How and When to Switch from Puppy to Adult Dog Food
Dogs require a different amount of nutrients in the course of their transitioning life stage. Moreover, you have to switch from puppy to adult dog food when the puppy is transitioning to an adult lifestage from the puppy hood.
Generally, the small breed pooches reach at their adult life stage at the age of nine to ten months. Likewise, the medium-sized breed Fido will reach to an early adulthood while he is about one year or 12 to 14 months of age. Adding to the fact, the large dog breeds take a little longer to mature. Most of the large sized dogs keep growing until 18 to 24 months of age.
For example, you cannot select a food for French Bulldogs having a serious amount of protein and fats. Whereas, you have to provide a good amount of protein and fats proportion to a Weim or a Doberman at an adult life stage. Similarly, it is very important for your beagle to switch to adult dog food at the age of 10 to 11 months compared to the Great Dane who requires the same at 2 years of age.
Now, you have seen when to switch a pooch from puppy to an adult dog food. Let us see, how to switch a pooch from puppy dog food to an adult one. Generally, the pooches about to reach or recently entering their adulthood have mature physique but playful mind. Therefore, it might take some time before the pooch actually reduces active movements on his own.
Till that time, he will require some moderately rich nutrients in the food. So, you shall start by mixing adult food in small proportions in the regular puppy food. Give your little champ some time to adapt to the changing diet. If your puppy seems to be perfect after two to three days or mixed food type as his meal then you are good to go.
Gradually, increase the proportion of adult dog food and decreasing the puppy food in order to keep the total quantity constant. Practice this drill for two to three weeks of time until you start feeding your pooch an adult dog food totally.
