I sometimes tell my mom that I don't agree with how she feeds the dogs because I don't like the brands or I don't think that the dogs are doing well on them. She then gets all defensive. She can never stand to be wrong. She tells me that all of my information is wrong and the vet told her that the brand she's using is good. I, trying to prove my point, end up getting all "preachy" and kind of disrespectful. I even try to show her sources but she doesn't care. She just walks off in a huff. So all that comes of it is my mom getting all defensive whenever I mention dog food and us just being mad at each other for arguing. How can I explain things (such as what I think about our dog food) without making her all upset?
Arguing with Mom
- Thread starter ShadowCat
- Start date
It's sometimes hard for us parents to receive info like that from our kids...I do that to my son sometimes because he comes off as kind of a know it all on most all topics.
I do have to say though that if he had the info backing it up I would tend to believe him. Have you told your Mom that some Vet's get kick backs from the dog food companies for selling their products? I know that until not to long ago, I thought that Science Diet, Iams & Eukanauba (sp) we the good dog foods. I went to the feed store to buy Science Diet for Chloe when she was a puppy and the guy that worked there turned me on to the food that I now feed she and Jack.
I do have to say though that if he had the info backing it up I would tend to believe him. Have you told your Mom that some Vet's get kick backs from the dog food companies for selling their products? I know that until not to long ago, I thought that Science Diet, Iams & Eukanauba (sp) we the good dog foods. I went to the feed store to buy Science Diet for Chloe when she was a puppy and the guy that worked there turned me on to the food that I now feed she and Jack.
Choice of food is a hard argument. I know there are better than I feed, but as my vets have always said... if it ain't broke, don't fix it. As I always add juicies and " stuff " to the kibble. Marty has a great program, but your Mom is paying the bill . As long as the dogs are in great shape , I wouldn't worry.
What are they eating?
I had a huge struggle with my parents when Ripley was young about what to feed him. They strongly objected to feeding him a raw diet, but tentatively allowed it finally. He did so well that now they bring home raw meat/bones just for the dogs.
I've more or less won the food argument. They've seen what feeding a high quality diet does for dogs (my two are in flawless condition) and noticed that we actually save a ton of money on food since we've switched to a better kibble.
Just explain things without getting bossy. If you get frustrated, drop it and bring it up later.
I had a huge struggle with my parents when Ripley was young about what to feed him. They strongly objected to feeding him a raw diet, but tentatively allowed it finally. He did so well that now they bring home raw meat/bones just for the dogs.
I've more or less won the food argument. They've seen what feeding a high quality diet does for dogs (my two are in flawless condition) and noticed that we actually save a ton of money on food since we've switched to a better kibble.
Just explain things without getting bossy. If you get frustrated, drop it and bring it up later.
Yah vet clinics get a bit of money for sponsoring Eukanuba and Science Diet. Both are pretty much worthless.
I wish I was still in my Animal Science class so I could ask the professor what the good diets are. He was pretty knowledgable about all sorts of feeds for all sorts of animals. We covered dogs but only briefly because we were behind schedule.
But I do know that in my training manual for the vet clinic I'll be working in this summer it says specifically that we ONLY sell Eukanuba and Science Diet there and not to even mention the other brands.
I wish I was still in my Animal Science class so I could ask the professor what the good diets are. He was pretty knowledgable about all sorts of feeds for all sorts of animals. We covered dogs but only briefly because we were behind schedule.
But I do know that in my training manual for the vet clinic I'll be working in this summer it says specifically that we ONLY sell Eukanuba and Science Diet there and not to even mention the other brands.
I've never bought food through my vets. Today's was Chip's annual and she again marveled at his teeth .Asked me how often I brushed .... never . Mentioned his great coat again and asked how often I groomed ..... maybe once a week. She said she was always so happy to see how great our family dogs ( past and present) looks. We all go there. She stood him for his examination and couldn't believe how he naturally went into a show stance....Am I bragging ??? Sure am !!! BTW... I take a fish oil pill once a day and give him one too.
Thats like my parents, We got them a BIG box of bones ( the dry biskits ) and they left them beside the couch, well Bella could take the lid off with her nose and she would go and help herself, or they would just leave the lid off for them..She would have like over 5 a day..and that was just when I was home and counting!
I would tell Bella NO, or put the lid back on and try to put them in a different spot, and I just got in trouble..NOW..they are saying "look how big shes getting"..uuh wonder why?
I would tell Bella NO, or put the lid back on and try to put them in a different spot, and I just got in trouble..NOW..they are saying "look how big shes getting"..uuh wonder why?
My parents finally decided to make the switch after seeing the difference between my dogs and their Terrier . . . and they got tired of all the excessive poo They saw the difference when they kept Bimmer and Kharma for us for one weekend. And it didn't hurt when Kharma went to Katie's bowl of food, snagged a mouthful of it, looked up at me with a strange look on her face, then spit the food back out in Katie's bowl and walked over and poked HER bag of Innova with her nose a couple of times.
Sometimes you just have to leave the information laying around and let them make it THEIR idea. Since you are still at home with your parents and can't show them direct results, try printing out some info (maybe from Mordy's site) and leave it laying around the house where they will stumble across it.
They saw the difference when they kept Bimmer and Kharma for us for one weekend. And it didn't hurt when Kharma went to Katie's bowl of food, snagged a mouthful of it, looked up at me with a strange look on her face, then spit the food back out in Katie's bowl and walked over and poked HER bag of Innova with her nose a couple of times. Sometimes you just have to leave the information laying around and let them make it THEIR idea. Since you are still at home with your parents and can't show them direct results, try printing out some info (maybe from Mordy's site) and leave it laying around the house where they will stumble across it.
T
I struggled, fought, and begged my parents to let me feed a good food for 4 months. What made my case even more so urgent was that my dog was having seizures. She didn't have them often enough to be put on medication, but she still had them.. and I hated them. I had been speaking to my mom for several months about how a better diet can reduce the amount of seizures.. but she wasn't buying it. One day when Cocoa had 4 really bad seizures in a row.. I remember actually crying and begging my mom to just let me change her food. Perhaps it is a bit annoying that she woudln't do it for my dog, but when she again realized how much Cocoa's seizures upset me, she let me switch her food.
Though..GRR.. Now Cocoa is back to eating some nasty dog food. My dad forgot to buy her food when she ran out, and STILL hasn't boughten it.
At least with Marq I know we HAVE to feed a good food. There is no way my parents can feed Marq a bad food, as it states in the contract that he HAS to be fed quality food.
Though..GRR.. Now Cocoa is back to eating some nasty dog food. My dad forgot to buy her food when she ran out, and STILL hasn't boughten it.
At least with Marq I know we HAVE to feed a good food.
There is no way my parents can feed Marq a bad food, as it states in the contract that he HAS to be fed quality food.First, my dogs were fed Pro Plan, then my mom started giving them Nutro, then Natural Balance, and now one of my dogs is overweight and gets this Royal Canin weight loss food mixed with Natural Balance because he doesn't like the Royal Canin stuff, and my other dog was eating only Natural Balance, but didn't like it, so now she also gets a mix of the Royal Canin (she loves the taste) and Natural Balance. They also get a Nutro food packet thing on the top of the food. In the evening they get Pro Plan. They get 24/7 access to Natural Balance dry food as well. None of these foods are too bad, I like that they get Natural Balance, but I don't like the Royal Canin or Pro Plan, and I don't like the fact that they are getting three brands of dog food.
I like the idea of leaving papers around the house. I'm not sure if my mom would get angry at that though. Probably not, maybe I'll try that soon.
I like the idea of leaving papers around the house. I'm not sure if my mom would get angry at that though. Probably not, maybe I'll try that soon.