Our personal experience and review of a local pet store in Fort Wayne, Indiana
This is Baine.
Our Blue-Coon as we call him, half Blue Heeler, half Coonhound. Up until last weekend, we thought we were getting him really good food that we were spending about $50-60 (depending on sales) per month for a 30 lb. bag.
For the most part, Baine, like most dogs we hear, would only eat when we were home. This would be in the morning on the weekends, or after we get home in the afternoon during the week, of which he would then follow-up by another cup as his late dinner.
He never seemed enthused when hearing the kibble bits dropping into his food dish. Which seems normal right?
Typically the food they most get excited over is people food, or the infamous word “treat”. He never gets excited when he is going to be fed his daily grub.
We try not to really give him people food at all but of course, we can’t stop it when we go to a certain friend’s house (ahem…you know who you are)… and his dad feeds him hot dogs like the stand was going out of business.
He’s a really happy dog then. Getting him out of that habit takes at least a week or two but hey, everyone needs a vacation right?
A PET STORE IN FORT WAYNE TO THE RESCUE
Last weekend I decided to finally walk into a store I had been wondering about for some time now, Green Dog Goods – Holistic Supplies, Training, and Grooming; a local pet store in Fort Wayne, Indiana—see them on the map here. Jody Norton, one of the owners, was behind the counter and she began to share and explain the variety of services and products they offer in-store. She shared about the importance of organic products, food cautions, safety, flea products, etc. I knew she carried expertise in the science of pet health, but got to hear how passionate she is about the well-being of our beloved pets.
I asked her about the dog food we have been feeding Baine for a little under a year now, Nutro Natural Choice. Like I mentioned above, we were spending about $50-60 on a 30lb. bag every month and a half, and from what my eyes could gather they were a decent organic brand containing no corn. Corn in an animal’s diet becomes extremely toxic to them, eventually leading to digestive issues and organ failures. In this regard, they are just as sensitive to it as farm animals and us. She let me know that it can be hard to determine whether or not there is some form of corn in most dog foods, as many of the companies are not transparent in their ingredients, getting a majority of ingredients from China. Why? Beats any of us. But I knew right then and there I wanted something better for Baine. We could tell he wasn’t happy with his food so it was worth the shot.
Jody led me over to the foods explaining how the foods they select are made in the USA and/or in Canada, are transparent in their ingredients list, and have no GMO’s or corn in their feed. They even have one for all the Wisconsin-ers!!! Made with Wisconsin cheese! It made me think of a good friend and Culver’s haha! The cost of the foods they carry in 30 lb. bags are all very affordable too! Anywhere from $44-70. What?! Just like pet stores!
It had me thinking about how many of us go to the pet store buying what we think is good food for our pets, only to discover that the price tag isn’t matching the advertising? Me. Well not anymore! I decided to start with the most simple blend, Chicken & Whitefish (good for belly shedding – of which drives me nuts) as she recommended with a total price tag of $44.87.
A WHOLE NEW DOG
We are soooooo pleased to say that Baine LOVES HIS DOG FOOD NOW. He actually got excited when I brought the new bag of dog food home. I swear it was like for a moment he could read English and see in color! We have NEVER seen this dog so excited to eat dry dog food. Ever. And it happened for a whole week as we slowly transitioned him into the new food! To this day his tail wags at the sound of “you hungry? want some food?” followed by bits flowing into his glass dish. I must say, it makes us feel good that our pup is now happy to eat! We know he didn’t like eating other foods because it was… well, crap to him, often making his tummy upset. By not eating human food, we were able to tell what upsets his stomach easier too.
changing food myth
Jody also educated me on the fact/myth of not changing a dog’s food. It’s actually a myth. Just like us, and in order to keep their bellies tough, we SHOULD be switching up their food every other, if not every bag of 30 lb food. This allows their digestive system to build up healthy flora, become stronger, and less susceptible to sensitivities. Especially when they eat something they shouldn’t. Keeping our dogs on a one-dog-food-diet for the rest of their lives is just not healthy.
For coat issues and dry skin, Jody also recommended coconut oil! Imagine that good’ol coconut oil creeping up again. Our pets are really not so far removed from us after all. To begin implementing coconut/flax or fish oil into their diet along with starting a new food, start with the new food first, then once their stool is sound and seems as though their tummy has adjusted, begin adding in your choice of oil. Add about 1 tbsp 2-3x per week, melted, and poured over their food. Jody said she also just pours a little water over the dry food to get it moist and easier to digest. We have a happy dog now!
New Food Transition Schedule
First two days: 1/4 cup new and 3/4 cup old food
Third and fourth day: 1/2 new 1/2 old
Fifth and sixth day: 3/4 new 1/4 old
Seventh day on: all new.
our review
If you want to know more about healthy, corn, and GMO-free dog food for your pets we can’t recommend Green Dog Goods enough! It is THE PLACE in our opinion to buy dog food and any products, and you’re supporting a local pet store in Fort Wayne. It’s a win-win!
Jody and Lesley are so knowledgeable having worked with animals for over 10 years. Check out their website here for more on their holistic pet services. Thank you, Jody, for helping make our Blue-Coon a little happier!
If my dog could talk… Corn free Dog Food = Happy Dog
I MUST ADD…
Disclaimer: Jody in no way rejected or put down major brand names of dog food, or pet stores, including Nutro, mentioned above during our conversation. She simply shared her years of research and knowledge on food grades, personal choice, and foods that can be toxic to pets (backed by scientific research). This article is in no way meant to steer consumers towards one brand or another, but instead to inform the community of local businesses, pet care, food availability, and to help those make informed decisions when it comes to pet care.
If you’re ever in town with you pets, or haven’t yet visited and have pets, then definitely put them on the list for your next outing!
