Dog food vs. Puppy food

[sinwagon]

My 4 month old JR will not eat his puppy food! My other JR eats adult food. He will eat hers even though they are both the same brands.

Well actually lets put it this way, I have one of those feeders that the food and water bowl sit in so they cant tip it over. They are identical but his is smaller hers is bigger. He will not eat out of his "little boy" bowl. He has to eat out of her big bowl like he is trying to tell me he is a big boy.

My concern is that she gets weight control food (although she is not eating that right now because the store was out) and he should get puppy food. If I am worried that if I put his puppy food in her bowl, she will eat it and not get what she needs and if he eats her food, he wont get what he needs from it since it is adult food.

Is there really a need for concern or is it that as long as it is dog food it should not matter if it is made for puppy or adult?

 

[Cowgirl]

It does matter what food they get...each ration is balanced for that particular dog's needs. The pup probably just wants to eat the other's food because he sees her eating it. My puppy tries to steal the other dogs' food also. Try adding some chicken broth to the pup's food...or feed them in separate rooms or at separate times.

 

[happyappygirl]

We don't leave food out all the time, it makes for picky eaters. It would make more sense to feed the adult dog once a day, the pup twice a day, monitor portions, and feed a balanced for all life stages adult food then to worry about feeding two different types of food and leaving it out all day. I also feed mine in crates so everyone gets what they are suppose to get in terms of portions. Small dogs can eat a balanced food, like Iams/Eukanuba/Pro Plan adult. If you are concerned, give the pup Pet Tabs vitamins, but really, he should be OK.

 

[sinwagon]

We have tried taking the food up but he still will not eat his food at feeding time when we put it down. At times when we put hers down in his bowl, he will eat it but for the most part neither of them will eat. I think we made that mistake w/ our older dog because we have kept the food down all day all this time that now if we pick it up and give it to her at one set time she just snubs her nose. I get so concerned about them not eating that they sucker me into keeping it down.

Damn dogs, have me wrapped around their finger!

 

[happyappygirl]

They're not hungry enough let them go for an entire day without food (i know ) i promise they won't starve. In the wild they don't eat every day. they gorge themselves, then wait a day or so, and eat again. it's why their digestive tracts are made like they are. the day you skip food, they'll poop as though they've eaten. You'll see. I'd find a balanced diet and stick to it for both dogs. No fuss, no muss. As long as neither has special needs, you and they will be fine.

 

[HorseLady]

I agree with keeping the food up until dinner time. We put it down and what doesn't get eaten in 15 min gets put up until tomorrow. They got with the program real quick! Our little dogs were getting very round by leaving the food out for all the dogs all day long! The big ones would pick at it and the little ones would help themselves to the buffet. Now we put the dishes down, everyone eats their own and we see the little ones losing weight slowly. I even cut back what I was feeding as they would not eat it all. If I had a puppy he would get fed twice a day. It really helps with the housebreaking - within 15 min they usually have to go potty!

 

[mrweb]

They're not hungry enough let them go for an entire day without food (i know ) i promise they won't starve. In the wild they don't eat every day. they gorge themselves, then wait a day or so, and eat again. it's why their digestive tracts are made like they are. the day you skip food, they'll poop as though they've eaten. You'll see. I'd find a balanced diet and stick to it for both dogs. No fuss, no muss. As long as neither has special needs, you and they will be fine.

I leave dry food out in the dish for dog all day along with lots of water. She normally only eats in the morning and only once again in the evening. She is thin and fit as a fiddle (45lbs of shepard, chow, ridge mix), free to run in about an acre of fenced in yard and woods. Should I let her "self regulate" her feeding as long as I continue to monitor it or am I creating later feeding problems? Not being a dog owner before this (she is 2 1/2 years) is this ok to continue to feed her this way? The vet gives her an A+.

 

[happyappygirl]

I leave dry food out in the dish for dog all day along with lots of water. She normally only eats in the morning and only once again in the evening. She is thin and fit as a fiddle (45lbs of shepard, chow, ridge mix), free to run in about an acre of fenced in yard and woods. Should I let her "self regulate" her feeding as long as I continue to monitor it or am I creating later feeding problems? Not being a dog owner before this (she is 2 1/2 years) is this ok to continue to feed her this way? The vet gives her an A+.

don't try to "fix" what ain't broken. If the vet thinks her weight is fine, don't worry.
I just don't advocate free feeding for any critter, no matter how many legs they have myself included
My dogs EAT when it's dinner time. No questions asked. So i can monitor exactly what everyone is eating and notice right off the bat if someone is "off". Works for me.

 

[itsbob]

Dog Food, versus Puppy Food?? I think the Koreans amongst would agree, that puppy is much more tender..