I am thinking of changing my year old cocker's feeding and would be grateful for any advice the forum can give.

Currently we give him James Wellbeloved Lamb & Rice complete food which he has twice a day - although he seems pretty healthy and looks well, he does seem to eliminate rather a lot (3/4 large ones a day!) - also I am certain that this type of feeding must be very boring and not that appetising for the dog - espeacially the idea of giving it to him day in day out for years to come. Therefore I am thinking of changing him to tinned + mixer (Chappie brand?) - and know I should introduce this gradually. However, as he is already on complete, if I start adding the tinned and mixer as well, will this be overload and cause problems? Also, would like opinions on the best brands for tinned and mixers that people have experienced.

Thanks for any advice.
Goink

When you're changing brands of food you reduce the original and add in some of the new. Keep doing this until you've eliminated all the original and it's all the new brand. Do it gradually over a period of 1-2wks and you should be fine.

Personally I prefer my Cocker to be fed on complete food as what comes out is a lot easier to clear up. Yes, there may well be a lot of it but that probably won't change much if I change to tinned food. In my experience the stools of tinned fed dogs tends to smell more and be softer so it's not as easy to clear up.

I wouldn't worry too much about your dog finding complete food boring. Dogs will happily eat the same thing day in, day out - it's only us owners that feel bad about it If you're really worried then add some gravy to the food to moisten it or heat it gently in the microwave to release some of the flavour.

Hope this helps,

Fiona
x x x

I have recently changed my 8 month old puppy from a complete food to a meat diet (a roll of chicken and bone from the local pet supplier). Originally I went in looking for Nutro but the pet food man (who did seem in the know) insisted that the chicken and bone is by far the best food for a dog(and he does sell complete foods also). I was concerned about the difficulty of clearing up softer stools but as I was informed by him, they are not softer and are of a MUCH less volume in my dogs case! An added bonus is that whereas Saffy would only eat a complete food as a last resort, she now can't get her dinner quick enough!

Also Saffy had no upsets changing to this food over just a couple of days (although obviously every dog is different).

Each to his own, but I have found this change to be the best thing for Saffy. Also you might like to look up the book 'Give the dog a bone' which the pet store keeper recommended to me.

best wishes,

Fiona and Saffy

Hi Goink

Quite often if a dog is producing a large amount of stools then it's because s/he is getting too much food. Especially if the dog is one who acts like a hoover - a trait common in many Cockers - not mine unfortunately. To be honest 3 - 4 per day is not excessive in my mind - my cockers do about about that each!! lots of yummy clearing up:(

Most dogs are not bothered by variety in their diets- it's something we as humans feel they should have. If the JWB is suiting your dog well then personally - I wouldn't change. Try reducing the amount you feed a little to see what effect that has. As Fiona has said - tinned food tends to produce softer smellier poos and just as many.

I would also see about putting him on one meal a day as feeding also encourages elimination. Give him something light for breakfast - say a weetabix with some milk - providing he's not allergic/sensitive and save the JWB for his main evening meal. Most adult dogs take just one meal a day - often in the evening, many do like to have a little something in the morning - it will depend on your dog.

hth

Pam n the boys

Have you considered changing to NatureDiet?

We use this (available from various places including Pets at Home, above the freezer section). Our Belgian Shepherd young bitch has approx. one and a half packs a day, (she does also get a few bits of fruit, maybe the odd chew and maybe some biscuits, plus maybe the odd sausage - just depend on what we are doing reallly ) and she has fairly small and quite firm stools, twice a day.

She does tend to loosen up a bit on the odd day we have had to use a canned product; I did use Chappie for previous dogs, and found they went twice a day too, (fed twice a day) and the stools were again reasonably firm.

What a great subject :D

Lindsay

Hi Goink

I think I'm right in thinking you have a Working Cocker?? They tend to be pretty lively with lots of energy so if you do decide to change food, do bear in mind that a young energetic dog needs more from his food than an older "couch potato" type. I would also suggest it would be best to stick with 2 meals a day for your boy as he is still relatively young. I used to feed one of our elderly Cockers Chappie as her stomach couldn't take complete foods & it is a good food, low protein & very bland so excellent for sensitive tums. However as the others have said, her stools were actually fairly soft on Chappie compared to the others fed on their complete foods, so not so easy to pick up I also used to feed James Wellbeloved to my Cockers - again a good food though I found some of them were rather "windy" on it so have now changed to Nutro - stools are small & firm & easy to pick up. They all love it & seem to have no objection to having served up every day, though I often add a little raw tripe just to add interest. Unless you have a fussy Cocker, they will quite happily eat the same thing day in day out so don't worry about your dog getting bored.

There's no "right" food that suits every dog - if your dog is doing well on James Wellbeloved, then you probably don't need to change, but it's your decision entirely Don't forget that if you change to tinned food, you will be paying for a lot of water (tinned meat being high on water content) - something else to consider!

Jane

Thanks for the advice so far - he is an absolute glutton for anything and everything foodwise and always seems to be hungry! Part of the reason I'm thinking of changing is that when he was unwell recently with a very upset tum, the vet gave us some Hills Canine ID tinned food and my boy was absolutely drooling at mealtimes which he never does with JWB!! I know that feeding is quite confusing and getting good objective advice is difficult. I do tend to add water or a little chopped carrot to the food but thought that as it is a complete food you shouldn't upset the balance too much? I would also say (on the stool front!) that they already seem to be pretty soft and always have been so
so am not too worried about ease of picking up!

So, do you think it is OK to add a little Chappie to the JWB now and again just for variety or am I being a complete twit???

Thanks you all.

Hi Goink

I'm a big softie and add extra's to my boys Nutro. Sometimes it might be a bit of tinned dog-food, a raw egg, cheese, pasta or whatever's going but I do vary it to try and keep the balance. I've also started to give them a raw chicken wing in the afternoon - that goes down great guns.

My older boy was sicky recently and the vet put him on the Hill's tinned. He loved it also - but I won't pay £1 per tin so he's back on his Nutro and stuff with no problems at all. I find the stools are firm with Nutro too.

I'm with Jane though - if he's eating his food with no problems and his health and appetite are OK - quit while you're ahead and keep the change tucked up your sleeve should you need it in the future;)

Pam n the boys

Inclined to think it is you who needs the food changed not your dog, mine are on complete and I add any table scraps, gravy the odd tin I might win in a raffle, and boil up bones or chicken carcas and scrape of the meat and use the stock. I would not add to much protien as you will undo the carefull balance. Chappie is good food especial for dogs with weak tummies, but it does smell so do the stools. Jackie H