Michael, Michael, Michael ...
You are Madison Avenue's dream come true.
I believe it was some of us who pointed out in earlier threads on this subject that AAFCO gave the minimum requirements, it is nice to see that you've finally grasp that reality. You caught on to Dr. Dodd's vaccination schedule about a year later after I had posted it too. Sometimes you are just a little bit slow, but you eventually catch up.
I'll be sure to pass along to the lady in Alaska who just had surgery on her corgi puppy's legs for premature growth plate closure that dwarfism and feeding hot foods which accelerate fast growth is just a bunch of gobbley-gook - oops sorry gobbly nonsense, make sure my terminology is correct; I'm sure her vet will find that interesting and how wrong he is to advise to discontinue feeding puppy food.
Let me do a little translation for ya' - super premium that means your Innova and California Natural, your EVO and Wellness, Merrick, Solid Gold - high end priciest foods
premium general dog food - those would be your ProPlan, Premium Edge, some of the Purina formulas to name a few.
Now guess what, I can take some of the all-life stages formulas of the "super premium foods" and compare the labels to some of the premium general food puppy stage formulas and ..... the all-life stages of some of the super premium foods will be the same, if not exceed in some cases, as some of the puppy formulas of the premium general foods. We've got a heck of a lot more foods to choose from in the US than there is in NZ. About every dog show I go to or every time I visit the specialty pet supply store, there's a new food or line on the market and I'm an avid reader of dog food labels.
Another interesting development in the pet food market here in the US at least, is that many of the super premium brands are coming out with lines that emulate diets of canines in the wild to a fashion.
The best food to feed one's dog/puppy? The one that works for you and your dog/puppy.
Debbie