Comments on: When should I stop feeding my dog puppy food?

By: Nancy M

Nancy M — Fri, 15 May 2009 22:23:18 +0000

Why are you asking this on an internet board where likely 90% of the people answering are wholey ignorant about what they are talking? Why don’t you contact the breeder of the dog and ask them? They are the ones that should know their lines and know their breed and be capable of aswering and WANT to answer any and all questions regarding the puppy they created. Unless you were an irresponsible puppy buyer and got the dog from some ignorant back yard greeder, the best source of information regarding your dog is your breeder. If you screwed up and irresponsibly purchased, then find a GOOD, knowledgeable, responsible breeder and learn from them but it is unbelieveable how ignorant most of the people on YA are and how much misinformation is given out and believed because the asker is just as ignorant as the answerer – and it just keeps perpetuating itself! There is NO set time to stop feeding a dog puppy food – that is dependent upon a LOT of things including breed and lineage growth rates and such – no one here can tell you when.

add: BTW, feeding too hot of foods, like puppy foods can be, to large boned dogs can often cause panosteoitis and other bone and joint abnormalities so just someone saying feed it this long or that long is inappropriate if your dog’s growth plates have not closed yet or if he is going through growth spirts and such… globbing up on calcium can cause big bone and joint issues as well – that has been proven in several studies. The calcium/phosphorous ratio along with exposures to vitamin D can be very important and overdoing can cause just as much if not more serious issues than underdoing but neither is a good idea. A good balanced diet that your breeder or if your breeder was an idiot, then a mentor you find (not on the internet but from the parent club) can help you decide on and when to change feeding patterns, isn’t going to be gotten from Joe Blow dawg owner OR even often from vets as their knowledge of nutritional issues that are breed specific is very limited.

By: Katharine

Katharine — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:19:12 +0000

Give the dog some large dog food i suggest perina or smartchoice dog foods. He is more than old enough to feed dog food.

By: I CAN SEE RIGHT THROUGH YOU!

I CAN SEE RIGHT THROUGH YOU! — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:36:36 +0000

about one year is recommended. I feed my lab puppy’s puppy chow mixed with cottage cheese and scrambled eggs and regular dog food. Large breed dogs need protein and calcium. The need the joints and bones to be dense and strong. puppy chow is a blanket formula for all dogs. it is not enough for a big boy like you have. None of my dogs have ever had hip or elbow problems(they are also certified ) They have beautiful healthy eyes and coats. Decrease the puppy chow and cottage cheese as he reaches 2 to 2 and a half years. He will be a real big strong boy. stay away from the fancy name brand foods for dogs.High protein lower fat food is the best. if he starts to get fat, start to switch him over slowly. continue with the eggs a couple of times a week, it is what he needs. there is no such thing as complete dog food in a bag.

By: domicheree94

domicheree94 — Sun, 10 May 2009 15:01:59 +0000

Now would a great time to stop feeding ur dog puppy chow or something like that. If u want to change ur dogs food change it to dog chow. Trust me on this it has been tested.

By: karayz2004

karayz2004 — Fri, 08 May 2009 20:43:52 +0000

i would wait till he was 1ish. he is big but that is how he is going to be. i would probably switch to a large breed puppy food, if your not already using one. it is best for them because they are going to be very big.
you could also start to mix the food the puppy and adult dog food.

By: Sarah K

Sarah K — Thu, 07 May 2009 23:19:19 +0000

i personally think it depends on the dog himslef, i gave my puppy large breed food before he was one, i could just tell tht he ewas ready for it.

good luck

By: Kiki B

Kiki B — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:07:20 +0000

I would keep him on large breed puppy until he is 18 months old. He sounds like he is too heavy, it is best to grow them slowly or you can exacerbate hip/elbow problems that show up later in life…

By: megan h

megan h — Sat, 02 May 2009 11:28:03 +0000

you should gradually switch him to adult food at 12-13 months old.

By: Forsaken

Forsaken — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:36:01 +0000

With large breeds it’s best to keep them on it until they are a year and a half. Speak to your vet and get his opinion.

By: Goldengal

Goldengal — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:08:57 +0000

I would. He is big enough now. And he is old enough not to need all the extra calories in puppy food too. I switch him over very slowly and then he will be all set.

ADD: I took my dogs off at 8 months old when I was feeding them puppy food. I switched to Canidae all life stages food so I dont have to switch them now. Large and Giant breed dogs dont need puppy food until a year old they dont need puppy food at all.