Product Review: Natural Balance ALPHA Grain-Free Dog Food

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Natural Balance ALPHA formula

The folks over at Natural Balance were kind enough to ask us if we’d like to sample and tell you about ALPHA, their line of premium, grain-free dog food. They’re also sponsoring an upcoming giveaway for a chance to win a GENEROUS supply of this dog or cat food so stay tuned for that, too!

Because of Daisy’s sensitive tummy her vet recommends allowing at least 4 weeks to gradually transition from one dog food to another and as I’ve mentioned before, Daisy is a very picky eater so we don’t go switching her food around very often.  I’d heard lots of positive feedback about Natural Balance and Grain-Free diets from other pet parents and trainers, so I was interested in the opportunity to  let her try it. We sometimes use different flavors of premium and holistic kibble as training treats and snacks just to give her some variety, so that’s what I decided to do with the ALPHA samples from Natural Balance.

I did some research to find out a little more about ALPHA and here are a few key facts that impressed me:
    • contains Prebiotics to help support healthy digestion
    • completely grain-free, meaning no cheap fillers and easier on dogs with sensitivities or allergies
    • contains a moderate protein level (our vet warned us not to overdo it on the protein levels but ask yours for advice on how much your dog needs)
    • uses garbanzo beans as a high quality source of protein
We received samples in all 3 varieties:

Chicken, Turkey & Duck
Trout, Salmon Meal & Whitefish
Lamb, Chicken Meal & Rabbit

Seek a treat puzzle

Daisy has let us know in the past that her personal preference is for fish so we started with the trout variety.  Rather than mixing it with her current food, I decided to use it in her Seek A Treat Dog Puzzle. She was apparently VERY excited about this and almost flipped the whole thing over trying to find which compartments I had hidden the kibble in! Here she is after she finally calmed down a little bit and could focus on the puzzle:

Daisy and looking for ALPHA

Since picky Daisy seemed to REALLY like the Natural Balance ALPHA and her sensitive tummy seemed to be doing fine after a few days of very small amounts, we decided to let her have more, and starting using it in her KONG Wobbler . I often fill this toy with kibble to keep her occupied so she doesn’t get stressed out when there is a noisy storm, or to keep her busy when she is stuck inside and getting bored. Here, we are trying out the Chicken, Turkey & Duck formula:
KONG Wobbler with Natural Balance ALPH
She tried to “wobble” all the kibble out of her Wobbler so fast that it’s all a blur!

Daisy with Wobbler and ALPHA kibble

Since things seem to be going so well, and Daisy really does enjoy the variety of flavors, I’m planning to continue using Natural Balance ALPHA this way, gradually increasing the amount and continuing to see how she does before making a decision about switching her mealtime kibble completely. I feel really good about the reputation of Natural Balance, the quality of their ingredients and the idea of a  grain-free diet for Daisy.

I also discovered that Natural Balance is so concerned about health and safety that they test each and every batch of pet food before it reaches store shelves. You can check any batch, view laboratory test results and learn more here.

Before switching pet food, there are a few things to keep in mind:
  • Speak with your dog or cat’s veterinarian for advice and recommendations, especially if your pet has special dietary, nutritional or health concerns
  • Take time to transition gradually. Never completely change your pet’s brand suddenly unless your vet prescribes it
  • Be patient and observant. Even with premium brands, some pets have personal preferences, skin allergies or are picky eaters and react differently to different ingredients or formulas. It sometimes takes a bit of trial-and-error to find just the right one for your fur baby!

Visit Natural Balance for more information and nutritional analysis of ALPHA Grain-Free dog and cat food. To connect with other pet parents using Natural Balance, view photos of their cats and dogs, and get access to coupons and promotions, visit Natural Balance on Facebook.

Stay tuned for a new giveaway starting soon! One lucky pet parent will win a generous supply of Natural Balance ALPHA Premium Cat or Dog Food!

We received the samples pictured above. I did not receive any form of compensation for this product review and all opinions are 100% my own. Remember to always seek the advice of a veterinarian or other trained professional for information and recommendations regarding pet food, nutrition, diet and pet health conditions.

Half Off a 10-Pack of Best Bully Sticks Plus Free Shipping!

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Best Bully Sticks half off and free shipping

Barking Deals has a 10-pack of 6″ all-natural bully sticks from Best Bully Sticks for only $16 (50% off) plus free shipping. Their deals have been selling out quickly recently so if you are interested in this fantastic deal for your pup I suggest you head on over to Barking Deals now!

If you miss the deal or would like a larger size Bully Stick for your dog (many dogs will devour a 6″ stick in a matter of minutes) then visit Best Bully Stick here for more deals.  Place an order from their Products that Ship FREE section with no minimum purchase, or order $99+ from any other section of the Best Bully Sticks site and get Free Shipping with Promo Code GA99.

Printable Pet Food Coupons and 50% Off Web Specials from Halo!

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$5 Off Halo Printable Pet Food Coupon

Halo Pet Foods has a bunch of great new coupons with savings of up to $5 Off your next purchase of Dog Food or Cat Food! Here’s a roundup of their featured printable pet food coupons :

$1 off any can Spot’s Stew 
35¢ off Chews (individual) 
$3 off 6lb bag Spot’s Stew 
$2 off any bag Spot’s Stew 
$5 off 28lb bag Spot’s Stew 
$3 off Dream Coat 
$1 off any Treats bag or jar (except individual Chews)

You can also get a coupon for 2 Free Cans of Halo Spot’s Stew Pet Food when you signup for their FREE Newsletter. Just visit Halo Pet Food and look for the Free Cans signup on any page!

For really HUGE SAVINGS get Half Off Halo Pet Food when you order from their Limited-Time Web Specials. These are discontinued or short-dated (will expire within a couple months) inventory at 50% Off the regular price!

Whole Living Magazine Subscription $3.99 with Coupon Code!

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Whole Living Magazine Subcription Deal

If you are looking to maintain a healthy and natural home and lifestyle for you, your pet and family, plus learn some great new recipes, health tips and ideas about wholesome and green living, be sure to check out this awesome deal! Right now, Tanga has a 1-year subscription to Whole Living Magazine for just $3.99. Be sure to use Coupon Code LIVING when you order!

I got this magazine through another deal recently and am always finding new recipe ideas, learning about new foods and discovering home remedies and natural cleaning alternatives…I highly recommend it for anyone interested in learning about holistic living!

$5 Credit = $11 Shipped for a 1 Pound Bag of Pizzle Pieces for Dogs!

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DoggyLoot Pizzle Pieces deal for dogs

Today’s DoggyLoot deal is for a 1-lb bag of all-natural Pizzle Piece chews for just $16 including shipping! A smart alternative to bully sticks, these chews massage the gums and clean the teeth and are perfect for moderate chewers. The chews vary in size but they average about 3-5 inches long. Each bag contains 40-50 pieces. They’re 100% made and processed in the USA.

If you haven’t ordered from DoggyLoot before, you can join here and get a FREE $5 Instant Credit good toward your first purchase. That would make this deal only $11 Shipped! Or bank your DoggyLoot dollars and use them toward a future deal of your choosing!