Is he going to be a working dog, or just a slobber dog?

Slobber dog. He will be and inside dog for the most part. This will be our fourth lab. My wife is still going through cancer treatment and misses not having one around. He will prolly be a big baby by the time she's done with him. I wasn't sure if we needed another dog with all that she is going through, but how can I say no. Actually I'm really looking forward to this little guy. His name will be Odie. Named after the greatest man I know. Odie was my grandfather's name.

We use Kirkland brand from CostCo. Very good food for the money.

I’ve fed Taste of the Wild to my tracking dog since he was a puppy. Its expensive but he only eats 2-3 measured cups per day…..one bag lasts awhile. I get a lot of compliments on how sleek and shiny looking his coat appears. We had an old Cocker Spaniel when we first got Otis that had always just ate the Ol’ Roy or whatever from Wal-mart. She started eating Otis’s food there toward the end and it was amazing at how her coat changed. She even perked up some and acted like she felt better in her old age. Whether were talking about dogs, deer, or cows…..I think you want to see a good sleek, healthy looking coat like that.

There are lots of good foods. I'd make sure whatever I buy is made in America.

Victor brand dog food.

Too much protein is not good for the older couch potato type dogs. They can't utilize it and it will often come out thru the skin thru little puss pocket looking blisters. They will smell bad also. Most important to a dog is constant worm monitoring and treatment including heartworm, flea, tick and other skin infestations and sufficient exercise. Almost any kind of good name brand dog food is sufficient for most dogs.

I've always fed my two this because I thought it was interesting that its made with turkey and venison. They seem to love it.

www.purinaone.com/dogs/products/smartblend-true-instinct-formula-dry-dog-food

Anything grain free I like pretty much. Taste of the wild is on the cheaper end and can be purchased at tractor supply. Merrick is good stuff, too. Other foods are mostly filled with corn and wheat filler because it's cheap.

On the back of every bag of dog food there is a little square that contains what is called an
AAFCO statement. Although there on every bag it is not even noticed by the majority of people purchasing pet food. It will read one of two ways:1) "This Food was formulated according to AAFCO recommendations", or 2) "This food was tested according to AAFCO recommendations."

Foods with statement #1 means the food was never fed in a food trial for 6 months as recommended by AAFCO. So there is no proof of digestability / nutrition benefit. In fact, without a food trial it may prove to be very indigestable. Something I've seen in very expensive, but no food trial, dog food. So the next time the kid on isle nine of the big box pet store tells you how marvelous brand "x" is, ask him if it underwent a 6 mth food trial to measure weight gain / loss / digestability. And then flip the bag over and see if he knows what he talking about.

If such things matter to you, like they do me, check to see who your potential dog food maker affiliates with...some brands are affiliated with and help support groups like HSUS, PETA, etc., and that's a deal-breaker for me. I don't want a cent of my money going to those fruitloops if I can help it!

4 health at tractor supply. I was told by someone at tsc that the 4health dog food is made by taste of the wild and marketed by tsc only. Don't know how true that is but that's all I feed my dog and he is very active.

Victor is probably the best out there. It's pricey, but it will tone a dawg and the will have plenty of energy. Gives them a great cost as well. Also dawgs don't seem to have to eat much when on it