What do you feed a Newf Pup?

[BoundlessNewfs]

All three of our newfie girls have passed away, and our house has been way to empty. That said, we are getting another Newf puppy in a couple of weeks, and the foods we fed our last Newfs (we got them in 2003) have changed or disappeared.

I know that there have been quite a few discussions about calcium/phosphorus ratios, percent of fat and protein, etc, for optimal growth of a Newf pup.

Some feed puppy food (but NOT large puppy), and others go straight to adult food. Some say chicken, others say fish. Grain free, or not?

Our breeder recommended a lamb-based puppy formula kibble, but I'm not sure we want to continue with that.

Some help from the pros on here would be appreciated.

 

[Angela]

Splash was weaned on Taste of the Wild Salmon alternating with Lamb. It's adult. I have never given that before so will see how it goes.

Owain, who was deathly allergic to many kibbles eats Proplan Select Turkey and Barley and that worked well from puppyhood.

 

[lmfoltyn]

Ours have always been on Taste of the Wild and we change up the variety quite often. It is grain free and our puppies have always had adult and never puppy food.

 

[Bailey Boy]

Mine have always been on Proplan (except that one year we did the roller coaster ride of "better" food before going back to proplan) - Bailey was on puppy formula until he was about 8 months then we went to adult because of his size. Sarah we also rescued as a puppy and she was on puppy formula until she was about 6 months then we went to adult.

 

[Darwinsnewfie@1855]

I have tried several high quality kibble and fresh food for Ella and I really like Annameat. It's a local small, holistic dog food company that uses organic chicken and high quality ingredients. I also like that they have a selection of kibble based on the protein needs of the dog and most are approved for all life stages. I think there is one that around 22% protein. The only down fall is that it's hard to find so I have it auto shipped. Here is the link if you want to check it out: http://www.annamaet.com/

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

I feed Pro Plan adult from the beginning. But best to get food recommendations from your breeder.

 

[R Taft]

And we are RAW........species appropriate diet RAW. Have been since 1989

 

[Newfobsessed]

I would ask your breeder that they recommend. If that does not sit well with you, try several options previously mentioned, and see how your baby tolerates them. I am a big advocate of reading ingredients and looking up ingredients I am not certain about. Doing that got rid of a lot of potential foods. My breeder fed Purina One and he was not doing well on it, so we tried several brands, Taste of the Wild, Acana, Holistic Select, Natures Variety, etc. My boy pretty much told me what he wanted, as some he would turn his head away and not even consider them. Hoping you and your Newf find what want and need. Sometime a good probiotic helps too. Some dogs, like people have digestive issues.

 

[BoundlessNewfs]

We switched our Cowboy from the lamb based kibble that his breeder started him on, to a grain free salmon based, and he LOVES it. He also discovered real salmon last night, when I dropped a small bit into his bowl after our dinner. Now he isn't satisfied with simple kibble as treats for training. I've created a monster.

 

[Angela]

I sometime add sardines to Splash and Owain's kibble.

 

[ardeagold]

Laurel, we've changed around since we got our first, but we've always fed adult. We feed ProPlan now, but for dogs with wheat sensitivity, we feed 4Health (Tractor Supply). Always adult from day 1.

 

[BoundlessNewfs]

I'm feeding adult kibble, too. He loves it and is doing so much better with this food, than with what he started on. Poops are well formed and just right consistency, not loose and milky looking any more. (TMI?)