It’s been six months since we switched our dog food from Kirkland brand to NutriSource. The results way exceeded our expectations!

The most noticeable change in Echo, our five year old Pudelpointer, happened fast after switching foods. Following long grouse and mountain quail hunts in the rugged mountains of Oregon’s Cascade Range, I noticed Echo was stiff and moving slowly the following morning. Two days after switching her food to the grain-free, anti-inflammatory NutriSource food, there was a marked difference in her recovery time, as well as in the field performance.

Throughout the fall and winter months as we hunted ducks and geese in a variety of conditions, Echo was always quick to recover, something I’d not seen during the last two years of hunting her hard all season long. Echo wasn’t stiff and sore from running through thick mud, breaking ice or retrieving heavy honkers, as she’d been in years prior. The quality of her diet raised her performance to another level and diminished her recovery time.

As for Kona, our two year old male Pudelpointer, he’s always been a high energy dog. His performance held solid through the food switch. What I noticed most in Kona, were smaller and less frequent bowel movements (the same was true for Echo). Also, their stools were firm and never runny, meaning the new diet was being better metabolized which optimizes health and immunity.

Both Echo and Kona trimmed down; Echo losing 5 pounds., Kona losing 4 pounds. Kona was already a lean dog, but he turned into even more of a lean machine, his level of stamina escalating, no matter how demanding the terrain.

When we took Echo in for a 6-month checkup, the first thing our vet’ said was, “Whatever you’ve done, you just added at least a year to Echo’s life!” When we told him of the food switch to NutriSource, he said he wished more dog owners realized the importance of keeping a pet’s weight down, quality food for their pets, and what a direct impact it can have on their health and longevity.

However, the biggest notable change through switching dog food didn’t come in our two versatile gun dogs, rather our 13 year old lap dog, Lexi. Literally overnight, Lexi’s behavior and level of activity reached new heights; she was like a puppy all over again. Lexi felt great, bounced around the house with confidence and played with 72-pound Kona like they were the same sized dogs. She was instantly more alert, more active during the day, spent more time outside and ran the stairs and around the yard like she did when she was much younger. She slept better at night and was less gassy, immediately.

At first glance it seems quality foods are more expensive, but look closer. Serving suggestions are often less than cheaper foods, meaning you don’t have to feed your dog as much, so you may come out ahead on the cost.

We’ve given our dogs over a half-dozen flavors of NutriSource grain-free dog food, and they love them all. Once in a while we’ll top our dogs’ dry food with canned NutriSource food. These are high protein, meat-rich foods that the dogs see as more of a treat than an actual meal. These wet, canned foods are 100% gluten-free, adding yet another health benefit to the quality food.

So, what made me even want to change my dogs’ food? I went on a pheasant hunt with Chris Wright, owner of McKenzie Feed & Tackle, in my hometown of Walterville, OR (541-741-0191). Chris has two Griffon’s, which we hunted over that day. Midway through the hunt, Chris gave his dogs a Stella & Chewy’s freeze-dried raw chicken chew, something I’d not seen. Chris educated me on the value of these meal patties when used in the field, and it made way more sense giving active dogs this snack versus a less nutritious treat.

A couple days later I stopped by Chris’ store and he further educated me on not only the field snacks, but also dog food. Nearly an hour later I was leaving the store with my first bags of NutriSource dog food. I learned more about dog food in that short time with Chris than I’d learned in the last five years, combined. Since that time I’ve made several visits to Chris’ store and learn something each time.

Bottom line, I’m happy I made the switch to a higher quality dog food and wish I’d have learned about it sooner. My gun dogs are a very valuable part of my business, and their year-round health and performance are a top priority. There is no off-season for Echo and Kona, as we are in the field multiple times a week, every week of the year.

Even if your dogs aren’t a part of your business, giving our pets the best food possible equates to a longer, healthier, happier life. A dog’s life is too short as it is, why not add time by going the extra step of giving them the best diet possible?

The great food debate is a long-standing one. Big companies that have large ad’ budgets often overshadow higher quality food companies who don’t have the financial ability of large-scale marketing. From my personal experience as a professional hunter who relies on my dogs always performing at top level, and feeling good day in and day out, switching to the quality food NutriSource provides was a game-changer; a move I wish I would have made a long time ago.

Small businesses have a lot to offer when it comes to information and education as to what’s best for your pet, and to them, I’m grateful.