Our Recommendations:
Thank you for checking out our diet recommendations. We take nutrition seriously here at Beach Cotons, and researched multiple brands and types of dog food to be able to feed our dogs and puppies the best food available to meet their needs, without compromise. If there is a food you would like us to consider, please, let us know.
We personally do not feed food containing chicken or turkey, as some dogs have allergies to it. We additionally prefer grain-free nutrition, and for growing puppies foods with calcium levels less than 1.3%, as we have noticed foods higher in calcium have a tendency to cause the bones to grow too quickly in our puppies.
We are fans of the Dog Food Advisor website that reviews and rates most dog food commercially available, grades it based on nutritional value, and also reports dog food recalls and warnings. With 5 being their highest star rating, we will not feed or recommend foods rated below 4 stars, with the exception of a few newer high quality foods that have yet to be reviewed and rated.
We feel it is important to include more than one food type and manufacturer in our dog’s diet. Variety is an important part of nutrition. For the most part, our dogs enjoy a moist breakfast, raw, with puppies during weaning occasionally eating canned, and a dry food in the evening. We supplement our morning meal, alternately, with whole milk yogart, blueberries, steamed white fish, or salmon, sardines with skin and bone attached and quail, eggs served on top. We make many of our treats, including beef liver and sweet potato chips, here at home in our food dehydrator.
The cornerstone of the diet we feed our Cotons is a raw diet. We have been including raw food in our pet’s diets since the 1980’s with great success. Over the years we have fed many brands, including a home prepared variety. In 2013 we were introduced to a raw food made by a company called Darwin. It has been a staple for us over the years, and is our favorite raw diet, has earned our trust, and our highest recommendation. Darwin has provided us with a custom link where you can learn more about the excellent quality food they produce, and receive 50% off your first order.
Absent from our review are the fresh cooked, fresh lightly cooked and freeze dried foods. Undoubtedly, there are some good selections there. However, in our experience, our dogs have frequently not enjoyed the fresh cooked and lightly cooked foods we introduced. Concerning the freeze dried varieties we have found, far too often, they rate significantly less than frozen varieties, frequently rated under 4 stars. The fresh cooked, fresh lightly cooked and freeze dried varieties are often the most expensive options available; and, it is our opinion, nutritionally they do not provide greater benefits. We have tried these foods, but do not have them in rotation.
We have placed the food into three categories, dry, canned and raw, and are pleased to share our recommendations with you.