Maybe this should be in the 'debates' section. But someone suggested yesterday that Paddy is 'hypo' cos of the food he's on - Baker's. They said all the food colourings in it make them behave like a kid that's had too many smarties!!
His Dad was also hypo, and his owner had tried numerous 'low protein' food to calm him down without success, so I think it's more hereditary than anything.
I personally don't agree, cos Indy's now on the same, and he's quite 'mellow' really.

Just wondered what everyone thought on this?

Its not just the colourings ,Bakers has one of the highest contents of sugars of any of the complete dog foods .also you should look at the oil to protein ratio as its the oil/fat content that dogs get there energy from .But at the end of the day they are collies and work is there nature some can be couch potatoes but most love to just be working thats why we love them.
kathy runningdog

I have heard that Bakers can make dogs Hyper and also cause some dogs to have itchy skin?

Of course he might be hyper whatever you fed him on.

Our 7 are on Burns and some are Hyper and some are calm! So as you say some of its going to be the personality of the dog.

Lorna x

Jude was on Bakers. We only changed because it didn't suit his tum.
I know a diabled dog on Bakers and it doesn't make her hyper. Poor love, I think she really wished it did!!!

i think Pads is just Paddy really!!!!!! Hes always been like that & youve not always fed Bakers have you. Personally i wouldnt fed it as i believe there are better foods,but its all down to PERSONAL choice.

The grons are now on burns & are doing well but the collies always look crap on it. Genesis is hard to beat imo, but then dosent suit all dogs

How much is that Mish?

I really believe it affects our dogs. I mean you wouldn't make Linford Christie eat McDonalds every day and expect him to win gold at the World Championships would you. Speed and stamina is important for my dogs. But I would also think that in an obedience dog, the ability to stay focused and concentrate is just as important and I would imagine that if their food isn't right then they will tire quicker etc.

My two are both on CSJ CP24 lamb and rice. I find they have great coats, plenty of stamina and certainly plenty of speed. Neither are hyperactive, well no more than normal 20 month and 5 year old collies.

Twix was bought up as a pup on genesis and she did well on that. Genesis didn't appear to suit Jag though and I wanted them on the same.

Both were on Burns for a while but Jag seemed to lose a lot of speed and stamina so I guess it didn't suit him. I would certainly always look for a food without lots of colourings etc.

But at the end of the day if you are feeding your dog a particular food, and you are happy with the way he looks, acts and his general wellbeing then I guess there is not reason to change.

Mand

£40 nailbiting
but worth it in my op!!!

Jude has a problem with wheat. I tried the csj 'that'll Do', Jude loved it but his stomack didn't!!! I ended up with lots of slop to clean up YUK !!!
Jude is on James Wellbeloved. It's OK because it doesn't upset his tum, but I'm sure there is better out there. He loved Bakers but, again, his tum didn't.
My friend buys a breeder pack for £5.99 for 15kg when I take her to the warehouse. It contains a lot of Bakers and it does her dogs brilliant.

I've heard the same about Bakers. I know someone who has a collie puppy, who was fed Bakers when she brought him home, and she wondered what she'd bought as he was the most evil puppy! She changed his food and he settled down, and she's convinced it's because of the additives etc in Bakers.

I myself fed it years ago with no ill effects, but I suppose it depends on what suits your dog.

I now feed CSJ herbie rings to 4 of ours, which is a 24% protein working dogs ration. Murphy (who's nearly 12) has CSJ's lamb and rice senior, which suits him better. They all look and perform really well on it.

CSJ do another range with glucosamine included, but I feed that to two of mine separately, as I like to know exactly how much glucosamine they're having. Also, 4 of them have fish oil 3 times a week. (but not Bob the puppy yet).

...but do all children who have eaten too many Smarties behave in a hyperactive manner? I suspect not.

For those children who do the next question is what about the Smarties makes the child act that way?

Is it a) colourants or b) the excessive of sugar or c) something else entirely?

Next question

Why does any ingredient identified have this effect on the child?

Is it the ingredient ie the colouring or the sugar at fault or is it something in the child's own metabolism that is intolerant to or cannot deal with colourants and/or excessive sugar?

It is probably true to say that 'We are what we eat' and the same applies to our canine friends but my friend's old BC lived to the ripe old age of 19, was fit and healthy, apart from a little stiffness in his back legs, almost to his last day and his diet consisted of Pal, Winalot and the occasional Bonio as a treat...

Maya is hyper and was on burns active, someone suggested that we put her on a different burns food with less energy, it didn't stop her being hyper it just made her more tired and grumpy at the end of the day, so we changed back... i think it is just the dogs personality, food is what helps maintain their happy personality,

So when you changed it back, did she stop being tired and grumpy?

I think to a certain extent food can affect a dog but that is in conjunction this its genetic make up as well.

Kai was on Bakers when we first got him, had dreadful tummy trouble on it so we swopped him around until he settled on Burns and then Arden Grange. We then found CSJ about 2 years ago and havent looked back. He and JC are both on the CP24 and they look great on it. They will probably go onto the CP21 during the winter when they arent competing.