Do I Have to Use Puppy Food?

I never used puppy food and my Bretta ended up the biggest bitch of the litter!

I think if you use a good premium food, the dog will get to it's genetic potential in size.

Go with what your breeder feeds. Mine feed Canidae all stages so I switched my adult dog to that a few months ago.

Canidae ALS will be fine for a pup. I would still purchase a good sized bag of the Solid Gold to mix tho and make sure its a smooth transition.

I fed my pup raw, so he was never on puppy food. He didn't start eating dog food till the new guy came, and I fed them both adult food.

No you do not need to feed puppy food.

I started my puppy on Canidae all stage too.......

Its my recommendation that all German Shepherd Puppies should be off of puppy food by 4 months old.

We feed Verus Dog Food and its a very high quality food and reasonably priced! We are thrilled with the food - been feeding this brand for near a year now.

i've never fed puppy food. watch the protein level. we've fed Natural Balance and Wellness. we mix some dry and can. i'll give them chicken (cooked boneless and skinless breast), 1oo% ground beef (cooked), yogurt, no salt cottage cheese and baby food for flavor. puppy proof your house. put those expensive loafers away. we only buy toys that are made in the USA, Canada or Mexico. to much tainted stuff from China. start looking into puppy classes. you have to socialize, socialize and socialize. a good breeder, good training and you have a great dog. good luck.

if your doing something like INNOVA LBP i would feed that for about a year same thing if you get Orijen get the large breed puppy. Some of the higher quality/grain free kibbles can be too much for a pup unless it specifically (sp?) says for large breed puppies.

Originally Posted By: jdp2134if your doing something like INNOVA LBP i would feed that for about a year same thing if you get Orijen get the large breed puppy. Some of the higher quality/grain free kibbles can be too much for a pup unless it specifically (sp?) says for large breed puppies.

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you have to watch the protein level when feeding an adult food. i think the protein level shouldn't be over 26%. our dogs never received anything over 22%.

"i think the protein level shouldn't be over 26%. our dogs never received anything over 22%."

could you elaborate on why protein level shouldnt be over 26%. is there some information that indicates protein levels are a problem for large breed puppies? i understand that with some high protein foods come the elevated calcium/phosphorous levels that we seek to avoid. however, some higher protein foods, such as orijen lg breed puppy, keep these in check.

I was wondring the same thing as Roxy84.

With a lot of brands that make a Large Breed puppy kibble, the LBP has either the same, or MORE protien than the "adult" kibble of the same brand. Even the Orijen LBP has the same protien level as the "regular" Orijen Adult.

i dont get why you have to watch protein in kibble when you get twice as much protein if you were feeding raw. Thats nothing but protein and im sure it is way over 26% so if thats the case then the only reason you would buy and feed a LBP brand for a year would to keep the phos/calcium levels in check i.e Orijen "adult" has a higher phos/cal. content then their LPB

jdp2134 you're right, the only reason to feed LBP Orijen would be to avoid the high phos/cal levels of the adult food that the puppy isn't ready for.