Jodi
Tampa, Florida
MH
Posts:296
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| 02/20/2008 3:06 PM |
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At what age did you start swicthing your GSP from puppy to adult. I hear all different answers from 7 months to a year an a half. Jackson is about 9 months now and I was wondering what all you veteran GSP owners recommend.  |
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bravepoint
North Gower, ON Canada
MH
Posts:894
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| 02/20/2008 3:29 PM |
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I usually recommend 6 months to my puppy buyers and that's what I have done with my dogs.
Gail
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Gail, Moka, Avery, Terra & Rayne
Bravepoint GSPs
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Jodi
Tampa, Florida
MH
Posts:296
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| 02/20/2008 3:40 PM |
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Thanks... I was going to start mixing in the adult food when i get half way done with this puppy bag. He is 9 months. I currently feed him 4 cups of food a day as recommended by my vet when i was there last. He is not at all heavy...actually he always had to eat more food than average to keep up on his weight. He is ideal now....but I was wondering when or if I taper off from 4 cups a day. This is my first big active dog.... so the feeding is much different than the small amounts I give my chi. |
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bravepoint
North Gower, ON Canada
MH
Posts:894
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| 02/20/2008 4:05 PM |
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Jodi,
If you're changing to the same formulation of adult food i.e. Nutro lamb & rice puppy ot Nutro lamb & rice adult, I would feed the same amount (4 cups). Also, if you change as I just said the changeover can go quicker than if you totally change brands and type. I kinda play it by ear as to how my dogs look and how active they are as to how much they get on any given day.
Gail |
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Gail, Moka, Avery, Terra & Rayne
Bravepoint GSPs
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caly1522
GA
MH
Posts:270
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| 02/20/2008 6:01 PM |
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| I have always heard to switch them around a year. However, I am not a vet and don't know what age is 100% appropriate. I usually just mix it. I start off with a 25% new food, 75%old food mix. Then work to 50-50 and then 75% new, 25% old, then 100% new. It makes it a little easier on the tummy. I feed my dogs Iams. Do you guys recommend that for GSP's? |
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"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." -Pre |
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everbell
Kanata, ON
MH
Posts:3180
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| 02/20/2008 6:07 PM |
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In another post, Diamond mentioned TLC Pet Food. We use TLC too. It's what our breeder feeds her dogs and recommends. It's a whole life food so there's no puppy, adult or senior formulas to switch between. |
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Joce and Rich
Bogart and Shiraz (GSPs)
Roxane (RIP: 1995-2009) and Tiger Lily (Cats)
The Everbell Adventures |
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Trey
SW Iowa
MH
Posts:516
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| 02/20/2008 6:17 PM |
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| I feed all of mine Pro plan performance, from weaning on. |
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prairiefire
Western Wisconsin
MH
Posts:409
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| 02/20/2008 9:09 PM |
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Otto's on Pro Plan Performance, but he does just okay on it. I'm having a really tough time keeping weight on him--and his coat could be in better shape (dry skin). I think I'll try Eagle Pack Power when he returns from the trainer and see if he does any better with that. Hopefully our search for the right dog food for Otto will end with option #2, but we'll see...
Our breeder recommended switching from puppy to adult food between 9-12 months. We ended up making the switch between 7 and 8 months (with assurances from our trainer, who is also a GWP breeder) because Otto was heading off to him for some happy bird bumping time and that's what he was feeding at his kennel. |
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cdansan
Northwestern, Vermont
MH
Posts:130
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| 02/20/2008 9:20 PM |
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We feed Eagle Pack Natural, we normally have very nice coats. We feed all the dogs puppy formula when we have a puppy, that way there is no bowl switching. Because they always want whatever the other one has.
We normally switch over to adult food around 9 months. We normally feed less puppy food than adult food, as the fat and protein percentages are normally less in adult maintenance food.
Dan |
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caly1522
GA
MH
Posts:270
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| 02/21/2008 7:11 AM |
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| My dogs do real well on Iams. They have good coats and they hold their weight well. Especially Bailey, the younger one. My older one is on adult large breed. I just leave food around for them. I have to keep the puppy food close to where I am to keep the older ones out of it. You are right cdansan, they all want what the other has. |
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"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." -Pre |
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High Voltage
MH
Posts:131
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| 02/21/2008 7:17 AM |
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| We switched Rebel to ProPlan Performance when we got him at 9 weeks. He is doing great on it. Eats about 1 1/2 cups in the morning and in the evening. When our new girl comes home this weekend we'll switch her to it also. We also feed this to our 2 adult dogs though they just get 2 cups in the evening (more during hunting season or heavey training). |
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MOOSE1
Fruitport, MI
MH
Posts:1789
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| 02/21/2008 7:33 AM |
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| We switch our pups anywhere from 6-9 months of age. We feed Nutro and then our boy who is hard to keep weight on is a half Kent Native 4 and Nutro. we LOVE their coat condition and everyone is in great shape now! |
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Rajah-APBT- USUV UMJCH Flying High Rajah-TDI Certified
Phoenix-GSP- USJCH UWP GRCH BNJ Shooters Rising Phoenix-CGC Tested
Cody- GSP- AKC/CKC CH UKC UWP GRCH Legacyk n Estate Sunray Minor FDJ CGC Tested
Tucson-UJJ CH Legacyk FlwrCrk The Old Peublo
Rumor-UMJ URO1 GRCH BNJ Rumor Has It-RN RD CGC NA II
www.ezydog.com |
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birdie
JH
Posts:26
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| 02/21/2008 8:17 AM |
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I agree with most others that Jackson is ready to switch. I think you said that you feed Innova. I feed Innova adult, and Callie does fine on just a bit over 2 cups a day. She is not heavily exercised, but is fairly active. She is 5 yr. So you may need to cut back, 4 cups would be too much I think. |
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Jodi
Tampa, Florida
MH
Posts:296
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| 02/21/2008 9:46 AM |
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I will buy adult innova for my next bag.... and stat mixing it. It should be easy as you said bravepoint....because i am sticking with the same brand. I will keep it at 4 cups at first and monitor. I will slowly cut back. I just wonder about his metabolism because whenever i have fed him the recommended amount the vets always said he was underweight as a puppy. Maybe he gets more excercise than i realize. Even with 4 cups he always seems starving...and he is perfectl healthy so no worries there! he does run in the yard even when we dont run him or take him with on the bike... maybe he has a good metabolism?? lol....i will be jealous...and mad if I have to buy twice as much food!
i also have been feeding my chi the same food ....because he is a picky and poor eater anyways and we used to leave his food out 24/7....well that does not work with a gsp. since he was always tiny and never had weight issues i have been feeding him the puppy food until the switch.... he great part is having jackson forces him to me more agressive about eating his food...he looks great now! |
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caly1522
GA
MH
Posts:270
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| 03/01/2008 8:32 AM |
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| My question is more about what brand to feed. My computer is being a pain and won't let me start a new topic. I currently feed Iams but I am wanting to switch to something new. I just bought Nutro/Nature's Choice High Energy. My dogs seem to like it but I don't know if that's just because it's new. Kerney, who is 1.5 years old, does not seem to hold her weight well at all on Iams large breed. Bailey, 5 months old, stays fat easily. They just have 2 different body types. Anyway, I'm not sure if this is a good food or not. I want to switch Bailey to Natural Choices puppy food too. Moose I noticed you use it. I like the fact that it's natural. Anyone else use this brand? |
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"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." -Pre |
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BEANS
Washington state
MH
Posts:1119
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| 03/01/2008 8:49 AM |
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I feed Bean Natural choice small bites...and have for a year.....she seems to do okay on it...Her coat is shiny....I think she averages 4 ( piles )...of yard waste  .....in a 24 hr period...
I've heard of other foods having LESS waste....BUT I'm not sure what the normal elimination amount is for an active 52 pound ' er
Her food is out 24/7.....I'm guessing about 4 cups is consumed a day
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Renee'
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caly1522
GA
MH
Posts:270
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| 03/01/2008 8:57 AM |
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| I leave food by mine all day too. Kerney usually goes at least every other time I walk her. So the waste shouldn't be a big change. I'm mixing it with the Iams about 1/2 & 1/2. She picks out the new stuff though. I just need something that is going to help her maintain her weight. When I take her to my cousins she will run for hours on end. She is a good eater. She must have a high metabolism. I had originally planned to by Eukanewba Sporting blend(sp???) but then when my friend told me about how much better the natural stuff was I thought I would give it a shot. I guess I will give it a try and see. |
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"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." -Pre |
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singltrak
Las Cruces, NM
MH
Posts:1149
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| 03/01/2008 8:58 AM |
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Well, let's put it this way...there are a whole lot better choices for "natural" than Nutro. Unfortunately, like Iams it was sold to a big manufacturing company and changed...and changed....and changed. I fed it 20 years ago, then it all of a sudden was causing my dogs to have loose stools and not look great. The representatives of course deny any changes, but I notice my dogs a whole lot more than I do a local food representative who is, after all, there to sell food. . Check out your local pet food store, not the Petsmart type and see what you can find there...or, as a reasonable alternative either Costco Kirkland Brand (their biscuits are AWESOME) or Sam's Club Exceed Chicken and Rice (30% protein-20% fat) at around $20 a 40 pound bag...either is a good food, and fed by more than one Pro.
On the high end, Evenger's and Eagle Pack are tops and will drop ship to you for a nominal cost if no dealers nearby.
Phyllis and the Singltrak Shorthairs
www.singltrakshorthairs.com |
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Look to the Past, Breed for the Future |
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caly1522
GA
MH
Posts:270
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| 03/01/2008 9:11 AM |
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Thanks Singltrak. I will check out a local feed store and see what they have. That's why I never ask a salesperson about the food. I know that they will tell me which ever one they get the biggest kick back or something like that. I figure the people on here who own these dogs could give me more info. I will check on a different brand. $20/bag would be a nice find.  I don't have a Sam's or a Cosco card but we have a B.J.'s which is similar to those so I will check them out. |
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"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." -Pre |
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Jodi
Tampa, Florida
MH
Posts:296
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| 03/01/2008 10:35 AM |
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Caly,
I feed Jackson and Sanchez Innova... I just add to the amount when I see Jackson's metabolism is working hard or he has been really excercising hard. He does not go to the bathroom as often on this food as it does have all natural products and not a whole lot in the way of fillers. I also think his coat stays shiny all the time!
When we bought Jackson the breeder was feeding Blackwood dog foods...which we could have bought in GA. They are based out of SC. I liked their food, but I could not get it as reasonable here as I could there due to a friend of the family able to get some foods at wholesale prices for me. They are s mall company and have great food product. They do ship as well. www.blackwoodpetfood.com
they have a "high stress" food for working or very active dogs which may be a good fit for you! |
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