Growth and Food

[Rottie Dude]

i have a 7 month old rottie and he is about 75-80 pounds, looks very healthy and not obese, confirmed by my vet.

my vet told me to put him on adult dog food at 6 months so i did and thats what he is eating now, but i am beginning to question this. since he has been on the dog food he does not seem as active and does not play as much and sleeps more (or seems to). could this have anything to do with the dog food or is it just my imagination? im thinking about putting him back on the puppy food, what do u guys think????

[MybabyZeus]

Wow! That is a big boy! I don't know what you should do but I will say that he probably needs to go back to the vet. Maybe when you put him on adult food it took the nessecary vitimans he needs as a pup. We were told opposite. My vet told me to keep mine on puppy food for at least one year. What kind of food are you feeding him? That could make a big difference in his energy level.

[ellak]

I think 6 months is way to early for an adult food. His body has months to develop and needs necessary nutrients in puppy foods, especially fat contents. My rottie was getting ahead of himself, sizewise, as well and I just reduced his food intake by 1/3 cup and watched his treats very carefully. He was just a bit chubby, but considered quite overweight for his age which plays out on his bone structure at this early stage of his life. I also increased his exercise by 20 min/day. I switched him to adult food at 11 months. He's at perfect weight and body composition now.

[myandromeda]

RottieDude,

What type of food and how much are you feeding your boy? We switched our boys over to Canidae that day we got them at 10 weeks old, and they are growing normally, have a great coat, teeth, skin, eyes, and plenty of energy! Canidae is an all life stage food, and is one of the best (if not the best ;) ) kibble out there.

I didn't want to feed them puppy food because of the things that I read on this forum. Puppy food (if I remember correctly) can cause a dog to grow too fast, which is detrimental to their health. If you feel the need to feed puppy food, make sure that it is formulated for large breed dogs.

BTW, my pups are now 6 months (27 weeks) and two weeks ago, they weighed 61 and 63 pounds. They have a waist line, and we can feel their ribs through a layer of muscle...

subliminal message coming... Canidae :D ;) :p

[Rottie Dude]

im in canada, so most of the foods mentioned on this web site are not available here, the only good one that is mentioned here that i can get is Nutro, so i might go with that.

i was feeding him a food called "Precise" which my breeder was using. i was very happy with it, except for the price tag of $70 a bag. a little much considering Nutro is only $35 dollars a bag. i dont wanna feed my dog garbage, but i think $70 a bag is rediculous. and im not paying to have food shipped either.

[brunie's mom]

Rottie Dude... I'm in Canada too. Which province are you in???
I know in Ontario that Global Pet Food Stores and O'Ryans Pet Food Stores and any small private pet food stores and even health food stores carry the super premium foods.
I live in the middle of nowhere and can get Canidae, Solid Gold, Innova, Wellness... but I do have to drive 45 minutes each way.
You are right though they do charge alot more for those foods in Canada:(
But... your dog will need to eat even less... so it comes out about the same in cost.:)
Nutro is not a bad food.. if you can't get better try to supplement with raw chicken backs, wings, or necks and give him a nice raw knuckle or marrow bone occasionaly... you could also add some fruits and veggies and some natural yogurt. I'm sure he will enjoy it too:)

Gina
Adopt-A-Rott Ontario

[German Vanegas]

Originally posted by Rottie Dude
im in canada, so most of the foods mentioned on this web site are not available here, the only good one that is mentioned here that i can get is Nutro, so i might go with that.

i was feeding him a food called "Precise" which my breeder was using. i was very happy with it, except for the price tag of $70 a bag. a little much considering Nutro is only $35 dollars a bag. i dont wanna feed my dog garbage, but i think $70 a bag is rediculous. and im not paying to have food shipped either.

Nutro Natural Choice formula and ingredients are as good as Precise's, trust me ;) So, considering the big difference in price tag, I suggest you to switch food brands.

[Rottie Dude]

to answer your questions,

i am in ontario too, i just went to the store now and bought nutro large breed puppy, ill see how that goes, thanks for all your help.

[myandromeda]

Originally posted by Rottie Dude
i just went to the store now and bought nutro large breed puppy, ill see how that goes, thanks for all your help.

Sounds good to me!

[tomsdog]

My vet told me to keep my female on large breed puppy food for at least a year. I wonder why some other vets suggest switching to adult food at 6 months? Do you think switching to adult food at 6 months was a means of slowing down the puppy's growth, before they came out with large breed puppy food, that is suppose to accomplish the same goal? My puppy has been on large breed puppy food since the age of 7 weeks. She is now 10 months and very big, (not fat). I can't see how her growth has been slowed down at all. I will have to ask the vet if he knows of some ball park figure percentage wise of how much the large breed puppy food is suppose to slow down the growth rate ( 5%, 10% ?).

[NCRottOwner]

My 12 week old male (Damien) came from a very large, muscular, atheletic pair of Rotti's. The male weighs @165 and the female is @155.

When I took Damien to the vet at 8 weeks he weighed in at 20lbs and the vet said he had never seen an 8 week old puppy of this size. He was not fat at 8 weeks and is not growing like a weed, becoming taller and leaner. It is amazing watching these furry little critters blossom...

[German Vanegas]

Originally posted by NCRottOwner
My 12 week old male (Damien) came from a very large, muscular, atheletic pair of Rotti's. The male weighs @165 and the female is @155.

I hate to tell you this but I haven't seen yet any muscular athletic male and/or female Rottweiler at the weights you described. The larger and the heavier the dog, the less agility, endurance, and stamina the dog will have. The ideal body structure of a Rottweiler, for soundness and functionality, has been established by the standards of the breed, which, according to the A.D.R.K. (the acronym for The General German Rottweiler Club) and the F.C.I. (the acronym for the International Canine Federation), males should weight in proportion to height, between 90 to 130 lbs., while females should weight between 80 to 110 lbs. The standards of the breed were created to maintain the essence, substance, form and soundness of the Rottweiler. Oversized dogs generally develop health ailments and have no working abilities, albeit they can be pet companions, they do not represent the Rottweiler breed as it is wanted to be.

[NCRottOwner]

German,

I do not doubt that you have never seen rottweilers of this size that were as I have claimed. Before I saw these dogs I had never seen any either.

I have no intentions of showing my dogs so I am not concerned with standards of the breed. The most important thing to me is these dogs represent what I want my rottweilers to be.

[JonandMichelle]

Originally posted by NCRottOwner
I have no intentions of showing my dogs so I am not concerned with standards of the breed. The most important thing to me is these dogs represent what I want my rottweilers to be.

I know this is going off Topic, but............

Please do not take this the wrong way or that I am condemning you in anyway here......BUT......Anyone who is a Rottweiler enthusiasts SHOULD be concerned about breed standards!!

Those very standards ARE what MAKES a Rottweiler a Rottweiler. Every one should be educated not only as an owner, but also as an ETHICAL breeder. These very standards are what Rottweiler lovers are trying to protect. Those standards are what is being tossed to the side when it comes to unscrupulous breeders wanting to market their "big boned, massive head, 150 lb." Rottweilers to the uneducated public or to those who **think** that is what a Rottweiler **should** be. It's not and never will be. IF people want those massive dogs then maybe a different breed would be more suitable like a Mastiff or something. Sorry, but it just upsets me to no end when I hear the words "I don't care about standards or are not concerned." This noble breed has been to hell and back, and preserving and honoring the standard is the same as preserving the breed. Again, sorry for coming off wrong or nasty but it's the way I feel and if I can help change the mind of one, I've done a part in trying to help.

[NCRottOwner]

JonandMichelle,

I'm not offended at all and understand/respect your position even though I cannot honestly say I agree.

I have owned dogs including rottweilers for over 30 years. I knew the breed standard when I purchased the pup, but I was overwhelmed with the size, beauty and grace of this line. I wanted a piece of this lineage regardless of standards that had been set by others.

Perhaps I am guilty of not being a rottweiler purist, but I can live with that. I also do not believe that great dogs should be spayed and neutered because they do not serve the "betterment" of the breed. Betterment is extremely subjective and to me suggests a bit of elitism by those who find their dog worthy of the betterment privilege.