When can Golden Retrievers switch to adult dog food?

Golden Retrievers can switch to adult dog food starting from 12 months old. Puppy dog food contains higher amounts of calcium, fat, and calories, which help with the puppy's development and growth. The particles of puppy food are also much smaller than those of adult food, making it easier for dogs to digest. It is suitable for dogs aged 3 to 12 months. Adult dog food has a higher fiber content, larger particles, and more moisture, and is suitable for dogs one month and older. Feeding adult dogs puppy food can lead to weight gain, insufficient exercise, and an increased risk of heart disease.

When does a dog become an adult?

Usually, dogs enter their adulthood starting at 18 months to 2 years of age. In fact, regardless of the breed, dogs fully mature between 12 to 15 months, when bone growth stops, and that's when they are considered truly adult. Some dogs may mature later, such as Golden Retrievers, which become adults at 21 months. If there are no diseases, dogs usually have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years.

Can puppies eat adult dog food?

No. The nutritional requirements for dogs at different stages of their lives are different because the key development periods for various systems vary. The crucial nutrients needed for these systems also differ. For example, the critical period for the development of the nervous and intellectual systems is during the early nursing stage, and the key nutrients for this development are lipids, phosphorus, immunoglobulins, and lactoferrin. Therefore, it is recommended not to feed puppies adult dog food, as long-term use can lead to indigestion, intestinal disorders, diarrhea, and other symptoms, affecting the puppies' growth and development.

Feeding standards for dog food

There is generally no unified feeding standard because each dog food variety has different sizes and nutritional components. Moreover, feeding requires measurement, often accurate to the gram, making it rather complicated to implement. The simplest and most convenient method is to observe the dog's body fatness, judge the degree of bone prominence in the spine, ribs, and pelvic bones, and adjust the feeding amount based on the dog's thinness or obesity. Puppies are recommended to eat small meals frequently, while adult dogs are recommended to eat twice or three times a day.