I have latched on to the dogfoodproject as my guru.  Mordanna (dogfoodproject is her website) has been researching dog food since 2000 and she has extensive education in biology, chemistry, nutrition/dietetics, animal nutrition, care, physiology, diseases and parasitology, which she shares generously.  She is also certified in animal care.  She has previously discussed why she often disagrees with the dogfoodanalysis website and the Whole Dog Journals views on dog food.  She offers nutritional consultations for a fee but has no financial stake in any brand of dog food so she is unbiased.  She started researching foods to find a better food for her dog but now prepares her dogs meals herself but still has contact with the nutritionists at the various dog food companies.  She has shared instances of companies ignoring her requests for info and their attempts at deception.  I tend to value her opinion highly and I get carried away when discussing food for our beloved little ones.  I went through a lot of crap food and my dog paid the price for my ignorance with a ligament injury probably brought on by being 8 or 9 pounds overweight.

I don't have a problem with grains or carbs either,  the kibble I'm currently feeding has both.  I may go back to reduced fat EVO  for Lucky this winter if he starts to gain weight again.  When he's less active in the cold weather he seems to do better on low carb, grain free food.

I should have explained the protein percentage. I was looking at Nature's Variety raw medallions which are 13% protein and 68% moisture. To compare that with kibble, which is usually about 10% moisture,  you have to figure the % on a dry matter basis. 13% with 68% moisture works out to around 41% protein. A 42% protein kibble with 10% moisture is about 47% protein on a dry matter basis.

I'm also feeding Eagle Pack for one meal and raw(dehydrated) for the other.  Good for you for watching the calories.  So many people feel guilty and tend to over feed, but I've been there and seen the nasty results so now I have no problem feeding smaller portions of high quality food. The difference in Lucky at 20 pounds instead of 28 pounds is amazing and so good to see.

I'm pretty sure my two are the best fed on my block too.

did they mention EVO??

Yogi is just a WIERDO! 

This a.m. was his first NV Raw Chick patties trial....3 medallions room temp...cut up in a little of his kibble.

He stared at it like it was globs of poison....so did the CAT. They both just sniffed and stared very suspiciously.

THEN...he removed each piece from the bowl and placed them in various places in my liv room. (I thought he was going to take them outside and bury them!) UGH!

He ate  a couple of little pieces....now he is lying on the floor staring at the remaining pieces. (so is the CAT)

He gets up, looks nervously at it, and then tiptoes around it....SHEESH!!!!

Now he's lying there, staring at it again. Looking forlorn...

Glad I got the small $5 bag (13Medallions)!!!!!

I think he's just used to my flavorful cooking!!!!

If he keeps this up, maybe I'll have to season and cook it for him???? I have 10 more left!

My Labs would have inhaled that stuff!!!!!

Mr Picky is the worst!!!

I asked and she frowned. I think it is made by a bad plant or something. She didnt get into it. It wa splacedw ith the "lower" quality foods on the shelf too.

I am so scared to feed no grain, I tried Solid Gold at one point becuase it was grain free and Fred didn't like it and he had very loose stool.  He did not do well. After researching further I think I am going the Natures Variety Praire route. I am going to mix in some of the raw with it for "rotation". I have ordered the book Pet Food Nation and will read it and try to learn more. For now, I hope Natures Variety Prarie will be the right choice.

1st a pup that size should not be eating 1 CUP A DAY, unless you give her NO TREATS!

 my babies are 7 mos old and weigh 12lbs. they eat 1/2 to 3/4 cup daily... with 2 baby carrots, and a kong of carrot and PB.

Natures Variety recommends switching between the "flavors" to give a wioder variety of protein sources.

That's exactly what I planned to do, rotate among the prarie kibble for variety and throw some raw medallions in too. I think I am okay with my choice.

I went today and got a small bag of Nature's Variety Instinct Chicken Meal Formula kibble.  I will start transitioning them from the Canidae to the Nature's Variety this evening for their dinner.   A 4.4 lbs bag was $10.99 and I can get it at a store close to where I used to by Canidae so that's good. 

YUMMY!   Max likes his Nature's Variety Chicken - but it's not Instinct

Right now I am torn between California Natural and Natures Select, with the leaning more toward Natures Select..........that's where I am at with this whole debackle.

well the core formula is grain free and has more protein than the puppy formula, so i'm leaning more towards that... i just can't see why they say to wait til they're a year old to feed the core

Ivy is on the wellness puppy doing really good, nice coat ect...

I think I want to go with core but we will see if they make changes!!!

let us know how solid gold works that is another one I have considered for Ivy