Best Puppy food?

Shamas mom

Shamas mom

Location
Canada
My daughter has been waiting for weeks, and it's nearly time. July 4/5th is the expected arrival date for the puppy Apollo, a Chesakepe bay/Bernese Mountain dog mix.

I need to decide on a food for him. The breeder is unsure exactly what she's feeding him...she says Puppy chow blended with her vet's food(which she buys without paying much attention)so either Science Diet or Royal Canin most likely?

He turned 8 weeks on June 24th
 
SwampDonkey

SwampDonkey

Are you sure you want to buy a puppy from a breeder who doesn't know what they are feeding their pups? Sounds a bit weird. What else doesn't she pay much attention to? Have they been wormed etc?
He's going to be big I would look at giant breed foods as they modify the bones growth rate. I wouldn't use hills or royal canin as I don't think they are very good foods.
 
Shamas mom

Shamas mom

Location
Canada
They were Vetted on Tuesday. I'm honestly not that worried- She probably does the same thing I do. Buys the bag the vet says to buy, and dumps it in the food bin for storage. The vet knows which exactly which one I need when I need more.

I was thinking along the lines of Wellness Core, I think they have a giant breed variety. I could get him on Vet food here, but I'm not overly thrilled with Science Diet....seems like more filler than I'd like to see in a puppy food
 
Jacqui-S

Jacqui-S

Moderator
Location
Fife, Scotland
I wouldn't give much weight to what vets sell, usually it's a commercial decision what the stock, and vets don't always know much about nutrition (I'm generalizing here of course).
I spent a lot of time looking at All About Dog Food when considering choices. I'm sure it's not totally unbiased but it's a start.
I'm not sure that most of us on here are going to be too great when it comes to comparing brands in the US.
 
snowbunny

snowbunny

Location
Andorra and Spain
Unless there is a reason for a specific prescription diet, then I would never buy food from the vet. They tend to be overpriced and honestly not great brands. I don't subscribe to the often-touted opinion that "vets are trying to rip everyone off", but I a) choose not to buy the brands they sell and b) would source elsewhere even if I did because I know it would be cheaper elsewhere. I'm not getting any extra value buying it direct from my vet. Same with meds - I source and buy from cheaper reputable retailers if it's a long-term requirement.

I can't comment on brands because you will have access to different brands than I do here, but the website @Jacqui-S mentioned is a good start when researching and, as @SwampDonkey says, go for a specific food aimed at giant breed puppies. Not giant breed adults of juniors, and not a generic puppy food. Specifically puppy and giant breed.
 
Ashley

Ashley

Is the breeder not sending the puppy home with any food? Ask to see the bags when you're there. You should continue what breeder is feeding until the puppy settles in then slowly transition. Deciding on a food is really hard these days - information overload. I would stick with a grain inclusive large or giant breed puppy food. I used Fromm Gold Large Breed Puppy for Quinn.
 
Shamas mom

Shamas mom

Location
Canada
The lady I'm getting the puppy from is not a breeder, she's a pet owner. I know her through online, and she's in BC

The puppy will be sent with food, and I will choose something permanent to feed him upon arrival

Originally, she planning a trip to Ontario to visit her sister in July, and was going to bring the mother and the puppy with her, by way of Calgary to drop off another pup.

Then COvid shut everything down so now he is coming by way of westjet.....there's no point driving over here only to be in quarantine for 14days before seeing anyone.

I've checked the address, and it matches photos taken over the last few months. I follow her, the owners of the Male, and his girlfriend on Instagram, and I watch what she posts in discord. Everything squares. I'm just waiting for the vet record I asked for from his first visit
 
Shamas mom

Shamas mom

Location
Canada
To those of you who had misgivings about this transaction:

I pulled out on Friday. The breeder was not forthcoming with the puppy's vet records, and conforming shipping information. On top of that, temperature today is over 30C- not safe for shipping a baby in cargo in my opinion. Additionally, she wanted the money upfront, before he went on the plane, which I felt was unfair with no guarantee of a healthy puppy arriving at my end.

In order for this to work, I needed vet records last week, and a copy of the clean bill of health. These things would let me book his next vaccinations at the appropriate time. Confirmation of shipping date and times, so that we could book time off to pick him up and train. And she needed to contact her vet to find out what food he was on. As she did not fulfill these things for me, I did not buy the puppy.

There will be other puppies, other breeders.
 
Shamas mom

Shamas mom

Location
Canada
My daughter is concerned that she might sue us for pulling out. There wasn't a contract, but the agreement was recorded discord. Then again the message thread shows multiple attempts to get the vet and shipping information before I pulled out. So the most she could get me for is the supposed shipping fees that she hasn't proven she paid. At the time I pulled out I was unaware that a flight was booked. And she's provided no proof that it ever was
 
Ashley

Ashley

I’m glad you pulled out - there have been many cases in Ontario of out of province puppy scams - they take the money in advance and you never hear from them again. I highly doubt she would sue without a contract. At most they could keep your deposit I would think!
 
MrChew

MrChew

I don't think she acted in good faith, so surely you shouldn't be liable for any costs?

I'm glad you've gone with your gut and I'm sure you'll find the right breeder.
 
Emily

Emily

Location
Melbourne, Australia
Shamas mom said:
To those of you who had misgivings about this transaction:

I pulled out on Friday. The breeder was not forthcoming with the puppy's vet records, and conforming shipping information. On top of that, temperature today is over 30C- not safe for shipping a baby in cargo in my opinion. Additionally, she wanted the money upfront, before he went on the plane, which I felt was unfair with no guarantee of a healthy puppy arriving at my end.

In order for this to work, I needed vet records last week, and a copy of the clean bill of health. These things would let me book his next vaccinations at the appropriate time. Confirmation of shipping date and times, so that we could book time off to pick him up and train. And she needed to contact her vet to find out what food he was on. As she did not fulfill these things for me, I did not buy the puppy.

There will be other puppies, other breeders.
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I'm so sorry to hear it didn't work out but good for you for pulling out when it didn't feel right.
 
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