Before we adopted Mr. N, I went to a pet store to ask about food and blindly bought a bag that the salesperson recommended. I didn’t have the first clue about dog food. I didn’t know to ask about where the food was made, what ingredients are good or bad, if the food was grain-free, or even what size bag to buy, really (do not buy dry food in bulk for tiny dogs despite the savings).
I did end up buying a good brand of food but that was sheer luck. Now I know a lot better and I know what questions to ask before buying dog food. The sheer variety that is available today can be overwhelming, especially for people new to the dog world.
I did end up buying a good brand of food but that was sheer luck. Now I know a lot better and I know what questions to ask before buying dog food. The sheer variety that is available today can be overwhelming, especially for people new to the dog world.
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| This blog post is part of a paid Megan Media and Petco’s Wholehearted blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. |
Mr. N has recently been trying out Petco’s new grain-free line, Wholehearted. He is super finicky and often refuses to eat kibble, so I have been giving him Wholehearted consistently so he’s been eating their canned food. He’s pretty tiny and has never had any trouble with bigger-sized kibble when he was sort of kind of eating it but some small dogs struggle especially if they have dental issues. Wholehearted offers both small breed and large breed options as well as food for puppies and adult dogs.
I like to give Mr. N different choices, both so he gets variety and so he doesn’t get bored. He would not be happy eating the same thing every day. Even with treats, I have to make sure I rotate or he loses interest. And I wouldn’t either. I love sushi but if that’s all I had to eat, I imagine I’d get tired of it pretty quickly.
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| The lamb flavor with Mr. N’s nettle root supplement sprinkled over it. |
Petco’s Wholehearted dry food is available in: salmon & pea, chicken & pea, and beef & pea flavors. The canned food comes in: chicken, beef, turkey, chicken & fish and lamb. For the allergic pups out there, the lamb wet food is the only one without chicken or beef, out of the canned varieties.
Wholehearted is affordable, especially for a grain-free dog food (it contains no: corn, wheat, soy, or other grains). It provides vitamins & minerals for balanced nutrition and Omega-3 Fatty Acids which help improve your dog’s skin and coat. The antioxidant formula guarantees levels of Vitamin E, Selenium, and Zinc.
Mr. N prefers the canned food slightly warmed and especially likes it as an after-walk meal on rainy days (i.e. nine months out of the year in Portland) when he comes home dripping wet and needs something warm and nourishing in his belly.
How did you pick your first dog food?
Wholehearted is affordable, especially for a grain-free dog food (it contains no: corn, wheat, soy, or other grains). It provides vitamins & minerals for balanced nutrition and Omega-3 Fatty Acids which help improve your dog’s skin and coat. The antioxidant formula guarantees levels of Vitamin E, Selenium, and Zinc.
Mr. N prefers the canned food slightly warmed and especially likes it as an after-walk meal on rainy days (i.e. nine months out of the year in Portland) when he comes home dripping wet and needs something warm and nourishing in his belly.
How did you pick your first dog food?
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| Dinner time! |
Readers have two chances to win a $50 Petco gift card, once for commenting on this post and once for sharing the post. And one very lucky dog will win the grand prize of an one-year supply of Petco Wholehearted dog food!
September 30, 2016 8:39 am
You are right, beginners are often clueless about good food. People should be encouraged to buy the best they can, but having a loving home and the best food a family can buy is a respectable balance I think.
September 30, 2016 10:20 pm
True. I think it's also more of an issue when people don't know the difference between good and bad nutrition and buy the latter.
September 30, 2016 12:05 pm
I didn't know Petco had their own line. We'll have to check it out.
September 30, 2016 10:13 pm
It's brand new. They just launched it.
September 30, 2016 1:02 pm
I started out with a very popular brand, but I felt like I was paying alot for the 'name'. I switched to a Swedish brand and I couldn't be happier!! It's quality meat, so no meat from rendering or stuffed with antibiotics!! It's important to do proper research! Thank you for sharing!
September 30, 2016 10:14 pm
Oh neat. I'm not as familiar with European brands.
September 30, 2016 1:20 pm
Your story sounds just like mine when we first got our dog! I've never heard of Petco's grain-free line Wholehearted, but it sounds great!
September 30, 2016 10:16 pm
It's a new line. When we had Mr. N over for a trial weekend, his foster sent him home with steak (she home cooks). So we really had no idea what to get haha. And steak regularly is expensive even for his size!
September 30, 2016 2:43 pm
We had no idea Petco had their own line of food, how cool! I love that their grain-free, that is the only thing the Golden can have since they get ear infections easily. Thanks for sharing!
September 30, 2016 10:16 pm
Oh ear infections suck! I'm surprised Mr. N doesn't get them as he has floppy ears but then he also avoids water like the plague. Yeah, it's brand new.
September 30, 2016 6:11 pm
I just saw that Petco came out with their own line on DogFoodAdvisor so i was curious to see reviews. My pups do better on grain free and this looks like a good budget for them.
September 30, 2016 10:19 pm
Yeah, I think it's really nice for people on a budget whose dogs need grain-free and easily accessible.
September 30, 2016 8:28 pm
I was already eating Purina food when I got rescued from the shelter and was in foster care, and Mom still gives me the same food. That one sounds yummy, so I hope she will let me try some mixed in with my kibbles, sometime.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
September 30, 2016 10:19 pm
It would make a nice topper!
September 30, 2016 9:17 pm
I like that this food is grain free & contains Omega 3's, sounds like a healthy choice. When I got my puppy I just used what she was already being fed, but after I became more knowledgeable I started reading labels.
Love & biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
September 30, 2016 10:18 pm
His foster home cooks mostly. If I really needed to, I would but I barely cook for me! So we started from scratch.
September 30, 2016 10:15 pm
We were the same – we had to learn about the best food and nutrition for our cats – there is so much conflicting advice out there. PS. Love that first photo of Mr N.
September 30, 2016 10:17 pm
Haha. Thank you. He likes to come up with his own poses.
September 30, 2016 11:50 pm
We won a supply of the brand Henry is currently eating, but other than that, I prefer to feed Henry something grain free, with Lamb as the main ingredient (better poops!), and relatively affordable but high quality. Love Mr. N's tongue in that first photo!!
October 1, 2016 2:39 am
Its so hard to know whatas right to feed our fur babies, too much conflicting information out there.
October 6, 2016 7:58 am
It can be, yes!
October 1, 2016 2:59 am
He is always such a good boy. Eating foods at body temperature is ideal for digestion, Mr. N seems to know that. 🙂
October 6, 2016 8:03 am
Thanks! Mr. N tries very hard to be good.
October 1, 2016 3:49 am
Barley's first dog food was with a brand I already trusted from dogs I had growing up, but Soth's first cat food was a disaster. I asked the manager at PetSmart who was helping with his adoption since I'd never had a cat before and he directed me to one of the higher end foods–it was way too rich for Soth who had been on cheap kibble at the shelter–and he had digestive problems for ages, so we spent a lot of time trying different brands until we found one he could tolerate.
October 6, 2016 8:04 am
What did you end up with for Soth? I know dogs can have problems with too rich kibble too. The first dog food I ended up with was fine but Mr. N went on a hunger strike and I ended up returning it.
October 1, 2016 11:54 am
Mr N looks like loved his new chow will definitely check the product out
October 6, 2016 8:04 am
Thanks! It just debuted in the US.
October 1, 2016 12:20 pm
The pet food world really is a minefield. At least I think so. There are so many brands, all making various claims, it's hard to know what to buy. I've picked up packs of dog food that made fantastic claims on the packet, yet the first few ingredients were nothing but cereals and by products. It's important to educate ourselves about the best food for our pets, and what the actual ingredients mean.
October 6, 2016 8:05 am
Oh I agree with you. It can be super complicated!
October 1, 2016 10:12 pm
I'd never heard of this brand, but it sounds good! I cringe to think what we fed our first couple of dogs – I can't even tell you. We were completely clueless back then (at least I can say that was over 20 years ago!).
Now there is so much to choose from though, it can really be overwhelming.
Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets
October 6, 2016 8:06 am
There are lot more options now for sure. Now you have me curious!
October 2, 2016 7:21 pm
I did not know about this brand so next time I am at PetCo am going to check it out – thanks for the info
October 6, 2016 8:07 am
Yes, it's brand new!
October 2, 2016 10:32 pm
"Know better, do better" is a favourite quote of mine. Thank you for passing your knowledge on to others!
October 6, 2016 8:07 am
Exactly! That's all we can strive to do.
October 2, 2016 10:40 pm
You make such a good point about first time dog owners not always knowing what questions to ask about food and, I think we now know that the source and quality of the ingredients really does impact our dog's long term health. I didn't know that Petco had its own line of grain free food. Thanks for sharing!
October 6, 2016 8:08 am
Petco just launched it. I was so completely clueless when I first went in!
October 2, 2016 11:45 pm
I had no idea about this food being available at Petco. Sounds pretty good. I think most new pet parents are just learning what good and whats not.
October 6, 2016 8:09 am
Yup. And I didn't grow up with dogs or have close contact with dogs much really so I was clueless.
October 3, 2016 12:02 am
Mr. N is very lucky to have a Mom who works so hard at ensuring both his mental and physcial health is the best it can be. Keep up the fun adventures and good eating.
October 6, 2016 8:09 am
Thank you! I'm lucky to have him and I'd like to have him as long as possible and happy!
October 3, 2016 12:09 am
This sounds like a great canned food! I can't blame Mr. N for being picky. I'm a picky eater too. He wants nothing but the best! Finding out what foods are best for my cats has been a journey. I chose a food based on an in-store recommendation at first too.
-Purrs from your friends at http://www.PlayfulKitty.net
October 6, 2016 8:10 am
Oh Mr. N would have starved at a shelter. Or conned a volunteer out of their lunch. He has standards lol.
October 3, 2016 12:20 am
I got Gracie when I was only 14. I fed her what my parents fed their dogs- 4health by Tractor Supply. Luckily it is not a bad food! Of course, later on I learned more about dog nutrition and what to look for in dog foods. Gracie now eats raw and I rotate the kibble I feed.
October 6, 2016 8:11 am
Sounds like Gracie has a good diet!
October 3, 2016 12:55 am
My parents always bought dog food from the grocery store, so that is what I did with my first dogs. My vet recommended we switch brands, so we did that. Nelly has allergies, so I read the labels carefully. My dogs don't normally get canned food, but they love it when they do!
October 6, 2016 8:02 am
I'm glad you found something that works for you. Label reading is a must with allergic dogs!
October 3, 2016 1:20 am
I have to agree that knowing what you're feeding your pet is as important as what you feed yourself! Great post!
October 6, 2016 8:01 am
Thank you. Even more important maybe as humans get a lot more variety than dogs do!
October 3, 2016 4:55 am
My mom's dog has a lot of tummy issues and allergies. I wonder if this would be good for him.
October 6, 2016 7:57 am
What kind of food is he on now?
October 4, 2016 4:23 am
Oh dear, I'm glad I'm not alone! I also bought a HUGE bag of food on my first dogmom shopping trip… I soon realised it would be better utilised by my local rescue group. I also agree about offering variety… but I'm not sure I'd be heating it up & serving it with a nice glass of wine 😉
October 6, 2016 7:56 am
Well you think it would make sense to buy in bulk right?
October 4, 2016 4:21 pm
Looks interesting. What do you use the nettle root supplement for?
October 6, 2016 7:55 am
Allergies and itching. We just started about two weeks ago. I have a trial packet so I'm waiting to see how he does.
October 5, 2016 4:17 am
i like that it is grain free, which is what i feed my dogs. i like having canned food in the case for emergencies and when the girls have dental cleanings. i like the salmon and pea. i feed the girls some salmon for treats. my youngest is a picky eater, one day she likes the food i give and the next she wont eat it. i like it has omega 3 in it for skin and health.
October 6, 2016 7:51 am
Mr. N is a picky eater too. It can be frustrating!
October 8, 2016 7:52 am
A new brand with healthy ingredients is always helpful!
October 8, 2016 7:52 am
A new brand with healthy ingredients is always helpful!
October 28, 2016 3:57 am
Affordable pet food with quality ingredients has been hard to come by, but this sounds like a winner.
August 5, 2017 12:35 pm
My dog has allergies and the wholehearted salmon and peas is a winner!