Royal Canin

I feed Exclusive which is pretty much the same but cheaper. Royal Canin is a good food but because Innova, Natural Balance, Canidae is a much higher quality food and is about the same price, thats why its recommended over Royal Canin.
 
Royal Canin and Exclusive are very pricey foods, and for what we are paying for it we could get a much higher quality food (well I cant, but you get the picture)

I think Royal Canin is a great food.  I like the research and science behind the company and their formulations, as well as the addition of higher quality ingredients than most of their competitors.  I also know and have seen many dogs that do very well on their products (mine included). 

I see Royal Canin as a mid-quality food. I think alot of people don't like it that much is because many formulas contain corn, which is a no no. Alot of formulas also contain brewer's rice, beet pulp high in the list and just plain not the best ingredients. I find their foods have tons of grains and fillers, but little meat. I also think their breed/size stuff is a joke. I think it's just a gimmick. Do different types of people eat different food? No. We all eat the same things. Same goes for dogs. What difference does it make if I have a Chihuahua or a St. Bernard? Large breed puppy food I can see, but indoor food for "indoor" dogs? Come on. Anyway, if you're happy with it, stick with it.

ORIGINAL: papillon806

I think Royal Canin is a great food. I like the research and science behind the company and their formulations, as well as the addition of higher quality ingredients than most of their competitors. I also know and have seen many dogs that do very well on their products (mine included).

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contain corn, which is a no no. Alot of formulas also contain brewer's rice, beet pulp high in the list and just plain not the best ingredients. I find their foods have tons of grains and fillers, but little meat. I also think their breed/size stuff is a joke. I think it's just a gimmick. Do different types of people eat different food? No.

 
Corn is not a no-no. Barley is actually a more common allergen than corn. Some dogs can't handle corn. Some humans can't handle corn. A friend of mine is allergic to any corn product. Different people do eat different types of food. In certain countries, rice accounts for 24 percent of dietary protein. If vegetarians eat vegetables, what do humanitarians eat? Beet pulp provides some roughage to aid the movement in the GIT.

ORIGINAL: pennymybaby

I see Royal Canin as a mid-quality food. I think alot of people don't like it that much is because many formulas contain corn, which is a no no. Alot of formulas also contain brewer's rice, beet pulp high in the list and just plain not the best ingredients. I find their foods have tons of grains and fillers, but little meat. I also think their breed/size stuff is a joke. I think it's just a gimmick. Do different types of people eat different food? No. We all eat the same things. Same goes for dogs. What difference does it make if I have a Chihuahua or a St. Bernard? Large breed puppy food I can see, but indoor food for "indoor" dogs? Come on. Anyway, if you're happy with it, stick with it.

 
I looked at the Royal Canin line when I went to buy Lizzies food and I thought the same thing. Why so many breed specific foods? Just a good way to make money because if a Shih Tzu owner goes in the store and sees a Shih Tzu Royal Canin Bag of Food you can bet they'll buy it.
 
Other than that its a good food (better than Pedigree!) but too pricey for my tastes

I've been feeding Sensible Choice (made by RC), which does not contain corn. The RC formula I looked at feeding contains corn gluten meal as the eight ingredient. Like papillion noted in a previous thread corn gluten meal may have value, and I like that they don't put it high up on the list like most other foods do.

RC Medium Adult: Chicken meal, brown rice, rice, oatmeal, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, rosemary extract and citric acid), natural chicken flavor, chicken, corn gluten meal, catfish meal, beet pulp (sugar removed), brewers dried yeast, salmon oil, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, soya oil, dried egg powder, brewers yeast extract (Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation solubles), choline chloride, Vitamins [dl-alpha tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), biotin, d-calcium pantothenate, niacin, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin (vitamin B2), folic acid], DLmethionine, Trace Minerals [zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, sodium selenite, calcium iodate], L-carnitine, dried spinach, sage, basil

As far as the breed specific formulas go, I do believe in them. People here have noted that certain breeds do better with certain ingredients. Plus, a Shih Tzu and a Boxer won't have the same needs.

Interesting its not that expensive compared to others here and at least $10-$15 cheaper than Innova (and is a smaller bag)  May be not an issue for smaller dogs but for my guy it adds up.
also my understanding is that at least with RC the different breed stuff is for real - the lab formula has lower calories, bigger kibble, and they eat more of it so they fill up, are more likely to chew, but also don't gain too much weight.  The Bulldog kibble is shaped really different for their mouths.  All makes sense to me
As for lge breed pups vs 'standard' it makes sense to me to.
we've gone from 27 lbs at about 3.5 months to 94 lbs at 11.5 months, no where near stopping yet.  My sister's westie tops out at 15lbs before a year old.  The bigger the dog the longer the growing period which means different nutritional needs
Lance Armstrong eats different than Neil Armstrong as does Oprah Winfrey because they have different nutritional needs.
I specifically asked which formula to feed and Innova unequivocally said the lge breed pup as did RC
just trying to do the right thing

My vet told me I could keep Shadow on puppy formula until 2 years and I did. When he was 2, I switched him to adult formula.

thanks - I don't really know why some suggest moving over to adult food so quickly for him he certainly isn't getting 'fat' on puppy food

ORIGINAL: kpwlee

I've seen reference here that this is not considered 'good' food
Why?
I know several people, one who has a young 'champion' quality lab who has won every event he's been in, who swear by it.
We use it for our guy and people always comment on his coat, physique etc.
so what's up
sometimes I get the idea that some of you are Innova reps 'cause that is all that's good enough and you're dropping pamphlets in stores and it gets more mention than anything else on this forum. 
I have contacted Innova about what formula is best for my guy and they recommend staying on lge breed puppy food for at least 15 mos up to 2 yrs.   RC says 15 mos.  Almost everyone else says put him on adult food.  (He's over 90lbs 11.5 mos old, ribs visible)
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on RC and puppy vs adult
thanks

 
Lol! No one here is an Innova rep. [] It's just one of the few foods that everyone can agree on being good.
 
As far as Royal Canin, I think it's a decent midgrade food.

Lizzie,  I was at petsmart saw the Royal Canin Shih Tzu formula and laughed.  I though it was ridiculous and I refuse to by a formula that is breed specific.  I own a Shih Tzu and I did not fall for their trickery.  I couldn't see where that formula would be beneficial to my dog over other good brands.

I'd buy the Royal Canin Collie Formula (if they had one, do they?) If it helped my baby learn to herd!

ORIGINAL: Firestorm

I though it was ridiculous and I refuse to by a formula that is breed specific.  I own a Shih Tzu and I did not fall for their trickery.

Shih Tzus are susceptible to sensitive skin so they address that in the Shih Tzu formula, Yorkies are liable to have teeth problems so they make the kibbles different in the Yorkie formula, Dachshunds are at risk of joint problems so they have special ingredients for that in the Dach formula.

Yeah the 3-lb bags of the breed specific formulas are the same price as the 5-lb bags of the other, so if you don't want to buy it don't buy it, but how do you figure that they're trying to trick consumers?