Food for working dogs who do not work?

[shoutymcshoutsmum]

My german shorthaired pointer puppy is fed Skinners Field & Trial Puppy Food. it contains 27% Crude Protein (whatever that means ). It is aimed at a working dog but my pointer is a family pet. Someone mentioned to me that feeding this could end up being a rod for my own back. I presume the gentleman meant that it provides more energy than a family pet needs? What do you think?

[ragged]

I think your friend has a point. Most pets are overfed.

[toboldlygo]

I don't set any stock by protein levels - I feed a raw diet, crude protein in that is gonna be sky high. Skinners X with rice (not the other ones, muesli etc.) is a pretty good food in terms of content, lack of fillers and allergens etc., certainly the best budget option.

Agree that most pets are overfed but only in terms of being fat, excess energy should be taken care of with exercise.

[noinspiration]

I feed Burns active (a working dog food) as my dogs are outside working. It has more oil and protein, and is higher in energy than Burns pet dog varieties. They would probably get quite fat on it if they were sitting around in a centrally heated house all day.

I don't think it will harm your dog provided he/she has appropriate exercise and you watch their weight. Working dog food is VAT free...

[wildfig]

I feed my hounds Skinners - the protein level (21%) suits them, the Duck/Salmon and Rice is pretty good for sensitive digestions, it's VAT-free so a bit cheaper. My older dog seems to do well on their Turkey/Rice with JointAid. I wouldn't necessarily feed the weight prescribed on the bag; every dog is different and needs different amounts, so I judge on poo quality and excess energy and adjust accordingly.

'Poo quality'. Sigh - the things you do as a dog owner...

[shoutymcshoutsmum]

Thanks everyone. You can see my puppy's ribs and he didn't like his old food so I am happy because he seems to like this stuff. Not so sure about his poo quality though - I would say it was variable [shrug].

[daisydotandgertie]

Skinners puppy will be perfectly good for your pointer because no puppy actually works. They're puppies and therefore too young!

It has a fairly normal level of nutrients in it for puppy food though. Keep an eye on poo quantity and quality and you'll get a good idea of how the food is suiting him.

Not sure what the rod for your own back comment means; it makes very little sense tbh.

When you decide to switch to adult food then skinners rice based foods are very good and you can always feed by eye to ensure he doesn't over eat. Alternatively, there is also skinners maintenance diet which is aimed at working dogs who aren't actually working. The quality isn't as good as the rice based feeds though.

[shoutymcshoutsmum]

Thanks. The gentleman was remarking on how "busy" my puppy was - I think he thought that his energy was partly due to the type of food I was giving him. I think he was also thinking about the level of energy the dog would then have as an adult and whether 2-3 hours of walks would be enough?

[TwoIfBySea]

I think you should be aiming at under 25% for sure. Skinners is good although I do use Arden Grange which is bang on the 25%. I have a Lab Retriever (my last Guide Dog pup who failed the advance training!)

With labs they have a tendency to be dustbins and you can quickly see the ones who have gained weight. Easily done!

[GrittersWifeAndProud]

My greyhound is on CSJ CP xtra, it's a working dog food, but the CP xtra type means it's very low in protein, it's around £20 a 15kg sack. It's what the rescue recommended I get.

[GrittersWifeAndProud]

CSJ

Wow. I can do links with my iphone! Hooray!

[daisydotandgertie]

Yes, but this is a puppy!

Arden Grange puppy is up at 29% protein which is pretty comparable to Skinners Puppy, and I think this pup is about 16 weeks ish. CSJ Puppy is about 27% protein, so much the same, especially when you take into account the fat amounts in each.

There are arguments against puppy food as a 'thing' but I feel quite strongly that a puppy which will grow as much and as fast as a Pointer needs the very best nutrition you can squeeze into it.

Don't worry about the walking thing - puppies are nearly always busy, but they do slow down a bit as they age. 2 or 3 hours will be fine. Do you know if your dog is a working or show strain? That will help anticipate how much exercise he will need as an adult.

[shoutymcshoutsmum]

He is a show strain rather than a working strain, which was a conscious choice. We have no plan of showing him though, just cuddling instead .

[daisydotandgertie]

Cuddles are lovely. I am currently being cuddled by three of ours .

A working strain Pointer would be especially busy and in need of serious stimulation - a show dog is usually a bit less demanding so. A couple of hours walking will be fine. And I know you've been on a thread about the 5 minute rule - I would concentrate on keeping his exercise carefully managed.

He will be growing like a weed this year and although it'll look as though he can run and run, to give him the best chance of not injuring or damaging himself - as well as giving you a fighting chance of keeping a rational, calm puppy - short walks will be best for the next few months.

[MrsJohnDeere]

Burns here. Springer.

I thought the protein should be less than 20% for a non working dog, but maybe advice has changed since mine was a puppy?

[shoutymcshoutsmum]

When i Asked is question originally, pup was a proper pup less than four months old. Time has flown and he is now ten months old. I wondered what peoples thoughts are on moving from puppy to adult food? Shall I move to adult food over a wweek or two? is it time?

[MNhoneydragonHQ]

I have a Lab puppy that people have told me is too skinny, but as other lovlie dog house posters pointed out, they are used to seeing overweight dogs.

I feed her both Burns Puppy and Skinners Field and Trial Puppy, I think she is a little less exuberant on the Burns which is a lower protein and her poos are much smaller.

Once she is able to have adult food I will hopefully be able to switch her to the Skinners rice varieties.

[MNhoneydragonHQ]

I plan to switch her at 9 months btw if her weight gain continues as it is.

[daisydotandgertie]

I would.

Start by mixing the two and move towards all adult over a period of about 2 weeks. If he starts to lose condition, continue the mix for a wee bit longer.

[shoutymcshoutsmum]

Thank you. I will buy some Skinners rice variety and see how he does. I have been enjoying the poo quality (!) which appeared with time as pup got older. Hopefully the poo won't get worse with the change of diet :(

[EasyToEatTiger]

We've been feeding Burns to our 3 non-working working collies, and their weight has been stable for over a decade, at least for the 2 oldies. I have been advised by Burns to keep the basic foodstuff simple and add extra bits according to the dog. Sorry not much good for puppies! Protein is for growth and to replenish, so too much can either make the animal fat or make it behave as though it's on steroids.

[BlackCatsAndPurpleDogs]

My puppy, 4 months, is fed adult food. I think its all rubbish this puppy food business, never fed it to any of mine who were all healthy and all lived to good old ages.