Hi all, First timer so be gentle with me lol.
I have just got my third Dobie, he's 4 months old and I'm searching for some sound advice concerning his diet. The two previous Dobies I've had lived to a good old age...........14 and 13 respectively. Both suffered from Arthritis but not till they were 10 or so. At first they had vitalin and meat mixed and did well on that..As they got older they went onto Iams as it was the 'wonder' food of it's time but boy it doesn't seem that way anymore! Things in the 'dog feeding world' sure have changed. I've had the vet tell me for years no bones! Now, everyone seems to be raving about the BARF diet (Whoever thought of the name? Yuk! Yeah, I know it's the initials but still sounds nasty lol) Anyway, I would prefer to keep him on a dry food with a little added extra for variety. At present he's on Pedigree puppy dry and peridgree puppy pouches. I've been warned though that it's not a good bet for him though as Dobermanns do better on a lower protein past 4 months. Is there any kind soul out there that can advise me, preferably someone who is familiar with Dobies and their bone problems etc? Would be so grateful! I really want to give the dear little chap the best diet.........
Thanks in advance
ziggy

Hi Ziggy
I have a 15mth old Dobe and we fed him on pedigree junior lge breed till he was almost 12 months now we feed him on Autarky complete food and all the usual bits and bobs from the kids plates etc
Kerioak is probably the best person to talk to about health issues in dobes and I know she feeds hers raw
I'm sure she'll be along soon with some advice :)
Liz
( spooky coincidence but I know a dobe called ziggy !! )

Hi Liz

You will be sending Ziggy in circles referring her to me as I suggested she come here for some information when she contacted me earlier so if anyone can help please do

Christine

oops:D

roflmao!! So now I know who Kerioak is! Well I got here......thanks!!

ziggy

Try feeding him on kebabs dropped on pavement, left over roast dinners, empty crisp packets from the park, duck poo, fox poo and road kill.

Mine are the picture of glowing health & just thrive on the Lady G diet!

You forgot to mention horse manure, rabbit droppings and sheep poo :D

Sorry forgot to mention that Purina Pro Plan was the only dried food that didn't make my Dobe poo for England

And if that don't make 'em glow with health then try the next door neighbour's cat!

Next doors!! He has two on tap here!! They are beginning to enjoy a cold nose up the jaxie now and again though ~;0)

ziggy

Funny you should say that!! This ickle sod is a walking, munching hoover!! My other two were nowhere as bad as he is.....I am forever ramming (gently as possible for my own safety lol) my fingers down his throat and pulling out twigs, leaves, tissues.....everything you could imagine! He also likes to lick walls and insists on licking the step from side to side before he comes in.......Have you seen the ad for Carling Black Label (uk) where she pours the lager in a line to the bedroom via the windows and the kitchen floor.I'm sure they've seen my Albie in action!!

ziggy

i have seen your name assocated with dobes a lot of the time so could you help,i have a 18month old dobe who came froma dobe rescue , he is very skinny and even though we have feed him on james wellbloved he has not put any weight on ,he has not got worms and all his vaccinations are up to date so is there any thng else he could have to bulk him up

Hi Ziggy
I have two dobes, one of 2 1/2 yrs and one of 7 months and both are fed on Beta complete (maintence & junior respectively) :) They also enjoy Markie bikkies, pigs ears, and occasional beef bones from the butcher as treats. Salem came from the breeder on it and when we got Dizzy, she was on something else that seemed to give her really bad wind (as if dobe wind isn't bad enough!!!:D) so we changed her to beta also and it suits her much better! They both look very good on it, shiny coats and Diz definatly smells better :D
I think it probably is down to personal choice and what suits your dog best. Some get on great with Beta - some don't but that is probably the same for any dog food!
We were advised with Salem not to use the pedigree puppy foods because of their high fat content which can be unhelpful with maintaining a dobes weight, how true that is I really don't know. Why not ask your vet for advice?
Best of luck
Sharon

Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, that's what I heard about the pedigree puppy too and boy he's put a lot on. Weighted him yesterday and he's just over 3 months 15.7 kg he was 12.4 kg just over 2 weeks ago! I'm going to let him get up to the 4 months and then switch to a junior diet.
Thanks again

ziggy
Yeah, and too true, there's no dog on earth can drop one as pungent as a Dobie eh? roflmao

Hi this is also my first time on this site
i have a 18 month doberman,< sammie> we got him from a doberman rescue and he had been on dried food,sammie came to us with a delicate tummy ,so we tried many types and found that james wellbeloved do many foods for many conditions including puppys ,olderdogs,for skin irritations, and many others.I know this has worked for sammie as we can now all sit together with out wearing face masks.Most pet shops supply this food and it is the same price as the others on the market.

Hi Lorraine

The best thing to bulk you rboy up is time. Young Dobes, especially males often go though a skinny stage and the worst thing you can do, especially as you don't know his background is to cram food into him as this will give him the runs.

If he is very thin, say with skull and pin bones showing then feed him a couple of handfuls five or six times a day. If he is just underweight (immature) then feed him normal portions for the type of food you are giving

I took on an abused 20 month old a few years ago, he was 26 Kg (which dropped to 23 Kg as he also had a blockage) and had hardly an muscle on him whatsoever, looked like a walking skeleton. Over the next twelve months we slowly built him up and with love, adequate food and exercise, plus his body maturing into an adult male he reached 39-40 Kg which was a good weight for him.

Christine

Thanks for replying the bone on top of his head is very prominent will this disapear as he puts weight on, also his height is now 28inchs do you think he will grow any bigger, i have measured him from his feet to his back near his neck
thanks lorraine