Pros: My picky eater will scarf it down, no fillers, all real meat
Cons: more expensive than my usual brand, can't buy it at the grocery store
The Bottom Line: Bil-Jac is really a better-tasting dog food that is better for your dog. Might be a little more expensive, but it is worth it for finicky eaters.
Yes, I, too, am one of the many that received a free sample of Bil-Jac dog food through StartSampling.com a few weeks ago. I don't treat my dog like my first-born child, but our dog is a pretty special part of our family. I didn't really think this Bil-Jac stuff would be a big deal. I was just happy to be getting a free sample! Please read on to see how that opinion changed.
My Dog
I have a 5-year-old Siberian Husky. Unlike other dogs I have owned who practically scarf down any food you put in their dish, this dog is a casual eater. You can fill up his bowl, and he will leave it sitting there until he is good and hungry. Many times laying down by the bowl and slowly picking his way through the kibble.
He has never had a weight problem, and is probably a few pounds underweight, to tell you the truth. I thought it was kinda nice. Mellow dog, mellow eater. No jumping up as you placed the full food dish down on the kitchen floor. No begging near the closet where you keep the food.
Not until I got the Bil-Jac sample did I realize that my blue-eyed baby was actually a PICKY eater!
Bil-Jac, the Lowdown
Bil-Jac Dog Food is made from 100% real chicken. No by-products or fillers. They claimed on their advertising that came with the sample that dogs can smell the real meat in Bil-Jac and will choose it over any other food you provide for your dog.
To me, that sounded pretty bogus. I had always heard that dog's don't care about "tastes" in particular. That dog food is dog food. After the Bil-Jac Challenge, I re-thought that idea.
Bil-Jac comes in a strange pellet format, kind of like rabbit food. Not the usual kibble chunks or bone-shaped stuff you are used to.
The Bil-Jac Challenge
Bil-Jac challenges you to place a bowl of your dog's regular food next to a bowl of Bil-Jac. My husband claimed that the dog would, of course, eat the Bil-Jac because it was something new. I thought the same thing, at first.
I placed the new food in a bowl next to his usual dish. Now, like I earlier told you, my dog is not that hip on eating. He leaves food for hours in his bowl. No big deal.
The minute I let the dog into the kitchen, he went right to his bowl, knowing something was up. He didn't find anything too appealing...then his nose wandered over to the Bil-Jac bowl. He ate and ate and ate and ate. All the way to the bottom of the bowl.
Our dog NEVER does that!
After he cleaned the bowl of all crumbs, I added some more food to see if he would continue to eat while full. He actually ate a little more of the food. By morning, the entire second bowl was gone! It was like I suddenly owned a different dog!
It was then that I realized I don't have a laid-back dog, I have a picky eater! He only ate his other food out of desperation and hunger! I was mortified! Our poor pooch was suffering and not eating because he thought his dog food sucked!
Did I buy Bil-Jac?
I must admit, although impressed with the Bil-Jac Challenge results, I haven't yet run out to PetSmart to purchase a bag. We still have half of a bag left of his old food, and being the bargain sort of person I am, I just can't throw it away! However, as soon as this bag is gone, I do plan on using the multiple coupons that came with my Bil-Jac sample to buy my newly-discovered picky eater some tasty food.
Also, I would like to comment that it looks like the price has come down on their food at PetSmart. Some mentioned in other reviews that they had seen prices as high as $30 for a large bag of food. I just checked on the PetSmart website, and they have their largest bag now selling for $18. I thought that was pretty reasonable for such a high-quality dog food.
Other Nifty Things
While on the PetSmart website, I also discovered that Bil-Jac makes cat food, puppy food, dog treats, and a low-fat formula. I have a weird cat that is constantly throwing up and having stomach problems. I think I will try the Bil-Jac food to see if that helps her.
Final Thoughts
I was very impressed with the quality of the Bil-Jac food. Their challenge opened my eyes to my dog's true picky nature. From now on, I will spend the extra money (which with the coupons will be negligible) and purchase Bil-Jac dog food. And it looks like I might be up for a Bil-Jac Cat Food Challenge as well!
Buy yourself a small bag or look on line for free samples of this dog food. Try out the challenge and see what happens. You might be surprised.
Bil-Jac Select Formula is ideal for any adult dog, giving them a meal of real chicken infused in crunchy morsels. This real chicken and chicken by-pr...More at Simply Dog Food
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