Good morning. My first post here, but a long time "viewer".

Our 8 month old Ridgeback bitch "Chia" was switched to a raw diet (Natural Instinct) when she was about 3-4 months old and has absolutely thrived on it. She's in amazing condition and looks to be a healthy weight. She's a big girl (mum was 45Kg I believe) and Chia is already around 35Kg.
She's been on the "Puppy" and "Working Dog Puppy" raw foods so far and I'm getting conflicting advice on when to switch to the Adult range of foods. Also when to start reducing down to adult portions.

I'm hoping there are some RR owners on here that feed either Natural Instinct, Nutriment or similar, that can advise when is best to switch and when to reduce.

Chia currently eats twice a day and gets through 700-750 grammes per meal. However, she's turning her nose up a bit now and we've dropped it to 600g per meal, which seems to have got her interest back up.
At "adult' she should be on about half this, but I'm not sure exactly when that should be. Start reducing now? Or another few months?
The Natural Instinct brochure states 8 months, but the shop Natural Instinct 'expert' says "at least a year" and general advice online varies wildly, but for different foods and different breeds.

Also, when should I start moving over to the Adult range of foods?

Many thanks,
Stu

tbh the only difference with the puppy and adult raw completes is how fine the meat is ground . None of mine ever had puppy food went straight on to the same as they are having now aged 8,4,7 So I would change now
If you are on fb also have a look at joining one of the raw feeding groups eg barf uk, rawfeeding uk or rawfeeding rebels although there are others.
If you arnt o fb get back and I will find the charts as to the % to feed at what age. she isnt full grown yet so will still need more than her 2.5%-3% as an adult

Thanks for this. Much appreciated!
I'll have a look on Facebook (I don't use it much but I do have an account) and see if I can find some charts.
Thanks, Stu

I telephone NI for exactly the same info, they told me that once they'd grown 75% of their predicted growth, to change them over to the adult variety

Hi Stu,
I changed my boy off Puppy when he was only about 6 months - purely because there is a wider range of proteins to choose from. I also rang NI and I'm fairly sure I was told it was absolutely fine but to avoid the Working Dog range (I think it may have added Vitamin C which is not good for while they are growing. But I may have misremembered that!) Having said that I don't just buy from NI, but from a variety of suppliers.

As for weight of food I've gone purely by the shape of my boy - making sure he has a waistline, and can see the last two ribs. At 13 months I have just now reduced him down from 675gm * 2 to 600 gm * 2. Will check how he looks after a week or two and might reduce him again. (He currently weighs approx 41 kg)
Good luck with Chia! :)

You could always contact "WolfTucker".
They not only make and supply raw meats and "complete" raw meals but they breed Rodesian Ridgbacks too.
I am sure you would get the correct advice from them.

Excellent - thanks to you all for that info.
I didn't expect to have so many replies, so quickly, from other raw feeders.
I think I am going to start introducing the adults NI foods then over the next couple of weeks and see how it goes.
I might try some of the WolfTucker raw at some point too, but for now the NI is very convenient as the local pet shop stocks it and delivers free to me weekly in the evenings.
Thanks again!

A chap over here has a Rhodesian ridgebacks who looks in absolutely fantastic condition. He feeds him nutriment after it helped his now sadly passed away RR, he actually became the distributor over here to ensure he could feed it to his dog and sells it from his garage. Don't get a much better recommendation than that.
http://ptfp.co/rhodesian-ridgebacks/

Strangley the supplier I am using also has rr mine love her food the dogs butcher also worth looking at fpr variety and quality

> I think it may have added Vitamin C which is not good for while they are growing.

Where did you get that info from?

I have always been told adding vit C is god for pups especially if they are a bit slack in pasterns at any stage, or when teething, and for setting ear carriage in erect eared breeds.

http://www.briarleabouvier.com/Vitamin_C.htm also http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/1_7/features/5309-1.html