I feel like I've been posting a lot lately but so many questions keep popping up, so thank you all in advance :)

Our gundog breed girl is expecting a litter a litter of at least 5/6 in just over three weeks (29th March). All of our dogs are fed Arden Grange adult with meat, fish or eggs added occassionally and I would also like to wean the puppies onto Arden Grange too. However, I'm feeling slightly confused about what to feed the bitch? Shes in good condition but is starting to seem very hungry and begging a lot (she never normally begs) and she is looking very full after a meal. I'm thinking of moving her onto three meals a day at the end of next week (2 weeks to go) but will the adult food be enough for her or does she need something more nutrient dense and I'm sure it'll start getting cramped in there .... but I don't want big pups etc, I also know lactation will take its toll as with our breed pups are very greedy. I would also like mum on a food I could wean the pups onto as if mum is in clearing up after them it'll be a food shes already on.

I contacted arden grange who have been very helpful ... in fact too helpful as now I feel I have too much choice. They recommended the following:

1) Arden grange prestige for the bitch, some may find it a bit rich, but the pups can also be weaned on to it and then onto one of the puppy range before going to their new homes.

2) Arden grange weaning for the bitch and pups but again will need to move onto one of the puppy range before going to their new homes.

3) Arden grange puppy / junior, can be fed to the bitch, suits some better as its not so rich, slightly less protein and fat then the prestige and weaning but is more nutrient dense for the bitch. The pups can also be weaned straight on to it and kept on it, saves swapping their diet before they go off to their new homes and although marketed for 'medium' breeds the composition is the same as other puppy foods such as skinners, royal canin etc so would be fine for our pups to stay on and owners could also change to large breed puppy if they wanted.

Any advice appreciated ! .... I'm swaying more towards option 3 as I like the fact the bitch can have some of the puppy food for extra calories and the pups could be weaned on to it and stay on it without having to swap and change. We also add in meat, tripe, fish and eggs at weaning so the fractionally lower protein / fat in the puppy compared to the weaning won't be missed.

I fed the weaning food to bitch and pups. I moved into large breed puppy before they left. Also fed bits of raw too. 
Worked fine for my girl but she's fine on any of the AG foods

There is no need to feed your bitch puppy food...just her normal everyday food is perfect by all means give her more smaller meals if you think it necessary.

^

Without doubt, keep her on the same basic food she's been used to eating.  You will, as her puppies grow inside, probably need to feed several smaller meals a day, and focus on protein - add more protein and less bulk.   Until you see how many puppies she has to cater for (born) you don't need to increase her food significantly.   You don't want loads of milk coming down before the puppies are strong enough to cope with it, and need it.  Too much too soon could lead to mastitis.   And don't 'milk' her!!

If the girl at AG advised you change to a puppy foor for mum - I'm surprised.   She's usually spot on.   Again there's NO NEED to switch from the version she's already used to eating.   Just less bulk and more protein via maybe eggs, chicken etc.

Brill, thanks for that ! And yes our girl is on the Arden grange lamb anyway which has a good protein and fat level and I planned on adding extra meat, fish and eggs in as they do get them as a treat.
Ness from Arden grange is busy with crufts this week so it was somebody else, she was very good and gave me lots of options but now I can't decide !

> Ness from Arden grange

Yes, I've had 'conversations' with her in the past over my Basset who came to us with Giardia, which left him with a 'sensitive' tummy.  She urged me to use their Sensitive food and it worked really well.   However a few orders ago, I managed to press the wrong button and ordered (2 bags as they were on offer) their Salmon and Rice.   Rather than be bothered to send it back, I tried both on this, and had no bad reaction from my Basset, which I have in the past when I tried a change.  Good news as it's cheaper!!