When to cut back on kibble amount?

[arentspowell]

Our Thor is 10 months old today and he weighs a whopping 85 lbs. Its been so long since we had a puppy that I can't remember when we started to cut Daisy back from 4 cups a day to a smaller amount.

Thor currently eats 4 mounded cups of Pro Plan Sport 30/20 a day (2 in the morning, 2 at night). We switched him off puppy food last month at the recommendation of our breeder. They kept two of his sisters. The girls were approximately 65 lbs last month and were eating 5 to 5 1/2 cups a day. I think if we fed Thor that much, he'd be even bigger than he already is so I kept him at 4.

So do I keep him where he's at or is it time to cut back?

As a side note, I remember Daisy being gangly and slim in the first year and filling out in the second. Thor is built very differently, he's never been gangly. I believe his parents are 85lbs and 90 lbs. Thor is practically already there at 10 months old! Curious as to what will happen in the next year.

Thanks guys!

Here he is for reference:

[Shelley]

I wouldn't change a thing, he looks perfect.

Boys need more calories for longer than the girls, so keep him on the 4 cups a day until he is obviously is getting too much food, (sausage shaped rather than a slight dip in his midline viewed from above), then you can cut down to an adult maintenance portion. I see so many people limit their puppy's intake as they grow, they need the fats for their cognitive development, and the calories and nutrition to grow and mature properly. I assume you are waiting until 18-24 months to neuter? His skeletal growth will benefit from good nutrition now, and he will be a good sized boy if his parents were good sized.

[Annette47]

I go by body condition rather than any sort of timetable. As their growth starts to slow down (will vary for each dog), and I notice them getting chunkier than I like, I cut back. If they have a growth spurt and start getting slimmer than I like then I give more. At 10 months, I would start keeping a closer eye though as his growth may start to slow ... or maybe not.

[arentspowell]

I wouldn't change a thing, he looks perfect.

Boys need more calories for longer than the girls, so keep him on the 4 cups a day until he is obviously is getting too much food, (sausage shaped rather than a slight dip in his midline viewed from above), then you can cut down to an adult maintenance portion. I see so many people limit their puppy's intake as they grow, they need the fats for their cognitive development, and the calories and nutrition to grow and mature properly. I assume you are waiting until 18-24 months to neuter? His skeletal growth will benefit from good nutrition now, and he will be a good sized boy if his parents were good sized.

Thank you! He’s just different than what we’re used to. Our first time with a male too. He’s much more clingy than Daisy was. He’s very confident but is the happiest when he’s right next to us (or on top of us!)

We are waiting to neuter till at least 24 months. My husband is pushing to keep him intact but that is something that would need to be discussed with his breeder. Ideally, he would like to do the canine vasectomy but we haven’t found anyone locally that does this.



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[arentspowell]

I go by body condition rather than any sort of timetable. As their growth starts to slow down (will vary for each dog), and I notice them getting chunkier than I like, I cut back. If they have a growth spurt and start getting slimmer than I like then I give more. At 10 months, I would start keeping a closer eye though as his growth may start to slow ... or maybe not.

His growth has slowed down quite a bit but he is still gaining at a consistent rate. His coat is pretty thick, I can see his waist best when I bathe him.


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[lovemylabby]

I wouldn't change a thing, he looks perfect.

Boys need more calories for longer than the girls, so keep him on the 4 cups a day until he is obviously is getting too much food, (sausage shaped rather than a slight dip in his midline viewed from above), then you can cut down to an adult maintenance portion. I see so many people limit their puppy's intake as they grow, they need the fats for their cognitive development, and the calories and nutrition to grow and mature properly. I assume you are waiting until 18-24 months to neuter? His skeletal growth will benefit from good nutrition now, and he will be a good sized boy if his parents were good sized.

What would you consider an adult maintenance portion for a male? Our puppy is almost 15 months old and he has seemed to slow down with growing.
He weighs about 79 pounds and not neutered. He is eating Pro Plan Adult Sport 26/16 (Chicken formula)

[JenC]

It's been a long time since I had a young male in the house, but for the most part all my dogs each 1 cup per meal 2x a day. They get different food, and some get rounded cups. It allows for cookies and training treats.