We are getting a Cocker Spaniel puppy in a few weeks time and wondered what food people would recomend using.

You should probably stick with the food the pup has been given by the breeder at first as any change in diet may upset his tummy. Call your breeder for advice

The breeder of your puppy should tell you what the puppy has been reared on and I would expect them to give you a small amount of of food. Regardless of whether that is the type of food you would wish to bring the puppy on no sudden changes should be made.  It is a very stressful time for puppies leaving their mums and siblings and taking in their new surroundings.  If you do feel you would eventually wish to change to another food please make any changes gradually.  I feed my puppies Arden Grange, I have previously used Burns for several years but last year felt it no longer suited my dogs.  No doubt on your first visit to the vet they will recommend Hills Science Diet, but that doesn't mean it is the right food for your puppy.  I would sugest you speak to the breeder to establish what food you will be bringing home when you collect your pup. There are several good quality complete feed on the market and there is also the BARF option, although I have no experience of that method of feeding but many breeders swear by it.

As others have said the breeder should give you enough food to get your pup through that first 10 days or so and I would suggest you take a couple of large bottles and fill them with the breeders water as IMO a lot of puppy tummy upsets will be caused by the change in water. Would then buy the same food as the breeder was using and change the pup over SLOWLY after it has had all its injections.

Good luck with the new pup and enjoy, don't forget to take it to your vet within the first 3 or 4 days.

Agree with previous writers I have a 14 month old cockler, I tried to change him from breeders food and had about 8 weeks of runs until we found Natures Best. Leave pup with Breeders food and if you are going to change do it gradually. The breeder should give you a few days/weeks supply and stick to what works. My pup was on Eukeneba first and on Natures Best now, agree that change of water may upset thier tummy and again a vet check within first few days. But most of all enjoy as they grow so fast...

Hi,
Bet your excited. :-)
Yes keep puppy on breeders food and yes they should give you a surply. If your not sure give the breeder a ring I'm sure they wont mind.
Do remember it soaked food and four meals a day.
Good Luck and Have Fun. :-)

Hi

When you do decide which dog food to feed your puppy i definately would recommend burns. My dogs especially love the fish flavour and they look so shiny and beautiful on it.

Burns is undoubtedly a good food but it does not suit some individuals of the more athletic breeds, they, although in good condition, do not carry the weight they should. In a young dog this is important in order to build muscle, and lack of body weight can make this slow.

Hi I Agree with Jackie re:Burns, although i think this is a good food it is NOT a good food for puppies, the protein levels are too low and pups dont usually do well on it.
I made the  mistake of  putting one of my dogs as a pup on it and he lost all his lovely bone, when I mentioned to a dog pal what had happened she said "dont tell me , youve had him on Burns"  then cited several litters or young dogs who'd not done well on it.

My last two dogs ive had on Arden Grange and cant recommend it enough, its a quality food thats hypoallergenic and has a fair amount of oils etc..in it and nothing nasty.
Id definately give this one a go but like other people have said keep him on whatever the breeder has been feeding firstly and slowly ween him off it.

Enjoy your puppy

Beth

I use AG too Beth but I would think even that will not suit all dog or all pockets ;-)

mmm I wouldnt say Arden Grange is too expensive, its cheaper than hills and Eukanuba, if the Poster knows some "dog friends" who are in the breeders club can get it a lot cheaper.

Plus the posters dog is only a little one so wouldnt cost much too feed him at all.

I really think feeding cheap supermarket rubbish is false economy , your pup is likely to have the runs and wont do as well as on a quality food. Take your point though lol

Beth

LOL do not think it is Beth, think I have read too many threads where people insist that one way or another is the only way to feed a dog. I am very much of the horses or courses type and what I types is more or less my stock answer when people ask about food.

I buy direct from Arden Grange as a breeder but you can get it at the same price from www.berriewoodwholesale.co.uk. 

Stick with what the breeder suggests at least for the first few weeks, afterall the breeder knows what food suits thier dogs best :)
There is a lot of conflicting info regarding protein levels for puppies, in lighter breeds that aren't prone to rapid growth related problems the protein levels shouldn't really give you a headache :)
I'm not sure how a diet low in protein would cause a pup to loose it's bones? I thought calcium being re-absorbed out of the bones would be caused by a calcium deficiency, not low protein? My pup was switched to low-protein and he never lost any bone

http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog-food-index-a.html

Something to keep in mind with that website is it's based on North American foods. Some foods sold both here and abroad actually have different ingredients even though it's the same brand. It also doesn't contain many/(any?) foods that are UK made.