Dog Food Changes: Grain Free Organix Wins Over Our First Trial Group

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© T.S. reader copyright on file
Reader Enthusiasm is Encouraging

© C.M. reader copyright
YoYo, Vibrantly Healthy!

It's hard not to oooo and ahhh at cute little Wicket, huh? I'm sure the folks at Castor and Pollux Pet, who make Organix Grain Free food were happy to see some of the cute photos you guys submitted. I know a few of you are still figuring out how to harness technology to create these images, and I appreciate your challenges. 


I have to say I've been really proud--just beaming--about your open-mindedness about trying grain-free food for your dogs. When I started the challenge, I wasn't sure how many of you would take me up on it. After all, no grains may seem odd to some of us. Imagine life without bread!

© L.M. reader copyright
Benny

A lot of you seemed to realize that dogs did not evolve eating grain. It was added to their manufactured diet as a form of calories for energy, and a few other factors that probably are less important than the fact that Organix is predominantly made of organic ingredients. 


Speaking of calories for energy, did you notice the difference in how much your dog needs to eat? Compare the Feeding Guidelines on the back and side of the bag to those on the original Organix and you'll find that Grain-free Organix requires less food to provide the necessary calories and nutrients for good health. I suppose that explains the more compact deposits in my yard. What about you?

© A.C. reader copyright
Lola and Hunter Working It!

If you miss out on this giveaway, watch for another coming later next month. I'd like to give more of you an opportunity to take the Grain-free challenge. If you visit our giveaway post that lead to this winners' announcement, you'll see that the comments are all quite positive--great results and seamless transitions. Grain-free seems to agree with these owner's dogs, and I can say the same for Tanner and Oliver. 

© Carrie Boyko
Ready for Super Dog Sunday
Will You Be There?

Today's winners are: Tia S., Amy O., Misty W., Shiloh, Shelley P., Nancy W., Cheryl F, Rita S, Katie M, Claudia M, Rick W, and Colleen R. Watch your email for my notification, to be received from AllThingsDogBlog@gmail.com. If you don't see it by Sunday afternoon, please write to me with your address for mailing. NOTE: The coupons to be sent out have an expiration date of February 15, 2012. You'll need to identify your closest supplier quickly and be ready to pick up your food promptly. Finally, always follow the transition instructions for a new food, detailed at Castor and Pollux's site here.


Best wishes to all of you and thanks for following All Things Dog Blog.



Full disclosure:  There was no purchase necessary to win in this giveaway. I was provided coupons for free bags of Organix as a promotional courtesy, and was not compensated to give them away. Watch for more giveaways coming soon.

Organix Grain-Free: Settling Into Our New Diet

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© Carrie Boyko
Tanner Plugs His Team and His Chow!

I would not have believed it if my own mother told me how well the dogs would do without grain in their diets. It made sense to me, of course. Yet all these years of food that contained grains had me wondering whether Tanner and Oliver's energy would lag or perhaps their focus may be lacking from the carbs replaced by additional veggies. I worried about their skin too, not knowing if this change may affect them. Itchy? No!


Nope. Not so. No way. No how. Not only are my boys energetic and enthusiastic, they were ready to get back to work on product reviews as soon as I got the camera out. I used some of their new kibble as treats the first day, wondering if they would be as eager to perform. That too surprised me. We're on our third bag (or is it 4?), so I suppose if we were going to see any behavior changes, they would have kicked in by now. I'm guessing what we have is a successful transition. Correction; I'm not guessing. It's clear that Tanner and Oliver are thriving on Organix Grain-Free.


How are my Grain-free trial partners doing with their transition? A group of you won free bags in early January and were promised another if you shared your feedback. Now is your chance. Tell me how your fido is doing. Anything different? New behaviors? Changes, either better or worse? 


I'm curious to know if any of you have noticed a calmer dog that sleeps more soundly at night? This is the one observation I have made that I find quite fascinating, and of course extremely positive. Time to spill, folks. The comment link is open.


Each of you who won a free bag will receive another free bag if your feedback is left in my comments either here or at the previous Grain-free posts. Those of you who did not win in the last giveaway will have your opportunity if anyone misses their chance. And of course, there's always next time. I'll give 12 bags away, with first priority going to those on the Grain Free Trial. Entries will remain open through midnight on Thursday, January 26. Let me hear from you:



Full disclosure:  Product given away in this review series has been provided for promotional courtesy by Castor and Pollux Pet. I was not paid to write this review series, and my review comments are my own experiences.Yours may differ. No purchase was or is required to participate.

Dog Food Dilemmas: Our Organix Grain Free Experience

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© Carrie Boyko
Mom--My Grain-Free Food
Looks the Same as Original Organix!

It seems like every year there is a new trend in feeding our pets. More often than not I let them go by, choosing to stay with what has worked for us for so long. When we made the choice to switch our entire lifestyle to organic, the dogs came along for the ride. Their new food was the original Organix, and it was a more than successful switch.

© Carrie Boyko
Tanner Plugs His Packers!

Recently, seeing the data regarding grain in dog diets, I decided it was time to give grain-free a try. Fortunately Organix makes an organic, grain-free food. We were eager to try it, while still apprehensive about what may lay ahead. Here are a few of the things we noticed along the way:

• The trend in dog food manufacturing has been moving away from grains for some time, especially the lower-quality grains like corn. 
• While reading a series of articles about a dog's digestive system, I learned that their shorter colon evolved this way because of their faster digestion and higher protein intake, as compared to that of humans. I'm no vet, and I don't profess to know if what I'm sharing is accurate. What I do know is that it all made sense to me. Dogs are scavengers, but generally are drawn to high-protein foods. What would happen if they subsisted on a diet largely of corn meal and chicken fat? I know that does not sound like a healthy diet to me.
• One day while picking up our Organix I took the time to read the label on the Grain-free version. Talk about a plethora of new information! While Tanner visited with 3 passersby of his own kind, I sat of the floor comparing the ingredients and nutritional analyses of the two bags. It didn't occur to me until I was almost done that I could just as easily have done this in the comfort of my home on the computer. Duh!
• No surprise to learn that the Organix grain-free formula is 4% higher in protein, but I did startle at the 2% reduction in fat content. That tells me something positive about the quality of that organic chicken at the top of the ingredients list.
• I expected that the grain-free version would be lower in fiber, and that anticipation was supported by the label. That worried me. Would my dogs be constipated? Would they require more water? The reality is that their daily constitutions have not changed one iota. Why? Good question! The moisture in both formulas is the same, so there was no make-up in that department.
• Will I jinx our success with one really positive remark? Hope not. Tanner and Oliver have been sleeping noticeably more soundly. Don't get me wrong; they're not without energy. Far from that! They do, however, seem less easily prompted to excitement--calmer. I can totally buy into that side effect!

© courtesy CastorPolluxPet.com

Join me next time when I compare some of the ingredients and share the formula changes that help maintain the nutritional balance of the new grain-free Organix. Meanwhile, let me know how you feel about the idea of grain-free food for your dog.

Those of you who won a free bag of the Organix Grain-free food are invited to share your experiences in the comments below. Has the transition gone smoothly? Does your dog enjoy the taste and eat enthusiastically? Have you noticed any changes to his behavior, back yard "deposits" or energy level? I'll be back soon to share more on this new adventure. Let me hear from you.

P.S. Who will be joining us for the Super Dog Sunday NFL-themed photo contest or the #SuperDogPics Twitter Party? We've raised a chunk of money for Petfinder Foundation and will be celebrating big time! Feel free to join with a small donation at this link.

Organix Grain-Free Trial Begins: The Winners are In!

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© Carrie Boyko
Join our Grain-Free Trial

Tanner and Oliver are 100% on their new diet now. We're a bit ahead of the rest of you. My goal now is to guide you through the process, since we've been there. I'm excited to light your path, as we've found it so pleasant to follow. Oliver and Tanner are happy and energetic as a result of their new diet. Now I eagerly await the longer-term changes. As I quietly watch for them, I'll be offering some tips that helped us with the transition. Join me for a Grain-Free adventure with Organix, by Castor and Pollux.


Twelve of my readers will get to join the trial with a bag of Organix Grain-free food to get them started. What's more, if they stick with me through the process, they'll get another bag to say "thank you" for staying the course. All you have to do to get this extra bag is be sure to return for each of the remaining posts in the grain-free series to comment about your experience and share any tips or thoughts with our readers.


Today's winners are: Joan L.H., Gloria W, Cheryl F, Michelle S, Rick W, Shilohsmom, Claudia M, Colleen R, Cynthia D, Amy O, Shelley P, and Katie M. 


Winners will receive an email from AllThingsDogBlog@gmail.com. Watch your spam box if you do not see it by Saturday evening. If you would like to participate in the Super Dog Sunday photo contest, please let me know in your reply if you would enjoy a photo prop football. 

© Carrie Boyko
Football Photo Prop

NOTE: This is not a dog toy; it is simply for your photograph. While it may be perfectly safe for your Chihuahua to push around on the floor, your Lab may decide it looks like a great chew toy and we don't want that. Be sure to place it out of reach of dogs who are large enough to chew it. 


What's next? Follow the transition tips at this link to help you with the switch. Watch the blog for more soon, and be sure to stop in with your comments. See you soon!


Happy tails!



Full disclosure: Castor and Pollux provided me with these coupons as a promotional courtesy. There is no purchase required to participate in the giveaway. It is, however, only available to U.S. addresses and is void where prohibited. Please consult our Giveaway and Contest Rules for further clarification. Model's wardrobe courtesy Petco.