Alright, let’s talk about whippet food. This has been a bit of a journey for me, to be honest. When I first got my lad, Max, I just grabbed what the breeder recommended. Seemed straightforward enough, right? Well, not quite.
The Early Days and Kibble Confusion
So, I started Max on this fancy puppy kibble. He ate it, sure, but he never seemed super enthusiastic. And sometimes, his tummy would be a bit… rumbly. You know how whippets can be, a bit sensitive. I figured, okay, maybe this brand isn’t the one. So, off I went to the pet store again.
I spent a good while staring at bags. So many options! Grain-free, high-protein, limited ingredient. It was a lot to take in. I picked another well-known brand, one that a friend with a different breed swore by. Max seemed a little better on this one, but still, not 100%. His coat wasn’t as shiny as I thought it could be, and his energy levels, while generally good (he’s a whippet, after all!), sometimes dipped more than I liked.
Trying Something New – A Bit of a Mix
I started reading up a bit more, chatting with other whippet owners online. Some folks were really into raw feeding, but honestly, that felt like a big commitment and I wasn’t sure I was ready for that whole scene. Too much to learn, too much prep for me at the time.
Then, I thought, what if I just try to improve what he’s getting? I decided to stick with a decent quality kibble as a base, but I started adding things in. Just simple stuff, really.
- Cooked Chicken: Sometimes I’d boil up some plain chicken breast, shred it, and mix a bit into his kibble. He loved that, no surprise.
- A Bit of Wet Food: I found a good quality wet food, not the cheap stuff, and would add a spoonful. Just for a bit of extra moisture and flavor.
- Fish Oil: Heard this was good for their coats, so I got some dog-friendly fish oil and would put a pump on his food.
This mixing and matching seemed to do the trick. It was a bit more effort than just scooping kibble, but not a huge hassle.
What I Noticed and Where We Are Now
The biggest thing I noticed was his enthusiasm for meal times. He actually got excited! And his stomach issues pretty much cleared up. His coat definitely got shinier too, which was a nice bonus. Plus, his energy seemed more consistent. Still had his crazy whippet zoomies, but he just seemed… better overall.
So, that’s pretty much where we are now. I’ve settled on a particular brand of kibble that he does well on – it took a few tries to find one that didn’t have ingredients that seemed to upset him. And I still regularly add in a bit of wet food or some freshly cooked plain meat or fish. Not every single meal, but often enough. I also make sure he gets some healthy treats, like bits of carrot or apple, which he goes mad for.
My main takeaway? Every dog is an individual. What works for one whippet might not work for another. It’s been a process of observation and a bit of trial and error. You just have to pay attention to your own dog – their energy, their coat, their digestion – and adjust as you go. It’s not always simple, but getting it right feels good.
