Skinners Field and Trial Puppy

taylop · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 4:09 pm Post subject:

let me know what you think. is it a load of rubbish? *(the review i mean!(

Ettinsmoor · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 4:18 pm Post subject:

Just quickly looking at the site there has only been one review posted on the site for Skinners which is why it has such a low rating. Skinners is a small family run business and can no way compete with the large "brands", but it is a good wheat gluten free food. I am a breeder and I feed all my dogs on it and recommend it to all my pup buyers.

At the end of the day you pays your money and you takes your choice, but Burns, James Wellbeloved and Skinners are probably the best feeds out there in my opinion.

KMH · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 4:25 pm Post subject:

I think what food you give is a lot down to personal preference and what suits your dog(s). What suits one in your family may not suit another. I have always fed Dodsell and Horrell Chudleys starting with puppy, through junior, to working crunch and performance when they are working hard, and my boys have always done well on it. But hubbys's Sam didn't keep the weight on when he came off junior, so at the moment we are trying various different makes. Skinners Field and Trial was one which Sam liked and agreed with him. We may yet go for that, but are giving Oscar's a month's trial as that also seems to agree with Sam too and is easier for us to get hold of than Skinners. Moss, hubby's collie xi spaniel, happily eats the Dog Food Shop's own brand food, and looks very well on it. It really is a matter of what suits you and your dog. Just remember to introduce anything gradually, and check the protein levels of less well known brands.
I have also found that the amount to feed given on the bag is far more than my puppies will ever eat, and they always look very well on less. I offer them the amount suggested on the bag, but if they don't eat it all I no longer worry myself into a frazzle about it as long as they are looking well and gaining weight at a steady rate.
Good luck!

_Jules_ · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 4:32 pm Post subject:

I've seen that review site before. Every food only has one review and they appear to all be written by the same person (if you look at the style of writing), so I would hardly think it gives a balanced view of any food. Wink

If you really want to know what is going inside your pup, have you considered BARF. It might be worthwhile doing a bit of Googling about it or getting yourself the book Grow your Pup with Bones by Dr Ian Billinghurst.

I feed mine Skinners now and I used to feed JWB. My dogs were fit and well on both foods. The only one I would be cautious of is Burns and that isn't because it is a bad food but the recommended daily amounts seem really tiny and I know there have been some rather thin pups bought up on this.

You may find when you get the pup home, if it has been feed purely on "human" food, that it will refuse any dried food, even if you soak it. If this is the case, get some raw chicken mince or tripe and add that to the soaked kibble for the first few days and then gradually wean the pup onto just the kibble. Wink

Triona · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 5:29 pm Post subject:

After much humming and haaing and dithering, I've recently changed Stanley's food over from James Wellbeloved to Skinners, after reading good things about it on this forum, from people whose opinions I respect.