Geminite
UKC Forum Member
Registered: Dec 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 3063 |
We have been feeding the Diamond Naturals Lamb & Rice (23/14) and also the Chicken & Rice (26/16) for the better part of 3 years now. We have tried a few other brands to experiment and we have always came back to these two formulas. I was also impressed with the Extreme Athlete (30/25) but it was a little too pricey for us to afford...We raised two litters of pups plus a few other young hounds on Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy Lamb & Rice (27/15) and have had excellent results, won't feed a pup anything else.
I wasn't pleased with any of the other Diamond feeds except for their Hi-Energy formula (24/20), we sometimes feed that in addition to the Chicken & Rice during the really cold months (we feed the Lamb & Rice in the summer and the Chicken & Rice in the winter).
As I mentioned, the dogs did not do well on the other formulas and they crapped all the time. Ran hot while hunting and didn't have a shiny, lusterous coat.
We have easy access to the Diamond Naturals and it is relatively cheap for the quality that you get. Our dogs have always looked and performed really well on the Naturals, that is the main reason that we have stuck with it. I have come to the point that I will not feed something that has a lot of corn in it; or any corn in it at all. Same goes for soy and wheat. When looking for a good dogfood, I look for lots of meat (including fat and organs) in the beginning of the ingredients list. You can't hardly find a dry dogfood that doesn't have grain in it, so I go for the ones with rice or barley, it's not great but it's better than corn, wheat and soy. Omega's 3 & 6, added vitamins (like E, B12, B6, A, calcium, selenium, chondroitin & glucosamine) oatmeal, folic acid, and chicory root (fiber source) are all added pluses. Also, stay away from dogfood that has BHT and BHA, they are nasty preservatives.
We are currently feeding 7 full-grown hounds, 2 hound pups (one 7 months old and one 7 weeks old) and one full grown Rottweiler. I just feed them the amount according to the back of the bag when we're not hunting real hard and then I up it by a cup or so when we are or when it is cold out. They are all fit and slick and have a solid stool once a day, sometimes less (better for me ).
Here are the current prices on the Diamond Naturals at our local feed & farm store (it is an Agland Co-op). We go through one 40# bag about every 7 days.
Lamb & Rice - 40# bag/$24.99
Chicken & Rice - 40# bag/$22.99
Large Breed Puppy - 40# bag/$26.99
Extreme Athlete - 40# bag/$32.99
Hi-Energy - 50# bag/$18.99
Johnny, I hope I have answered some of your questions...
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Danielle Haney
UKC Licensed Bench Show Judge
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