Grain-free or Grain-inclusive for Puppy?

[Chelsea Herman]

I will be bringing home Annabelle in 10 days, and still haven't settled in on what I want to feed her.  She'll be coming home from the breeder on Life's Abundance (all-life stages formula), and we plan on keeping her on it for the recommended 2 weeks and then switching to a higher quality food.  I just haven't decided exactly which one yet, and I'd love your opinions. 

After reading on here and talking with the owner of a holistic pet store, I think we've settled on Fromm.  My main concern is which formula to feed.  In the past, we've always fed our Danes a grain-free food, as they did significantly better on it.  However, the store owner suggested that we start with the Fromm Puppy, as the grains/fiber are actually beneficial for most puppies.  I'm totally on the fence...should I switch her to the Puppy formula or to the Grain-free (and if you recommend the grain-free, which formula?). Thank you all so much! :)

[Kerry Daly]

Both of my boys have been on Fromm their entire lives.  Apollo is currently still on Puppy Large Breed (he is off the charts for the regular one).  He is doing great.  Zeus is on 4 Star.  Nice thing about Fromm is once you are in 4 Star you can change between grain/no grain and each flavor without having to transition off.  So if you give grain (my boys like Chicken and Veg) then you decide you want to switch to grain free - then you can just do it.  Every now and then Zeus gets bored so I give him the surf and turf grain free.  He sees it as a treat.  Many stores will give you the flavors in sample sizes too if you want to play around when the puppy transitions to adult.   I would start with puppy and wait until time for transition for 4 star.  They puppy needs the nurtrition in the puppy food - but you will love having the flexibility of Fromm later and being able to change flavors and grains without the worry!  It has made eating fun for my dogs when they get new little samples.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Fromm is a good company, and the Fromm Puppy Gold formula would be a good choice to transition from L.A.

That said, I don't know where the store owner got the idea that "grains are beneficial for most puppies", because there is nothing factual that would support that idea. Grains are starchy carbohydrates that break down into sugars during digestion, just like all carbohydrates. They primarily provide calories (energy) & bulk in the diet. They are not good or bad, and the average puppy does just fine on both foods that contain grains and those that don't. Since your puppy is being started off on a food that contains a similar percentage of grain, (and similar protein sources) it should be an easy transition, and she should do just fine on it. 

Be sure not to introduce any new treats or chews until she is fully transitioned.

If you are going to go with Fromm, I would stick with the Puppy Gold formula. The grain-free Four Star formulas are great, but not really designed for young puppies. 

If you want a grain-free puppy food, my choice would be Orijen. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Oh, and unless a puppy is expected to go over 80 or 90 lbs as an adult, they absolutely do not need a "large breed" formula. 

[Chelsea Herman]

Thanks so much for the advice!  It definitely makes me feel better about our choice.  Fromm Puppy Gold it is! :)