Funny story; borderline embarassing

Basically, weigh out the pros and cons. [8|]
 
My pup was eating Beneful when I got him. He LOVED it! [:@] I switched him to Nutro Natural Choice and he liked it OK at first and then said "screw this!" So, I would put out some Beneful to see if he really wasn't hungry or if he just hated the Nutro. What do you think? He scarfed down the Beneful (typical)...just how I scarf down junk food! [] It was extremely frustrating because I loved seeing him eat and enjoy his food when he would eat the Beneful, but I hated it at the same time because it was CRAP.
 
When I was growing up my parents always made me eat healthy foods...getting fruit snacks or even a sugary cereal was a "big deal" to me. I was like the only kid in school with apples, oranges, pinapple cream cheese sandwhiches [:'(], milk in a thermos...etc...I was so jealous of the kids who had cupcakes, fruit snacks, etc. But you know what...it's whats on the inside that counts. Who knows how bad their arteries were clogging and they would not know it until later on in life. [] My parents knew right and I got junk food in moderation as a treat, not everyday.
 
Therefore, why not use Beneful as a treat? It should not be a dogs main source of food. I told myself that I was going to search long and hard for a food that my pup liked and that was great for him at the same time. So many people said: "Just feed him the Beneful, at least he likes it and eats it." I would not bow down to that. Dogs do not know what is good for them and what is bad for them. We need to take care of them and make the nutrition choices for them and feed them a good premium diet. Look at it from a parenting perspective. Would you feed your kid McDonalds big macs everyday just because they loved them and would scarf them down? I sure as heck wouldn't. Maybe once a week or so. But their main diet would be a healthful one! [&:]
 
Then again some dogs will do fine with Beneful and live a long time...but you have to think....what if they were eating a premium food instead that whole time...how much longer would they have lived, how much healthier would they have felt, etc?? []
 
Decisions, decisions, decisions...[sm=rolleyes.gif]

I was like the only kid in school with apples, oranges, pinapple cream cheese sandwhiches

LOL i can so sympathise with you [&o] I had pumpernickel bread with cream cheese and sprouts,and all i wanted was a simple peanut butter sandwich [8|]

LOL i can so sympathise with you [&o] I had pumpernickel bread with cream cheese and sprouts,and all i wanted was a simple peanut butter sandwich [8|]

 
LOL!! [sm=clapping%20hands%20smiley.gif]
 
Other kids would ask me what cereal I ate...I would respond: Puffed Wheat, Puffed Rice, Wheatabix, Nutri Grain. Then they would respond..."What is that? You're weird!" [] 
 
At least I felt original! [] 
 
Denial......[&o]

At least your parents didn't slip wheat germ into your oatmeal! LOL

When I first went to college, all my friends experienced the freedoms of drinking, etc....I ate a box of Fruit Loops [][]

Ahhh, this is great. I thought I was the only one! [sm=rotfl.gif]

ORIGINAL: papillon806

Is Wolfie getting a digestive enzyme?

Hmm...I haven't really thought about that.  I know small breeds sometimes have absorption issues in the small intestine which causes them to be skinny (in some cases).  What digestive enzyme did you use for Emma?  I know Wolfie isn't sick or anything; he's had a complete blood panel done twice which came back looking really good (even did a thyriod panel too).

From my experience working at a pet supply store, I had quite a few customers who were feeding dog chow or pedigree and couldn't get weight on their dogs.  I found that Eagle Pack Holistic Chicken did the trick everytime.  Maybe it was the high calorie content and the digestive enzymes EP uses.  Just a thought.  I hate to see your switch to Bene-full- of cr@p, as I call it.

EP also make a digestive enzyme that is also an appetite increaser.

Don't worry, I am not going to switch to Beneful as I stated above.  Right now I'm feeding him Bil-Jac frozen and Pro Plan dry (the only other two things he will eat at the moment).  

Hi okay Purina Demo rep here!
I hear this problem every weekend, over and over, mainly small dogs.  Its a small dog thing to be picky!  Gotta love them for holding out for what they want.  Although some here will argue, Pro Plan is the best we make.  Pro Plan Selects is actually decent food.  If you try buying it from Petsmart, keep your receipt, you can basically return up to a half a bag of food over and over until you find one that your dog will eat.  That being said, you have nothing to lose.  Your dog already told you I like Beneful.  I won't feed it to my dog.  Not an option for me.  I do know my dog loves Purina One.  I prefer him to eat Pro Plan and he will, but every like fourth bag I will give him One because he just loves it.  Sometimes I mix them in the container I have.  I have had decent luck with picky ones using Selects.  Please look at it.  No by Product.  All Turkey.  No whole ground corn, just some gluten meal, which I would prefer they didn't have, but I don't make the food!  Tomatos, Blueberries and Sweet Potatoes are in there for anti oxidants too.   It is a far better option to Beneful and you can return it.  If you at least got on One you would be doing better than Beneful.  But I do agree with many here, if your dog won't eat the food, even the best food on earth won't get in that tummy.  You have to feed them.  I would try all canned if I had too before resorting to Beneful. 

Yes Pap,,,,it was me who fed BilJac Frozen.  It was the only food that my Dane/Shepherd Cindy could eat without stomach problems..and it did good for her.  It was considered really good food back then.
As far as the ingredients you don't like in it such as meat by products,,,,call them and talk to them,,they might make you feel better about that food. Cindy was a very large dog and lived to about 11 or 12,,, not bad for a giant dog. 
I told my son Mike who owns Ollie that if he had to change food for Ollie because of allergies he should switch to BilJac Frozen to try it out.  So yes,,, I did have good experience with it and would use it if I needed to switch.
As far as Linda Arndts statement about not microwaving kibble to destory important ingredients...its more then bacteria to be destroyed,,,its vitamins and other important ingredients.

dyan- I think I am going to try 1/2 Bil-Jac frozen and 1/2 Pro Plan for now.  I have heard many others w/ good results on the frozen as well.  BTW- I don't know if I ever mentioned this, but my dad's parents used to breed dane's back in the day, and he had them living between 8-12.

losinsusan--I think Pro Plan isn't all that bad (It's similar to Royal Canin), but I think if this works out I may try the selects next time

Good luck in what you do,,, I think you have to find what works best for you. We all have to do that, its just easier with some dogs then others.
Danes living between 8 and 12 is a nice line....I sure hope Bubby goes for the 12 and over....

I know a yorky breader who couldn't get her dogs to eat dog food after EP changed their Lamb and Rice formula 5 or so years ago.

Anyways, the only thing she could get her kennel to eat was Pro Plan.  I won't say that Pro Plan is the best, but it's better than many, many others and I've seen breeders and just plain pet owners have good results with it.

When working at the pet supplies store, I often recommended Pro Plan for fussy dogs.  Along with Chicken Soup and Royal Canin.

are you sure your dog needs to gain weight? dogs in fit condition are often so much skinnier than the average dog the vet sees. Is the dog full of energy, coat good? if so, keep her skinny.
If I had a small dog, and was unwilling to feed a fresh home-prepared diet, I would feed the dog canned foods. Far superior to dry foods, and most dogs are much more willing to eat it.

mudpuppy- I tried an all canned diet and it caused him to always have soft, runny stools (and I tried several different canned foods) to the point that it always got smeared on his white "butt-fur" [:'(] lol Apologies for the details []

dyan--My dad had one that he kept from one litter after he married my mom (a Harlequin named Princess) that lived to be 14.   She ate Purina (don't remember which one), but my mom gave her boiled lamb and rice every morning, lol.