Good inexpensive food?

[Jenny G]

We've been feeding Berman and Lucy Wellness for a few months now.  They are starting to get tired of it and are wasting food.  Sometimes, Berman won't eat a bite so I have to throw away a whole bowl of food (I moisten it with warm water).  This is what Berman has done since we've had him (over 2 years).  We've tried every trick out there - moistening the food w/ warm water, adding some parmesan cheese, adding a crushed up treat, adding some canned food, holding it in our hands...EVERYTHING! 

I know with dog food, you get what you pay for, but is there an inexpensive food that may not be that bad for the puppers?  I'd much rather pay less than $10/ bag for food I can get at Wal-Mart and have Berman waste that than more pricey food that I can only get at the pet supply store.

Lucy is starting to take after Berman and is starting to lose focus when it comes to eating and will eat a little then play, then eat a little then play. I'm afraid she'll start wasting food too.

[Krista]

I don't know of any food that is that cheap and can be found at Walmart that I would suggest feeding.  Most foods sold at big chain grocery and discount stores are chock full of fillers and made of poor quality ingredients.  They are cheaper because they get the protein from things like corn and byproducts.

Might I suggest trying another option?  You could try covering the bowl and refridgerating the moistened food and try giving it again at the next meal time.  You could zap it in the microwave a few seconds to bring the temperature back up and make it more appetizing.  You might waste less food that way.

[Leslie]

Try feeding LESS food.  Wellness is excellent; they are probably meeting all their nutritional needs and then some. Dish out the regular amount and then flick a few kibbles back into the container.  Zuzu no longer dawdles through her meal but eats it all, at one shot.  If she leaves any behind, I take it away. Here is a link to a simple weight chart for dogs--I found it helpful to assess body weight.http://www.placervillevet.com/canine%20body%20condition.htm

[Dee Dee and Hallie]

Are you sure you guys really have dachshunds???  Hallie inhales her food and spends most of her time looking for more. I wish she wasn't that interested in food, I feel bad she is so hungry all the time. We're envious of the picky eaters!! :) Our vet says she is slightly underweight which is right where I want to keep her. But she'd turn into a little baked potato if given a choice.

I think that's a good suggestion to feed less, if they are of good weight and seem bright with plenty of energy, they may just be getting too much. Also a good suggestion to cover it and put it in the micro for a couple seconds if there is some leftover.

[Nikki]

I will sometimes put the vitagravy (it think is is from iams?) on the kibble and they seem to go for that.  I really don't have but one picky eater in my bunch.

[Sandishooligans]

To Dee Dee, would Hallie be a little baked potato or a plump when ya cook 'em wiener?

[Dee Dee and Hallie]

LOL Sandi,  actually I call her my "Little Pork Chop."  I like the "plump when you cook 'em" wiener better!
Which one of yours is the picky eater Nikki?

[LUVMYGUNNER]

Have you tried adding a little yogurt, pumkin, celery, apples, green beans or gravy to it???. Chicke broth is also good. Switch them to Evo-you can buy a small bag and try it there are not many dogs that don't like it---I mix mine with Natural Balance.  ALso Chicken Soup for the Canine Soul, Natural Balance are good food and not much more than you would buy at Walmart--get the small bags and give it a try. Your first 4 ingriedients in a food are very important,  they should be meat and not fillers, also make sure no BHA, BHT or ethoxyquin as preservatives are in the food.

[Nancy]

We feed Wellness too and Red did the same thing - acted bored with the kibble. 

So what I did was buy a few cans of their moist food.  Put maybe 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons full of moist and mix it with about 1/4 cup of kibble (twice a day).  The moist gives them some variety, plus you're not throwing food away.  It makes the kibble go a lot farther and the moist isn't that expensive.  One can will last us a week easily.  Reddy endorses the following flavors:  Chicken, Turkey, Vension, Duck, & Lamb.  He did not like the fish & sweet potato (it really stinks).

On occasion, the hubby will heat it slightly in the microwave so Red has a warm dinner.  Red has him trained well.

[Jenny G]

We've actually been doing that for the past week or so and it seems to be doing the trick.  I feed them 1/4 cup with a little warm water and about a tablespoon of moist food.  At first, Berman was picking and only eating the moist, but now he eats all of it.  I think we may have been feeding too much.

[LUVMYGUNNER]

Try getting some of the Merrick canned dog food,  they look like home made. My 2 puppers usualy turn their nose up at canned dog food,  put they love the Merrick brand.