What do I feed a Rottweiler? |
Should I stick to commercial kibble or jump into RAW? |
What do I feed a Rottweiler? |
Should I stick to commercial kibble or jump into RAW? |
What We Do Here at SperoWe've always fed our dogs (and puppies) commercial Kibble for large breed puppies and dogs. This worked well for us and our dogs were always right on track for normal health and growth for the breed. Usually, we fed them Purina One for Large Breed. This served us well until Scarlett joined our pack. Scarlett has a sensitive digestive system and dry skin. She also has a breathing problem (snores like a freight train). We can not get a consensus from the vets what causes her labored breathing so we can't fix it. However, one of the suggestions was that perhaps she has allergies. This led us to consider a RAW diet. But what we do for one, we will probably have to do for another (I mean when Scarlett is dining on salmon and ground beef, what are the other dogs to think?). The full RAW diet is a bit out of our budget with three large dogs (two Rotties and a Husky/Great Pyrenees/Collie rescue). So, while I considered what we could do to help Scarlett but stay within budget, I read through the RAW Feeding University website. One of the suggestions when switching a dog from commercial dry to RAW is to take it slowly. And they described a sort of hybrid system. I thought what if we just stick to step one or two of the transition--and keep our pups on a hybrid system? So this is what we've adopted for our pack. In this way, if we ever need to switch up for any reason, i.e. we go on vacation and it is too confusing to explain to the interim care-giver how our dogs are fed, the dogs could go full kibble for a few days. Then add the RAW when we returned.
So far, about five weeks as of 8/12/19, Scarlett's stomach has been fantastic! All the pups are as lively as ever, and the husky more so than usual. We started with chicken or pork (whatever is on sale and according to the profile set by RAW Feeding University). As Scarlett weens her pups, will introduce some more ingredients. Right now the dogs get about 2/3 their nutrient intake from kibble and the rest from RAW. The puppies will be introduced to a very light hybrid when they are weening: ground chicken and kibble softened by weening formula and/or goats milk. We believe that in introducing the puppies to a hybrid diet, they will be better suited for transition into their new feeding regime when they go home with their forever pack families. |
Commercial KibbleWhichever kibble brand you choose, be sure it is designed for a Large Breed Puppy or Dog. Commercial kibbles designed for the large breeds have a reduced fat content to keep the calories a little lower than regular puppy or dog food. This is to keep the large breed dogs from growing too quickly and placing too much strain on their developing joints, which in turn should minimize the incidents of hip and elbow dysplasia and arthritis. And it helps to maintain healthy weight.
But for You, the Puppies New Owner?This is a personal choice. Only you will know what your lifestyle and budget can handle. We share our hybrid experience to demonstrate that there are all sorts of methods that can lead to a healthy and happy pack. Kibble has its place--the better the quality the better for the pup (this doesn't always mean the most expensive, though). Maybe you live near ranching or farming area and have inexpensive, easy access to the ingredients for a RAW diet--go for it! Or maybe a hybrid version, something that is both easy and healthy. Whatever works for you and your pack.
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