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What did you feed your new puppies?

2K views 13 replies 10 participants last post by  eegreen 
#1 ·
For the best start, what did you feed your puppies? I see a lot of recommendations for Purina pro plan, any success with other brands? Supplements? Raw ideas? Just looking for some ideas, thanks!
 
#2 ·
I feed whatever the breeder feeds at first, then slowly transition to an all life stages food if it's something I don't like.

Avoid things with peas high on the list of ingredients. I don't feed grain-free, it's usually unnecessary. and increases the risk of peas being used higher up in the ingredient list.

I also don't supplement, though I understand Sure Grow is a popular supplement, especially for feet and pasterns.
 
#3 ·
I fed PPP salmon and then PPP chicken adult at around 5 months of age. My 10 month old may have a chicken allergy according to my vet, so we're looking at novel protein options now. No big bags of PPP salmon where I live, so I started looking at other companies. I really like Nature's Logic- they don't use synthetic vitamins and use only whole food sources including liver, and they actually conducted AAFCO feed trials to substantiate their base formulas. They also have a relatively new grain-free line that do not contain peas or legumes specifically to address the DCM fiasco. I feed NL canned to my cat and I'm pleased with the quality. So I'm gonna transition my dog to NL as well and monitor.

But this aside, the PPP salmon is a tried and true option for many doberman owners so that's a fail safe option. I also add Native Pet omega oil to both my dog and cat's food, very happy with the ingredients and ease of use.
 
#5 ·
Yes, when it comes to nutrients and additives, sometimes the ratio of one ingredient to another, is what matters. In a good dog food, they calculate to proper amounts and make sure the balance is right--if you are adding more of one but not another, you can have problems with the proper absorption and utilization of the nutrients.
 
#6 ·
Thanks all! is 5 months a good age to start the switch all life stages PPP or is it ok to transition earlier? PS I don't have the Doberman yet, about a month away from being ready just trying to be as well prepared as possible!

Also, any suggestions on the type of bowls to feed out of at that early stage?
 
#7 ·
When I got my first Dobe the breeders all said don't feed puppy food--grows big dog puppies too fast. That was in 1959. So I fed all puppies adult food as soon as I took them home and I left them eating whatever the breeder fed (for about 3 to 4 weeks. ) Than around 1990 large breed puppy food came along. I used it briefly but soon went back to feeding adult food (or all life stages food) so basically all my puppies are on adult food by the time they are 4 months old.

Bowls? I use stainless steel--washed every time it's used with hot soapy water or in the dishwasher. Alternate would be glazed crockery ditto for keeping clean. Puppies eat out of the same sized bowls the adult dogs do. I don't use anything to slow a puppies eating down. If they eat too fast and choke on it they shortly learn to slow down.

In a wild canine fast eating is a survival trait--puppies who eat fast get full meals. They grow and thrive.

I also don't spend any time sticking my hand in my puppy's food bowl to teach him not to protect his food. It's his food. I give it to him and leave it alone until he's finished eating.

dobebug
 
#9 ·
I start puppies on puppy kibble ( I feed Annamaet), but switch them to adult by the time they are 5 months old or before. I feed a mix of grain free and grain inclusive. I do supplement with fresh food.
 
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#10 ·
I am a raw feeder and was very happy that my current boy was weaned onto raw by his breeder so it made it very easy for me.

My old gal ate kibble for her first year and then I switched her to raw with no transition for the last almost 9 years of her life.

Find a food that your puppy does well on and feed that. I also do not supplement.
 
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#11 ·
Well, I guess the answer is "sometimes". One of my breeders liked dogs fed elevated--he said it made it easier to teach them to stand on their front and reach (stretching and arching their neck to reach the food.

Mostly I didn't bother to elevate the food--and I taught the dog to stand four square and lean forward and reach up for bait.

I did have one dog who was fed elevated to keep the resident cat to keep from standing in the middle of his (the dogs) food dish and effectively keeping the dog from eating.

dobebug
 
#13 ·
I NEVER free feed--and only occasionally do I leave any food more than 10 minutes (the truth is that my dogs inhale their food and it takes at most around 2 minutes.)

Free feeding deprives you and your dog of an early warning sign that something isn't right with the dog who normally inhales food like a vacuum, suddenly picks at the food or doesn't eat all.

dobebug
 
#14 ·
My current puppy has been on Annamaet Extra since coming from the breeder. She eats in her crate so not elevated. My adult male has a slightly elevated holder because it’s specifically designed for the stainless bowls I use. He’s on Nuta Source trout and rice.
 
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