We start our puppies with Precise Small and Medium Breed Puppy Formula.  We have recently switched from Nutrisource, which is still an excellent feed, just was harder for us to get-but we still highly recommend it for your new puppy!

We are currently using a line of great feeds from Precise Pet Foods. Other recommended choices are Nutrisource, PMI Exclusive (sold at Purina dealers nationwide), Wellness,  Royal Canin lines, Life's Abundance and others that I may not be aware of-so please call. We do believe, from experience, in a holistic food choice with ingredients that are verified to come from within the United States and content verified by AAFCO.

The concept with dog food is finding one that will give them the best nutrition that they won't have to eat a great deal of, thus having less elimination and good stools.  That's the bottom line. Yes, a good food will cost more, but consider that they will eat less, eliminate less and it can help your dog live a longer and healthier life.

Everyone wants to look at the protein and fat content of the dog food, and yes it is important. But the source of the protein and the fat is equally if not more important, so look at the ingredient list.

There are different types of protein in dog feeds. A cheaper version containing chicken, chicken by product or chicken meal may vary in digestability compared to a more expensive verson with the same listing. There are different grades of meat sources, and those generally are reflected in the price of the feed.

Another thing to consider is grain.  A good dog food should have a meat base and it should be at the top of the ingredient list-such as fresh chicken, chicken, etc.  The further down that the fillers are, ie corn, corn gluten, etc the better.  

Dog foods have changed over the years. Studies are now showing that dog foods that contain Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids-usually from fish oils, help prevent cancer, which is a main killer of dogs over the age of 8.  So look for a dog food that contains these fatty acids as well.

When you use a good balanced dog food, you shouldn't need to supplement the diet with vitamins, unless directed by a vet.  If you compete with your dog,  you may elect to use a dog food with a higher protein content or use supplements in their diet, but generally, they are not needed for an average active and healthy pet.  

There are also good treats on the market, but use them sparingly or they lose that 'treat' value.  Also consider using cottage cheese or plain yogurt (just a little) as a treat too. Yogurt is also good for dogs and puppies that have been given an antibiotic or medication. It will help bring the balance of the good bacteria that the medication may have killed, back to the correct balance. If you chose to use rawhide, just be sure to monitor them carefully so they don't get a large section or too much that may cause an intestinal blockage.  Nylabones are a better option for puppies.

We have recently read many reports about Greenies and the digestability. At this time, we are no longer giving our puppies Greenies or recommending them to our clients.

AAFCO is a company that certifies the ingredients in pet foods, so look for that on the label as well.

There are many good foods on the market, just read the label and talk to the salesperson. Personally, I would buy the food from a pet supply store or feed store, as the employees there generally have a much better knowledge of the products than at a large discount store. There are rumors, and I have found some to be true, that some manufacturers will 'cheapen' a good dog food so they can be competitive in the discount stores with their product-so another reason to go to pet supply store or feed store. There are other ways that you can feed  your puppy as well, such as the BARF diet and an all natural diet. I am not very familiar with them, but with the internet, you will be able to find all the resources you need to properly balance your dog's diet.