Hello
Thank you for letting me join this amazing site.
I have 2 gorgeous standard poodles, Lilly (5 in Dec) and Alfie (just turned 2). Anyone who knows the breed will understand just how picky they can be when it comes to food.
Lilly is particularly fussy, I have to give her variety otherwise she will go days without eating. To make things even more complicated, she has recently been diagnosed with Addison's, and one symptom of Addison's is lack of appetite. I have my work cut out!
About 8 months ago I spotted Royal Canin Poodle food in Pets at Home and thought I'd try it (if only I knew then what I know now). This is the ONLY food Lilly has never lost interest in (except just before her addison's diagnosis). Unfortunately, it is not suitable for standard poodles only toy and miniatures, which I found out when I contacted Royal Canin concerning the feeding guide. At that point I was already a third through a 15kg bag and RC told me it would not do any harm to finish the bag although they gave me no advice on the quantity to feed; so I guessed based on the information on the bag. Lilly piled on the weight. My vet later told me that smaller dogs require a higher calorie intake, so I understand now.
Anyway to cut a long story short I am now feeding both dogs Platinum's dry food and I mix in a little wet for variety , and (in Lilly's case a small amount of Royal Canine -simply because she won't eat anything without this food) The wet ranges from Platinum wet, Spencer Deli (similar to Applause but cheaper), James Wellbeloved, Caser (Lilly again, I'm sure she things she's a small dog) to fresh chicken and occasionally liver.
I have joined this site for advice on what other options I have. Now, for all those people who are about to tell me to feed Raw, I have tried but they do not like it. I used to feed raw to my last dog and I have tried various Raw food and they will eat in one day but not the next which has left me throwing no end of raw away.
Thanks once again for the join, I look forward to hearing your stories and advice.