Diet of a bulldog?? help???

[nat1204]

Hi, I am getting a bulldog next week and am unsure about his diet? His breeder feeds him boiled egg with pro plan, mince meat with prop plan and pedigree chum with pro plan? Do i have to have to follow this diet because it seems rather expensive and alot of food for one dog 4 times a day!! PLEASE HELP!!

[jules77]

pro plan is a good food, and that seems like a fairly average diet for a puppy, similar to what I am feeding at the moment to be honest - but I tend to feed two meat meals which include dried and fresh food, an egg and two milky meals which include rice pudding or weetabix with goats milk.

Puppies are more or less fed as much as they can eat, and poo a lot as a result!!

You must follow the diet the breeder has fed the puppy on for at least the first few weeks, as you will upset the puppies digestive system, then you can revert to your own choice. The breeder may give you a small bag of pro plan to start you off, but to be honest, if you are worried about the expense at this stage, you should be asking yourself the question of whether or not you can afford the dog - what about initial boosters, and unexpected vet fees?

[jules77]

forgot to say if you change the puppies diet, you must do it gradually replacing a little of the new food with the existing food each day.

[nat1204]

He has had all boosters, he is 11 weeks old. The only thing that bothers me is his diet includes raw mince meat!!

[jules77]

Lots of dogs eat raw meat, mine hate it, and prefer it cooked with vegetables!

[nat1204]

I just presumed that dogs eat dog food, obviously a decent branded dog food!

[jules77]

Dog food is made up of things we eat anyway, you can get dog food with vegetables and pasta, but I prefer to use a complete diet (Hills), and cook fresh meat, with fresh vegetables and pasta to add taste and variety. All my dogs have free range eggs every week, and my puppy will have them daily until he is at least six months old, together with rice pudding and goats milk for his supper, the latter two I feel gives them plenty of 'body', which is sometimes lacking in many young dogs. Everyone has their own ideas, and find what suits them and their dogs, but your breeder sounds like he/she has a sensible diet plan for your puppy, which I would be inclined to stick with, at least for the time being.

Your breeder will probably give you a diet sheet to follow and this will probably indicate for you to reduce the puppys meals to 3 meals a day at 4 months, then down to 2 meals at six months. Some people then opt to give their dog one meal a day leading up to twelve months of age, but I have always split the rations into two meals even for my adult dogs as it avoids digestive problems.

[nat1204]

That sounds good then, im just concered that he'l gain weght very quckly and with him being a brtish bulldog their weght needs to be monitored. thax for your answers

[lankeela]

If you are buying from a responsible breeder, then I cannot for the life of me understand why you would want to question or change the recommended diet - presumably if they are breeding bulldogs (no such thing as 'british' bulldogs) then they are familiar with the nutritional needs of their breed at this age. As they have to grow so quickly in such a short space of time they need all the goodness they can get.

I would not be happy to think that anyone buying one of my puppies was not willing to follow my advice.

[nat1204]

I am following there advice, i just wondered if i can change his diet??