New to Rotating diets-any advice?

If you get your heart set on a certain type of food, but don't know where to find it, go to the food's website and there is usually a "retailers" link to find out. I buy my Orijen at the local feed and grain store-but there is more variety around here just because my town is crazy about organics, and all natural stuff.
 
I've decided on TOTW due to alot of owners on this website use it and it has a 6 star rating. I figure if I'm going to switch, I may as well by the best. THANKS AGAIN!!!!!:smile2:
 
Well,,,,,darn it, I changed my mind. Decided I didn't want to have to make a special trip to Tractor Supply, so I bought Blue Wilderness!!!:wink2:
 
Lately, I've been considering putting my pups on a rotating diet.

When Sadie was young she had digestive issues for almost a year. Despite testing we never found the cause. All I know is that I put her on a hypo-allergenic vet food (after a LOT of debate) and her problems went away, never to return (Sadie's now 4). I've never felt comfortable with the idea of a rotating diet because of those issues. My thought has been 'If it ain't broken, don't fix it.' I found a good food so I don't really want to switch.

I've been noticing that Toby seems to have a sensitive digestive system. Any variation in his diet causes him to have diarrhea, which seems to resolve quickly. If I give him a treat that he hasn't had in a while (even just pure bites), or a small piece of meet other than chicken, he'll have a runny stool the next day. Only once or twice though, then he goes back to normal once its left his system. Ginny's digestive system is a bit sensitive too, but not to the extent that Toby's is.

Perhaps I should start rotating between flavours/protein sources within the brand I feed (Orijen and Acana)?

Honestly, after Sadie's issues, I completely DREAD the idea of a rotating diet and the possibility of diarrhea. :(

So I'm guessing that I start take a few days to transition to the new protein source at first, with the first couple of bags, then when they're used to them I won't need to transition, just start a new bag?
 
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I started rotating TOTW from day one with chase. I asked for and got 2, 1lb samples of all 4 flavors from TOTW when I decided to try it. The dog's liked it. (Both Chase and my daughters Pom, Bear) I now change flavor every new bag. "Varity is the spice of life".....lol

unny part was my daughters Pom refused to eat his old food after a taste of TOTW.
 
I know it's a late response, but I think when you switch from puppy to adult food (or if you feed right from the start an all stages food) depends on the needs of the particular dog. Keep in mind puppy food typically has more protein, fat, and calories than adult food. That is the big difference between them generally... though with many of the higher quality foods, you lose that difference, as you'll find with many of them, they have just as many calories, and as much protein and fat (if not more) than your average puppy food.
For me, I make the change when my dogs body tells me it needs to be changed, based on body condition. If they are getting plump at 6 months on puppy food, I'll go ahead and switch them to adult, as it's clear they don't need the higher calories of the puppy food. If they are the type who go out and run, run, run, they may stay on puppy food a long time. I have one that is extremely active, and she at just short of 2.5 years old is still on puppy food. She is hard to keep weight on (and no she isn't wormy, nor does she have coccidia or giardia) due to her activity level, and I would figure her metabolism. I have tried switching her over to adult, and she can not hold her weight. It seems to run in this particular line... I've had several from it now who I've kept on puppy food for a long time because they were hard keepers as young dogs. They all eventually come out of it, though I must admit this one is the latest. Most are on adult food by 12-18 months old.
 
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