Dog Community

Should we be thanking Purina?

Posted : 6/30/2006 6:44:51 AM

Ok, I have been doing some thinking about some of the big dog food companies and how they impact competitive dog sports. I know many of us here (myself included) discourage people from feeding their pets food like Iams/Eukanuba, Pedigree and Purina. We prefer to feed our dogs what we call “premium foods” from companies like Wysong, Natural Balance, Wellness, Timber Wolf, or Innova. We “poo-poo” these companies saying that their products are awful and we discourage people from supporting these companies. Yet, it is these same companies that sponsor many of our televised (and non-televised) doggie events and competitions. I know I have seen one if not more of these “big name” dog food companies sponsoring, conformation, agility, flyball, Frisbee, and dock diving events. Where would these events be without their sponsorship?

So I guess my question to you all would be, do we really want people not to buy products such from Purina, Pedigree and Iams? If we got our wish and everyone stopped buying from them and these companies stopped sponsoring doggie events, who would pick up the slack? Or is it ok to let these companies sponsor our events, allowing them to be associated with dog owners who actually disapprove of the company#%92s products and ethics?

I personally am not sure where I stand, I know I would hate to see any of our dog events lose popularity due to lack of sponsorship, but I don#%92t like the “big name” dog food companies either. I think in an ideal world I would like to see these big companies change their ingredients. But I am curious as to what everyone else thinks

pumaward

Posted : 6/30/2006 7:13:10 AM

Honestly, if eveyone stopped buying them and X brand instead... I suspect X brand would step up in their place.

Firestorm

Posted : 6/30/2006 7:35:31 AM

Dasher there are alot of us who have dogs that do not do well on the premium brands and do very well on Purina. Right now my dog is on purina one and his coat and health seem to be good. The more premium brands gave him diarhea and upset stomach. So I guess it is better that he is on a food which is not only palatable but isn't giving him digestive issues. I think that the big companies have done alot of good and I guess if anyone has a problem with their products that they should write them a polite letter and ask them to create a food like the premium food companies.

Its much easier for people to get their hands on Purina and Iams and Eukanuba then the premium brands. So it could also come down to a conveince thing.
Please don't reprimand me for feeding what I do right now...its what works for my dog andmaybe someone else will come out with something he won't have a problem with. If he gets sick from the premium foods then they are not good for him.

dasher

Posted : 6/30/2006 7:42:25 AM

Please don't reprimand me for feeding what I do right now...

Firestorm - Sorry if you misunderstood my post, I am not reprimanding anyone for whatever they feed or don't feed thier dogs. My question was along the lines of asking the people who don't feed Purina, Pedigree, Iams, etc. if they feel if these companies were no longer around what may or may not happen to dog competitons as these companies sponsor many of these events. Its really not about dog nutrition, its about competitive dog sports.

Sorry if you misunderstood.

micksmom

Posted : 6/30/2006 7:53:17 AM

ORIGINAL: Firestorm

Dasher there are alot of us who have dogs that do not do well on the premium brands and do very well on Purina. Right now my dog is on purina one and his coat and health seem to be good...

Firestorm, you're not alone. For all but 3 years of his 15 1/2 years, Mick's been a Purina dog. He started out on Puppy Chow, and, as a young adult Kibble and Chunks. Those were not his best years, allergy wise. Once I switched him to ONE Lamb & Rice, his ear infections, hot spots and dandruff went away. I did "upgrade" to Pro Plan awhile ago. I spent 3 years trying better foods (Canidae, Nature's Variety, Natural Balance), only to have more hot spots and ear infections than I did while he was eating ONE and Pro Plan. I gave up a couple of years ago and put him back on Pro Plan.

...Please don't reprimand me for feeding what I do right now...its what works for my dog ...

No reprimanding here. My personal opinion is, feed what works. Our Husky/GSD lived to be 17. For the 10 years we had him, he ate Purina Hi Pro, then Gaines Cycle. Only problems he had were age related- he was going deaf when we got him, and he went blind from a stroke about 6 months before he died.

amstaffy

Posted : 6/30/2006 9:13:31 AM

Dasher,
Not only do they support those events but for anyone who saves their weight circles and submits them and has signed up with their parent clubs designation Purina also donates to the AKC/CHF health funds designated by breed for research in the donor advised fund.

I am a Pro Club member. I've fed Purina many, many years. I've just in the past two years tried other foods because suddenly my dogs didn't want it.

I am now feeding Canidae all life stages to all the dogs, even my pups. Funny thing I started the pups out on the new Purina selects...the coats looked great, high energy and poops were of good consistancy. Now on the Canidae they are flacky skined and poop is soft.

I do what works for my dogs, if it is Purina so be it...I've tried Solid Gold, Nature's Variety and EVO...Markie did great on Solid Gold but no one else did, everyone else loved the Nature's Variety and Bubba does best on Brightlife fish and potatoe and I can't find it any where!!

Just one food would be nice but I haven't found IT yet

mudpuppy

Posted : 6/30/2006 9:14:08 AM

These companies can afford to sponsor big events because they are selling foods made with cheap ingredients and making money hand over fist. Instead of commending them, shouldn't we get angry about their products? Some of their lines have ok ingredients, but some of their stuff is flat-out awful. If these companies cared at all about dogs, how can they justify selling things like Purina's HiPro and Beneful? Have you read the ingredients in a bag of Beneful? I was truly shocked.

dasher

Posted : 6/30/2006 9:32:42 AM

Not only do they support those events but for anyone who saves their weight circles and submits them and has signed up with their parent clubs designation Purina also donates to the AKC/CHF health funds designated by breed for research in the donor advised fund.

Yes, this is what I am talking about! I am greatful to companies like Purina for what they contribute to the dog community. Even though I may or may not buy thier products, I am greatful they are around for all the sponsorships and programs they help fund. [

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loveukaykay

Posted : 6/30/2006 9:35:12 AM

I agree with what was said before. If people quit buying from them because of what people like us may say... then a more holistic company would be that big instead and they would do it in their place. The business has to go somewhere.

Also, keep in mind this is great advertising for them. They do it all for their own benefit too.

With their "in" with vets and everything I have to say no one is going to change that. Unless they hugely mess up and take themselves out of the market I wouldnt really worry about their company going down because lots of folks recommend a higher quality.

willowchow

Posted : 6/30/2006 9:41:18 AM

Well, I think if these companies were no longer around then this type of huge sponsorship would not continue as the smaller companies just wouldn't be able to do it. And, I don't think the smaller companies would suddenly start having a much bigger business as most people will draw the line at how much they spend on a bag of dog food.

Also, I'm hearing lots of people saying their dogs do well on this type of food. So, if they no longer existed what would they do?

I find it interesting how people stick to their guns, you must feed this "premium" food despite the dog not doing well on it. If the dog is sick on it or not eating it what does it matter what's in it??

rwbeagles

Posted : 6/30/2006 9:48:03 AM

Jaime yes...they do so much for DOGS, not just purebred dogs either...they spend a lot of time and money doing their part for shelters as well. And since when did it become a bad thing for a company to "make money hand over fist"? I think that's the point of any business....even those great food companies ONLY started their businesses to make money and profit, otherwise they'd be giving their foods away. I have no issue with a company doing things to make money IF some of that money is then reinvested in their buyer base. This is ideal. Fact is they are not the sole reason SOME feel the health of dogs is going down...which I for one don't agree with at all.

To answer the question...I think their sponsorship is great...and I think the money they have to spread around is great...and I think if everyone in America stopped buying their product you'd find one of the 'good' companies would step in...have to mass produce their food to keep up with incredible demand...and begin changing and cutting corners and doing things more cheaply because NOT everyone in America is going to pay $40 a bag for their dog food...period. They'd HAVE to cheapen things down, use cheaper ingredients or make a less expensive line made less expensively, with less "high quality" ingredients...period.

mudpuppy

Posted : 6/30/2006 9:55:12 AM

I think selling Beneful to the ignorant public is criminal. I can't believe that stuff is legal. If the company spent a little less on advertising and fancy packaging, they could easily up-grade the ingredients without having to charge more per pound.

agilebasenji

Posted : 6/30/2006 10:09:23 AM

Most of the events I've done are not sponsored. I don't think I've ever been to a stand alone agility trial that was sponsored by any big name company. I'd certainly welcome it if it kept entry fees down, but I don't think it works that way. I do know the Sunflower Cluster was sponsored by Pedigree when I went. (I know this b/c my brindlewonderkid got best in field and we came home with a Pedigree chair and a Pedigree food bag that's now filled with Evo.) But I don't remember the entry fees being lower because of it. You have to remember that the big companies that sponsor this condsider it advertising and that's why they are willing to spend the $$$$.

rwbeagles

Posted : 6/30/2006 10:25:53 AM

Dasher I can't say I've ever felt bad about attending a show because Purina/Pedigree was sponsoring it.

I subscribe to the Penn & Teller theory that, if I have the time and disposable income to do something like show my dog,...then I probably am better off than some people in America, who have likely a few more serious worries in their lives than I do, and should be grateful, and enjoy it lol! []

rwbeagles

Posted : 6/30/2006 10:28:55 AM

Agile I'm not sure on this...but I do think a couple of the co's keep stats and such, and rankings...provide trophies...and help defray venue costs, etc. It is all advertising...but they provide some services to the dog folks...aside from the donations to the health reasearch and shelter programs etc. It's no different than any other sport IMO NASCAR where you can barely see the cars under all the stickers...football...baseball....anything really!