When Should You Switch Your Puppy TO Adult Food?

[ZdogZ]

Bonnie ~ She just chewed about 1/2" off the bottom. To tell you the truth, I think the kids like it when they have a "Zia Mark" on their paper. LOL!!

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by yonae12

With this info, I could see perhaps a lab or a great dane taking advantage of the extra protein and fat as they grow several times their body weight in a comparitively very quick time.

Acutally it's the large dogs, that need to grow slower. They've now created "large breed puppy foods" that are lower in protein and fat than the normal puppy formulas. That's so they don't grow as fast. So the extra protein and fat isn't necessarily a good thing for a puppy.

Corgi's however don't grow as big compared to their original birth weight.

No, but there have been growth problems in corgis too. I've heard of several that have had panosteitis and similar problems and they're thought to be due to accelerated growth, most likey encourgaed by puppy foods.

Peggy

[milles2]

Very soon!

[yonae12]

Originally Posted by taflar

Acutally it's the large dogs, that need to grow slower. They've now created "large breed puppy foods" that are lower in protein and fat than the normal puppy formulas. That's so they don't grow as fast. So the extra protein and fat isn't necessarily a good thing for a puppy.

Very true, yah I also read something on that. It is good that dog food companies are researching what works best for different kinds of breeds,sizes and stages of life. I wish they could also supply some meaningful scientific data to us so that we could see the actual benefits/draw backs of feeding puppy foods vs. adult foods. At the moment the findings presented on either side seem like anecdotal evidence, which although is credible to a good degree doesn't compare to long term scientific research.

[corgimom]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

Yes, offer layman opinions as that is one of the cornerstone objects of this website, but I often offer a layman opiinion and at the same time or soon after have it supported with expert opinions or statements. This can take up a lot of time and effort. And it is often these expert opinions and statements that get rubbished by those who just refuse to accept the experts.

Michael, You only want Go Corgi members to accept your opinion and your experts as the only way to do things. If we have opinions on things and have experts of our own that we can get information from; (and their opinion may be different than your experts), they are somehow not worthy of noting because they don't have the right schooling and certainly don't have merit, right?

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

For example, puppy food. I backed up this business about ditching puppy food altogether or prematurely in a puppy's life with opinions from several vets, a nutritonist, a breeder of giant dogs, a breeder who exports Corgi puppies, and leading brand producers of dog food on the international market, and we still have members telling new Corgi owners what could be termed absolute nonsense at the worse end of it ( ie no puppy food is required). Someone said puppy food was 30 years out of date, another said puppy food was only put out by manufacturers in order to make more money (since the difference between the price of puppy and adult food is minimal I don't see money being an issue). Nothing I have said thus far, should prevent any member from disagreeing wholeheartedly with any so called expert advice or opinion or indeed anything I have said in this parapraph.

Again, this is your opinion and "your" experts that you seeked out. When we expressed our opinion, of course, it is wrong in your eyes.

I happen to have a bag of dog food here that says: Animal feeding testing using AAFCO procedures substantiates that Fromm Family Four star Nutritionals Duck and Sweet Potato Formula Dog Food provides complete and balanced nutrition for "all life stages"

Fromm Family Foods - Four-Star Gourmet Dog Food

This is the same statement that Science Hills uses on their products for puppies, adult and senior.

However, Take note, "All Life Stages" and approved(substantiated) by the AAFCO - so does this mean the company(Fromms) is a fraud or quack; are they "fudging" their statement?; is the AAFCO a quack - they are saying it DOES provide complete and balanced nutrition for All Life Stages(It can be fed to puppies and keep them healthy) and it is approved and been tested!

This family owned company has been in business since 1904.

Are you going to find a reason though to now say Food approved for (All Life stages) by the AAFCO can't possibly be fed to puppies?

There are Other good pet food companies that have All Life Stages food Also; are they all Quacks?

Peggy told you that she raised litters without them being on puppy food and they are healthy and robust - she has proof of that, but her opinion and proof doesn't count for anything? She has been raising Corgis for years, yet you dismissed her opinions on whether puppy food was necessary.

I could say it is sunny here in Wisconsin, but you would find an expert that would say it is raining in New Zealand so it could not possibly be different anywhere else.

[Dillydoodle]

deleted post

[corgimom]

Brought over from the Cardi thread, to keep the Cardi thread on track.

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

Peggy - if puppy food is not required for puppies then there would be no terms called adult food or senior food. You yourself wouldn't be terming food as adult because in your mind adult doesn't exist - it's all dog food. Up til now and into the immediate future at least there are specific requirements for puppies and for adults and for seniors - and most of the legitimate dog food companies cater for the general needs of each of these age groups. I doubt if there will ever be a truly successful dog food produced that can go across the spectrum from go to whoa. It is really a simple matter of generalising what are the specific requirements for puppies and what are the specific requirements for adults and seniors to understand there are differences. And it is the same for humans. We are animals too just as are dogs. Human babies through to under sevens ( and very roughly a one year old dog is equivalent to a seven year old child) have different requirements to older children and adults - and most certainly senior citizens have also different requirements. And I believe that the canine nutritionists are influencing dog food companies to produce not only the standard puppy and adult varieties of food products, but junior and of course senior formulated food as well.

And I''ll throw in these remarks that someone recently made to me and I don't know the validity of them yet. The person who exports dogs to the USA from NZ said it was fashionable at the moment for some dog owners in the USA to ignore puppy food and go straight to adult food for their dogs and that this was a big mistake and quite ridiculous.

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos;

I too find it rather sickly that some members harp on about opinions. Yes, offer layman opinions as that is one of the cornerstone objects of this website, but I often offer a layman opiinion and at the same time or soon after have it supported with expert opinions or statements. This can take up a lot of time and effort. And it is often these expert opinions and statements that get rubbished by those who just refuse to accept the experts.

You mean just like you refuse to accept Peggy's experts or her knowledge and experience in breeding and raising Corgis?

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos;

I doubt if there will ever be a truly successful dog food produced that can go across the spectrum from go to whoa.

Then why do you keep harping about the AAFCO and the importance of their seal of approval through testing on dog food? There are legitimate companies that have this statement on their foods?

" Animal feeding testing using AAFCO procedures substantiates (name of dog food) provides complete and balanced nutrition for "all life stages"

Michael, if you don't agree with the AAFCO approving these foods(for all Life stages), and if you don't think they are suitable for puppies, then give them a call and find out what is wrong with the AAFCO and how could they possibly approve a food for "All Life stages" and that the experts you talk to also agree with you.

In fact, here is their direct link to help you out:

Membership Directory

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos;

And it is the same for humans. We are animals too just as are dogs. Human babies through to under sevens ( and very roughly a one year old dog is equivalent to a seven year old child) have different requirements to older children and adults.

Are you talking about Children in New Zealand?

Five and six year olds go to the same school as twelve year olds around here. They are offered the same foods for breakfast if they choose to purchase them. Same for Lunch. Five year olds are not on a different school lunch or feeding program, they don't get a different menu to accomodate them.

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos;

And I''ll throw in these remarks that someone recently made to me and I don't know the validity of them yet. The person who exports dogs to the USA from NZ said it was fashionable at the moment for some dog owners in the USA to ignore puppy food and go straight to adult food for their dogs and that this was a big mistake and quite ridiculous.

Well, of course you will throw them in because they agree with your thinking.

[corgimom]

From Deb's link that she posted in "site to compare dog foods" thread

The Dog Food Project - Myths about Dog Nutrition


Dogs need a food product appropriate for their life stage


"This is what pet food manufacturers want you to believe, but it is just a way to secure their customer base early on and increase sales. The more items in a particular line of food, the higher the visibility of their product on a store shelf - an of course the more likely people are to buy and stick with the brand through the whole life of the animal. Fact is that a food declared as suitable "for all lifestages" will feed a growing puppy just as well as a lactating bitch, an adult or a senior dog - just the amounts you have to feed will change. Puppy and senior food is often more expensive than the regular type of food of the same brand, yet does not differ much in nutritional value. Compare the guaranteed analysis and ingredient list.

Further, puppy food can cause large and giant breed puppies to grow at maximum rate, which is not healthy for them. A slower, more even growth results in far less risk of orthopedic problems and a healthier adult dog."

[Michael Romanos]

I am as of today ( but come tomorrow or in a few days it might be different) unable to reconcile AAFCO's separate standards for puppies and seniors on one hand and adults on the other with products which apparantly cover all three stages and yet receive AAFCO approval.

But here is yet another person who voices her considerable opinion - this person is a well respected, well travelled Corgi breeder from New Zealand: I feed my pups with puppy food until they are 12 months old. My pups are known in the USA to have developed such good bone, which in my observation is lacking in the USA. Maybe they need to keep their puppies on puppy food longer.

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

But here is yet another person who voices her considerable opinion - this person is a well respected, well travelled Corgi breeder from New Zealand: I feed my pups with puppy food until they are 12 months old. My pups are known in the USA to have developed such good bone, which in my observation is lacking in the USA. Maybe they need to keep their puppies on puppy food longer.

I have not noticed that corgis in the US are lacking in bone. In fact we have plenty over here that are bordering on being oversized.

My dogs are not lacking in bone, and that includes the two litters who never ate any puppy food.

As I've said many times, there is more than one correct way to feed a dog and puppies. My way is not wrong, and neither is the way this breeder is doing it. If it works for her great, I chose not to feed puppy food any longer.

Peggy

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by corgimom

Brought over from the Cardi thread, to keep the Cardi thread on track.

Following Corgimom's lead, I'll bring my repsonse over here too.

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

Peggy - if puppy food is not required for puppies then there would be no terms called adult food or senior food. You yourself wouldn't be terming food as adult because in your mind adult doesn't exist - it's all dog food.

I call it adult food because that's what it says on the bag and it's the term people are familar with. I'm not the one who came up with the terms or different formulas.

And I still say it's not required. No one can require anyone to feed their dog a certain type of food. Require is being compelled or obligated. I am not compelled or obligated to feed a certian type of food. I am free to choose whatever food I want to feed my dogs.

Up til now and into the immediate future at least there are specific requirements for puppies and for adults and