When did you switch to Adult formula dog food?

[TrevorDoodle]

I was reading some of the old discussions and people we talking about what they
fed their dogs and the dogs ages. I was surprised that some were still feeding their
dogs puppy food. My vet said to start adult food after he was neutered. I think
it had something to do about puppy food causing them to grow too fast. My doodle is 8 months and I started him on adult food at 6 months old. Is this too early?

[IDOGMa]

Based upon my research, it is indeed a good idea to change the food of the pup when they are around 6 months of age. The reason for this is, a very high percentage of the growth of the puppy is during the first six months. If you have a standard sized doodle the pup on average gains 3 pounds a week. At the age of 6 months that growth slows down to approximately 3-4 pounds per month.

The puppy food is basically super duper packed with things the pup needs during the fast growth. If you continue to feed this type of food after that fast growth (6 months) the rate which the pup grows is elevated above normal. The key to prevention of several conditions in the bone structures can be avoided or reduced by simply changing the food to an adult formula.

So, you may ask, why do food manufactures say to feed for a year? Its about marketing and retention of the customer. A dog that only eats one type of food while maturing tend to want only that food. This is a natural reaction by most animals - eat what you know to avoid the chances of eating something dangerous. (Thats why kids will pick one food and just eat it, thats why us adults tend to eat the foods that we were raised on.) Its in the interest of the food manufactures to have a committed customer base. Sounds a bit like my opinion is tainted, but there is research of animal behavior and diet that can back this up.

[Tricia Campbell]

I am so glad you asked this question, just last night my husband asked when does Duffy ( 8 months) get adult food. My response is at a year old. This changes my mind, I will be getting him adult food. My only problem is going to be that I feed Duffy & Riley (3 months) together & they share a bowl.

[IDOGMa]

Dont feed the dogs together in the same bowl... unless you want to start teaching dogs how to guard their food. (Sorry if this sounds really blunt but this is really important.)

Separate food bowls. Teach them when they are done to come to you for a cookie so that they move out of the area to allow the slower one to eat in peace. The is very important from a behavior standpoint but also important for monitoring food intake, managing different diets as needed.

[Tricia Campbell]

Thanks, I need all the advice I can get. I am new to this, I've only had 1 dog at time. This is a whole new world for me. So far I been enjoying having more then one, I like watching them interact.

[Leslie and Halas]

Years ago, when we had 2 huskies, we couldn't even put their dishes right next to each other. We had my husky from 8 weeks old. He was not even remotely food possessive (you could reach in and take food right out of his mouth if you needed to; I had to reach in and pull out a piece of rawhide that he was choking on once; gross), and he would sometimes let his food sit for a long time before he ate it. Then my parents adopted their husky, and she was food possessive and quite the chow hound. She would gobble down her food, and then go eat the other one's food. If he was eating, she'd just run at him really fast, and he'd run away, so then she'd get his food. We would separate them by about 10 ft, but we still had to stand between them. She'd finish hers, and then look at the human to see if they were in the way. She'd give kind of a disgusted look and then mope away if we were standing between her and the other dog's food. It was kind of entertaining, but if we'd left them on their own, my dog probably never would have gotten any food, and their dog would have been fat, fat, fat. No point to this, just a story to share.

[Patty Barnes]

I switch puppies to adult food between 6 and 8 months and put them on Innova Evo as it is grainless. My vet often comments that my dogs are trim and in excellent shape--a big part of that is their food. Plus no table scraps. Good luck.

[Tamara & Giada]

Yup, me to at that age and to Innova Evo!!

[Leslie and Halas]

Does the Innova Evo give your dogs a nice, shiny coat? I switched Halas to Innova Evo about 2 months ago, but his coat sometimes looks a little dull to me.

[Patty Barnes]

My dogs coats are shiny and soft. No dullness noted.

[2hl9mp3c2fuam]

I was told to wait until at least a year old.

[Trowby]

Hi Patty,

Theh Evo is all you feed? I have been concerned about the high level of protein. Sage is a mini...and I think that is what you also have. Are there any problems with the high level of protein? I've been feeding Sage a mid level grain-free food.
You are feeding kibble, right?

Thanks,

Trowby

[Patty Barnes]

My vet said I could feed my dogs Evo after six months of age--the protein level is too high for dogs less than six months. All my adults just eat Evo kibble, minis and mediums. Sometimes I give my pregnant moms canned Innova puppy with the kibble.