speak.  As one of the preoccupied group (no 'silly' inference, I'm sure), I'd love to know what you feed......or do you send your dog(s) out to fend for themselves with some "Go fetch, I don't molly-coddle" advice? LOL...couldn't resist.  I don't pour kibble in a bowl because I'm one of the successfully-marketed fools, but rather....do so as to keep my practical, pragmatist self from going broke with all the home-made food I deal out.  Hormone and antibiotic free steak, chicken, and lamb....fresh veggies..Lundburg brown rice....Dannon yogurt....free-range eggs..etc, etc. are fed daily around here.  It adds up and up.  To me, kibble is tantamount to adding a cup of water to the soup when an extra body shows up for dinner.  It's still cheaper for me to buy expensive dog food and stretch the amounts of those lovingly prepared meals.  Yes.....I 'molly coddle'. (LOL)

This thread has reminded me of some old chaps (human) that are no longer around.  One moved and is missed.  The other passed.  Both men were oldtimers and my 'meet at the field' friends.  They had sporting breeds, not GSDs? (BTW---All those well-preserved, long-lived dogs in the previous posts.......are we talking GSDs here?). One was a really nice guy into whippets.  He invited me back to his house one day to see a new dog just sent to him.  Of course being a woman, I mentally concluded...bachelor living with no furniture.  Nothing, I swear...but the 3 crates in the kitchen.  He proceeded to feed his dogs, and from an extremely large bag of Pedigree dog food, filled a bowl with dry kibble.  This was accomplished by putting the bowls directly into the bag and using each as its own scoop.  Couldn't even use another cup to measure out the kibble.  Saved a step. (LOL)  That was it for the day.  Even if so inclined to give extra, forget it..  There was no food in the fridge.  He made this fact known to me when I commented on the missing space where a stove would be, and asked "Are you getting a new one?" (Wasn't fishing or being nosy.  It was an automatic response to seeing no stove and being a cook....the words just flew out of my big mouth.) He replied.  "No, my old one broke.  I never really used it, and since I eat at the ////////////// diner every night, haven't decided yet whether I even want one or not."  I laughed and said "Okaaayyy".  We both laughed. He moved away, and sends me cards and writes he wishes he never moved.  Nice guy.  Liked him.

The other oldtimer I knew for over 20 yrs, and he had similar living conditions to the first.  Pointers were his passion, and God forbid anyone offer those dogs a tidbit.  He didn't want them spoiled.  Prior to seeing this hard attitude, if I made a stew or, 'his favorite', spaghetti and meatballs, I would wrap him up a plate to enjoy.  Sadly......and I do say, sadly---I ended up not liking him. People would say to me from time to time that dogs to him were sport, not pets. Hit home one day when he started yelling at a 10-yr old dog for not keeping up with his new 2-yr old.  The dog was coughing and struggling for air.  Well...I lost it completely.......don't know how long I was screaming.  Not that this should matter...but the dog was actually a field champion  with many 1st place trophies.  He was PTS soon after, and my friend told me the dog had taken a 'turn for the worse' overnight. I said nothing.....far more lethal than my screaming.  Truth.....the dog was no longer capable of winning for him and had already been replaced.  I was no longer comfortable being around this man but outwardly maintained civil pleasantries.  When the 2-yr old turned 5, he was dum

Actually Blitz, if you grind when the bones are semi frozen it's a lot easier.  I feed chicken necks & backs whole, but  I know people who prefer to grind  & they semi-freeze the chicken to grind it.

When the 2-yr old turned 5, he was dumped off at the town kill shelter because he came in second (not first) at a trial, and the oldtimer just lost it.  He stupidly told a neighbor where he was going when putting the dog in the car.  Of course the neighbor told everyone on the street.  When I heard that evening, I was livid, and even though I didn't need another dog, planned on being at the shelter bright and early to get him out. (My old boy, who had died a couple years earlier, really loved that dog). Guess what, I didn't have to go.  Another neighbor's son had gone that afternoon and bailed him out.  He would walk the dog up and down the street (probably to annoy the oldtimer) and I would pet him.....wondering if that confusion and obvious distress would ever leave his eyes.  Eventually, he settled in.  It really was DIVINE JUSTICE.  Everyone knew, and the oldtimer was furious.  Six months later, my neighbor's son, a young marine, went overseas.  His girlfriend had become very attached.  She and the dog both took up residence in her parent's home.  Recently,heard he's still there and very happy with the family.  Lots of home-cooking and love.

Sorry about that-----I just type my thoughts and send them on.  Story got clipped and had to rethink what I said.  I have to write these posts down or learn this pasting technique. (LOL)
 

Actually----wish a magic sign would come up and say "You have exceeded your word limit."

Blitzen LOL! I have been grinding away for almost 4 years now, you musta got some juicy chickens!! I have used the Wally World legs when my "Chicken Man" is out . This is usually only a couple of weeks a year.They are a bit more messy but like suincc said if they're partially frozen they aren't as messy. The little stewers have alot less fat, meat/blood in them and not even messy a bit. They fit down the tube in my meat grinder just perfect and it comes out looking like burger. No fuss no muss. The grinder cleans up really easy too. My Sojos just arrived!! It smells great, I have some hydrating for the night meal. I also picked up a pkg. of hamburger to ad tonight for Valentines day. What spoiled brats!!

LMH That was a nice story! Dogs are just pieces of meat to some people...

I guess I must have been doing something wrong when I used that grinder. It really was a terrible mess . Never thought about freezing them first.

With all this dog food recall scare what are you people feeding your dogs now? I have been feeding the Diamond Naturals lamb. I have also used the Kirkland lamb and rice in the past. For my one dog that has allergy problems, he is on the Natural Balance. He is doing great. I also have looked at the Nutra Nuggets dog food...it didnt look to bad. It scored 114 points from the test that I did that is listed on the top of this page.

I am just curious as to what you all are feeding as kibble goes?

I have been Feeding Orijen Large Breed Kibble for 15 months and just ordered a bag to day. Cost $123 for a 30lb Bag and that is not a good think to have to do on my Birthday

So the price you Guys pay for Orijen is Cheap

Steve