luv_my_brownie

Hi! I was just wondering when is a puppy considered an adult? This question just popped into my head when my dad accidentally bought Brownie adult food. Brownie is about to turn 1 yr. old at Feb. 27th and I'd like to know if he could be fed adult food at that age. Well, thanks for reading this and I hope you can answer my question!

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Julia73

Usually about a year is fine to start feeding adult food but it also depends on personal preferences, I know people that feed the puppy formula until they are a year and a half. Another thing that could make a difference is what breed of dog you own. RA my ACDx I feed puppy food to still because she is such high energy and the extra nutrients in the puppy food is great for her and she is 2 1/2.

Julia

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luv_my_brownie

Well, thanks Julia! I think I'm going to start feeding Brownie adult food when he turns a year since he didn't seem to have problem with it when my dad fed him adult food. Thanks again!!

__________________
Money will buy you a pretty good dog, but it won't buy the wag of his tail.
(\__/)
(='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste Bunny into your
I've been Gobbled Gobbled and Ho Ho Ho'd!

sheplovr

Large breeds usually can back off puppy food unless you buy Large Breed Puppy Brand as I do. One year most dogs can be considered adults. At least mentally they start to act somewhat grown up, lol...

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Julia73

I feed large breed puppy to the chows too it was the vets recomendation. What breed is brownie?

Julia

__________________

Thanks to The Muttlies!!!!
A wagging tail lifts you when life has let you down.



I've been BOO'd and Gobble gobbled! Thanks iwantmypup!Happy Thanksgiving!Now I have been Ho Ho Ho'd, thanks sheplovr!

agilityk9trainer

The rule of thumb is to continue to feed puppy until the growth plates close. That will differ from dog to dog. Larger breeds will have growth plates close later - 18 mths to two years. Smaller breeds about a year. Toy breeds can close as early as 10 months.

I know some take pups off of puppy food earlier. If you don't know for sure, a year is a good general time.

As far as mental and emotional maturity goes, that is also breed/individual dog dependent. Some dogs never "grow up." Shelties mature mentally around two to four years old. Some dogs are mentally adults at a little over a year. Personally, I like "puppy head" to stick around as they don't stay puppies long enough!

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