I am looking for new food for my 5 1/2 year old female Chesapeake Bay Retriever. A few things about her - I have not been able to find her a kibble she really liked except for a sample of Science Diet Nature's Best someone gave us, and she literally cried to get into it. I know the SD is not good for her, but I'd like to find something else that she likes that much. Over the years we have tried Wellness, which she did not like, Eagle Pack Holistic Select, which she would eat if I put olive oil on it (did this for years), and Canidae, which also needs the olive oil treatment to go down. Also, she has from time to time had somewhere between soft and/or mucusy stools and diarrhea her whole life, except for a while before I knew better and fed her junk food (Beneful). The last thing is that she is a big girl - about 90 lbs, and while she is not fat, she can gain weight easily.
Given this information, am I best going with a kibble that has grain, or is grain free? If with grain, which do dogs seem to like best? I can easily find CA Natural, Halo, Innova, Nature's Balance, or Solid Gold. I probably can find others less conveniently.
If grain-free, I can get Evo easily, Orijen not as easily. Is there a clear benefit of one over the other? Taste-wise? Will the grain-free fill her up at a reasonable portion size, or is she going to be hungry (this would be a problem)?
Thank you for your insights.
Given this information, am I best going with a kibble that has grain, or is grain free? If with grain, which do dogs seem to like best? I can easily find CA Natural, Halo, Innova, Nature's Balance, or Solid Gold. I probably can find others less conveniently.
If grain-free, I can get Evo easily, Orijen not as easily. Is there a clear benefit of one over the other? Taste-wise? Will the grain-free fill her up at a reasonable portion size, or is she going to be hungry (this would be a problem)?
Thank you for your insights.