I've been having a discussion (well argument) with my friend about the way they feed their puppy. They've changed her onto adult food but she's younger than Holly (Holly is nearly 6mths old) and I've said that too young and they should wait until the puppy is 12mths old.

Is this right? Does the food or the breed make any difference to the age?

Thanks,

Fiona
x x x

I don't know what food they're feeding but the puppy is a Springer Spaniel.

Fiona

I would have thought a Springer should be on puppy until at least 10 months of age. They ought to speak to the breeder. An adult food does not have the right amount of protein etc in it that a puppy needs but it tends to be cheaper - is that a factor?

It does differ depending on the breed with larger breeds/giants being on puppy food much longer.

hth

Pam n the boys

Hi pam, sorry have to disagree with you here. The giants are on puppy food for a shorter not longer time than normal size dogs, all due to the protein intake. The giants normally go onto Junior after 6 months of age.

Fiona

I think Breed does have something to do with it. We had a Beta puppy pack and it in the booklet there was a section on feeding and when you should change to Junior then adult food (Beta have Puppy, Junior and adult) I will have a look (as we don't feed beta as the puppy kibble i felt was too small pieces as Baileys tends to a bit like a hoover as far as food goes :) ) and see what it says to give you some idea but i am sure for large dogs it is puppy for 6 months then junior till they are 18mths old.

Tracy

When i was working with the puppies, we would have them on puppy food until they were about 6/7 months old, and then do half and half for a while, puppy and adult food, until up to about 9/10 months of age, and then onto normal adult food, which seem to suit them, we found that if they stayed on puppy food for long periods of time they would go down with the s**ts, because of the milk content that was in the food, and the higher protein level, so we found this method to work, and it hadnt done callum any harm as he was fed this way. The food that we used was purina growth and purina adult.

I've had puppies on adult food from 8 weeks because once all their siblings had gone they decided they didnt like puppy food anymore!

My last litter I had them on Nutro Max Pup, then when they left Nutro Choice Pup because of it's bigger kibble, my youngster remained on that until she was 9 months old and because she has so much energy I put her onto Nutro Choice Plus, that's an adult food but high in protein and fat.. She looks fabulous, well bodied, well boned, shiny coat. I would say 6 months is a bit too young even for a Springer, a junior food would be better. I know there's a theory that lower protein foods (eg.junior or adult) given to larger breed pups makes them grow slower thus reducing their chances of HD, OCD etc. My first litter went straight onto Junior food and the bitch I kept out of that was hip scored at 5 yo, total 5,2=7, but is that just coincidence tho?

I have basically followed the guidelines on the packaging re when to change over. The food I use comes in 2 formulas, Puppy & Junior then Adult. I have a large breed and changed over to Adult when he was 12mths old, well actually he was just under but the P&J food had run out so for the sake of 2 weeks we moved him onto Adult. The manufacturers work out the protein levels etc. so by following their guidelines you should do no harm. :-)

I change from puppy to Junior (or Graduate) fairly early on. Have seen two pups bred by me that stayed on puppy until 10 months, and they were gross. I'm sure it doesn't do their joints any good. Probably depends on the lifestyle of the pups a bit, and the breed, but I would never keep them on v. high protein for too long. Also think it may damage the kidneys.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

I must admit to changing to adult food early in the puppy's life. I prefer the lower protien of the adult food. I like to bring a puppy on slowly and not get too much body too early in their life. I know this will go against most people on the board's opinion but it works for me.

Regards, John

I have to agree entirely with John on this one I don't believe in pumping too much protein into puppies for too long as they can body up to quickly and then eventually that can turn to fat and if there is anything I can't take its obese dogs. I find that a dog that is on the lean side (not thin by the way) as a 6-12 month pup bodies up very naturally and stay healthier in the long run.

Mine are normally on puppy food until about 6-7 months and then graduate onto Adult food through the next month.

Daz

Certainly wouldn't go against my opinion John. I think you are quite right.

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

So have I Bec, they grew up fine.

Some puppy food is too high in protein and additives for some breeds.

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

Hi, I have been trying to work out myself when to change to adult food. Both are on puppy at the moment because they swop bowls!!! Tigua is only 4 1/2mths but Simba will be 12mths in June. I have just got another bag of JWB puppy and thought it best to start to mix with adult when I was half way through the 7.5kg bag. Do you think this would be sensible? And no I can't feed them seperately pup still eats too frequently and it was making too much extra work he is a cry baby and doesn't like being without Simba at feed time. Wendy

Thistle is 11 months old (Lab) and is still on puppy food. I was wondering when to swap her over, and reading what you've all said I think I will start mixing it half and half for the next few weeks (after my next trip to the shops). I give her quite a few table scraps, just at her mealtimes and reduce her dog food accordingly- do you think this is OK?
Jane

This to me is quite OK. If you get some adult before the puppy is finished and gradually over a week increase the adult you should have no problems.

As far as table scraps are concerned, I'm sure you will get a mixed reception but, for my part, my first dog was during the days of food rationing and a large part of his diet was table scraps! At over 16 years old he was and still is the oldest dog I've ever owned! Most scrapes do no harm, greens have next to no food value and I’ve used them to pad out a "Gannet's" food to make it look more than it really is! Beware of onions, a little will do no harm but too much can lower the haemoglobin level in the blood.

The only problem is determining the feeding levels when using scraps because you are not feeding the same each day. For that reason it takes a while to get a feel for it.

Regards, John

Thanks John. I know what you mean about how to guage the relative value of table scraps, but don't you think you have to have a feel for your dog's weight etc even when just giving it dog food. I mean there is quite a range on the feeding guide isn't there?
I don't know if I'm doing right, but what I do with Thistle is look at her ribs when she is running. If she starts to look a bit 'ribby' I increase her food for a few days until she fills out a bit.
Jane

Very much so Jane. The trouble with table scraps though is that the food valve is different every time you feed it because the content is different. Not an insermountable problem, but one which just adds to the overall problem of feeding.

Thinking about the wild, most animals don't get regular feeds. They eat when they find food and tend to go from bing to fast so just the fact that table scraps are not always the same does not make things any different to natures way anyway!

Regards, John

No. I'm sure you're right John. I think that we are too obsessed with dogs' diets in a way because after all they are scavengers. I've heard it said that dogs aren't interested in variety in thier diet and that is just a human thing, but I don't believe it. Thistle loves it when she gets a few different tastes.
Jane

I'm sure they do like variety although I'm not so sure it's anything to do with taste. I'm convinced "The Flower" gets the scent of what we are eating and no matter what it is, in her eyes it must be better than what she's got! I'm sure scent has far more to do with it than taste.

Regards, John