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Okay,well they gave me less hours at work so I have to make some cut backs and get by with even less. I am already sacrificing most of my own basic needs to have a little extra money to hunt the dogs. So now even though I hate to do it looks like I have no choice I need to either change dog food to something less expensive or keep feeding what I am feeding and hunt less. My dogs are easy keepers and in top shape right now. They are being hunted 3 to 4 times a week. I am feeding Diamond Sporting Dog formula and pay about $30.00 for a 50 lb bag. Does anyone know a decent dog food that is less expensive?

Tessa, Here's my suggestion. Start adding as much meat to thier diet as possible. You can pick up meat free just about anywhere. Road kill, old meat from your friends freezer, etc. Then you can cut way back on the dry food.
If you have a Costco near you, thier dry dog food, Kirkland, is rated very high, quite a bit better then Diamond. 50# bag is about $23.

I use food made by Country Vet thats available at most local feed stores here in wyoming. I feed the dark green bag which is a 26/18 - dogs do good on it. $22 per 50lb bag.

Also when I lived in Calif you could buy chicken theighs in the 25 and 50 lb bags a cheap as dog food is now

FullCryHounds wrote:Tessa, Here's my suggestion. Start adding as much meat to thier diet as possible. You can pick up meat free just about anywhere. Road kill, old meat from your friends freezer, etc. Then you can cut way back on the dry food.
If you have a Costco near you, thier dry dog food, Kirkland, is rated very high, quite a bit better then Diamond. 50# bag is about $23.

Dean, I tried that last winter, but nowadays if I get any meat I'm eating it. Times are pretty tough and dogs are eating better than me. Anyways, I don't think I want to do the roadkill thing cause well those 2 pups I have have a bad habbit of eating dead and scat already. Driving me insane! Just today they found every cow patty on the mountain and had to eat it. GROSS! Now I am going to have to buy wormer on top of cheaper dog food.

Guess I will see what Shipton's in Sheridan has when I go tomorrow as far as cheaper dog food. Like I said they are easy keepers and THANK GOD it is summer and I don't have to feed them as much even hunting them as much as I am. Thanks for the reccomendations guys

I have used chicken backs. They are cheaper than most kibble and the dogs look great. Hardly any cleanup, the kennels stay really clean. I also have bought damaged bage of dog food. Call local stores or distributers and ask .

Almost forgot. I also use the kirkland. It is made by diamond...

I feed the Sams club variety of Dog Chow. It is 18 for a 50lb bag. I know there isn't a Sams there in Sheridan so you could use the Purina Dog Chow which is the same thing. My dogs have done fine on it for years.

I feed the Diamond sporting dog food as well and I think for the money its the best out there. But I do agree with getting them some meat. If you talk to your local butcher you can usualy get the outdated meat really cheep if not free. I also feed them "fat balls" in the winter season. they are a mixture of oatmeal, mollasses, raw burger and raw eggs. If I can find the directions I will post them. Puts on weight fast and keeps them looking great. Cheap to make

travis wrote:I use food made by Country Vet thats available at most local feed stores here in wyoming. I feed the dark green bag which is a 26/18 - dogs do good on it. $22 per 50lb bag.

Travis, I bought some of this at Shipton's in Sheridan and the dogs seem to like it and are doing well on it. It is $16.99 for 40# bag so it does save me a little money just got 3 bags again yesterday. Thanks for the reccomendation.

Tessa if you are near a chicken farm and if they will put the dead ones in a freezer as soon as they die, the hatchling up to 3 -4 lbs fed whole and raw are some of the best dog food there is.
I know a guy that has fed only this for over 20 years and never lost a dog because of it. His dogs look great. This is handier in cold weather but could be done year around. The older birds are messier, more feathers, bigger legs and bones.
I guess some will mention health risks but we have had no problems. Good luck Terry

Oh yea, this might be a bad idea if there a lot of free range hens in your area............. .

Problem with me feeding meat is I have no place to store it. Without a freezer it would go bad and there is no place here locally to get it daily so I have to stick with dry dog food.