Ping Boxer owners

[marko138]

I took the Lab off puppy food at around a year.

[cbrchick]

Originally Posted by wildchild

she gets a 1/2 can of soft food at night that is adult variety but the hard food is puppy iams. she likes it and she's well muscled and healthy so why mess.

My hubby had our Lab on Iams for most of his life. My cousin got into researching dog food/raw diets when her mix became ill (ended up having leukemia). Harris, our large lab seemed to be fine on Iams, but according to some dog food analysis websites, it gets a very poor rating for quality.

A lot of people here feed their dogs some pretty high quality, natural dog food, and I must say, it really made a difference in Harris. He's lost 8 pounds since last year. He's 101 pounds, leaner frame (wasn't overweight at 108, he's very tall), his coat just shines, poo is better, teeth are better, his hips improved with the added natural glucosamine in his current dog food (Fromm's Salmon and Veg).

Last summer, this time, he developed his first ever hot spot. Food allergies can have a lot to do with that. So we changed his diet and the benefits were better than expected. He was "fine" on Iam's. His blood work was stellar. But the better, cleaner nutrient content of his current food has made him a healthier middle aged dog.

Anyway... not telling you what you should do, but look into other foods if you are interested. This dog food is 85 bucks a bag where the Iam's was like 45 for the same size. But I can't put him back on anything close to that after seeing the results.

If I had the freezer space, he'd be on a raw diet.

Anyway...

google dog food analysis if you are bored

Kirsty

[zer0t]

Keep up on the puppy food it's rich but good for them. My boxer didn't really look adult until almost 3. She kept that gangly puppy look for quite a long time before looking like an adult dog. It's my first boxer and she is awesome.

[torilynne]

both my dogs we actually started switching them back and forth every other day for about a month cuz when we tried switching them straight to adut food a little after a year and a half neither of them would eat it so by going back and forth for a little while they got used to the adult food

[Rider]

Originally Posted by torilynne

both my dogs we actually started switching them back and forth every other day for about a month cuz when we tried switching them straight to adut food a little after a year and a half neither of them would eat it so by going back and forth for a little while they got used to the adult food

My dog doesn't like his puppy food. He will let the food sit in his bowl for an hour before he eats. He eventually eats, but he is way different than my lab. She would practically inhale the entire bowl the second you put food down.

[the chi]

If he doesnt like it, I'd try and swap him now. Typically pups should be on puppy food for the first year, and then change to adult with maybe some puppy mixed in. If he's getting fat or just not enjoying it, you shouldnt run into any issues swapping him early.

Check with your vet, doesnt require a visit, just a call.

[Rider]

Originally Posted by The Chi

If he doesnt like it, I'd try and swap him now. Typically pups should be on puppy food for the first year, and then change to adult with maybe some puppy mixed in. If he's getting fat or just not enjoying it, you shouldnt run into any issues swapping him early.

Check with your vet, doesnt require a visit, just a call.

He's not getting fat at all. I took some pics of him on my new cell phone. I need to figure out how to get the pics off my phone since I don't have a memory card for it yet.

[the chi]

Originally Posted by Rider

He's not getting fat at all. I took some pics of him on my new cell phone. I need to figure out how to get the pics off my phone since I don't have a memory card for it yet.

Some dogs, even as puppies, tend to get fat when on puppy food. Thats a good sign of needing to change them.

Depending on your service, you should be able to email pics to yourself. Instead of the number, put the email you want it sent to. Wait, YOU got a cell phone?!! No way...

[marko138]

Originally Posted by Rider

My dog doesn't like his puppy food. He will let the food sit in his bowl for an hour before he eats. He eventually eats, but he is way different than my lab. She would practically inhale the entire bowl the second you put food down.

Thats how Manny is. As soon as the bowl hits the floor he smashes it down. Food gone in about a minute.

[the chi]

I think thats a lab thing. Everyone I have ever owned ate like that, whereas other dogs were less inclined to eat like an "animal". My current dog will only eat if we are near her food bowl or if she's able to eat while we are out all day. My collie would pick and choose throughout the day and eventually eat a cup or 2.