Golden Retriever Dog Forums banner

How much to feed with Pro Plan Focus large breed puppy

4K views 23 replies 13 participants last post by  connie sparks 
#1 ·
#2 · (Edited)
How much does your puppy weigh? Have you asked your breeder for some input? You don't want your puppy to lose weight, but slow growth is best. I would absolutely do that, split between two feedings and I'm sure you're doing a couple training sessions every day so he's also getting treats. If he really seems to need more, I would only bump up the tiniest bit. 3/4 cup per meal and see how that goes.

Just keep a very close eye on his condition, as he goes into the next phase of growth, you want him to start looking lanky and leaner rather than round. Post photos here if you want. You can also pop into the vet for a weight check to make yourself feel better, a good vet will always be welcoming of that. Or weigh him yourself on your bathroom scale and track it every couple of days.
 
#3 ·
This might be interesting reading for you:

https://cvgrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/NEW-Slow-Grow-2017.pdf

Target Weights: 12, 16 & 20 weeks



Age Weight

12 wks. 15-16 lbs.

16 wks. 22-23 lbs.

20 wks. 28-30 lbs.



Notice that the charted Target Weights jump several weeks at a time. Between 8 and 12 weeks, the recommended weight gain totals about 6 lbs. This divides to approximately 1-1/2 lbs. per week. Don't let the pup gain it all the first week! The total weight gain in the next eight weeks from 12 to 20 weeks is 14 lbs., or about 1-3/4's lbs. per week.



Of course, there may be minor variations from these charts without upsetting the Plan. But remember that sometimes just a few pounds can represent a large percentage. For example, at the 12 week target weight of 15 lbs., a three pound increase would actually be 20%. So while 3 lbs. may not sound like a lot, 20% would certainly be significant enough to accelerate the growth rate.
 
#4 ·
I found the amount on Pro Plan's Large Breed Puppy bag to be about right and 12 weeks would be 3 months. I adjusted constantly though based on how well I could feel his ribs. Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy food listed way too much on the bag. I would try the 1.25 cups and see how it goes. If it's a new food, be sure to do a very gradual switch.
 
#5 ·
He is at 27 pounds at 13 weeks. He has been getting two cups (plus training bits) split into 3 servings a day. I will drop to a cup a day, and 1/4 training bits and adjust as necessary.

I can easy fill his ribs, and does not appear to be over weight. He was largest of the litter. The Vet expects him to reach 80 pounds. I have been going off the chart link below. His next weigh in is in three weeks for his final shots...

https://pethelpful.com/dogs/-Golden-Retriever-Growth-Sequence-in-the-1st-Year


I like the exercise recommendation in the pdf above. I will have to adapt our free walks by slowing increasing the distance to match the chart, currently at 1/2 mile mark 5 times a week. When Stuart gets older he will be spending a lot of time hiking in mountains and swimming in rivers.
 
#7 · (Edited)
My puppy is 16 weeks old and on the same formula of Pro Plan.

She eats between 3 3/4 and 4 cups of food per day, dependent upon activity level, 1.5 cups AM & 1.5 cups later PM, with the other 3/4-1 cup in between (sometimes, a portion of that is used for training treats).

Vet said she's the first Golden pup he's seen in quite a while to actually be kept at the correct weight; he was very happy with her growth rate & overall condition.

At ten weeks, she was the largest of her litter at 25 lbs; at sixteen weeks, she's 32 lbs, so a bit over a pound gained per week.
 
#10 · (Edited)
Jovi got 3/4 cups 3x a day (PP regular chicken and rice puppy food) when he was younger. This comes out to about 2 and a quarter cups.

At 6 months, he's currently getting 3 cups a day (1-1/2 cup 2x a day). I bumped him up because he seems to need more food.

Actually right now he's getting 4 cups a day (1/2 cup more per meal) because my family is watching him this week (I'm out of town) and he acts like he's starving. He's not sitting in a crate all day though. :)

He weighs 55 pounds and is about 22.5-23" (he's a pinch less than 23"). By the time he's done - he should gain another inch or so + 15-20 more pounds in the next year or two.

My take away comment is that I'd want to see puppies be healthy looking, even while I do think keeping weights down and maintaining a slower growth pattern is important. Dogs who shoot up and are all legs are more likely to develop pano (I think). Likewise, dogs who get pretty heavy too fast - have a lot of weight on those young growing bones. But I do think that sometimes people do not adequately rely on common sense? Will never forget somebody who was very dedicated to the true slow growth routine with her puppy - and that pup looked like a spider monkey. He was all legs and scrawny - dents in his head. He looked underfed.
 
#11 ·
If you look at the chart linked to in the initial post above, at the top it says "Up to 50 pounds". That's the expected full adult weight. So if your vet expects the ultimate adult weight to be 80 lbs. you should be using a different table, which will call for more food. Our soon to be 6 month old puppy eats Pro Plan Focus Large Breed Puppy food. A month or so ago he was eating 1 cup, 3 times a day (total 3 cups) plus some for training treats and he seemed too thin. We upped it to a total of 4 cups and he's still lean. The back of the package has a more extensive table than the one linked to above. The package label indicates the recommended amount for different ages (in months) and for different expected weights at maturity. While there is quite a bit of variation in Goldens, the breed standard calls for males to be between 65 and 75 lbs. at maturity.
 
#12 · (Edited)
Thanks I did not see the up to section. I am right on track... I have a new bag coming in next week, I will take a closer look.

I have a feeling I will be upping my totals later due to his energy level climbing. We are walking (mixed surface at his pace) and playing a lot daily.

Can not wait for spring time when the river warms up. He is already eye balling the river...
 

Attachments

#14 · (Edited)
The bag that you're are feeding has a guideline for that specific formula. It is just a guideline so it can be adjusted a bit based on body condition. Every food and formula will be slightly different as the kcals or cup will vary too. No one chart or a certain amount of food will be set based on size or need of dog. The better food companies will do feed trials and the recommendation on the bad is based on those results.
Again these are averages based on the feed trials so it can be adjusted some, but you should start there and adjust as needed
 
#15 ·
We are feeding Piper about 3 1/2 to 4 cups a day, split into two feedings (morning and evening). She will be 7 months in two days and weighed 46 pounds at the vet about a week ago. I think she looks great. I can feel her ribs, but not see them. She was one of the bigger females in her litter when they went to their forever homes, but now she is trending smaller than the rest. One of her brothers is 62 pounds!!!
 
#19 ·
Lily Robin was the largest puppy in her litter even at 10 weeks. The difference wasn't apparent visually, but once on the scale it was. At one point, she outweighed her next-largest sibling (brother) by 3 lbs.

Now, she's 4 months old (17 weeks on Saturday) and she's now third, with two brothers now outweighing her (which Im actually very relieved about). She's 32 lbs and already so tall I can hardly believe it -- from 25 lbs and 14" tall (at the shoulder) at 11 weeks to 32 lbs and 18.5" at nearly 17 weeks is such a difference! I always forget how fast puppies grow.

Attaching a picture I just took of her because I'm ridiculously proud that she actually has a visible waist! ??
 

Attachments

#21 ·
This is such a great question. I feed my six month old, Bear, Purina Pro Plan Savor for puppies. I don’t find the feeding amounts listed on the bag helpful. He is currently 60 pounds and I can easily feel his ribs (he takes after his dad and grandpa who are both large). When I first took him to the vet, he commented on his large paws saying he was going to be a big boy. I always feed my pups three meals a day until they are six months old (instructions I got from both the breeder and vet.) Bear would get 1.5 cups of food in the morning, noon and night. Now I give him 2 cups in the morning and 2 at night. He gets treats for training during the day. Once he is neutered, I will cut that amount some. Oh, I want to mention that we use a “gobble stopper” in his bowl as he eats too quickly. Not sure if this is a throwback from when he was with his siblings or perhaps it’s because we have a 10-year-old golden. Although Lincoln would never take his food, Bear probably thinks he will if he doesn’t eat it quickly.

I am thinking of changing him to Purina Pro Plan Focus as I think it’s geared to larger breeds. I chose Savor because it has probiotics clearly listed on the bag. Does anyone know if Focus has probiotics too?
 

Attachments

#22 ·
I am thinking of changing him to Purina Pro Plan Focus as I think it’s geared to larger breeds. I chose Savor because it has probiotics clearly listed on the bag. Does anyone know if Focus has probiotics too?
I don't think so but I sprinkle a powdered probiotic on it and feed Greek Yogurt and pumpkin freezer treats.
Here's the Focus Large Breed Adult ingredients list

Chicken, brewers rice, whole grain wheat, corn gluten meal, whole grain corn, poultry by-product meal (source of glucosamine), animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), barley, corn germ meal, fish meal, animal digest, fish oil, wheat bran, dried egg product, calcium phosphate, salt, potassium chloride, potassium citrate, Vitamin E supplement, choline chloride, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), manganese sulfate, niacin, Vitamin A supplement, calcium carbonate, copper sulfate, calcium pantothenate, garlic oil, pyridoxine hydrochloride, Vitamin B-12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, calcium iodate, Vitamin D-3 supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), folic acid, biotin, and sodium selenite
 
#23 ·
Thanks for the info on Focus. You’re right, it doesn’t have probiotics. So, I either continue with Savor and give him glucosamine supplements or give him Focus and give him a probiotic supplement. Why ProPlan can’t make food with everything included is beyond me. It’s not an inexpensive dog food and now I have to spend even more on supplements. Oh well.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top