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About Labman
Expertise
I can help you with your new dog. I am experienced in, and trained in techniques the average person can make work with dogs, especially puppies. I strongly believe in obedience training and the need to give your dog proper leadership. I have been raising a new puppy every year since 1991. I know housebreaking and protecting the puppy and the house from each other. I can explain the the feeding regimen you can easily follow to give your dog the same long, active life life as highly valuable dog guides. I try to give answers you can make work. The mark of a real expert is knowing the limits of his knowledge. I will not try to answer questions on breed standards, AKC registration, etc. PLEASE DON'T SEND ME MEDICAL OR BREEDING QUESTIONS. An internet forum is not the appropriate place for them. Even if I could tell what was wrong from a handful of symptoms, you would still need to get the medications from your local vet. Breeding should be left to those not needing to ask simple, basic questions. Books have been written about it. Rather than ask me a question, start reading. Those unwilling to do the work it takes to produce quality puppies should spay/neuter their pets at 6 months. I will not answer questions that sound like a poorly prepared breeder.

Experience
Like many, I grew up around dogs, but never realized how much I had to learn before my family started socializing puppies for a large dog guide school. The school shares their experience from thousands of dogs with the people they entrust to raise their puppies. Their recommendations on training, feeding, and care come from a large, well documented program. After it is a year old, they X-ray every one of the hundreds of dogs they breed every year. I continue to attend monthly training sessions with trained volunteers and professional staff. I share experiences with others doing the same. The school must have sturdy, healthy, well behaved dogs, that will have a long, active life. If that is what you want too, I can help you. In addition I have done extensive reading, and the 4 years my daughter was in 4-H were a real learning experience for Dad too. That exposed me to more breeds than the Labs, Shepherds, and Goldens in the dog guide program.

You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Veterinary Medicine > Dogs > PUPPY FEEDING

Dogs - PUPPY FEEDING

Expert: Labman - 11/1/2009

Question
HY, MY NAME IS ALEX I WAS HOPING YOU CAN TEACH ME HOW TO FEED MY MONTH AND A HALF BLUE NOSE BULLY. I WANT TO KNOW HOW CAN I FEED MY DOG AND MAKE HIM A BIG 90SOMETHING LBS BULLY LIKE THE ONE ON THE BULLY TOURNAMENTS 90SOMENTHING HIM HEALTHY AND HAPPY, COULD YOU TELL ME WHICH IS THE BEST BRAND FOOD AND IF I SHOULD GIVE HIM VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS ALSO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOU'RE HELP.

Answer
Dog foods are formulated to have what dogs need in them, protein, fats, vitamins, minerals, and energy. Some things like calcium are very important, but too much is bad too. Most dog food have more protein and fat than dogs need. That is to make sure they get enough, and the excess can be burned as energy or excreted. Puppy chows are richer to promote fast growth, unfortunately often faster than the joints of large breed puppies can keep up to. You should be feeding a puppy chow now. Switching to an adult chow for the larger breeds at 4 months, slows growth and helps develop sturdier joints.

Your dog definitely should be narrower at the waist than the hips and chest. You
should be able to easily feel the ribs, but not see them. Each dog is different.
Standard recommendations are a good place to start, but each dog must have its
food and exercise adjusted to its individual needs. Here is a link to a good
illustrated guide, http://www.longliveyourdog.com/twoplus/RateYourDog.aspx

What brand? What are you feeding now? Chances are if it is doing well on it, you should stick to it. For all you may read elsewhere, there is very little comparisons of how dogs do on different diets. Most opinions are based on what sounds good and nothing else. I do know the large service dog schools have looked at different diets and feed common brands, Iams, Pro Plan, Science diet, etc.

There is no need to give vitamin or other supplements. Any decent food has all a dog needs.

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