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How long to feed Great Dane Puppy Puppy food

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Suka 1249625     Barked: Thu Feb 14, '13 2:55pm PST  I know that this topic is a huge discussion between Dane owners. But the breeder and the vet recommended that we feed her Giant Breed puppy food when we first got her. But how long should we be feeding her puppy food? Its Eagle Pack Large and Giant Breed Puppy Food. The bag goes up to 1 year on the feeding chart. And I have been mixing some adult food in with her food because is so skinny and ALWAYS hungry. Thanks! my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become pals [notify]

Shadow- *CGC*CL2* Is it time for- agility yet?     Barked: Thu Feb 14, '13 3:42pm PST  Ideally a great dane should be on puppy food for 18 months- 2 years. Eagle Pack isnt the greatest brand. I would try Blue Buffalo, Wellness, or Nature's Variety. Remember she is also still a puppy and is growing. She could be growing through a growth spurt and may need a little more food right now. You can always try to feed her green beans(not canned unless you rinse them really really well) or carrots. They are both pretty filling and help keep the dog from feeling hungry all the time my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become pals [notify]

Rosey Belle- Stewart Mommy, let\'s- Snuggle!     Barked: Fri Feb 15, '13 8:43pm PST  I agree Blue Buffalo is an excellent food. It's a little costly though Another Excellent food is Taste of the Wild. It's not as expensive and it's awesome! That's what I feed mine. They're coats are shiny and soft, and they have tons more energy They just seem healthier. A high quality food really does make a difference. It may cost a little more, but in the long run, you save money because your dog doesn't have to eat as much of it to get full, so one bag lasts longer because of all the protein in it. If you notice, on these lower quality brands like purina and what not, they eat a ton of it because it takes a lot to get full. Because all it is, is a lot of fillers like corn, wheat, and soy a MAYBE a little bit of meat, but not much. It also has arteficial colors, flavors, and chemical preservatives, all of which is not good for your dog. my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become pals [notify]

Member Since 10/29/2012     Barked: Sat Feb 16, '13 8:15am PST  Definitely feed a puppy food to a Great Dane until 18-20 months. Great Danes have a VERY long growth phase and switching to an adult food too early could really cause severe joint problems. Until about 12-14 months, the amount of puppy food you feed should gradually increase, since they are growing most rapidly up until that time and need the most energy. But after the growth rate levels out a bit at about a year, the energy requirements are a bit less again, so the amount of food should decrease slightly again until they are full-grown adults. I'm not familiar with the Eagle Pack brand, but when I looked up the food and their feeding guide it made me skeptical about using it for a giant breed. The chart doesn't go over 100lbs, which is where the giant breed weight generally starts. The amount they suggest is also very general and does not change much over the growth span... not very helpful. I personally like the Royal Canin brand for giant dogs because it is really meant JUST for giant dogs, and their needs during growth are different than even a large breed's. They have a longer growth phase and different energy needs, plus the stress on their joints is even greater. The Royal Canin giant food actually splits up the giant puppy food into two phases (puppy and "junior") since it's been shown that giant dogs have two distinct growth phases (as I mentioned earlier). I would start by going to your vet to make sure your dog's weight is on track, then making adjustments to the food if needed. my posts [notify]

Riversedge- of Chaos- "Erebus" 1246799     Barked: Sat Feb 16, '13 8:45am PST  Am I operating on dated advice? I've always been told to avoid feeding puppy food to large breeds beyond about 6 months of age for the same reason a prior poster cited to KEEP feeding it to them, namely: joint problems. The increased level of calcium, I was told, that is normal for medium/average sized dogs is not good for a large breed puppy's growing joints. my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become pals [notify]

Member Since 10/29/2012     Barked: Sat Feb 16, '13 10:02am PST  If you're feeding a giant breed dog a puppy food meant for small or medium breeds, then that might be a problem, since small dogs grow quickly and have a short growth span (like 8-12 months as opposed to almost 2 years). But if the food is specifically meant for large breeds, then the calcium, phosphorus and energy levels have been considered in formulation. These foods can also include glucosamine and chondroitin to help support joints. That is exactly why an adult food shouldn't be fed until the dog is an adult, because an adult food was not made for the needs of a growing large breed puppy, and the nutrient and energy levels are meant for an adult dog. It has been proven that puppies need different nutrition than adult dogs, and especially large and giant breeds - so what is the benefit of feeding an adult food? Puppy foods for large breed dogs are not just out there for marketing, there is research and science behind their formulations (if they are actually good companies that do the research and trials). my posts [notify]