to those feeding taste of the wild - Doberman Forum : Doberman Breed Dog Forums

doberkim · 05-15-2010, 08:36 PM

im curious as to how much you guys are feeding -
ive been feeding kibble to my guys for the past month or so pretty much exclusively and im realizing that i am having a heck of a time keeping weight ON my dogs.

they love the food, their coats look great, but berlin and rah have both LOST weight on the food... (2 lbs each)
im feeding the fowl (duck) TOTW... energy levels are great.

im curious as to how much those of you that feed this food are feeding?

rah is eating at least 5 cups a day, and berlin is at 4 cups and im increasing her to 5 - im trying to increase rah to 6 cups a day right now as well. both are BCS 4/9. that isn't including ANY of the people food, the dog treats and cookies, and any of the copious training treats they get multiple days a week.

robinb · 05-15-2010, 08:47 PM

Kim, that's interesting. I had Tara on the TOTW Salmon for about 10 months. I started her out on Innova large breed puppy then went to the TOTW. My plan all along was to switch her to EVO, which Rex eats when she was close to 18 months. I didn't want to go to the EVO due to the high protein when she was young. About 3 weeks back I switched her over to the EVO and have decreased her kibble from just over 4 cups to just over 3 cups. They do get some meat at night too and treats. Rex has always been a very easy keeper and looked great on the EVO. She did well and had a great coat on the TOTW but also it took more food. I've been very happy with EVO.

Mine also get a scoop of canned pumpkin at night which does among other things keep weight on.

simpson1212 · 05-15-2010, 09:09 PM

The package says, (which I rarely go by--it never seems to work for my dogs), says 3 1/2 cups a day. Well, Zoe sucked that down, licked the bowl and started looking for the bag. I can't see how that can be enough for a young active dog. Now, she is still in lock down mode because she won't hurry up and get out of season and we can't play ball or run in the fields. I just wonder how much she will need when she gets back to being as active as usual. I bought home a bag from work tonight and she was sticking her head into the bag while I was trying to scoop it out. I am feeding the yellow bag (bison), so I wonder if the different flavors would make a difference with weight gain/loss? Perhaps switch to one of the others and see what happens. I will watch Zoe's weight over the next couple of weeks and see how it goes. Right now she is perfect. Weight wise, that is--behavior sometimes is another story!!!

Tricia · 05-15-2010, 09:20 PM

Mine are on the Prairie formula....but Kali gets 4 cups a day and her weight is steady. Cleo the dalmatian only gets 2 cups but she's almost 12 and I have to watch her or she plumps right up.

doberkim · 05-15-2010, 10:06 PM

ive considered trying buffalo but i refuse to feed fishy foods because i haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate the smell of fish

even in fishy foods

but i plan on putting them back on mostly raw soon - the kibbles been mostly convenience - and right now berlin is eating what seems like 123123123 small meals a day, which is easier with kibble anyway- its easy enough to scoop her out one cup of crunchies every 4-5 hours.

it was actually destiny that made me switch from EVO as their backup kibble, beacuse she couldnt tolerate it - but i wont be using EVO any longer since natura got bought out (on principle)...

caramella · 05-15-2010, 10:15 PM

4 Cups a day and she does great. Coat looks good, good energy and good weight.

I've been really happy with it from the very beginning.

tnh317 · 05-15-2010, 11:06 PM

I could not keep weight on either my Doberman or English Mastiff with TOTW (I was feeding the fish based one). The Dobe was up to 6 cups per day and still all ribs and her spine were very visible. The Mastiff was eating 8 cups per day and continuing to drop weight. Normally they are both fairly easy keepers. The Doberman is now on Acana and maintains a healthy weight on 1.5-2 cups per day, the Mastiff gets 6 cups per day of Wellness Core.

**Patches Mom** · 05-15-2010, 11:15 PM

Buddy gets two cups in the am & 2 cups in the evening he was weighing 98# during winter he is a taller boy.He weighed 93# a couple of weeks ago.I go back and forth between the Bison & the Fish they do not seem to like the Fowel one.Going to take him by the vets to weigh him next week to see if he is still loosing.

RedFawnRising · 05-15-2010, 11:45 PM

I feed the High Prairie formula, and George eats just under three cups a day and he stays solid.

Whisper eats about five cups a day and is growing and gaining steadily. Kylie eats two cups a day and looks like a fat warthog if I let her have two pieces more of kibble.

I do also feed a couple raw meals a week, plus, like you said, lots of training treats.

We won't discuss the dead things they find to eat when we're out on hikes.

doberkim · 05-16-2010, 07:48 AM

i really like the food and i certainly like the price for something i feed so sparingly, and i like the ingredients - but the amount of food i have to feed is craaaaazy. so i guess its time to have a new backup food... and i WONT go back to EVO (i only had to change to TOTW because of destiny, since she couldnt tolerate EVO)

Miesha's mom · 05-16-2010, 08:07 AM

Quote:

We won't discuss the dead things they find to eat when we're out on hikes.

Me either LOL! I'm just happy Miesha hasn't come across another dead skunk to roll in!!!!!
I feed the salmon formula, roughly 2 cups twice a day. However on days that we go hiking I usually will give them an extra 1/4 cup or so.

dragonflyz · 05-16-2010, 08:27 AM

I was feeding Tango the duck also and he was up to about 5cups a day and he was pretty lean. We are just switching over to Solid gold Beef and barley so I'll let you know how it goes. I'm trying to stay away from chicken as I think it may bother Tango, but most dog foods have chicken products in them.

Darkevs · 05-16-2010, 08:38 AM

Never tried that brand.
Too bad you don't like the smell of fish.
My guys love and do great on the pro plan salmon and rice.
Magic and Stormy are on 2 cups twice a day and they get tons of free run exercise and keep their weight, no problem.

stardstdob · 05-16-2010, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robinb

Kim, that's interesting. I had Tara on the TOTW Salmon for about 10 months. I started her out on Innova large breed puppy then went to the TOTW. My plan all along was to switch her to EVO, which Rex eats when she was close to 18 months. I didn't want to go to the EVO due to the high protein when she was young. About 3 weeks back I switched her over to the EVO and have decreased her kibble from just over 4 cups to just over 3 cups. They do get some meat at night too and treats. Rex has always been a very easy keeper and looked great on the EVO. She did well and had a great coat on the TOTW but also it took more food. I've been very happy with EVO.

Mine also get a scoop of canned pumpkin at night which does among other things keep weight on.

Robin,
Did you know that Evo's parent company natura was just sold to Proctor and Gamble (Iams)

Natura Pet Foods (Innova Evo) Acquired by Procter & Gamble (Eukanuba Iams) | A Flint River Ranch News Feed

Sue

robinb · 05-16-2010, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stardstdob

Robin,
Did you know that Evo's parent company natura was just sold to Proctor and Gamble (Iams)

Natura Pet Foods (Innova Evo) Acquired by Procter & Gamble (Eukanuba Iams) | A Flint River Ranch News Feed

Sue

Thanks Sue, I didn't know that. Hopefully they keep the quality control and the same formula. If they do that I'll keep using it.

CuriousMoves · 05-16-2010, 01:35 PM

Kim, have you tried Orijen? It's probably the main food I feed, as I can get it discounted at work. The Regional Red formula is the most popular here. I only feed Riley who is 65lbs, just under 2 cups a day. I also mix a little wet food with the dry, and they get a little yogurt and fish oil as well. Riley gets a rediculous amount of training treats during the day though. I don't think we are as active as you guys are, but right now we are doing agility, our regular daily walking/OB training, and are increasing our offleash work, and I haven't felt the need to increase his food yet.

I just brought up the two foods to compare, and it looks like Orijen Regional Red has about 100kcals more than TOTW Wetlands. Might be an option!

Fitz.kara · 05-16-2010, 02:03 PM

we feed TOTW Bison...

Roxy (lab) gets 2 cups a day.

Elsa is extremely hard to get weight on with any food... but she puts on weight with TOTW... and gets 2 1/2 cups twice a day. They both have shiny, soft coats and great energy level.

Adara · 05-17-2010, 10:35 AM

My dogs tend to eat more than other dogs, not sure why.

TOTW
Flirt 72 lbs 5 cups a day plus training treats.

Sizzledog · 05-17-2010, 12:24 PM

Kim, the Canidae grainfree diets seem to be notorious for making dogs FAT - I've been feeding it for about a month and even Kaylee started looking like a tubbo really fast. Something to consider.

Canidae and TOTW are made by the same company.

(besides - every 5 bags of Canidae you buy, you could get one free! You definitely qualify for their MPR Program!)

eminart · 05-17-2010, 12:36 PM

Don't have my Dobie yet, but we've been feeding the schnauzer TOTW for a while now and she's actually gained a pound. She was on Blue Buffalo before and we're using the same serving sizes.

2-charming · 05-17-2010, 05:38 PM

I've been feeding Lolli TOTW bison and she gets 1 1/4 cups twice a day. I do add sweet potato or an egg in the morning and deer meat or ground beef for dinner. Her weight is good, if fact I think she could stand to loose a pound or two but the vet thinks she's perfect.

Frankiepa · 05-19-2010, 03:49 PM

The first month or so the dogs do seem to lose some weight but after that they start to get it back. I went from canidae all stages to the TOTW wetlands and my 2 Bullmastiffs who were eating 6 cups of Canidae a day went down to 3 of the TOTW they looked better had better and less stool.. I think they lose fat then start retaining more muscle, my English Bulldog has 2 cups a day and looks awesome on it. I think you really need like 2 months on it to work it out.

Frank

Dobe&Dane · 05-19-2010, 04:13 PM

I'm having this problem with my Dane pup. He's been on it since he was 4 mos old and I always blamed his slim figure on his quick growth, but over the last month he's plataeued at 34 inches and according to the bag (at his age) we're supposed to decrease the amount now, but I definitely can't see doing that. Thinking about switching but definitely cant go to EVO or Origen because that is big $$$ for a dog who eats almost 8 cups a day plus the 3 cups Gypsy eats! Argh! I'm going to go compare labels at Tractor Supply when I go to get their food this week (TOTW is on sale according to the website btw)

Frankiepa · 05-19-2010, 06:44 PM

[quote=KatiePA;697497]I'm having this problem with my Dane pup. He's been on it since he was 4 mos old and I always blamed his slim figure on his quick growth, but over the last month he's plataeued at 34 inches and according to the bag (at his age) we're supposed to decrease the amount now, but I definitely can't see doing that. Thinking about switching but definitely cant go to EVO or Origen because that is big $$$ for a dog who eats almost 8 cups a day plus the 3 cups Gypsy eats! Argh! I'm going to go compare labels at Tractor Supply when I go to get their food this week (TOTW is on sale according to the website btw)[

I would throw in a raw chicken back everyday in with the food, they are cheap like under $20. for 40lbs. I've done it in the past and know a few people who do it now with large breeds, at first I was a bit leary of the whole raw thing but it turned out ok and the dogs looked good, pooped good and it cut down the dry food bill. Just my opinion.

Frank

Dobe&Dane · 05-20-2010, 09:37 AM

Every now and then we'll do that, or throw in "dog food" we get from the local farm market (ground up leftovers of beef/chicken/turkey) but I'm just worried about mixing raw and kibble on a daily basis because of digestion issues. I heard its not good to do that? Guess I have to get back up on my raw feeding reading.