Puppy to Adult Food switch

[ltsox]

On the bags of food they say that you should feed your dog puppy food until a year of age. I have read in many forums that people make the switch earlier.. what are the benefits in switching early?

Second, Sox loves pig ears... but I hear that they aren't the best thing for her stomach. Is there a safe alternative to the Pigs Ear?

Thanks

 

[gmacleod]

On the bags of food they say that you should feed your dog puppy food until a year of age.

Not on all bags That's something that food manufacturers disagree on as widely as they do on what consitutes a "large breed" dog (which varies anywhere from 50 - 100lb). Some manufacuters say feed puppy food until 18 months, some say a year, some say 6 months, and some say don't feed it at all. In my experience, the cheaper and nastier the food, the longer the manufacturer insists it must be fed.

In reality, there is not a great deal of difference between puppy and adult formula foods. Not in the best quality brands anyway, and that is how it should be. The biggest difference is in the feeding recomendation (and the size of the kibble bits).

If a puppy food is fed at all, IMO it is not necessary from about 4 months onward, and certainly not beyond 6 months. The really big growth spurts are well over by then, and the pup is just on a slow steady climb to full maturity (about 3 years in the case of a boxer).

 

[KonaKoffe]

I agree - we switched over to adult food at 6 months based on what I read on this website - NOT the bag. In my opinion you have to take an educated look at what it says on the bag, especially on the guidelines on how much to feed the dog. The manufacturer is out to sell their product - and as much of it as possible.


As far as the pigs ears, here's a link to a previous thread on the subject.

http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83677&highlight=pigs+ears

 

[jenjones28]

Second, Sox loves pig ears... but I hear that they aren't the best thing for her stomach. Is there a safe alternative to the Pigs Ear?

Thanks

Yummy raw bones!

 

[Ken & Barb]

"Puppy" food is a marketing ploy. Boxers are fast growing dogs, and should be on a good, healthy, quality dog food right away. Don't fall into the marketing hype for "puppy" food. Natural Balance or Canidae are good, quality foods and much better for your Boxer than puppy food. Be careful making the switch, as runny stools will be the result. With a puppy, mix the new food in 1/4'th each 5-7 days until completely switched over.

Then change it again 2-3 times each year!