Puppy food question...

[BaconAndAvocado]

Is it ok to gradually change what your puppy eats re kibble?

I've just had quite a rude text from our breeder implying that I'm making a huge mistake if I stop buying kibble from him.

When we picked up our pup he tried to sell us so many things we knew we could get cheaper. Even poo bags!

The kibble from the breeder is quite expensive for us and we've still got 2 huge bags for our pup.
The plan is to gradually introduce a different, more affordable kibble and phase out the old one.

Is this ok?

Should have said, our pup is 15 weeks abs the kibble that we've bought from the breeder should last about another 9 months.

Of course it’s fine, your breeder doesn’t sound great. My breeder suggested I do exactly what you propose as my pup went off the food she came on. Also supplied us with a free bag of food to start us off. You’re not beholden to buy food from him forever!

It's fine to change foods. I think most people gradually change to their food of choice. Very few would stick with whatever the breeder started the pups on. You would have to change from puppy food to junior food within the year anyway. Either the breeder just wants more money from you or they think the pup is still theirs.

Thanks all for confirming what I thought 🙏🏻

We changed ours at 12 weeks (and not gradually either - we tried but she picked out the new stuff and refused the old stuff!). The breeder sounds a little bit money motivated for my liking!

@TerrierOrTerror

We changed ours at 12 weeks (and not gradually either - we tried but she picked out the new stuff and refused the old stuff!). The breeder sounds a little bit money motivated for my liking!

100% 🤔

What food is it? Is the breeder on a sales retainer do you think?

Ours moved at 10 weeks and has been much better since.

It's the Natural Food Company.
Yes I think the breeder definitely is!!

It’s absolutely fine to change food but if you’re changing from a quality food to a shit one I’d be saying something too. What are you moving them on to?

If you haven't already, compare puppy's current food with the one you're planning to buy on www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/

Cheaper doesn't always mean worse nutrition, but it often does.

You can also use the site to set your maximum preferred spend/week and search for the best food at that price point.

Just one thing to note, I found when I was looking the price comparison wasn't very accurate on all about dog food as some foods were a lot more expensive than listed on the site so worth cross checking before making a decision.

How bad can another kibble be compared to one that will be nearly a year old by the time you feed it?!
Surely if you are feeding all dry food, what they should have at 1yr should be nutritionally different to what they have at three months? and not a stale dry year-old biscuit

Changing your puppies food will be absolutely fine and it sounds like the breeder is financially motivated but please make sure you look into what food you chamge too as although affordable high quality dog food is out there, a lot of cheap brands are full of rubbish

All about dogfood rates it at 77% so it's definitely not bad. But you can get better for less money out there.

Have you got a good local raw/natural dog shop nearby? Mine was invaluable. Gave me samples of the food we now have puppy on which look expensive but portions are small as it's high quality per gram. Doesn't sell anything he wouldn't use or feed personally (is also a highly regarded trainer).