Dog Food Question

[cyrus buelton]

I figured this deserved its own thread and if deemed not by moderators, you can merge into the Show off your dog thread.


So we get our new dog Friday via Delta Airlines at 445p, so naturally I ask the breeder what brand of food he has been on, so I can get a little bag of that to mix in with what we are going to feed him to reduce the chances of him getting stomach issues related to a shock in food.

We currently feed Greta Royal Canine Large Breed Adult. It is a good, high quality (and make the beast with two backsing not cheap) food with little fillers in it, so it actually lasts a long time. Greta only eats 2-3 cups a day to begin with. She is an odd eater.

Anyway..........

so the breeder told me that this dog should be cooked for, giving him Purina dog food, mixed with rice and boiled chicken and cooked carrots.

Also, to give him one cooked egg a day, as well as cottage cheese.

So I ask how long.................she goes "for the dogs entire life"

WTF?

Also, she said to give him adult large breed food and not large breed puppy food as that will cause him to grow to fast. I have heard that before, but of course never done it as my Vet said puppy food for 10-12mons, then on to adult food.



What do the other dog owners think about the puppy vs adult dog food?


There is no way in hell I am cooking every meal for my dog as described. I think that is just ridiculous. Sure, occasionally we give Greta chicken, but not very often. When she has the shits or something, yeah, she gets boiled chicken and rice. But not every day.

[Popeye the Sailor]

From my understanding, large breed puppy food vs regular puppy food is that it specifically has less nutrition in it to help prevent said dog from growing too quickly.

[Grampa]

our dogs eat cat shit from the litter box and drink from the toilet..... and they do just fine.

[MendoDave]

Just cook One meal a day. Bacon grease over dog food works sometimes. We vary what Our dogs eat. they always get kibble. In our case Kirkland brand. Pretty good quality and cheap as most Kirkland brand stuff is. Cottage cheese is easy, so is shredded cheese and appropriate leftovers. That old Taco meat can go in the bowl, Pizza crusts, what ever they will eat and not be bad for them. Both dogs have beautiful coats and seem to be pretty healthy. I take them on a good (At least 45 min) off leash walk every morning. So they get exercise and don't bother me to death all day.

[hatewinter]

our dogs eat cat shit from the litter box and drink from the toilet..... and they do just fine.

^^ Some funny S#!t^^

[cyrus buelton]

From my understanding, large breed puppy food vs regular puppy food is that it specifically has less nutrition in it to help prevent said dog from growing too quickly.

The breeder is saying to give Tag Large Breed ADULT food........!

I just don't think that sounds right. My Vet has always said, depending on the breed, puppy food for a year, then slowly move to adult food.

We raised Greta on Large Breed Puppy and now she is on Large Breed Adult.



Re Food: thanks for the info. We mix in shredded cheese with Greta's food. She LOVES it.

and


we are bad parents. We will give her food from the table. She loves steak, chicken, and any other form of meat.


she also loves onion (but only in small moderation as if you feed too much = not good) and goes nuts over Romaine Lettuce.

I usually throw her the "stalk" portion and she loves to chew on it.

crazy animal

[brix821]

My 12y.o german shepard was diagnosed with diabetes 2 months ago, and I have been cooking her food and mixing it with a high quality dog food.  My case is a litle different because I felt I coould control her diabetes better by offering her fresh fruits, veggies and high fiber whole grains and oats.  I cook up a few pounds of boiled chicken breast, a few bags of brown rice, and feww mashed sweet potato, raw oats, carrots, and occasionally kale, spinach and apples about 2x a week.  Its not that much of a pain in the ass (i cook for a living), my dog loves it, and bags of dank ass dog food are lasting way longer.  That much food feeds my shepard and chihuahua as well.

[Stella]

You're going to get hundreds of answers. 

My suggestion is talk to your local pet food/supply store (not big box retailer). My experience has been that they will have more knowledge than an employee at said big box stores, about what foods for what dogs and pups. 

You don't want your pup to grow too quickly which causes all sorts of issues later.

If you listen to anyone, listen to whatever suggestions Somegirl has.

 

[cyrus buelton]

You're going to get hundreds of answers. 

My suggestion is talk to your local pet food/supply store (not big box retailer). My experience has been that they will have more knowledge than an employee at said big box stores, about what foods for what dogs and pups. 

You don't want your pup to grow too quickly which causes all sorts of issues later.

If you listen to anyone, listen to whatever suggestions Somegirl has.

I was just sort of looking what everyone has done and their experience.

We only buy our dogs supplies and toys at a locally owned and operated pet store.

I've discussed the issue with them and they said large breed puppy.

My Vet has said the same.


But then I agree that it could accelerate their growth, and when you are looking at having a >100lbs doberman, you want to make sure all joints and bones grew at a normal rate so you don't have issues down the road.


My Uncle is a retired vet of 35 years and a very good one at that. (Now his only Vet job, which he has done for years is he takes care of the Monkey's at the College of Wooster).

off to meeting, write more later

[Pip]

our dogs eat cat and drink from the toilet..... and they do just fine.

Fixed. 

[JBubble]

Cyrus, this is where I went to research dog food for Grace: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/

We ended up slowly moving her over from the shelter food to Purina but she wouldn't eat it and got really sick (went from 9lbs to 6lbs). After that, I decided to try the Chicken Soup for Puppies. Grace seems to like it and digests it well. We also tried Taste of the Wild but her digestive track seemed to have some trouble with it.

Hope that website helps.

[Popeye the Sailor]

No turkey bacon. It makes you all runty.

[Randimus Maximus]

No turkey bacon. It makes you all runty.

LOL!

Like has already been said, you're going to get a bunch of different opinions on this topic. 

You also seem to have your mind made up, which makes me wonder why you would pose the question in the first place? 

Have you checked on any dog and/or doberman specific forums to see what they say?

Our dog was getting non-puppy food (Canidae ALS) as soon as he was weened.  He didn't seem to like that once we got him home, so we've tried a number of different combinations (all of them were top shelf, high quality, all natural dog foods) until we found a mix he eats with regularity.  I think there may have been one small bag of "puppy" food during that process, but it was about when he was a year old.

[Stella]

On occasion, he gets boiled chicken pieces (white meat) or premium canned meat. 
Probiotics always added to each meal (boxers are known for having sensitive digestive tracts and are gassy and this definitely helps).
Usually gets 1-2 tablespoons of fish oil (because of his legs).

[cyrus buelton]

Cyrus, this is where I went to research dog food for Grace: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/

Thanks for the link 

I will check it out.

You also seem to have your mind made up, which makes me wonder why you would pose the question in the first place? 

Have you checked on any dog and/or doberman specific forums to see what they say?

I have my mind made up on brand, just unsure of the puppy verse adult argument, which I think goes both ways.


I was just seeing what others do with their animals, that's all.


re Doberman Forum - They are a bunch of pretentious pricks. And I say that nicely. I've been there before.

I posted when we first got Greta and pretty much got reamed because I bought a Dobe that the breeder didn't already crop her ears....................

make the beast with two backs that site.