[Malay-Coopers]

What is the quality of dog food in NZ? We currently feed our dogs Wysong (dry) but don't think it is available in NZ. Can you recommend a brand or type that you have used in NZ.

[gil]

When we got Olive the Dog from the SPCA we bought a big sack of Hill's Science Diet which was a bit expensive ($43 for 20lbs or 9.07 kg) as we bought it from the SPCA shop. Here's a link to Hill's NZ website http://www.hillspet.com/zSkin_2/index.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474395182133&bmUID=1170793635388&bmLocale=en_AU
We have also tried her on Champ from Countdown, which she ate, but didn't seem to like as much as the Hill's. I need to buy some more today, as it happens, so will check out prices.

HTH,

gil

[barryp]

Most dog food here is just like the industrial crap found in the States - lots of filler, small amounts of meat byproducts, and a garnish of reclaimed cooking fat. Yum!

There are premium dog food brands available, but they are hideously expensive and hard to find. (The quarantine people used a dry food that costs $85 for a 20 pound bag. It's available at one shop in Wgtn. Ulp.) We're trying Purina One, at $45/20lb, and the dogs like it so far.

BARF [raw food] is do-able, between market veggies and tubes of minced lamb sold as pet food in supermarkets, if you're open to that.

[Howie]

Yes it's hard to find premium dog food and it's very expensive. I think raw would definitely be cheaper. I have managed to find 2 types of dog food that I like. Canidae is available by mail order. I also found Nutra (not Nutro)at Jansens and quite like it. They are both about $115 for a 15kg bag.

All things dog are incredibly expensive here. If you think you might need anything at anytime in the future, bring it with you. Dog beds are really expensive ($100) and I still haven't managed to find a decent pooper scooper. I'm considering ordering one from North America.

Oh, but dog classes are much cheaper because they tend to be club based with volunteer instructors.

[jubjub]

A friend of mine is a rep for Nutrience, and is regularly in pet shops giving out coupons to get money off...

She says that there are no animal by products in it at all, its just the proper meat... we had a couple of trial samples, and it got scoffed very quick, although its pricey...

[Debbie]

We feed ours Nutro Choice Lamb & rice about $115 for 15kg. It's made for large dogs so has high calorie content in a dry form. Wet food and large dogs give you lots of large wet poos in my experience. His vet recommended this food in the UK since he had a rupture in his intestine and is allergic to wheat and dairy, Being able to get it here was a condition of bringing him over as we wanted to stick with it.
Debbie

[veronica]

we use either Iams or Eukeneba been happy with both, Iams is the first choice thou.

[Moorf]

Yep, dry food here with yummy titbits when available :o

We use Eukanuba, she loves it, and smaller, less smelly and more solid poo's!

[Klipa]

what is the availability of raw meat.....frozen chicken, lamb, etc? we feed our dogs raw food and do our own veggies and are hoping to do the same over in NZ. Are there any companies packaging raw meat for dogs? I am assuming that bones and carcasses would be available through a butcher or a local farm?

[Moorf]

Yep, you can buy carcasses and bones from local butchers in our area of Canterbury and in Chch - I pay NZ$1 for a huge carrier bag of dog bones from the butchers, or I can buy dog mince at the butcher. "Dog Rolls" are big here but not great quality imho.

There are also some bags of K-9 Bones that you can find in freezers in many supermarkets. Great selection of bones to keep in the freezer for a hot day!

[Malay-Coopers]

I feel a bit better now knowing there are some quality dog food options. It funny that in the States Eukanuba ads promote that they use NZ lamb in their dog food!