Why do breeders feed ProPlan?

We have acquaintances who are breeders and show extensively, and many weekends I exercise and feed their dogs while they are away.  They feed Pro Plan and look down their noses at me, who feeds a measly, "unbalanced" homemade diet. ;) 

Anyway, I have to say that the new "shredded pieces" or whatever they call it = GROSS!  They are big spongey hunks of stuff in the kibble, reminds me of something you'd find in Kibbles & Bits.  I've read that a lot of people who had excellent results with the original PP are not happy with the shredded stuff.  No wonder - blech!  The texture of them makes me shudder. 

skyehi

They feed Pro Plan and look down their noses at me, who feeds a measly, "unbalanced" homemade diet. ;)

   I have nothing against home cooking; Jessie gets a home cooked diet based on the 2006 NRC recommendations. I had a consultation with Sabine Contreras (Mordanna) and she formulated the diet. Jessie is doing great and her coat is beautiful. It's just that if I were feeding a puppy I would want to insure it was getting all the required nutrients in the right balance and would be more likely to use a puppy food that has been carefully researched. Looks like you're fairly new here; welcome to the forum.

skyehi

I've read that a lot of people who had excellent results with the original PP are not happy with the shredded stuff. 

Chuffy

 It's the fact that it's **Nestle** that bothers me.  A known unscrupulous fat cat corporate company that owns everything and has so much money because money is all they care about.... Bleurgh.  No thanks.

I find it amazing that these foods that are so supported by breeders, vets etc.. are owned by companies such as Nestle, Mars, Colgate-Palmolive and Procter and Gamble - the authorities on nutrition!  That is enough to scare me way from feeding them.

jenns

are owned by companies such as Nestle, Mars, Colgate-Palmolive and Procter and Gamble - the authorities on nutrition! 

 I don't know about the other companies, but I know Nestle owns Purina. Have you heard of the Purina protein study; they proved senior dogs lived longer when fed a higher protein diet. Royal Canin did a similar study in which they proved that senior dogs needed more protein to maintain their muscles as they aged. As a result, both companies increased the amount of protein in their senior foods. Holistic companies like Eagle Pack benefit from this research in formulating their senior foods.

Why breeders specifically choose this food has been pretty well covered though.  The points, the breeders programs and personal preference.  History with the food is a biggie too.

I would never even consider a breeder whose "warranty" is voided by not feeding a specific food, no matter how good that food is.  That's a bit like a car dealer demanding that I use ONLY X brand of gasoline and X brad of oil and X brand of other fluids if I want my warranty to be in tact.  I don't think so.

losinsusan

Results speak for themselves.  I seriously doubt that the dog was ADHD on Purina and suddenly focused on the other food.  That is ridiculous!

I just had to reply because mudpuppy hate Pro Plan all you want but I do not believe that it will effect the dogs hyperactivity.

I can tell you that certain foods definitely *can* effect hyperactivity.  There are certain horses that are high as kites and definitely unfocused when fed too much grain.  when the horse is switched to a more forage based diet with a bit more fat they often become much more level headed.

skyehi

Anyway, I have to say that the new "shredded pieces" or whatever they call it = GROSS!  They are big spongey hunks of stuff in the kibble, reminds me of something you'd find in Kibbles & Bits.  I've read that a lot of people who had excellent results with the original PP are not happy with the shredded stuff. 

Yup, I have a friend who fed her boxers PPP for years, but stopped when they went to that new formula.  She, too, was completely grossed out with the weird shredded pieces, and her dogs wouldn't touch the new formula.

aerial1313

skyehi

Anyway, I have to say that the new "shredded pieces" or whatever they call it = GROSS!  They are big spongey hunks of stuff in the kibble, reminds me of something you'd find in Kibbles & Bits.  I've read that a lot of people who had excellent results with the original PP are not happy with the shredded stuff. 

Yup, I have a friend who fed her boxers PPP for years, but stopped when they went to that new formula.  She, too, was completely grossed out with the weird shredded pieces, and her dogs wouldn't touch the new formula.

 I knew there would be a lot of unhappy people when the formula changed and there certainly has been. It is one thing to change food that is marketed towards pet owners but a lot of serious breeders/handlers use ProPlan and those sorts of customers don't take well to "improving" the forumla that has worked for them. Purina really lowered the quality of PP with this hange - semi moist, spongey bits, the new bags also weigh less and from my understanding there are less calories per cup of food now as well.

 Yes, through the magic of the addition of propylene glycol, they can put fewer actual high-quality ingredients without reducing the kcals per cup even more, plus the weight that you see is now much more moisture - ie, the dry matter basis for all key nutrients, per kg, is now lower.

It's very cool.  If I ever had any respect for this company, they would have lost it entirely through this ploy. 

sillysally

losinsusan

Results speak for themselves.  I seriously doubt that the dog was ADHD on Purina and suddenly focused on the other food.  That is ridiculous!

I just had to reply because mudpuppy hate Pro Plan all you want but I do not believe that it will effect the dogs hyperactivity.

 

I can tell you that certain foods definitely *can* effect hyperactivity.  There are certain horses that are high as kites and definitely unfocused when fed too much grain.  when the horse is switched to a more forage based diet with a bit more fat they often become much more level headed.

Discovering that a high protein diet helped Bugsy be more focused and calm was an absolute godsend when he was a pup.  Diet does matter.

Yes, absolutely.  Diet does matter.  And MEAT protein is more easily used by dogs than plant protein.

However, many folks have used PP for years, have had success with it, or what appears to be success, and figure that if it ain't broke, why fix it?  It is very difficult to convince folks that what appears to be a thriving dog could REALLY thrive on a better diet.  And better is relative.  The holistic foods, such as Blue, Innova and the others, to ME look to be a better diet, while to others, probably look like just so much horse pooey and another way to make money.

Read the RC ingredients someday.  They have a formula for every breed, but, if you read the ingredients, they are pretty much identical.  Oh, I'm sure they'll say that there are varying amounts of the same ingredients depending on breed, but, bottom line?  To me, that's horse pooey and a good way to get more shelf space.  To an RC fan, I'm all wet.

I am sure that these huge companies that make many different things have experts, etc in eachfield.  If i remember right, SarahLee--you know the froxzen desserts and great bread, etc, and Samsonite Luggage are owned by the same compnay.  i can't rmemeber who bought out who.  However, i am quite sure the one making the luggage knows nothing about baking bread or making cheesecakes for the market, and the ones doing the bakng know nothing about making luggage.  Can you say that samsonite luggage is no longer any good because it is made by Sara Lee, or that Sara Lee cheesecakes are not longer good because they are being made by Samsonite?

 Is knda like a deparement  store.  My dad (manager of sporting goods)could tell you anything you wanted to know about sporting goods, but not a thing in the world about china and crystal--except you eat off the plates, drink out of the glasses.   .My mom worked in the woman's clothing and she could tell you what color and style was in, what style dress a person should wear, but she could not tel you the difference between a .410 ga shotgun and a 12 ga. shotgun, between a H&H spinner (lure) or a Devilhorse (lure.)  Neither my mom nor my dad would have been able to do the crredit managers job. 

The thing is, it was all one store, owned by one company, but all the different departments had people in them that knew their "product" but not others.  So i most certainly can not hold it against Nestle, Mars, etc because they make dog food as well as human food, and for all I know, may also be into making paint, luggage, recliner chairs (under different name) and that does not mean all their products except for candy bars or cocoa is no good becaue "candy makers are making these other products." 

 In all honesty, I hate seeing well known companies being bought out by others until one company may own several dozen other companies....each retaning their original name.  But this in no way means that the products are not as good as ever or possibily better, because they were bought out. 

sandra_slayton

 In all honesty, I hate seeing well known companies being bought out by others until one company may own several dozen other companies....each retaning their original name.  But this in no way means that the products are not as good as ever or possibily better, because they were bought out. 

Maybe not, but if the company that ultimately profits from my purchase is Nestle, I put the item back on the shelf.  I have a Thing about Nestle.  I do not give a monkey's wossname how GOOD the product is.  I. Do. Not. Like. Nestle.  

jessies_mom

Looks like you're fairly new here; welcome to the forum

 Naw, just a long-time lurker, since the ol' I-Dog days.  But thank you!    I was quoting the breeders I had mentioned, not any poster in this thread (sorry if it came across that way!).

glenmar

However, many folks have used PP for years, have had success with it, or what appears to be success, and figure that if it ain't broke, why fix it?  It is very difficult to convince folks that what appears to be a thriving dog could REALLY thrive on a better diet..