Dog food on a budget

**Vai**

Have a few favourites in mind but what would you folks recommend for a budget friendly dog food?

I can spend about 30-35 on a bag. Wouldnt go any higher than that as they get mince/meat and veg mixed in most days anyway. I have been cheaping out on the food so far though so time for an upgrade.

Its for a GSD and a terrier mix, I dont mind if they need separate foods but obviously one size fits all would be handier.

Binka

Check out Skinners dog foods. They have a decent range of foods. I get the salmon & rice field and trial. Its vat free in the uk as it's classed as a working dog feed. It's grain free too.
If you order it through Amazon on the Subscribe & Save deal you get 20% off and it comes automatically each month until you cancel, which you can do at any time.
The duck and rice is a bit cheaper. The Salmon works out at £26stg, so would suit your budget.
My boys love it.:)

Hellrazer

Ive changed over to a food that our trainer recommends.

http://www.csjk9.com/

Highly recommended.27 euros for a 15kg bag.Lasts us about 5-6 weeks for the Newfie.

tk123

**Vai** wrote: »

they get mince/meat and veg mixed in most days anyway.

Why not just up the mince and veg and drop the dry food altogether? You'd be surprised the bargains you pick up when you feed raw and how much you can stretch your money! Be warned though you'll become obsessed with picking up said bargains ...and be delighted with yourself when you get them lol!:pac::P

**Vai**

tk123 wrote: »

Why not just up the mince and veg and drop the dry food altogether? You'd be surprised the bargains you pick up when you feed raw and how much you can stretch your money! Be warned though you'll become obsessed with picking up said bargains ...and be delighted with yourself when you get them lol!:pac::P

I did try feeding raw but my terrier didnt have the stomach for it. Its all cooked meat ever since. I would need to read up on your suggestion but yeah, much appreciated.

**Vai**

Hellrazer wrote: »

Ive changed over to a food that our trainer recommends.

http://www.csjk9.com/

Highly recommended.27 euros for a 15kg bag.Lasts us about 5-6 weeks for the Newfie.

Do you have an ingredients list for that food? Cant seem to find much info on it.

natnifnolnacs

We've been using gain feeds which works out at €37ish a bag. He didn't do so well on previous food but this one seems fine

Hellrazer

**Vai** wrote: »

Do you have an ingredients list for that food? Cant seem to find much info on it.

Is it not on the link I posted.

Knine

natnifnolnacs wrote: »

We've been using gain feeds which works out at €37ish a bag. He didn't do so well on previous food but this one seems fine

Petshop Superstore does the Gain food for 33 euro for 15kg which is cheaper even then Dogfooddirect.

I Like the ingredients list and my dogs are doing very well on it. They would be very active.

**Vai**

Hellrazer wrote: »

Is it not on the link I posted.

Couldnt see it but Ive been using my phone so I may have missed it. Ill check properly when im back on my pc, cheers.

Qualitymark

My mother used to feed our dogs 'liver and lights' cooked in the pressure cooker and mixed with porridge. Dogs went crazy for it. Cheap beef liver and 'lights' (lungs). No salt. Probably better than most dog foods. But cook it with the window open - it smells drastic!

ISDW

Hellrazer wrote: »

Ive changed over to a food that our trainer recommends.

http://www.csjk9.com/

Highly recommended.27 euros for a 15kg bag.Lasts us about 5-6 weeks for the Newfie.

A lot of people that work their dogs feed csj, and rave about it.

boomerang

I know at least one excellent rescue in the UK that swears by it, too.

Where do you get it, Hellrazer?

**Vai**

Just in the local pet shop there and I was told Red Mills Winner is the one to go for by a member of staff. Any thoughts?

andreac

**Vai** wrote: »

Just in the local pet shop there and I was told Red Mills Winner is the one to go for by a member of staff. Any thoughts?

Awful stuff, its the cheaper version of their food and i wouldnt feed it. Much better foods for just around the same price.

**Vai**

Yeah I thought as much, just said Id ask around. Amazing how its always the food they have in stock that is the best for your dog.

Hellrazer

boomerang wrote: »

I know at least one excellent rescue in the UK that swears by it, too.

Where do you get it, Hellrazer?

I buy it direct from Judith and Jeff at Dogwise.

Our Newfie is thriving on it.Shes 22kg at 16 weeks which is about spot on growth wise.

But I get Vai`s point.When we got her first a huge well know pet store recommended a food that was the "best for these dogs" apparently.Went and did some research and its their own brand that was recommended.

I dont want an own brand food.I wanted what was best for my puppy and CSJ came highly recommended.

gregers85

I buy my food here: http://www.happydoguk.com/
I have 2 german shepherds (elvis 13 months and milly 4 yrs) and recently got a springer spaniel (5 months!) they really enjoy it and are all in great condition from it too! they do a deal if you buy 4 15kg bags at a time (any 4 from there selection!) its 100£ (sterling) so works out about 30 euro a bag and they deliver to the door usually within 2 days and delivery is free for orders over 20£

boomerang

Think I've seen it for sale in Maxi Zoo too, Gregers? Must be cheaper to buy direct though.

gregers85

boomerang wrote: »

Think I've seen it for sale in Maxi Zoo too, Gregers? Must be cheaper to buy direct though.

Ya i've seen it in Maxi Zoo too! if you buy the bags individually online it works out about the same but if you buy 4 at a time they do a deal where you get the 4 bags for 100£ so you save about 80euro!!

blurch

Which version of the csj are people using?

Gloomtastic!

Gains Retired Greyhound food - €14 for 15kg. I have a Boxer, a Yorkie and two Labradors who all swear by it!

If you're in Dublin you'll need to go to Ashbourne to get it.

Qualitymark

The trouble with all the recommendations is that we don't know what the ingredients are.

I was delighted when i found Lidl dog food - very cheap, and indistinguishable from the expensive Eukanuba I'd been feeding my dog. It wasn't for a few weeks that people started commenting on how my dog had lost condition. I hastily put her back on the Eukanuba.

Bid08

we use Mad About dog food, €14 for 15kg - 2 labs, lab/dobherman mix and collie love it, our lab and lab/dobherman mix are black and their coats are really shiny and black still. I was afraid I would see the difference in the coats when switching to the cheaper option but they are on it about 18 months now and still perfect looking.

andreac

Qualitymark wrote: »

The trouble with all the recommendations is that we don't know what the ingredients are.

I was delighted when i found Lidl dog food - very cheap, and indistinguishable from the expensive Eukanuba I'd been feeding my dog. It wasn't for a few weeks that people started commenting on how my dog had lost condition. I hastily put her back on the Eukanuba.

Most of the recommendations all have websites with the information on ingredients etc

Sorry but you cannot compare Lidl to Eukanuba, Lidl is absolute rubbish with awful ingredients.
Eukanuba is one of the top dry foods you can feed.

Qualitymark

andreac wrote: »

Most of the recommendations all have websites with the information on ingredients etc

Sorry but you cannot compare Lidl to Eukanuba, Lidl is absolute rubbish with awful ingredients.
Eukanuba is one of the top dry foods you can feed.

Why the "sorry"?

And can you direct me to these websites, please?

andreac

http://www.csjk9.com/

http://www.skinnerspetfoods.co.uk/

http://www.gainfeeds.com/pet/products

http://www.eukanuba.com/en-US/index.jspx

Is there anything else you want to see?

Google is a wonderful tool

Qualitymark

andreac wrote: »

http://www.csjk9.com/

http://www.skinnerspetfoods.co.uk/

http://www.gainfeeds.com/pet/products

http://www.eukanuba.com/en-US/index.jspx

Is there anything else you want to see?

Google is a wonderful tool

So is boards.ie's 'ignore' facility when people are unpleasant.

andreac

Qualitymark wrote: »

So is boards.ie's 'ignore' facility when people are unpleasant.

Eh how am i being unpleasant?? You asked for links and i gave them to you.

percy212

Hellrazer wrote: »

Ive changed over to a food that our trainer recommends.

http://www.csjk9.com/

Highly recommended.27 euros for a 15kg bag.Lasts us about 5-6 weeks for the Newfie.

Anyone know if this is suitable for terrier mixes. I have two, one pudgy, one skinny. I wouldn't mind cooking up that recipe of liver/lights and porridge either if more suitable. Any suggestions welcome.

boomerang

andreac wrote: »

Eukanuba is one of the top dry foods you can feed.

Lots of people would disagree with you, andreac.

**Vai**

andreac wrote: »

Eh how am i being unpleasant?? You asked for links and i gave them to you.

Looks like you made a new friend Andrea.

percy212 wrote: »

Anyone know if this is suitable for terrier mixes. I have two, one pudgy, one skinny. I wouldn't mind cooking up that recipe of liver/lights and porridge either if more suitable. Any suggestions welcome.

Theres one called CP18(less active) which is presumably suitable for all dogs. Its made it into my thoughts along with a few others anyway.

andreac

boomerang wrote: »

Lots of people would disagree with you, andreac.

Thats fair enough, i never said it was the best, it was one of the better foods. It doesnt suit my dogs at all. Some think Royal Canin is a great food, but i dont. Everyone differs.

But Eukanuba is far far better than Lidl, thats for sure.

anoda_username

We had our rescue lab/sheepdog on science plan for 2 years as that's what she was being fed in the Santuary where we got her. About 6 months ago she seemed to get bored with her food and would only eat some of it. So we changed her to red mills to see would she eat it. I've read above that red mills is not great, would what was recommended for Op be suitable for my doggie? She is approx 3 years but not that active and she has itchy skin. Also we've noticed she has bad breath with red mills, I bought a stag bar for her thinking it would help but haven't noticed a difference

**Vai**

anoda_username wrote: »

We had our rescue lab/sheepdog on science plan for 2 years as that's what she was being fed in the Santuary where we got her. About 6 months ago she seemed to get bored with her food and would only eat some of it. So we changed her to red mills to see would she eat it. I've read above that red mills is not great, would what was recommended for Op be suitable for my doggie? She is approx 3 years but not that active and she has itchy skin. Also we've noticed she has bad breath with red mills, I bought a stag bar for her thinking it would help but haven't noticed a difference

There are specialist foods for dogs with skin issues. Most quality brands will have one. Any dog with itchy skin and bad breath should be checked by a vet as it could be a number of things.

carav10

Feed mine on Skinners, they seem to thrive on it. I order it via Amazon.co.uk. Older one (2 1/2) is on Field & Trial Maintenance, about €19 a 15kg bag, lasts approx 3months with her. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Skinners-Field-Trial-Maintenance-Dry/dp/B003TL9T40/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1361287973&sr=1-1

Year old pup is on Field & Trial Crunchy, 15kg lasts approx 2 months with her. Approx €23 a bag. She'll be moved to the Maintenance as well now in another few months.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Skinners-Field-Trial-Crunchy-Dry/dp/B003EGH4I8/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1361287973&sr=1-2

Go onto the Skinners website to have a look at the ingredients. I add in tins of sardines etc every so often.

They also do a sensitive product.

I was only looking at the two of them this morning admiring their coats and how healthy they're looking (although that's probably down to the bath they had on Sunday after a muddy walk...)

I originally had the older dog on Royal Canin but didn't find it particularly good for the hefty price that it is! Someone put me on to Skinners and I haven't changed since. It's good and very affordable.