im about to pull hair out over food

Natural Balance has a lot of different formulas and the "best" is up to you & your dog's needs.

I personally trust & enjoy the ALLERGY FORMULA products.

• (purple bag & can) Sweet Potato & Venison
• (orange bag & can) Sweet Potato & Fish
• (yellow bag & can) Potato & Duck

I rotate between these flavors every meal time. (i.e. Fish in the morning, Venison in the evening, etc)

When it comes to rotating between BRANDS that's a tough one. My dog's stomach gets very upset between brands since the ingredients are so different. Therefore I just stick to one brand and mix up the flavors.

So it all depends on what you think your dog needs and can handle. If you want my opinion... for a tiny dog like this, just pick a brand you enjoy and trust then if you want to switch it up try different flavors and add a bit of their canned food to the kibble.

Kayla gets a mix of Dry Kibble & Canned Food. Her Kong is stuff with Natural Balance small bite treats & Canned Food.

THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO, is learn about ingredients, serving sizes, etc. This way no matter where you are you can pick up a bag of food/treats, look on the back, and decide for yourself if your dog would be okay with it.

I hope that helped? Remember, when it comes to Nutrition, there's a general idea + your dog's needs + your preference = good diet.

*EDIT/ADD ON*

In response to your second post (crude protein amounts) check out this link http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=protein Since the food seems "dense" (not sure if that's the right word) I just suggest 1/4 cup or less would be a great amount. Plus treats of course!

Don't worry I'm fairly *new* too. Any advice I can give you is based off of my own personal experience & knowledge. Hopefully I've helped!

THANKS

i think since ive bought the food and ive opened it and HE LOVED IT.. he has NEVER ate like he did this food. i mean never.. i think ill try it and see how he does with it.

i think ill know by the time the bag is gone (5lb) if i like the food

Pomeranian <3

2) WAY too high in protein for a little Pomeranian. It's 32% Crude Protein minimum! ouch!

I disagree with this.  Small breed dogs need a higher protein food to support their faster metabolism.  I think the TOTW food is a good choice.

My personal opinion is that most of the Natural Balance formulas are way to low in protein, and much too high in carbs for most dogs.  You may find, especially with a small breed dog, that your dog will gain weight on on these lower protein foods, and always act as if they are starving. My SIL recently experienced this (she had been feeding NB)--her little one was a bit overweight, and always hungry.  She has since switched to Orijen, with weight loss and a dog with a satiated appetite.

I agree 100% with tzu_mom in that I don't think 32% of crude protein is too high. If that is the case, there would be no so called grain-free food in the market (like Wellness Core, Taste of the Wild, Innova Evo, Orijen, and etc.).

I also agree 100% with tzu_mom that I also think (my personal opinion) that Natural Balance formulas are way too in protein (like Solid Gold, California Natural adult formulas, and Wellness adult formulas).  There are just too much grains (= carbohydrates) for canines.  I also think (my personal opinion) that Natural Balance formulas (and Solid Gold and Wellness adult formulas) are overpriced.

Based on my personal experience, my lab would shed excessively on low protein food (that is 22% or lower).  He does very well (by that I mean, you can tell that he is vibrant, shiny, bright eyes, and etc.) when I give him dry food with minimum crude protein of 27% and added supplements like Innova Evo 95% canned meat, Wellness 95% canned meat, Canned sardines/salmon, eggs, and/or etc.  I think I boost the protein level of his meal to at least 30%.

i just want something good as well as something my baby will eat well

HOWEVER.. i have ran into a small problem.. i went to visit my grandmother and she feed's her ma-poo nutra ultra holostic.. and lil bit DEVOURED it last night..  he was in her house 2 min walked by the food and smelled it then attacked it.. lol.. didnt eat it all  but at what he normally would.. now when i was ready to feed him today HE WONT EAT

ive left it out all morning and nothing.. he smells it then walks away.  I SWEAR IM GETTING MORE BALD BY THE DAY. HAHAHA

and im stuck with the question of .. "what now?" do i wait until he gets so hungry he eats the totw or do i run out and buy the ultra?

GEEZ

Canned foods are far healthier than dry (because they are moist, and contain more appropriate protein levels, i.e. much higher than most kibbles), and are much more palatable than dry. And affordable as the entire diet if your dog is small.

tzu_mom

I disagree with this.  Small breed dogs need a higher protein food to support their faster metabolism.  I think the TOTW food is a good choice.

lil bit and brandi

also wont that amount the 32% help with his "energy"...  he is such a lazy dog..

I agree that high levels of crude protein can benefit an active working dog. But if she is saying her dog isn't very active... then that high of protein can actually be bad.

Just because a dog eats more protein or if even a human eats more protein we don't get MORE energy, we just get FAT. (i.e. a protein bar can be a great quick source of energy after a work out to support your metabolism... but if you eat 5 protein bars you'll GAIN weight) When it comes to Nutrition it's all about moderation; and moderation varies depending on your dogs personal needs.

Protein levels support the metabolism if you are ACTIVE. For her dog... I don't think 32% Crude Protein would benefit. That's what I'm saying.

 Pom3 have you researched this or is it all based on your personal opinion?

I have to agree with the others,'most dogs' whether large or small,inactive or active will benefit from high protein no/moderate grain foods.At least this is what my research and experience with my own dogs has led me to believe.

Personally if i fed NB i would supplement it with plenty of meat to up the protein content. 

I have known many people on South Beach diet (low carb, eating more lean protein and more veggies) who appear to have more energy.  They appeared to have lost a lot of weights.  My husband (I love him dearly but he is quite vain about how he fits in his clothes) will go on South Beach diet periodically (where he would eat more protein and veggies and NO grain products), and he ALWAYS loses the weights. So, based on these results, I don't agree that eating more protein will make you fat.

I think the same applies to our pets.  I personally would not feed my lab, foods with low protein content (22% or lower).  If you do the math, you will figure out roughly the amount of carbohydrates in those food.  I would choose to feed high protein food content (28% or more, preferably a minimum of 30%). 

I think if I were to have a lazy small size dog, I would choose high protein food (30% or 32 % or more).  That way, he does not get as much carbohydrates (when eating too much carbs is not good for dogs or humans anyway).  I think if you take a look at www.dogfoodproject.com or www.seespotlivelonger.com and other similar websites, they will say the same thing.... cut back grains/carbs.

 P.S. I do agree with you that everything should be in moderation and get your dogs some exercise.  As much as my toes would hurt, I take my dog for a 2 to 3 mile walk or run daily and then, if my joints don't scream too bad, we would then go on 4 to 5 mile hike on weekends.  If I can't take him, I will then put him on a treadmill....lol.  I do have quite a well defined lab as a result.

Pomeranian <3

 

Protein levels support the metabolism if you are ACTIVE. For her dog... I don't think 32% Crude Protein would benefit. That's what I'm saying

  I disagree; calories are what make a dog fat, not protein. Jessie gets about 30 to 35% protein and I have no problem maintaining her ideal weight. I have a booklet by Monica Segal, who is an animal nutritionist, and the recipes are in the lower to mid 30% range for protein.
 

Pomeranian <3

Just because a dog eats more protein or if even a human eats more protein we don't get MORE energy, we just get FAT

Dogs utilize protein and carbohydrates differently than humans.  From http://www.thepetcenter.com/imtop/protein.html

Extra carbohydrate intake, above the immediate needs of the dog (which occurs often with grain-based diets) prompts internal enzyme factors to store that extra carbohydrate (sugar) as fat. 

Give that same dog extra protein and it is excreted through the kidneys and NOT stored as fat.  Knowing this, what do you think would make a better "weight loss diet" for a dog. . . one with grain as the main ingredient or one with a protein-rich meat source as the main ingredient?

My point is that a dog will use protein and fat for energy (resting energy, not just for activity) first, and unless the dog is highly active, will store carbohydrates as fat.

 And, as mentioned, small breeds have a faster metabolism than larger breeds. From Yahoo pets, provided by Purina:

Researchers have established that small dogs possess a dramatically different metabolism as compared to large breed dogs, due to physiologic effects of body mass. For example, studies have shown that a Great Dane weighing 100 pounds needs to consume about 23 calories per pound of body weight every day to maintain condition, whereas a 6-pound Pomeranian must take in 47 calories per pound of weight every day - more than twice as much.

This is why you will see "small" breed formulas from  many dog food companies such as Purina, Royal Canin, Solid Gold, Artemis, etc... Notice that most have protein/fat levels at and around 28/18.

I do realize that different dogs have different needs, and it is not a one size fits all, but it has been my experience that smaller breeds do much better on a higher protein, low carb diet---good skin and coat, bright eyes, and a  more focused energy.

well pom<3 my dog .. as you know.. is VERY lazy.. and ive noticed he is overweight as well.. im going to have to figure something out for him soon.. he isnt eating anything now that ive changed his food around.

but he is so out of shape he is out of breath just climbing my stairs.. my stair case is actualy a twisting one with 2 parts.. 3 steps then 7 then 5.. and he hates doing it. and all he does is lay on the couch.. when its warmer outside and we dont have all the snow/ice.. im going to start taking him to the track with me to walk EVERYDAY and hiking with me and my boyfriend on the weekends.. of course ill do this slowly and not kill the lil guy all at once.. lol

but back to subject.. im actually considering a weight managment food

Lil bit and brandi--

You mention in your first post that you have only had your dog for one week.  Part of the not eating may be due to the stress of adjusting to a new home.  Give it time---he may just be figuring everything out and has not gotten his appetite "figured out".  If he is not interested in eating his morning meal, just remove it and feed again at your normal dinner hour--he'll eventually come around.  Also keep in mind that different dogs have different needs---I have a dog who never eats in the morning---he is strictly an evening eater--so be it--it works for us.

You mention that he is out of shape---Just getting him moving will help a lot.  Your plan to take him to the track is a good one---small walks a couple of times a day to build his stamina.  He is probably lacking in muscle tone, as well, so your choice of the TOTW food is a good one.  The higher protein, lower carb formula will help to build muscle, and give good energy.

I would not try a weight management food, as most are too carb-heavy to promote weight loss and can lead to muscle wasting.

Just be patient and take it slow--he'll come around----he needs time to adjust to his new life.

Lil bit and brandi - a lot of folks here have recommended you to go with high protein and lower grain (carbohydrate) food to help your pet. Weight management food is NOT the way to go to lose weight.  Those formulas are loaded with grains.  If you add all of the grains in those food (you can count how many of them show up on the ingredient list), those foods are heavy in carb (and low in protein).

Why don't you take a look at this www.seespotlivelonger.com under canine health.  You can also download the book for free.  There is an article about obese pet.  Like www.dogfoodproject.com, you should not be feeding weight management food.  Too much carbohydrates are not good for pets (just like they are not good for humans).  In fact, you should really minimize the amount of grains your dog eat.  This is why there are so many dogs nowadays with cancer, diabetes, and etc. 

But, ultimately, it is your choice on what you want to feed your pet.  If you think weight management food or low protein food is the way to go, against the recommendations of majority of the people who responded to your posting, then good luck.  I hope you are successful. 

Pauline

i still have him on the bag of totw.. he dont really like it much anymore but i leave it down until he eats it.

he is eating 1/2 cup a day right now. but his energy level was better yesterday for some reason... he was wanting to go with us everywhere . we drove 2 hours away to a petsmart and took him with us and he did wonderful.. although it wore him out  but ive noticed he seems to be a bit aggressive towards other dogs.. he dont attack them just growl and bark at them bad.

but he was moving all day yesterday.. everytime i left the house he went and i turned him out in the snow and he ran around the house and just walked for a bit