Many important questions race through your head as a new puppy owner. Finding a good, healthy food was one of the toughest decisions I had to make when I brought Hemi (our first Mini Aussie) home in 2009. Thankfully, I made a friend and mentor in Kim Dostie of Innovative Farms. She got me started off on the right foot by suggesting Taste of the Wild since that was what she feeds all of her Aussies.
I order all my dog food online with
Petflow.
I get it delivered for free and the customer service is outstanding.
That doesn't mean you should go out and buy this particular brand just because someone says it works well for their dogs. There are many other top tier brands like Orijen or ZiwiPeak. There are many things to consider when choosing a dog food and I have found that the best place to compare them is at your local store or wherever it is that you buy dog food.
You should always look at the ingredient list on the back or side of the package. You want a dog's diet to be as similar as possible to what it would be if they were living in the wild. This means no preservatives like humans are accustomed to consuming. The first three to five ingredients should be a known meat or meat meal that provides a good source of protein. The food should also have a fair amount of fruits and vegetables and be relatively grain-free. Grains are not a natural part of a canine diet. Grain-Free dog foods are great for dogs with allergy problems. Potatoes are a good alternative to grains.
Lastly, always remember to change your dog's diet over slowly. If you introduce the new food all at once he/she will likely end up with bowel problems. Gradual food introduction also helps to detect any change in your dog's reaction to the change, such as allergies.
There is plenty of information out there to help you make an informed decision. Take the time and make the best choice for you and your pup.
I have personally tested 3 of the top brands, and while the top 2 are slightly better quality (Ziwi Peak and Orijen) they are also much more expensive. For example, Ziwi Peak is approximately $20 for 2 lbs of food, while Taste of the Wild is about $40 for 30 lbs of food. That being said, you can't beat the value of Taste of the Wild. So, my top 3 would look like this...
1. Taste of the Wild
(Best Value/Quality)2. Ziwi Peak
3. Orijen
