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Cocker Specific Discussion => Feeding => Topic started by: superscot on January 17, 2010, 10:41:07 PM

Title: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: superscot on January 17, 2010, 10:41:07 PM
Bumped into an auld guy this morning while out with Brea and subject came round to Food

Now Brea has always been one fussy little lady on the food side.

The auld guy had 1 cocker and 2 Springer’s that all behaved impeccably and full of life and coats shining on them all

His remedy ...Porridge Oats for their breakfast!
New one on me!

Each dog given porridge at breakfast time every day ...as follows ........1 soup ladle of oats then 275ml skimmed milk and a tiny and he did say a tiny drop of sugar..........3 mins in the micro stirred and allowed to cool then fed.....Nothing left each morning   was his words


Tempted to try Brea.....thoughts please

Cheers Colin
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: Helen on January 17, 2010, 10:45:16 PM
my dad gave our family dogs porridge in the winter - he said it 'warmed them up' for the day  :D  (and then they had table scraps and a vile looking dog 'sausage' food and enormous dog biscuits for their main meal).  They all lived long healthy lives.

Not sure if I would solely feed porridge as a meal but I can't see that the odd meal would do any harm  ;)

Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: superscot on January 17, 2010, 10:51:41 PM
Quote
he said it 'warmed them up' for the day 

Helen his words exactly. He also said it was a very slow release protein/energy food for them and having had dogs for more than 50 years and all living well into 12 to 14 years he swears by it.

trial in the morning with Brea  ;)

Cheers Colin 
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: Ninasmum on January 17, 2010, 10:54:21 PM
I haven't previously fed ours Porridge Oats, but i would possibly try this on a cold morning, maybe once a week.  :-\   although with warm Goats Milk not Cow's.

All my 3 love their food, so now and again its nice to vary their food.  :luv:
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: maggieann on January 17, 2010, 10:58:51 PM
I have porridge for my lunch every day and always give some to Torin - he, and my previous dogs, all loved their porridge. :D
However, Torin once stole a cooked chicken carcass and the next day I was just giving him plain food -  he turned his nose up at porridge. ::)
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: Nicola on January 17, 2010, 10:59:31 PM
I wouldn't feed it all the time but I often give Tilly and Rodaidh a bowl of warm porridge (with goats milk and no sugar) before a shoot rather than their usual breakfast if it's a really cold day. It warms them up and is slow releasing energy, my Stepdad has always done this for his Springers which is where I got it from. They absolutely love it although as I said I wouldn't feed it every day, more as a treat every now and then or if they're working in the cold.
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: superscot on January 17, 2010, 10:59:37 PM
Quote
Goats Milk not Cow's.

Ninasmum can i ask why ? Is goats milk better for them ....I have never ever tried it myself ..Mind of reading somewhere dairy products are not good for dogs .... :-\

cheers colin
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: Helen on January 17, 2010, 11:00:12 PM
It took Jarv until he was 4 years old to lose his fussy eater status and now he's a piglet...be careful what you wish for  :lol2:

I'm sure she will love porridge - there's something about warm food with a teensy bit of milk that draws a pooch in every time  ;)  Goats milk as Ninasmum has mentioned is digested easier than cows milk, but a small amount of skimmed will be ok I'm sure.

will look out for the porridge update tomorrow (and may treat Jarv to a bowl as well  :lol2: )
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: Cockertime Blues on January 18, 2010, 12:21:22 AM
OH gives ours porridge for breakfast 2 or 3 times a week in winter.  Always has done.  They love it.
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: supergirl on January 18, 2010, 08:32:13 AM
When my grandmother had a small-holding keeping rabbits, pigs, ducks, geese etc, everything had porridge in the morning, even the bunnies :lol2:
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: Jessie_Pup on January 18, 2010, 08:38:54 AM


I have not given our two porridge. In this cold weather I have been adding water to their dried food  into the micro for about 10 to 20 secs on 50% power  so it becomes a warm meal and the water makes a bit of gravy with the kibble.   Might give the porridge a try, have been having porridge for breakfast like mine with honey and natural yogurt on top
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: babushka on January 18, 2010, 09:18:12 AM
I use oats  with their kibble in the morning with some hot water,( if they're looking a bit lean looking)
It's a healthy way of bulking them up.
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: Mudmagnets on January 18, 2010, 10:30:08 AM
I like porridge in the winter for breakfast, specially if I am going out on a meals or books round, sort of warms you through and lasts a while in the system too.

Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: superscot on January 18, 2010, 10:37:01 AM
Well tried it with Brea this morning and not one single oat left in the bowl gone in seconds  :blink: :blink: :blink:
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: Max X 2 on January 18, 2010, 10:46:38 AM
Tempted to give this a try, my 2 will eat anything anyway.  We've got oats in the cupboard when we had visitors & I prefer the oat so simple  :D   Wonder if it will do the trick for Max before an agility show, he likes to sleep for a couple of hours after his breakfast  :lol2: & Harry is looking very lean at the moment, this could be the solution - a weekend treat  :D
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: bluegirl on January 18, 2010, 11:13:49 AM
Mine have always had a porridge type meal every morning (bar their fast day). I use wheat, rye, barley flakes and porridge oats soaked overnight in milk. If the dog struggles with milk and brings it back as a "mucussy vomit" you can add honey to the mixture.

We've only ever had one dog who struggled with cows milk and it was years ago. Goats milk is an alternative, but it is expensive as it only seems to come in small cartons of about 1L, so with a few dogs it soon goes.
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: bajoleth on January 18, 2010, 11:24:34 AM
My parents have always fed their dogs porridge oats for their breakfasts, without exception they have all lived well past usual life expectancy for their breed ;) They feed burns as their main diet but always porridge. They also add cod liver oil capsules (opened and squirted into their food) when they are getting on in years. I will also add that none or their dogs has ever had to be PTS due to ill health.
They have had 12 dogs that I can remember all different breeds from yorkies to GSD'S, They now own a black lab who is 11yrs young, she has the mearest hint of grey on her muzzle and is as energetic as ever strangers are shocked by her age, she looks about 6 I would say, never had an ailment only goes to the vet for her boosters ;)
Think I will give Belle some, don't know why I never have  :lol2:
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: Mudmagnets on January 18, 2010, 12:46:49 PM
He He, don't tell the powers that be or we will end up paying VAT as it will be classed a 'pet food'.
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: Max X 2 on January 18, 2010, 12:54:15 PM
He He, don't tell the powers that be or we will end up paying VAT as it will be classed a 'pet food'.
:005:   But if I only feed mine before a show would that mean it's for working dogs?  :005:
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: Mudmagnets on January 18, 2010, 12:58:33 PM
He He, don't tell the powers that be or we will end up paying VAT as it will be classed a 'pet food'.
:005:   But if I only feed mine before a show would that mean it's for working dogs?  :005:

erm!! not sure  :D
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: Nicola on January 18, 2010, 01:03:30 PM
He He, don't tell the powers that be or we will end up paying VAT as it will be classed a 'pet food'.
:005:   But if I only feed mine before a show would that mean it's for working dogs?  :005:

Well I only feed it to mine before they go out working so it should be exempt :005:
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: waggytails on January 18, 2010, 03:58:11 PM
My old girl Millie was starting to struggle eating her dried food in the morning, so now she has porridge for breakfast soaked overnight in water as she has a bad tummy and i did not want to risk giving her milk.  I add a little bit a dried parsley as well and she absolutely loves it,
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: Mudmagnets on January 18, 2010, 04:37:36 PM
He He, don't tell the powers that be or we will end up paying VAT as it will be classed a 'pet food'.
:005:   But if I only feed mine before a show would that mean it's for working dogs?  :005:

Well I only feed it to mine before they go out working so it should be exempt :005:

Sounds like you both have it 'covered'.
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: Poppypuppy09 on January 18, 2010, 07:18:28 PM
Poppy is very partial to porridge, the OH has to wrestle with her daily to get his first  ph34r
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: catcmartin on January 19, 2010, 11:20:01 AM
I never ever thought of giving charlie porridge in the morning.  O/H and I both had it this morning for breakie so I could have made some for the boy as well.  I dont put any suger in ours only some salt and a drop of semi skimmed milk.  I might try giving him some the next time we are having it as well get plenty in a box lasts for ever.  Not sure he would be willing to give up his burns in the morning though in place of porridge.   
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: superscot on January 23, 2010, 10:20:46 PM
Well Brea has had most mornings and she is fine and bowl is clean each breakfast.
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: phoenix on January 25, 2010, 10:11:45 AM
Bobby scrounges like crazy for a share of mine, mind you, it is awful to get off the long silky ears.
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: JohnW on January 25, 2010, 11:04:23 AM
Mine all love porridge, workers and show. We were told of its benefits by an old farming gent who has worked his dogs for over 40 years.  :D
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: octopus on February 20, 2010, 09:01:07 PM
I give mine porridge oats cooked with water - nothing else - and it goes down a treat. I think mine eat anything anyway tho'. Good to hear other folk give it too. How much oats do you think is right for an average cocker girl  (spayed)?
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: mezzaj on February 21, 2010, 11:06:08 AM
Thought I would try Lucy with some porridge this morning and what a surprise she actually ate the lot!!  Brilliant!! :luv:
Title: Re: Scots Porridge Oats
Post by: ginnygirl on February 21, 2010, 01:18:39 PM
ginny likes porridge with milk (cows,shes ok with it)