I've just received a new programme from Royal Canin for mother & Puppies.

They no longer do Baby Dog.

They now tell you to feed an in whelp bitch from 6 weeks gestation, lactation and wean puppies on their starter food, ok - not a problem, pretty much the same as Baby Dog.

But I would then have sent my puppies off to their new homes with a bag of Royal Canin Baby Dog at around 8 weeks old, which they would have stayed on until 5 months old, then gradually changed to Junior.
They are now saying that the puppies should be weaned onto  Royal Canin starter kibble or their New Mousse until they are 2 months then change them onto their Junior kibble.

I really have a problem with this as I think the puppies are going through enough change, going to their new homes at 8 weeks, without the new owners having to change their food at the same time.

Why do companies have to fix things that aren't broken?

Is it me getting on my high horse or do any other breeders think the same?

Lynn

Totally agree with you that is just what i thought. I had already started to wean my pups on maxi baby dog, then to be told i could not buy any more and my bag had ran out, the rep told me the ingredients had only changed slightly. So i managed to find and  buy some baby dog from a wholesaler. So what now do i tell my new owners to feed?? i think it is far to stressful for pups to leave mam and then start on a new food. Also what a hassel to get puppy packs if you do it this way, i had to send the wholesalers receipt to RC so i could get them, but when i telephoned this morning to see why they had not come, i was told they had not received it. What a hassel think i will go back to pro plan for next litter.

Hi Karen, So what food did you choose for your puppy packs? As you can only feed starter up to 8 weeks but you can't feed junior until 8 weeks.
I like my puppies to go to their new homes between 7 1/2 and 9 weeks, I think this is much nicer for my bitch and it allows me time to go through the puppy sales package with the new owners, without rushing them out the door.

I have spoken to Royal Canin this morning, thier suggestion was to wean them onto junior at 7 weeks before they leave, but it contradicts their new programme.

I won't have a litter until next year, but I'm already worried if this change will upset their tummies at such a stressful time for them.

Lynn

I raised my litter on RC starter food then went on to Maxi Junior but they lost too much weight. So two pups I kept, are now on baby dog again and they have put weight on.  So now it looks like I'm going to have to wean them on to junior before this bag runs out.  They are 5 months now and its taken a month to put the weight back on. :(

Ive used RC for years and years, my dogs and cats have had it, but if the pups start to lose weight again on the Junior, I think I will have to find something else to put them on that will keep the weight on them.  Am reluctant to change things obviously but needs must. I think they have made a big mistake taking the baby dog away. Time will tell I guess with their drop in sales!

Goldengirl i wean my puppies onto the starter then at 7 weeks onto the junior before they go to there new homes with know problems.

My pups can't tolerate the junior food until they are at least 12 weeks, so I now send them home on the starter and a voucher for the Junior once they reach 12 weeks or more.

I've used Royal Canin for years, all my dogs have it and I've reared 4 litters on Baby Dog. I have never used the starter food mainly because they have all done really well on baby dog and it saves any changes to what they eat from weaning to 5 months.
If I stay with Royal Canin then I will have to make a change at such a young age and hope that they don't lose weight before going to their new homes.

Help Please!!  My bitch came into season this morning and I normally put them on to RC HT42d if I intend to have a litter.  Then on to puppy food at 6 weeks gestation etc etc.

I haven't heard anything directly from RC about the changes they have made but I am concerned about sending  my potential puppies to new homes with a new diet at 8 weeks.  I bought the Starter for my last litter and they didn't like it as much as the puppy food.

I don't feed RC normally to all my dogs due to cost but do believe it gives pups a brilliant start in life, so my dilemma is, do I change totally or risk pups not taking too well to new food when in their new homes and it becoming the new owners problem?

Your opinions would be most welcome.

I really don't know what to suggest as I'm not sure what to do myself.
I am lucky as my next litter should be due around feb so have time to think about it.
I think I might try pro plan unless RC bring back Baby Dog, I think it will take a lot more calls of complaints before they do.

Lynn

I'm sticking to what I've always done, feed HT42D to mum from just before her season till 6 weeks post mating, then change her over to RC Starter, my pups stay on this and I send them home on this as I have found that 'my' pups can't tolerate junior food until they are around 12 weeks of age.  They do really well on this, so I'm not changing.