Switching food but not brand

[duke]

I currently feed my Springer cross Skinners field and trial working 23, shes lost interest in it now as i think shes just bored of it after being on it for the last 4 years. I was looking at swapping her to Skinners Duck and Rice to mix things up a bit, what im wondering though is do i have to phase this new feed in or can i just do a swap? i do still have some of the old food left so if i have to i can.

I know with some brands you can just change flavours with no issue.

Thanks

[nanalander]

Well, I don't know if I'm the best to answer but I noticed you feed skinners and I do .
Mine have turkey and rice with the added joint aid supplement. Before I put them on it a few months ago, I asked at the local farmers store (moles valley ) for some samples of all the skinners range. She found about six or seven samples, at feeding time I offered the dogs abit of each to see what they preferred, it was definitely the turkey and rice for both of them. I suppose it is pandering to them, and perhaps other people don't go this far? Otherwise you could try abit of tinned sardine mixed in, and abit of warm water mixed in. I find if you can get their nose in they will get get stuck in, unless their poorly.

[ips]

I feed mine Arden grange and swap between a few different flavours every few months and have never had any problems

[Stacia]

Why don't you phone Skinners and ask their advice, they are very helpful.

[Judy]

Phase the new one in over three or four days, they are completely different foods even though both made by Skinners.

[CockerCanuck]

First let me be clear I know nothing about the brands or UK dog food. However I have had a few dogs over the years with sensitive digestive systems. I would say if the dog is doing well on the food don't switch. Even if they show less enthusiasm for it don't worry about it. No dog has ever starved to death with a bowl of good quality food in front of it. I find they go through phases when they eat more or less but do so regardless of what is put in front of them. If the dog is doing fine but you do decide to switch anyway I would mix them 25% new to 75% old for a day or two then 50/50 then 75/25.

If the dog is showing signs of severe digest upset this is a very different situation and I would do a 100% immediate switch but that does not sound like you issue.

[Naj]

First let me be clear I know nothing about the brands or UK dog food. However I have had a few dogs over the years with sensitive digestive systems. I would say if the dog is doing well on the food don't switch. Even if they show less enthusiasm for it don't worry about it. No dog has ever stared to death with a bowl of good quality food in front of it. I find they go through phases when they eat more or less but do so regardless of what is put in front of them. If the dog is doing fine but you do decide to switch anyway I would mix them 25% new to 75% old for a day or two then 50/50 then 75/25.

If the dog is showing signs of severe digest upset this is a very different situation and I would do a 100% immediate switch but that does not sound like you issue.

You can also educate a healthy dog to wait it out in the expectation of what other tasty morsel you’ll throw in the bowl for their delectation if you’re not careful, and all of a sudden you have a ‘fussy’ eater when it’s really a learned behaviour that you’ve taught. Not saying that’s the case here. And dogs are more often than not overfed by owners who can’t believe how little the required amount of kibble looks in the bowl, some dogs will also self regulate what they ingest. Other than that I’ve no problem with changing now and again because it must be very boring for dogs to get fed the same stuff forever. And it’s quite an enrichment for their owners to keep playing about with their dog’s diet too.

Naj

[Nickheref]

I have never had a fussy eater but my wife claims her cat is a fussier eater, well he is not when she is away and I am in charge, if he doesn't want it he goes without!! She is always surprised how well he eats the food he was a bit bored with when she left after she comes home!

[Springcopse spaniels]

I would rather feed saw dust swept off the floor than feed skinners, about the same quality.

[Springfield Pointers]

I would rather feed saw dust swept off the floor than feed skinners, about the same quality.