Hi Guys :)
I know you have both had labs for years and years :D
Lucy is my first lab. I would really appreciate some advice regarding feeding. The food she is on at the moment (given to Nic by her breeder) seems very high in protein (Chudleys Puppy)
I also know you dont like keeping labs on high protein puppy food for long.
What is the best kind of food and how long before I would change her over to Adult?
Thanks for any advice
Ali :)

Oh my god what have I missed :D :D :D

Correct me if I'm wrong AliC but are you taking on Nic's Lab Lucy ????

Wow just look what happens when you aren't on the board for 24 hours !!!

Welcome to the wonderful ownership of Gundogs ;) :o

Dessie :D :D

Hi Dessie :)
I missed you being around. I have had to do a few links !!!!! for guests

Do you mind emailing me with your email address. For one Id like to add you to my address book and another I would like to email you privately!!!!!!!!
Ali :)
If you'd rather not ignore this post :D :D :D
ali15173@aol.com

Hi Ali , Sorry only just managed to log on been a busy day. :(

I always keep my puppys on a high protein food recently when got Ned he was on Skinners which I found did him good,but puppy food is only small pieces so at five months I put him on junior food as although he is not a lab both pointers & labs grow at a fantasic rate.

In the past I have used Pedigree and Beta but found Beta to sometimes result in a zinc deficiancy so I dont use that any more.I also Find Bakers complete a good food.
Incidently what is the protein level in Chudleys?
PS did you know that we have quite a bit of labby info on the lab rescue site Im not allowed to put link here but you can get it out of my profile ;)

Edit: Its goes without saying that the breeder shouild have given you a diet sheet and meat etc will be included on it I always feed meat to my pups usually cooked meat or lamb mince and also puppy chum meat. I was advising earlier on complete food thought thats what the question was
I always think the more variety of tastes a puppy has stands then in good stead for when they are older.
My pups also love rice pudding and scrambled eggs.I will eamil my diet sheet to you.

Hi Ali. I do just about the opposite, getting my puppies off the higher protein puppy food as soon as they are large enough to handle the chunkier adult food. (Which just goes to show that there is more than one way to skin a cat!)

I start with tin food. Something like Pedigree Chum Puppy food plus terrier meal. My thinking is that the wet meat is easier for the puppy's tummy to digest. As soon as they are big enough, around 12 to 15 weeks I start to add a little complete into it. (I use Masters crunchy which is a quite low protein). My next move as soon as the puppy has had a chance to get use to the complete is to move to an adult tin still mixed with the complete and I stay with this for most of the growing period. I never increase on the tin food, just add to the complete so the complete becomes a larger percentage of the total until I finally drop the tin completely.

Best wishes, John

Best wishes, John

Hi John:D
I thought it was you that liked to get pups off of high protein food as early as poss.
Its such a responsibility isn't it making sure your dog gets the right food.
Ruby, my boxer, has tinned adult food and mixer. That seems to be the only thing that settles nicely in her tummy without giving out too toxic fumes ;) :D
When I fed Ruby today, Lucy the lab went frantic sniffing the air and whining. She obviously fancies the meat too!!!! :D
Ali :)

Hi Glenys ;)
Thanks for the reply. I have been a member of your site for yonks now, its in my favourites, but never seem to be able to get the time to log in for the chats. I work evenings :(
Ali :)

There is no "Right" or "Wrong" way Ali. My aim is to slowly bring the puppy up to full size. Some people like to keep a puppy a little heavy, saying that it has reserves in the event of illness. Others prefer to keep the weight off of the joints for as long as possible. You will find most show people subscribe to the former whilst most working people go with the latter! (Is it any wonder our dogs look different?)

Best wishes, John

Mattie, I use Chudleys Classic on my 3, the protein is 19% Ingrid

The Chudleys puppy food Ali has is 30%.
Lynn x