You know what? I bought the big black bag of Showtime dog food because my feed store guy swore by it. I wanted a high-protein food that didn’t wreck my budget. I’ve got two pups with very different jobs. Scout is my 55-pound hound mix who runs trails with me. Millie is a small rescue who naps like it’s her sport.
Curious about the nitty-gritty nutrition panel and sourcing? I put all of that in my dedicated Showtime dog food review.
I grabbed the 24/20 formula. It was a 50-pound bag. I paid just under what I pay for gas in a week, which felt fair. The kibble was pea-sized, round, and a little oily. It smelled like meaty cereal. Not gross. Just… dog food. If you’re hunting for an additional perspective before you commit, there’s a straightforward Showtime dog food review that breaks down the recipe and recalls, too.
The Switch (Slow and steady, no drama)
I mixed it with their old food for 10 days:
- Days 1–3: 25% Showtime
- Days 4–7: 50/50
- Days 8–10: 75% Showtime
- Day 11: Showtime only
Stools? Firm by day four. Darker than before, but easy to pick up. Gas? Scout had some on day two. He cleared the room and glared like it was my fault. Then it stopped.
Week One Wins
Scout’s energy picked up by day five. Our morning run is a 3-mile loop with a mild hill. He pulled, but not like a kite—more like he had an extra gear. He also didn’t crash after. He stretched, drank water, and did the “ready again?” face.
Millie ate it fine, but she’s not a big eater. I gave her a splash of warm water on top. She liked that. Her tummy is touchy, so I watched her close. No puking. No loose stool. Small win.
Weeks Two to Four: The Real Test
- Coat: Scout’s coat got shiny. Not show dog shiny, but hey, I noticed. My neighbor asked what I changed. That says a lot.
- Poop count: Less volume. Firmer logs. Not rabbit pellets. Just solid and neat. Sorry, but this stuff matters.
- Water: They drank a bit more. It’s a higher fat food, and we were in warm weather, so I kept the water bowls full.
- Breath: A tad meaty in the morning. Not foul, just… close up, I noticed.
- Itch check: Millie scratched a bit more in week two. I added a teaspoon of plain fish oil every other day. It settled down after a week.
Real Life Moments
- Trail day: We ran behind the old mill in town—packed dirt, some roots, a quick creek cross. Scout kept pace the whole hour. No lag on the last hill. He even chased one unlucky leaf. Goofball.
- Training snack test: I used the kibble in a Kong Wobbler. It fit fine and rolled well. Not greasy inside. Nice.
- Park pickup: Firm stool, one bag, no smear. If you pick up poop daily, you know that’s gold.
Feeding Amounts (What worked at my house)
- Scout (55 lbs, active): 1.25 cups morning, 1 cup night on rest days; 1.5 cups morning, 1.25 cups night on heavy run days
- Millie (28 lbs, lazy): 1 cup total per day, split in two meals
I weigh food when I’m being strict, but cups worked fine here. I kept ribs feel-able, not showing. That’s my rule.
Want a second opinion on portion sizes? Head to MyFoodTrip for an easy calculator that matches kibble to activity level.
Things I Liked
- Price per meal felt fair for a “performance” style food.
- Energy stayed steady. No sugar crash vibe.
- Stools were reliable. My yard thanks them.
- Kibble size worked in puzzle toys and didn’t choke my slow eater.
Things I Didn’t Love
- The bag isn’t resealable. I clipped it and kept it in a Vittles Vault. Ants will find it if you don’t.
- A light oily film on my hands after scooping. Normal for high-fat food, but still.
- Not great for couch potato dogs. Millie gained a pound fast when I didn’t trim her portion. My bad, but worth a note.
- Breath was a touch meaty. Nothing a dental chew couldn’t fix.
If your dog spends more time on the couch than the trail, my two-month trial with Pro Balance might be a better fit—you’ll see how the lighter calories kept weight gain off without sacrificing flavor.
Who Should Try It?
- Active dogs, working dogs, or dogs that jog with you.
- Folks who want decent performance without a fancy price tag.
- People who can manage portions and watch weight.
Who shouldn’t? Senior dogs with tummy issues, dogs with known fat sensitivities, or pups that barely move. It might be too rich.
Before I wrap things up, here’s a quick side note for the humans: if your energetic pup doubles as your wing-man (or wing-woman) on walks and you’re thinking about leveling up your own dating game, this candid Hinge review breaks down the app’s features, success stories, and even how to filter for fellow dog lovers—handy if you want your next match to appreciate muddy paw prints as much as you do.
Small Tips That Helped
- Add warm water and let it sit for two minutes when feeding a picky eater.
- Store the bag in a sealed bin. Those oils hold smell.
- If your dog gets itchy, try fish oil or a slow mix-in with their old food.
Long runs and fetch marathons can leave the human half of the duo feeling just as sore as the four-legged athlete. If you’re anywhere near Bristol and craving a post-workout deep-tissue fix, the localized guide at Rubmaps Bristol lays out honest, user-submitted reviews of massage spots so you can book a session that actually melts those knots without any guesswork.
My Bottom Line
Showtime dog food did what I hoped. Scout kept his steam on runs. Millie stayed fine once I cut her bowl back and added fish oil. The bag is clunky, and it’s a little oily, but the results were solid.
Would I buy it again? Yes—especially for spring and fall when we train more. For summer? Maybe I’d mix it 50/50 with a leaner kibble to keep weights steady.
When I need to tighten up ingredients or drop the fat a notch, I rotate in Annamaet—the results of that test were pretty eye-opening.
Call it a strong 4 out of 5 from me. And Scout would probably say 10 out of 10 if he could talk. He keeps licking the scoop, so that’s our science.