[charlesmdodson]

Hello,

Is there truth to a slightly limited protein diet for puppies in order to slow their growth? This is something I have been seeing on various sites. If so, what percentage of protein do you recommend starting with an 8 week old puppy? Right now I am leaning toward the Nutra/Innova brand (sp?) since their ingredient list appears to be top notch.

 

[Acooper]

Believe it or not I have seen it posted here that dobie pups do very well on Pro Plan (purina) of course they do not recommend this food for the dogs, just pups. I have also been warned about too much protein for growing pups, most large breed formulas take this into consideration I believe. That is why it is labeled for large breeds (these are the ones that need a steady growing rate to reduce some risk of hip / joint problems etc)

No dog expert here, just rewriting what I have read and learned from others

 

[Okie-dobie]

I think Innova is a great food, I really like there ingredients also. I had ******* on puppy food for a few months and then switched her to adult food. She is now on GO Natural and will be on this until I switch to homemade when she is about 1, 1.5 years old. There are a few good threads here about food, just do a search.

 

[LindaH]

Here's a good website for you to look at different brands. IMO Nutro is not that great a food. I lean toward Canidae All Life Stages.
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com

 

[Okie-dobie]

Here's a good website for you to look at different brands. IMO Nutro is not that great a food. I lean toward Canidae All Life Stages.
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com

I don't think she was talking about Nutro, I think it was a typo and s/b Natura, that's who makes Innova.

 

[Chaz]

Mensa was on Pro-Plan (the blue bag) regular breed (not large) as per her Breeder's instructions for the first about 5 months. Then we switched to Canidae All Life Stages.

If I had known that "All Life Stages" means puppies too, I would have started mixing it in with the Pro Plan stuff earlier.

 

[Patches Mom]

The breeder told me she had Buddy on puppy food for about 3 mos. then swiched to adult food. I got Buddy at about 18 weeks old I put him on Canidae All Life Stages.
Patches Mom

 

[illnacord]

Purina One vs. Designer Brands - does it matter?

Stella was on Iams Puppy (yellow bag) from the breeder. Then switched to Professional Puppy Large Breed (blue bag) by Petco's and vet's recommendation that it is "better" than Purina, then Stella got dandruff. This switch of foods coincided with her ear cropping, her 2nd round of shots, and the kennel cough nasal spray, so there are a few factors that came into play as to what exactly caused her dandruff.

Dobermans, from what I have heard, are sensitive in nature, requiring "better" foods, but my mature 9+ yr old Rottweiler/Shepard dog has been on PURINA ONE (lamb or chicken and rice, available at Target, Safeway) her whole life, is super healthy, and has softer hair than my dob puppy - she is still mistaken for a young "pup" by dog owners, including staff at Petco. Imagine that. 9 yr old Lia below:

 

[Luvbirds]

I have Petey on Solid Gold Wolf Cub. I'm thinking of putting him on a natural diet after he is one. I've started giving him bones with meat on them, and he LOVES them!

Carol

 

[DobieDiver]

I have Lambrusco on Raw Food - basically chicken, turkey, eggs, cottage cheese. Once he gets his teeth in, I will add pork necks.
My other dobie was on this and had the most beautiful shiny coat.
He loves it by the way.

 

[Luvbirds]

I have Lambrusco on Raw Food - basically chicken, turkey, eggs, cottage cheese. Once he gets his teeth in, I will add pork necks.
My other dobie was on this and had the most beautiful shiny coat.
He loves it by the way.

what do you feed, just meat or the bones too, and how much?

 

[DobieDiver]

meat and bones - the whole thing. Mainstay is chicken hindquarters (whole), chicken backs (whole and cheap too), turkey necks, and wings. I do give supplements of cod liver oil , vit c, vit e, Q co 10, L-carnitine and L-taurine as dobies have a history of heart disease. He eats bones and all. My champion dobe had the brightest whitest teeth without ever cleaning them due to eating bones.

 

[DobieDiver]

sorry, I forgot to add how much - currently, he is about 35 lbs so he eats twice a day. I generally feed turkey neck in morning and hindquarter at night with scattered eggs, cottage cheese, yogart etc. I judge by his looks. I want to grow him slowly to minimize bone problems. So I judge on a day to day basis how much he needs. I do not want to see ribs but very easily feel them. He is a very hungry puppy - I believe in keeping them hungry as they are easier to train too - a little tidbit makes training go a long way!

 

[Luvbirds]

^^^ Thank you.....I'm really thinking of doing this with Petey. He is already 46 pounds at 18 weeks, eats 4-5 cups of the Solid Gold a day. He is thin and you can feel his ribs. I gave him some chicken wings last night...and he loved them...so now I will try some of the other cuts you mentioned.

Carol

 

[Patches Mom]

Bone question could I give my 14 year old Papillion a raw bone to help her teeth? She has never been fed raw. At her age hate to have to put her under to get her teeth cleaned also what kind of bone??? She is the picky eater + she has Reflux disease.
Patches Mom

 

[DobieDiver]

Bone question could I give my 14 year old Papillion a raw bone to help her teeth? She has never been fed raw. At her age hate to have to put her under to get her teeth cleaned also what kind of bone??? She is the picky eater + she has Reflux disease.
Patches Mom

Yep - my little chi eats bones. If you do not want to feed raw ( I give my chi chicken wings without problems) you can feed knuckle bones. Just make sure bones are not cooked else they can splinter.

 

[Luvbirds]

Petey is eating his first Turkey Wing......he is so engrossed in it! The only problem I'm having with him eating RAW is now....he doesn't want his Kibble anymore! He sniffs the dish and looks up at me....wheres the real food??? He will then walk away and not touch it until very hungry later on in the day.

Carol

 

[DobieDiver]

Petey is eating his first Turkey Wing......he is so engrossed in it! The only problem I'm having with him eating RAW is now....he doesn't want his Kibble anymore! He sniffs the dish and looks up at me....wheres the real food??? He will then walk away and not touch it until very hungry later on in the day.

Carol

Yep - He is telling you something! This is real food :dancing_b

 

[Luvbirds]

Yep - He is telling you something! This is real food :dancing_b

Yes he talks to me all the time....Dobies certainly know how to get their way! I love how long it takes him to eat.....anything else to keep him busy is a GREAT thing!!!

Carol