I keep seeing messages about people feeding their labs carrots, yogurt, applesauce, etc. and am wondering what I should be feeding my lab puppy? When we had dogs growing up the rule was "no people food", as their kibble supposedly has all the nutrients they need. I also know that some foods are poisonous or just plain bad for dogs. So what should I be feeding? And does he really need any food other than his kibble? Right now I feed Trigger...going on 5 months...Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy Food, and he is doing great. If I should be supplementing him...What should I be adding, and when should I start?

I have read the threads about the great kibble debate, and am happy with his performance (so to speak) on Nutro.

Thanks for any information.

I for one do not believe in supplementing puppies with anything besides their dog food. Doing so, even with carrots, etc, can throw off the balance of the nutrients in the food causing growth problems.

If you want to supplement once the dog is full grown at about 14-18 months, then you can do so. If this was one of my puppies and you started supplementing with anything, you would void your contract.

I keep seeing messages about people feeding their labs carrots, yogurt, applesauce, etc. and am wondering what I should be feeding my lab puppy? It depends on what you're feeding them. We give our pups the above as treats instead of store bought doggy treats, but all the human grade food we give is given in moderation.
If I should be supplementing him...What should I be adding, and when should I start?Before supplementing anything always discuss with your vet first. And when supplementing, take away a small portion of the kibble so not to over do.
If this was one of my puppies and you started supplementing with anything, you would void your contract.On this subject,... yes, follow your breeder's contract, but in some cases the vet's decision over-rules this. (An Opal story.)

Thanks for the info. As I said we never gave our dogs "people food" when I was growing up, so as long as labs don't have any specific diet requirements, he'll just get his food. Thanks again.

No "specific diet requirements" for labs in general. I used to believe just as you did and raised all dogs on solely dog food.

Then I got Tyson... who had some issues from the beginning and let me to this board and lots of research. That research has led me to change the way I feed all my dogs. I do use people food for training and treats- things like boiled chicken, dehydrated liver, etc. All in moderation.

I now partially raw feed two of my dogs for health reasons and it has made a difference. Still, the dogs don't beg since they are never fed off of our plates.

Regardless- for any kibble fed young puppy I would limit the amount of people food being given. Like labby said, you don't want to offset the nutritional parameters of the kibble.

I understand about the allergy and health issues, as one of our dogs had a "sensitive stomach" and he frequently got boiled rice and chicken or hamburger, but otherwise they just got their kibble and treats of course. I think that for Trigger we will stick with the kibble, as he is doing well. I still haven't found a treat that I like so we use his kibble for training too...he doesn't seem to mind. If ain't broke don't fix it, right?

i like to feed my dogs some 'people' food like grapes, strawberries, apple cores, eggs but nothing cooked...they work good as treats too.

ever heard of yummy chummies? salmon snacks drive my dogs crazy.

Grapes can kill your dog. No sh*t.

i like to feed my dogs some 'people' food like grapes, strawberries, apple cores, eggs but nothing cooked...they work good as treats too.

ever heard of yummy chummies? salmon snacks drive my dogs crazy.


um....grapes are a huge no no with dogs..so are raisins...and no apples cores either..apples need to be peeled and cored before fed...there is list someone just posted of all the ppl food dogs can get..please read it and print it..for the sake of your dog.