How old is a dog considered a puppy?

It would seem that only yesterday you brought the puppy home. But after a year he has grown a lot and can be considered an adult dog. True, it all depends on the size of the puppy's breed. Large breed dogs usually reach full physical and emotional development later, by the age of two. However, other dogs may consider them adults much earlier, becoming less tolerant of their puppy behavior. Despite the fact that the puppy still loves to play and play pranks, his needs change with age. Therefore, you need to adjust his diet to help him stay healthy and happy.

When should you switch to adult dog food?

A pet's diet requires a lot of fat, protein, and calories for healthy growth. During the period when the dog becomes an adult and is no longer considered a puppy, different proportions of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals are needed. Adult dogs consume much less energy than puppies, so continued use of the puppy diet can lead to excess weight and stress on the joints.

The best option is to gradually switch to a new feed within 5-7 days. Each day, increase the proportion of the new feed relative to the previous one until it is completely replaced. As a result, he will get used to the new taste and composition and will not experience stomach problems.

Some owners of large breed puppies believe they can switch to adult dog food at an earlier age (for example, when the puppy is 6–8 months old) in order to limit calorie intake. But at this stage, the puppy's body is still growing at a rapid pace. The use of feed with reduced energy value can lead to problems with bone growth.

Adult Dog Food contains the necessary amount of nutrients to keep your pet active and healthy. They taste great and provide the balanced and nutritious nutrition that your pet needs at every stage of its life.

Visit to a veterinarian

This is probably not the first time you visit a veterinarian. The puppy was vaccinated, and he underwent anthelmintic procedures and treatment against lice and ticks. As soon as your pet grows up, you will most likely visit the veterinarian much less frequently (a preventive check-up is recommended once a year), but by 14 months it will need a booster vaccination, which is necessary to protect against diseases such as rabies, parvoviruses, distemper and flu. This examination is the time to take measures to protect the dog from parasites: anthelmintic procedures and treatment from lice are carried out.

It is also worth talking to your veterinarian during this consultation about the changes that are happening to your pet. Ask questions about exercise, toys, treats, and anything else that needs to be changed once the puppy has grown up.

Exercise for a growing dog

Puppies need a lot of physical activity to burn all the extra calories during training and education. For an adult dog, regular physical activity is necessary to keep fit and stay active and strong.

A healthy adult dog needs at least 30 minutes of physical activity twice a day. This can include jogging, swimming, walking, and playing on dog grounds. Organized games with rules (Bring-Bring! Tug-of-war) solve several problems at once: calories are burned your relationship is strengthened, and the dog learns to commands.