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I am expecting... A new puppy! Meet Digger. Ten days away. I have had other breeds and am familiar with their nutrition needs, although I admit it has been a long time since I started with a puppy from scratch and my research suggests these guys have some quirky elements due to their higher inbreeding among other reasons. My breeder uses Pro Plan sport all ages 27/17 and again my research suggests that this is a good choice for Dobermans with slightly lower protein levels and not calcium enriched, etc. Purina has a good industry rep overall and I have used it successfully in the past. When I bring Digger home at 11-1/2 weeks he will probably be about 12 - 13 pounds.
The big question I have is my research suggests a somewhat broad range of calories for Doberman puppies. Breeder is currently feeding a 50:50 mix of Eukanuba puppy lamb and rice and Purina Pro Plan All Ages Sport 27/17 at two cups a day. Google research threw up on that but breeder is a good breeder and so I suspect it may or may not be optimal, but not all bad either and I can adjust over a week or so if there are more optimal options after I pick my new guy up.
ALL THAT SAID, my own experiences on the sporting side have leaned heavily toward kibble over soft although maybe some motion there during teething, but my dogs have all had good breath and low tartar on kibble. I also tend to lean toward well researched mass market foods from well regarded companies. But the Doberman situation is new to me so I am highly open to further conversation/education around the nutrition area (and everything else for that matter since I am going to go even deeper on the training than I usually do). Any thoughts on nutrition, protein (too much is bad I understand), fats, calcium (back to bad), other supplements, anything I simply don't know that I don't know will all be gratefully appreciated. Even some points to previous posts or websites would be helpful (this place is pretty dense with info).
Thanks in advance. ~~Jim
The big question I have is my research suggests a somewhat broad range of calories for Doberman puppies. Breeder is currently feeding a 50:50 mix of Eukanuba puppy lamb and rice and Purina Pro Plan All Ages Sport 27/17 at two cups a day. Google research threw up on that but breeder is a good breeder and so I suspect it may or may not be optimal, but not all bad either and I can adjust over a week or so if there are more optimal options after I pick my new guy up.
ALL THAT SAID, my own experiences on the sporting side have leaned heavily toward kibble over soft although maybe some motion there during teething, but my dogs have all had good breath and low tartar on kibble. I also tend to lean toward well researched mass market foods from well regarded companies. But the Doberman situation is new to me so I am highly open to further conversation/education around the nutrition area (and everything else for that matter since I am going to go even deeper on the training than I usually do). Any thoughts on nutrition, protein (too much is bad I understand), fats, calcium (back to bad), other supplements, anything I simply don't know that I don't know will all be gratefully appreciated. Even some points to previous posts or websites would be helpful (this place is pretty dense with info).
Thanks in advance. ~~Jim
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