Honest Kitchen-Zeal

Has anyone gone ahead and tried this? The price makes my wallet cry, but the boys are itching and I thought I'd try switching the protein just to see if maybe that would help (they are on Force now).

I haven't gotten it yet....but, I do plan to. I'm waiting for it to come into the store where I usually buy THK.

My plan is to pick up one box, and use it once or twice a week, not as a full time meal. I usually only do THK once a day anyway, so I think I could make a box last a decent amount of time. I just need to get a good container for it to stay fresh.

I would really like to just get a 4lb box, not a 10 lb.

I also posted on their FB page a while ago asking if they had plans for any other protein source. They answered back that they had plans for a bison or buffalo formula in the future. I think that would be really, really good. And, it would cost less than the Zeal.

I saw the price and it made me cringe too! We are sticking to Embark right now since it seems to be working. B is good for anything, but Gidget is who we are watching. She is a little itchy, but nothing like the past.

Tried this for Vince and he loves it (other 2 prefer Addiction to THK). THK is great about sending samples, check their facebook page for contact info for samples. Also watch their site for sales if you buy direct from them or coupons for in-store purchases, only thing that makes it semi-affordable

Not yet, but I plan to switch Tyson to it after I'm through this box of Preference (why I bought the 7lb and not the 4lb I don't know ).
If you do switch I'll be curious to hear about your experience with it.

Two Crazy Pugs wrote:I saw the price and it made me cringe too! We are sticking to Embark right now since it seems to be working. B is good for anything, but Gidget is who we are watching. She is a little itchy, but nothing like the past.

Thanks everyone, I think I will bite the bullet and order it this weekend. Cindi, I was going to ask how Gidget is doing-my boys who normally are fine are itching up a storm. I feel so bad for them, they will wake me up at night scratching. I am thinking some weeds sprouted up with all our rain.

they have it at the store near my house. let me know if you want me to pop in and get you a box.

Mel wrote:they have it at the store near my house. let me know if you want me to pop in and get you a box.

Ohhh thanks Mel, could you do that? I'll write you a check, I can try and meet up with you this weekend!

Only Natural Pet has it on sale for 15% off right now:

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Honest-Kitchen-Zeal-Grain-Free-Dehydrated-Dog-Food/200041.aspx

So I fed them their first bowl yesterday and for those that feed HK, they went even crazier for this. Which seems hard to do. Sophie had her paws up on the cupboards the entire 10 minutes trying to get to the bowls. I was worried it would smelly fishy (I HATE FISH), but it wasn't bad.

yeah, zoe barks the entire time I'm waiting for it to hydrate. not a very patient puggie. lol course they have expensive taste.

Saira wrote:So I fed them their first bowl yesterday and for those that feed HK, they went even crazier for this. Which seems hard to do. Sophie had her paws up on the cupboards the entire 10 minutes trying to get to the bowls. I was worried it would smelly fishy (I HATE FISH), but it wasn't bad.

Ooohh, now I'm excited to try it out!! Waiting for my local store to get it in before I do.

What is the consistency like, Saira? Is it thicker/chunkier like Force or more thin like the Embark or Thrive? We tried samples of Embark & Thrive but it didn't go over so well with my gang.

PugLady3 wrote:What is the consistency like, Saira? Is it thicker/chunkier like Force or more thin like the Embark or Thrive? We tried samples of Embark & Thrive but it didn't go over so well with my gang.

It seemed more soupy, but the chunks of fish are bigger. I will tell you for sure after I make today, I can't remember for sure.

PugLady3 wrote:What is the consistency like, Saira? Is it thicker/chunkier like Force or more thin like the Embark or Thrive? We tried samples of Embark & Thrive but it didn't go over so well with my gang.

Hmm - I just bought Thrive for the first time, and haven't tried it yet with my gang, Usually they eat Keen. Now I'm worried they won't like it! Well, they better - I bought the 10lb box!!! Keen has a good consistency, like oatmeal.

Renee wrote:

PugLady3 wrote:What is the consistency like, Saira? Is it thicker/chunkier like Force or more thin like the Embark or Thrive? We tried samples of Embark & Thrive but it didn't go over so well with my gang.

Hmm - I just bought Thrive for the first time, and haven't tried it yet with my gang, Usually they eat Keen. Now I'm worried they won't like it! Well, they better - I bought the 10lb box!!! Keen has a good consistency, like oatmeal.

I've noticed that some of them are thinner and more soupy. With Keen I have to add more than twice the amount of water compared to dry mix. For Embark I think it's just a matter of adding less water.

Tyson&LuLu'sMom wrote:I've noticed that some of them are thinner and more soupy. With Keen I have to add more than twice the amount of water compared to dry mix. For Embark I think it's just a matter of adding less water.

I did try adding less water but unfortunately they still didn't go for it like they do the Force. It's weird, but I think that Force smells better too. We'll have to give Zeal a try.

We tried Zeal tonight!!

It was a hit! They loved it. I will be buying a 10lb box when they run out of this Thrive. They aren't crazy about the Thrive, which makes me sad....but, I can't waste it, so they're eating it. I mean, they still like it, but not crazy like they are for some of the other kinds.

I think I'll alternate between Keen and Zeal, because those seem to be the ones they love the most.

The Zeal has much bigger fish chunks than other formulas I've tried. It's not thick like Keen, of course Keen has oats which makes it thick, but Zeal is thicker than Thrive, and does not smell bad at all.

I can't remember if I posted this or not, but normally I get 4-4lb boxes. One of Keen, Force, Embark, and Thrive. Baby Girl gets Embark & Force and Lola can have any of them. The last time I ordered was late at night and I swear I could not get the website to work correctly and I accidentally order 4-10lb boxes. First, I am most freaked when I saw the charge on my cc and then I almost freaked when I had to carry in the UPS boxes too. I keep them in SS containers that I got at BedBath&Beyond. They have a rubber seal at the top to keep it fresh and I keep the remainder in a huge ziplock back.

I still have plenty left to get me through the end of the year, but I think that I'll try the Zeal in January. I won't feed it at every meal, but alternate like I do now.

As far as the consistency on some of them, I fix mine the night before and put it in the ref for the pugs. I will sometimes forget and put too much water and so I'll just mix in some plain, non-fat yogurt to thicken it up.

I wonder if other breed owners are as big a fans of THK as we are?

Thanks for bumping this up, I was going to post an update and kept forgetting. They LOVE Zeal, and they really do seem less itchy. I'm just going to suck it up and keep ordering it. What's money for, if not for the pugs right??