[angelic00]

What is the difference between large breed puppy and normal puppy food?
I have an 8 week old mastiff lab X and am kinda clueless on the difference with the puppy foods......
I am usually buying nutro natural choice small bites for over weight and less active dogs for my over weight and less active beagle.This is my first puppy since i normally adopt older dogs.
Any help in explaining the difference would be appreciated.

[CinnamintStick]

I have a 11 week old Mastiff/Border collie too. When I first got him I read this article. http://www.i-tails.com/great-dane-ma...tion-feed.html

[Noel Redwood]

Originally Posted by angelic00

What is the difference between large breed puppy and normal puppy food?...
I am usually buying nutro natural choice small bites ...

First, you should consider this: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/pets/nutro.html
from the thread found at
http://www.dogforums.com/5-dog-food-...ing-nutro.html (To Those Feeding Nutro --)
before feeding any more Nutro to your dogs.

As to differences, speaking generally, large breed mixes many times have ingredients like glucosamine and condroiton for joints. But really you have to compare the ingredients to find actual differences since most recipes vary.

[angelic00]

Well i guess its dog and puppy chow for my dogs,I live in a very small town and my only feeding options are Nutro and dog chow.I don't drive and live about 2.5 hours from the city.I can't even get food delivery out here because i have a PO box number.

[CinnamintStick]

I feel for you. I don't drive either, live in the sticks where mail is not delived. I only have a PO box too. I have also read many giant breed dog owners use a adult dog food rather than a puppy food for the large breed puppies. You might try that instead of the puppy chow. I had a Great Dane puppy that I raised on homemade food until he was full grown. I had friends with litter mates. He was the best of the litter, no growth problems, and lived to be 12 years old.

[Willowy]

You can still get dog food delivered if you only have a P.O. box......you'd want to provide the sender with both your physical address and your P.O. box number, so they can choose which shipping company they want to use. But, USPS will take boxes up to 70 pounds, so having a 40-pound bag of dog food sent to your P.O box is fine (I work for USPS). Shipping can cost a lot, though.....we used to have Willow's food shipped in, before corn-free dog food was available around here.

Honestly, even with all the issues Nutro's been having, I would still choose that over Purina, but that's the choice you need to make yourself. An adult food would be better for your big pup, unless you can find a large-breed puppy formula.....regular puppy food would make him grow too quickly.

[notamamayet]

I guess there's a local store for your groceries? Would it be worth posting an ad in the post office or such offering someone a couple dollars to pick up some food next time they went into the city? There's bound to be another owner who could spare some space in a vehicle? We used to tell people that were a ways away from our store to put the unopened food in the freezer until it was ready to be used, although I'd double check on that, I recall recently reading some conflicting information over freezing food.

[Inga]

Yes I think you can still have dog food delivered as stated above. I too only feed adult food to my large breed puppies. You do not want large puppies to grow to fast causing damage to joints. Another thought would be asking your vet or local grocer to have a better food of your choosing to be delivered there for you.

[angelic00]

Hmmm i will look into alot more places.I know here we have a pet transport service,Well in Edmonton.They pick you up to go to the vets or whatever it may be for pet related stuff.I will also look into them even though with gas prices and me living so far out it may be difficult.But i will certainly explore my options with food delivery more.