Has anyone ever heard of Flint River Ranch dog food? It was recommended to me by the lady I rescued my Doxie pups from. She's a distributor so that makes me wonder if perhaps it would be better to get a vet recommended food for 7 month old pups as I don't want to overpay but yet get good quality for them.

Here's where the list of ingredients are, but it means nothing to me:

http://www.petfood123.com/products.php?cat_id=3&prod_id=1

Anyone?

Thanks, Becky
Escondido

Are you eating additive free, organic food yourself? If so, it may be a good choice. It is a popular, well know chow. Who do you trust, modern science, advertising, or the additives kill believers?

Suppose you knew a breeder that bred hundreds of dogs a year, mostly Labs, Shepherds, and Goldens. They provided all the medical care for most of them the first year. At the end of it, they did a complete physical including hip X-rays on all of them. They then spend $35,000 training them before giving them away. They have a large data base of breeding records. Dogs with any physical or temperamental problems are unfit for the program and are a waste. Their well equipped clinic and vet staff are available for serious problems as long as the dog is working. When the dog is no longer able to work, it is replaced at again the $35,000 plus a large emotional upheaval for the person depending on the dog. They have experimented with different diets and exchanged data with other such breeders. Don't you think that what ever they are feeding is healthy and safe? What kinds of controlled studies do she have backing Flint River? How objective is she? Is your dog's health, her top priority?

I have been raising puppies since 1991 for a large dog guide school that does exactly that. What do they feed? They instruct us to feed Pro Plan chicken and rice puppy chow until 4 months and then switch to adult Pro Plan chicken and rice. I know enough of the people with the trained dogs to know they continue the Pro Plan. The group I meet with monthly for training includes people that have raised puppies for 6 different service dog schools. Some of them are feeding other premium commercial chows including Iams and Eukanuba. Any dog owner wanting a healthy, long lived dog can make this regimen work, leaving more time to spend on the dog. It is also relatively economical. There is nothing wrong with Flint River as far as I know, but no real reason to feed it. Your Doxies should thrive on almost any commercial dog chow. Most are scientifically tested using AAFCO methods.

The premium, concentrated foods give you the assurance of a brand name. They
produce a smaller, firmer stool that is easier to clean up. It is easier to
maintain weight on a finicky eater. The lower cost foods may actually have
lower fat and be better for your dog. Many dogs would enjoy eating the larger
portions you have to feed.

What ever you choose to feed, keep them lean. Overweight is even worse for Doxies with their elongated spine. You may want to go to an adult chow to slow growth and give the spine more time to develop. And avoid unbalancing their diet with much else except the chow you choose.