"Before Grain" experiences?

 I like that it's more moderate, but it's SOOOO busy! Kitchen sink food, for sure. It is *hard* to find a moderate, simple, grain free food. Honest Kitchen's formulas are more basic, and some of theirs are grain free (I have been using the Keen, which has oats, for it's very moderate protein levels, for my old dog). The Embark is higher, but Verve, Force, Keen, and Thrive are moderate foods. I haven't found it terribly expensive, but I have toy dogs, so it might not count;)

I tried one of the cans once... Casey puked, all over. And he NEVER pukes. I will not try it again....

 No help here. Anything by Merrick I stay far away from.

 Darn, I just purchased a small bag. Think I should donate it somewhere and purchase something else for my dog?

To be honest, if it's a small bag, I'd just feed it and see how your dog does on it. It won't last forever, and if it works - great! If it doesn't work out, then at least you know. I really doubt anything in it will hurt your dog.

This might sound strange, but I rarely buy my dog food based on what other folks think or feed. You will always find somebody who doesn't like it for one reason or another (dog didn't do well, a particular ingredient, too high/low/ certain ingredient, too expensive, brand name that it is, etc).  Instead, when I do buy a kibble (I feed raw so I rarely buy kibble) I read the ingredients, and if I'm comfortable with it I'll feed it and see how it goes, and go by my dog's body condition and coat quality, and overall behaviour, to see how it works for them.

Completely agree, Kim!

I'm sorry, I simply will not risk the health of my dogs to a company like Merrick.  There are too many really good companies that actually give a crap about QC.

glenmar

I'm sorry, I simply will not risk the health of my dogs to a company like Merrick.  There are too many really good companies that actually give a crap about QC.

I'm with Glenda.

I got a free sample bag and gave it to Zoe.  She had diarrea and bloody poops and was overall not feeling well.  It may have been partially from the quick switch, but that had never bothered her with other foods.

 I try to stay far from Merrick in general.

As I understand it, Blue Wilderness is a bit lower in protein since they took it totally grain free.  My dogs had just gotten completely switched to it when it still had oatmeal.....they didn't do great on the grain free Wilderness.  Sigh.

What I dislike about it is that a label is very misleading, so for someone who thinks " oh great, I found a grain free buffalo or fish based food" turns out to be entirely false because they all have chicken and a lot of dogs have chicken allergies. Its cheaper to use it so they bulk up with it to reduce the cost. I never tried it, probably never will, I think there are better options for the cost.

 The new BB is in the 30s, as is Acana.  Acana is made by Champion, who also produces Orijen.

Glenda - they had a BB with oatmeal at petsmart last time I bought food (this past weekend). I don't remember what the protein source was, but I think it was their large breed formula (which is why we didn't get it). We're trying the basic salmon one right now to see if that helps aussie-boys itching....