Puppy Love - feeding

Further to yesterday's first puppy blog, let's jump into the lion's den!
What's the best puppy food for a German Shepherd Puppy - a fast-growing medium sized dog. And what if the breeder feeds brand X and you want to feed brand Y how do you transfer the pup over?
And what if you want to feed raw and the breeder doesn't and vice versa!
Come on - tell us what you would do if it was you that was about to get an adorable bundle of GSD!
Beverley Cuddy, Editor

Dorothy Cullum, GSD Information Group, says...
I feel if the breeder has taken to time to wean a puppy correctly onto food that they have found suits their stock why should the less experienced person add STRESS to the pup's life by changing it? There are more people who are of the opinion they know better who have a puppy who then has tummy problems as a result who contact the GSD Information Group than I have had hot dinners. Please do not even think this way - the vets earn vast amounts of money from a problem caused by human error than anything else. Then starts the tests and the re-establishing of a correct gut.
I am a great believer in giving something sensible to chew. Large chews, bones (42 years and I have never had a problem, but large not silly sizes.) Teeth then come through and it
saves damage to furniture and hands.

Katrina Stevens, Kesyra German Shepherds, says...
I use Arden Grange Junior (Medium Breed), which I mix with Naturediet Puppy. I advise adding Protexin Bio Premium, to boost the pups' immune system in the early days also. I would always advise staying with the food recommended by the breeder for the first month, so long as it suits the pup. If the owner particularly wants to change brands once the pup has settled in, then I would do this gradually over the course of one week ie: Day 1&2 give 3/4 usual diet and 1/4 new; days 3&4 give 1/2 old diet and 1/2 new; days 5&6 give 1/4 old diet and 1/4 new; day 7 change to new diet.

 “What food should I feed my puppy” is probably the most common question I get asked in the shop, and unfortunately, there are no easy answers as the choices range from commercial dry, to BARF and everything in between.
First and foremost I would recommend keeping your puppy on the same diet he has been weaned on for at least two weeks after his arrival.  Puppy’s go through enormous amounts of stress as they adjust to their new homes, and a change of diet can increase those stress levels to the point where you may end up with a poorly puppy.
Responsible breeders take great care in choosing what food they feed their dogs, but you may wish to change to a different brand for a variety of reasons including cost, availability or on ethical grounds.  Most breeders will have a “back up list” of foods they also recommend should their first choice not suit, so it may do no harm to discuss your dilemma with the breeder.
If you are still unsure about which brand to chose, or if you want to go down the BARF route, please don’t let anyone bully you into making a decision that you are uncomfortable with.  Whether it be a pet shop sales person, food brand sales rep, or any other interested party, at the end of the day this is your dog, and the choice remains solely yours to make. So long as you are feeding the best quality food you can find, or implementing a sound BARF/Natural Feeding plan,  I’m a firm believer that guilt trips play no part in canine nutrition.
Perhaps the best advice I can give is for you to write down all the pros and cons that you see with the various feeding options. Then discuss those points with someone who is not aligned to any food company, or holds a specific agenda.  Once you have done that, (and you feel comfortable that you have answered all your questions) research the variety of brands/ feeding methods within your chosen area and select the best food/method that suits you and your dog.
Bear in mind that not all commercial dog foods are created equal, and there is an enormous difference between the brands you find in the supermarket, and those that are only available in top quality Pet Shops.  This is also true of commercially available BARF diet meats/bones, and meat sold in supermarkets or at the Butcher’s. Also, please don’t forget to include your Vet in these discussions, as not all of them are prescription diet pushers.
Best of luck, and keep us posted! 
Claire Goyer BA(Hons.), HND Canine Nutrition Therapist, The Haslemere Pet Company

Feelwell’s have developed a puppy feeding program based on their Probiotic Puppy Treats and their brand new Low GI Complete Puppy Food. None of Feelwell’s products contain any artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and the products are only made with high quality ingredients making them natural, healthy and hypo-allergenic.
The Low GI Food is made with Duck and instead of rice, it contains barley, oats and peas. These foods are lower down the Glycaemic index and therefore the puppy takes longer to digest the food, feels fuller for longer between meals and also releases its energy slowly. Barley is also very gentle on the digestion. In addition the food contains prebiotics to aid digestion.
The Probiotic Puppy Treats can be fed from 6 weeks old and are the ideal training aid for a growing puppy and contain Omega 6 & 3 to aid the puppy’s development. The probiotics help the digestive system to develop and function properly and when fed in conjunction with the food which contains prebiotics they are particularly effective at ensuring that the puppy takes all the nutrients from its food.
All Feelwell’s products are available from their own online shop and are also widely available in Pets at Home and good pet shops across the UK.
Helen Booth, Feelwells MD