Feeding Pups Adult Food?

[Cybil]

I took my puppy in for his first set of shots and check up today, and the Vet recommended looking into feeding him adult food rather than large breed puppy food. He said that sometimes people find that this helps large breeds like Pyrs, St. Bernards, etc., from growing too fast.

So my question is, has anyone here ever tried this? I'm going to contact the people I got him from and ask what they've fed their former Pyr puppies (they own 2 adult working Pyrs), but I'm just curious if anyone else has used Adult feed for their large breed puppies.

P.s.
Everyone that met him today loved him and most had never seen a Pyr in person before. They were all commenting on how calm he was. The Vet tech even took him in the back to show him off to everyone! :D

[Autumn & Jax]

I feed my 5 mo old adult food. I was going to use blue buffalo puppy food, it had the same % of protein as the adult food I chose. I went with the adult food because it has fish oil in it. He has only been on it a week, but likes it and is doing well on it.

[Jewel]

My breeder doesn't use puppy food at all. I personally think the extra calories in puppy food is not necessary.

We had this same discussion on another thread a few months back. The thing about large breed puppy food is that they are supposed to contain less calcium for the exact reason of avoiding the large breed pups from growing too fast. The adult food may actually contain higher calcium content than puppy food. Ultimately I think it's whatever you feel more comfortable with. Regardless of whether you stick with puppy food or go to adult food, make sure the pup stays slim. Extra weight does the puppy no good.

[Cybil]

Thanks for the quick replies! Currently I'm feeding a Large Breed Puppy food and it seems fine... I am being very strict with the amounts because I don't believe in overfeeding your animals (one of my biggest pet peeves in when people overfeed their dogs and have fat sausages running around).
My pup is only 9wks, as of now, so maybe I'll stick with the puppy feed for a few months and then switch to the adult.

P.s. It was so funny in the Vets office. There was a Rhodesian Ridgeback that was sooo excited and wanted to play with my Pyr. But my puppy just sat there looking at it like "what ARE you doing? Don't you know you're in public?" I love how calm he is! So stoic.

[Davey Benson]

GP's are extreamly calm compaired to many other dog breeds. Most of my neighbors called my last Great Pyrenees a giant white marshmellow. (either that or stoner chick, because she always looked like she was stoned :rolleyes: )

I feed my two puppies large breed puppy food. They do well on the additional calories, as they get a lot of excersize keeping up with the other dogs.

The rest of them get a high energy formula food. All of my dogs are always moving through out the day, and they are all in good body condition. I've only got one dog that is barrel shaped, and that is my blue heeler, and that breed has a tendency to be of those dimensions.

Geez... this really has me depressed. I think I'm the fattest one out of the group. Maybe I should switch my diet over to kibble. :eek:

[DPW]

Although they know others will disagree, the authors of the book "Livestock Protection Dogs. Selection, Care and Training" suggest switching to a "PREMIUM" adult dog food anytime after three months of age. The operative word being premium. If not a premium food stick with the large breed puppy food. They give their recommendations on the percent of protien and fat which should be in the food but I don't remember off hand what those are. And the book is not handy at the moment.
I'm guessing that much like the spay/neuter issue the puppy food/not puppy food beliefs are widely varied.

[Milu]

My breeder transitioned her pups directly onto large breed adult food- and I just continued that choice when we brought ours home. She just preferred puppy portions, but adult content. I guess I would have to echo her recommendations, because it's worked well for us, nice steady growth- no growing pains so far. Actually, quick question- when exactly are growing pains most common? I assume it's during the time when the most rapid growth occurs, 4-10 months ish?