Dry Dog Foods 2018 Corrections
It seems that every year when we compile our “Approved Dry Dog Foods” list in the February issue we accidentally leave a company that we admire off the list. Well, this year we somehow left off two: Annamaet and Zignature. We regret the omission.
We have included information about both companies’ offerings below. We have inserted this into the online version of the approved foods list so you can see where these companies’ foods fit into the complete list, which was presented this year in descending order by the average price per pound of the companies’ foods.
Judging by the mail we have received so far, ordering the list this way (as opposed to our usual alphabetical method), was unpopular with our readers. Many were frustrated by how long it took them to find their favorites.
We thought readers might find it interesting to know which foods are the most expensive products on the market and which are the least expensive foods that are on our approved foods list. We also thought that readers might be interested to learn which products are in the same price “ballpark” as the foods they feed their dogs. Okay; though we might include the average price per pound in our food coverage again in the future, we’ll return to an alphabetical list next year.
Interestingly, a number of people have commented that it would be more helpful to them if we would rank the foods – to list them in order of “quality.” The thing is, this year’s list, with the foods ordered by average price per pound, probably comes closer to doing that than any list we’ve created in the past 20 years. As we often say, you can’t buy filet mignon at hamburger prices; the use of top-quality ingredients (especially from certified organic, humane, and/or sustainable sources) necessarily results in higher-priced foods.
What some people seem to want us to do is something we can’t do: tell them which foods are “best” for their dog. Only your dog can “tell you” that, by his response to the foods you feed him. All of the products on our list are great foods. Choose some that are in your price range, see how your dog responds, and switch to another if he doesn’t thrive.
– Nancy Kerns, Editor
Whole Dog Journal
Challenges of Puppyhood
I just wanted to thank you with all my heart for “The Puppy Raising Challenge,” from the November 2017 issue.
I had a frustrating, exhausting, miserable day yesterday and today with my 12-week-old mini goldendoodle and was about to tear my hair out after he almost choked on his eleventh acorn today. I was feeling very much alone and that I had made a terrible decision to get this puppy at my age (68). The house is a mess, laundry is piling up, nothing is getting done, and I didn’t even get the “puppy socialization list” even nearly done and he is 12 weeks today, so I missed my chance for the perfect puppy. Guilt, guilt, guilt!
I happened to see the November WDJ sitting under the huge pile of unopened mail and Christmas catalogs and somehow saw the puppy article highlighted on the front page. I stuck my little guy in his crate and collapsed in a chair and read it.
A rainbow suddenly appeared in my kitchen. I felt SO much better – like I wasn’t a total failure and somebody actually understood what I was going through. And maybe I can do this after all! And it is okay that Lorenzo hasn’t met farm animals yet!
Thank you so much for that article. It really gave me the boost I needed to plow ahead and made me feel like I am not the worst puppy mama in the world. You really made a difference to someone who needed you today.
Marcia Keller
Lyme, New Hampshire
You are welcome! We hope you will also find it helpful to read author/trainer Nancy Tucker’s article in this issue, on what to expect during your pup’s adolescence!
