Going to go broke feeding 2 Dobies

[DreamValley]

I spend $250 monthly to feed my two Dobermans. Do you feel better now?

You got many good advices here... but please look from the different perspective.
How much money do you spend on junk food or drinks or other expenses you may easy cut and make your budget affordable for good dog food? It will be healthier for you and your dogs... and you may safe on medical bills

If your dogs are staring at your food they are not trained well. You may want to research more on OB training.

Are you getting attached to your dogs a bit?

 

[AtTheEnd]

I spend $0.00 on junk food, outings, etc. I am the most cost conscience person you ever met. I should be a financial advisor. I only spend $$ on what I have to, bills, healthy food for me since I have a food allergy, gas, etc. It just senseless to buy a 30lb dog food every 2 weeks. We never had kids either so this is tough, and double the expenses. I need to check Sam's etc.

Believe me, we have tried and tried with obedience training but they still do the staring at us when we eat thing. We tell them to go sit down and they ignore us. They're still puppies so I know about being repetitive, so hopefully they will get it. I wonder why they can remember things like peanut better and bananas and not to jump on people, eat cat poop, chew on wood when inside, and no biting??

Awesome dogs that are beautiful but more work than I ever imagined!

 

[Quee]

Over the last few years we have seen many dog food recalls so I prefer a dog food when are ingredients are from the good ole USA.

Just know that 'made in the USA' as it relates to dog food doesn't necessarily mean that all components of the food are made or sourced in the USA. Here is the surprising (to me) response I received from Blue Buffalo when I asked about whether their food or any parts of it (Wilderness formula) came from out of the country:

"Our foods all are manufactured here in the USA. Many of our ingredients, such as our grains and meats, come from the USA except for our lamb which can be free range from New Zealand. Where possible our suppliers are instructed to source their ingredients from the US. Where the ingredients are not readily available in the US, such as many vitamins, minerals and nutriceuticals, they work only with reputable foreign suppliers, and subject all ingredients to rigorous quality testing. All of our ingredients are USDA approved and inspected.​

​

My read of this response is that ingredients that go into the manufacturing of the food don't necessarily come from the US, and that this food has a similar level of risk to other foods that are manufactured without the 'made in the USA' stamp.

 

[Marinegeekswife]

It just senseless to buy a 30lb dog food every 2 weeks. We never had kids either so this is tough, and double the expenses. I need to check Sam's etc.

Believe me, we have tried and tried with obedience training but they still do the staring at us when we eat thing. We tell them to go sit down and they ignore us. They're still puppies so I know about being repetitive, so hopefully they will get it. I wonder why they can remember things like peanut better and bananas and not to jump on people, eat cat poop, chew on wood when inside, and no biting??

Awesome dogs that are beautiful but more work than I ever imagined!

It isn't senseless if it is what they need. When it comes to them staring at you when you eat reinforce it! Don't just sit there telling them over and over, they don't speak English and if they've gotten away with it why should they do it just because you told them? Stand up, walk towards them, and back them up to where you want them to be. Then down them, down is much more controlled than sit and gives you an extra couple seconds to see them starting to break the position that you can correct them before they completely move. It is going to take time and repetition of moving them to the spot and making them stay there to get the lesson ingrained. You should also practice it when you aren't eating. Ignoring you is not allowed. Also, every time one of you feeds them from your plate or gives them any people food from your hand you set this training back. If they've gotten away with it once they assume they'll get away with it again. As for jumping on people, eating things they shouldn't, biting, etc. You have to set them up for success. When they meet people, keep them on leash, tell the people not too look, talk, or touch them, and make the dogs sit until they are calm. Then the people are allowed to greet them calmly. If they jump you correct with a pop to the leash and make them leave the situation. With consistency they'll get it. If they are eating things they shouldn't, put up barriers, use bitter sprays, keep the dogs confined, etc. to keep them from having access to the things when you aren't there to stop it. As far as biting, look at the situation. Why are they biting? Are they biting because you've been playing a rough game with them and they are so hyped up they can't control themselves? Are they biting for attention? You have to think like a dog and examine the circumstances then set them up for success. If it is a game that has them riled stop playing that game at least until you have better control over them. If it is for attention put a stop to it and make it clear that isn't acceptable, tell them a firm NO, get the appendage out of their reach, and put them in a "time out" for a few minutes (less than 5) if you have to. If you are constantly after the dogs about something you are going to create dogs with anxiety that either shut down and do nothing or do whatever they want because they just can't please you so why try?

 

[Dobs4ever]

Yes it is much harder wiht two as they encourage each other. You can have one child and it plays well alone, minds etc then you add another child and they can get very creative and unruly. It is why it is better to get one dog, train it, work with it before adding a second.

And EVEN following that adding a second dog is going to be challenging period. You have to have time for each dog alone. Training time alone, socialization time alone, potty time alone - or what you end up with is two dogs that are far more interested in each other than you or become co-dependenct and can't funciton unless the other dog is present. Unfortunatley this is exactly why a lot of folks think they want two - they want to puppies to entertain each other so they don't have to spend as much time with them.

But now you are here and so while it will not be easy it is what you committed to. I recommend you find training classes and enroll them. If it is just you then take one puppy the first week and the xecond puppy the next week. This gives them both some time alone with you.

I am sure you are about to pull your hair out but if you stick it out and work hard you can solve it and as they mature and have solid training you can reach a happier time.

 

[DreamValley]

Awesome post Jess!

I am the most cost conscience person you ever met. I should be a financial advisor. I only spend $$ on what I have to, bills, healthy food for me since I have a food allergy, gas, etc. It just senseless to buy a 30lb dog food every 2 weeks. We never had kids either so this is tough, and double the expenses. I need to check Sam's etc.

Then you may want to relax and watch your beautiful dogs wolfing delicious food down
Are not you falling in love with them? It will definitely help to deal with expenses. That's my secret I share with you...

 

[Dobs4ever]

I have a good friend that uses Sam's club Exceed dog food I think it is and she has been very happy with it for years.

 

[titan1]

Next time at the store (pet) look at the holistic/ healthy section, take a look at Innova, wellness, DVP all of them. What you want to look at is the cal/cup in the feeding section and cups per day. I love blue but I also off set it by using Innova as well as I can feed less per day with innova than blue. Make sense?

 

[Denissov43]

I spend $250 monthly to feed my two Dobermans. Do you feel better now?

You got many good advices here... but please look from the different perspective.
How much money do you spend on junk food or drinks or other expenses you may easy cut and make your budget affordable for good dog food? It will be healthier for you and your dogs... and you may safe on medical bills

If your dogs are staring at your food they are not trained well. You may want to research more on OB training.

Are you getting attached to your dogs a bit?

Dream I have you beat... I am at about $80-90/week for my two... but they are my kids and I can afford it and I have no trouble spending more if needs be...
It IS tough when you cannot afford the responsibility that you took on yourself. It is one of the reasons why so many dogs end up in shelters... people simply did not realize how expensive 'pet stewardship' is and can be. Food is only one portion as you say Dream... and vet bills? Do not even get me started on that...
we spend $120/mo on health insurance for them both and about $350 on food, another $100 on supplements and that does not include the toys, beds, crates, chew treats, leashes, collars, training gear, health tests, as they mature, training... and on and on...
Having pets is NOT for the faint of heart OR the tight of budget, as they can end up being TOO costly to keep regardless of how much 'we love them'..... they are our charges and we are responsible for them and food is only one very small portion of the costs we incur to adore them!

 

[Ataro]

At first, because they were babies, I did not have an issue buying a 30lb bag of Blue Buffalo puppy food for both of them. I could make this last a month, thus only spending $50 per month in dog food, which is do-able. Now, they are 7+ months old and are blowing through the same bag in a two week period! I went to Petco to try to downgrade but every one is $40-$50 for a 30lb bag. I feel like I am literally going to go broke just trying to feed them. I mean, $120 a month is A LOT of money for dog food. I can't even pay all my bills and it's costing too much to feed these dogs!

I know you could do like a dirt cheap Pedigree or something, but then I have to deal with them getting sick as first, etc. so I start feeling edgy and just go back to the Blue Buffalo. I checked online for deals and they're not worth much in savings.

Any ideas?? This is very stressful spending so much money on food.

I FEEL YOUR PAIN!

I actually only have one Dobe, but there are no great dog food brands available in Mexico, and the ones that are okay (Diamond, ProPlan, Royal Canin, Eukanuba, ANF, Science Diet) are unaffordable - it's upwards of $80 for Diamond and ANF and upwards of $120 for the others for a 30lb bag.

Haven't been able to get in contact with the woman who apparently sells ANF, because Diamond doesn't seem to agree with Ashra (it's 24/7 flatulence)... so up until now I've just been cooking her food and giving her vitamin and mineral supplements. It works out a lot cheaper (around $50 per month), but of course takes up time. There are also benefits, however - she looks great (it was a balancing act with weight and food amounts for a little while but now it's steady) and I would assume the same is going on on the inside - small firm poops that don't stink!

 

[Rhett]

Wow, many on here are so helpful! I am not used to that! I used to be on a bunch of "car" boards where guys were rude to me. So, not all info boards are trash.

So I need to look into ProPlan, Diamond, Costco, and maybe cook for them. I eat really good so that would work. It sucks cuz I want to feed them good stuff but when you don't make a lot you have to cut back and figure something out. I'll dig deeper and see what I can do.

I am partial to the MR2 Board, very friendly folks. Yes, this site is awesome, just been here a short while. And the rice is a great idea, we make it up and serve it for several days. Rhett loves rice, and it helps keep him full. I have come to believe whatever the package says, must not apply to dobies, they are eaters.

 

[pawpads]

I was feeding Blue buffalo also. It was a good food but Falkor's gas was running us out of the house in tears!I would wake up in the middle of the night...sit straight up in bed....because it would smell like he had right in the bed!!! The other problem was the nearest place I could get it was 30 mins away. So we made a trial switch which has now become permanent. The Sam's club Simply Right High Performance is great! 50lb (22.68 kg) bag for $23.00 here in NC. Since switching to this brand Falkor has had ZERO gas!! It is 27% protein and 15% fat. I do NOT go by the feeding on the bag though. Falkor eats twice a day. His bowl is filled both times. After he eats I put him in his crate for about 45 mins. to let him digest his food a little before running around like a crazy man....this is to aide in Blot prevention. You should try to see that your dogs rest after eating as well. Good luck.

 

[Gelcoater]

Just know that 'made in the USA' as it relates to dog food doesn't necessarily mean that all components of the food are made or sourced in the USA. Here is the surprising (to me) response I received from Blue Buffalo when I asked about whether their food or any parts of it (Wilderness formula) came from out of the country:

"Our foods all are manufactured here in the USA. Many of our ingredients, such as our grains and meats, come from the USA except for our lamb which can be free range from New Zealand. Where possible our suppliers are instructed to source their ingredients from the US. Where the ingredients are not readily available in the US, such as many vitamins, minerals and nutriceuticals, they work only with reputable foreign suppliers, and subject all ingredients to rigorous quality testing. All of our ingredients are USDA approved and inspected.​

​

My read of this response is that ingredients that go into the manufacturing of the food don't necessarily come from the US, and that this food has a similar level of risk to other foods that are manufactured without the 'made in the USA' stamp.

F*&%!!!!!! I so didn't need to see this.

To the op,doesn't sound out of line for 2(growing) dogs.Like others have said,you will need to watch them to know if they need more or less.They cant put a one size fits all label on feeding quantities. Consider the protocall on the bag as a general guide,and on the high side of most dogs needs.Also consider they are trying to SELL dog food.
I know it's a good chunk of money feeding 2 dogs,consider it an investment on their health to feed them proper.They say you are what you eat,it's no different for dogs.Do you want a lump of grain for a dog? Or a lean muscle mass of a dog?

 

[Gelcoater]

I forgot to say,I know it won't do your pocket book any good,but may put some things in perspective for you.
Pay attention to the 3rd paragraph

.http://www.doberman-chat.com/community/index.php?threads/how-do-they-know.13670/

 

[Rhett]

I spend $0.00 on junk food, outings, etc. I am the most cost conscience person you ever met. I should be a financial advisor. I only spend $$ on what I have to, bills, healthy food for me since I have a food allergy, gas, etc. It just senseless to buy a 30lb dog food every 2 weeks. We never had kids either so this is tough, and double the expenses. I need to check Sam's etc.

Believe me, we have tried and tried with obedience training but they still do the staring at us when we eat thing. We tell them to go sit down and they ignore us. They're still puppies so I know about being repetitive, so hopefully they will get it. I wonder why they can remember things like peanut better and bananas and not to jump on people, eat cat poop, chew on wood when inside, and no biting??

Awesome dogs that are beautiful but more work than I ever imagined!

Try this....I get in front of Rhett, ask him to 'back up' and at the same time move forward toward him until he does. I get him backed up a respectable distance from where we are eating and I repeat this until he stays that distance. Once he is staying at that distance, eventually, he lays down there and stops staring. Its a process.

 

[hrd2gt]

Blue Buffalo is a pretty high dollar food, but it was one of my preferred... but unfortunately (maybe not really) it didnt agree with my dogs. I am now doing Natures Recipe, having had to switch several years ago cuz i couldnt afford the high dollar stuff. its been a god send! Its only $35, it literally lasts me a month (if i feel my older little dogs senior food) i think its a 35lb bag. poop is good and the igs dont have seizures. cant ask for anything more.

and isnt there something complicated about mixing kibble and raw? something about they dont digest at the same rate or something. though i saw that somewhere a while back.