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Part of your dog’s growth is learning how and when to make the switch from puppy to adult-formulated dog food. Such changes aren’t made outright, as your dog’s stomach needs to adjust slowly to a new formula. If done improperly, indigestion can happen. Before we discuss the when and how, it’s important to know the difference between the two.  Puppy vs. dog food  Puppy-formulated dog food has one main difference from adult ones: higher Fat and Protein content, according to American Veterinary Medical Association member Dr. Jennifer Coates.   Dr. Coates goes further to say that the Association of American Feed Control Official’s (AAFCO) minimum required amounts of Protein and Fat are at 22.5% and 8.5% on dry matter basis respectively. While adult dog food has a lower minimum required Protein and Fat content at 18% and 5.5% respectively.   How and when to switch  Starting from their puppy food, introduce a small amount of the adult formula at least twice per day. Then slowly increase the ratio to half before finally feeding them only adult food. If your dog experiences any symptoms of indigestion, return to giving the previous food before repeating the process.  The transition period for new food can take 5 to 7 days on average, according to Dr. Sherry Lynn Sanderson from the University of Georgia.  The rule of thumb is to slowly introduce adult dog food to puppies once they are one year old, according to the Tufts University Veterinary Medical Center. Keep in mind this can vary depending on the breed. Dogs like Labradors may begin at 12 months of age, but bigger breeds like Great Danes and Mastiffs may need as long as 18 months.  In choosing food for your puppy, it’s important to consider the protein source. At this age, your puppies are still growing and need higher quality protein to build muscles and their strength. New Zealand King Salmon is one such source that can give them a great start in life.  One example of puppy food that features a high-quality protein source is Addiction Pet Foods’ Salmon Bleu for Puppies. It has a slightly higher Protein content at 26%, and Fat content at 12%. That way, your growing dogs get more of the needed nutrients in order to grow healthy.   Then once your dogs reach adulthood, you can slowly switch to Salmon Bleu for dogs which gives up to 24% Protein and 13% Fat content. Both Salmon Bleu for puppies and dogs are rich in Omega-3 for radiant coats.   It’s important to take into account the individual preferences of your dog first during this transition period. Once the transition period is complete, they’ll be able to enjoy eating the new food without any problems.   – AddictionPet.com

Just like introducing someone to others for the first time, your dog needs to be comfortable with other people to be socialized properly. Doing so takes time to build trust and can’t be done outright, especially if it’s a new dog or a rescue that hasn’t had much human contact.  Socializing is also a vital part of training your dog. According to Paul Owens, a professional dog trainer, this means you need to have your pets comfortable with you, family, and friends so that they don’t feel stressed. This paves the way for introducing new situations that are safe, positive, and confidence-building.  The act of training your dog is especially important during National Train Your Dog Month in January. This is an initiative started by The Association of Professional Dog Trainers as a public service announcement to help people and pets live a better, happier life together.  Here are 3 tips to help you get started with socializing your dog  1. Start them young If you’re socializing a puppy, up to 3 months of age is the best time for them to be exposed to new experiences. These can include meeting unfamiliar people, things you find in a park, traffic signs, bicycles, and even vehicles.  The earlier you familiarize your puppy with these everyday encounters, the better they can handle being with people and other dogs later on in their lives.   Experiences like being with their mothers and littermates will often be the first of many in getting them to socialize with others. As they grow older, exposure to other pets, household objects, and your friends and family can likely give them a safe environment to start with.  2. Frequent walks Being familiar with your surroundings and the people around you requires repeated exposure. It’s the same with socializing your dogs. Taking frequent walks is the most cited piece of advice for raising your pets, regardless of age.  Start by walking them a distance away from the park or other people where your pet can observe the environment. Slowly as they become more familiar, you can move them closer until they can interact with other people or animals.   Keep in mind that even with this gradual transitioning, dogs will always encounter unfamiliar situations in these walks, be it animals like birds or other dogs. It may be likely that they will bark at strangers, but the point of this exercise is to make them comfortable outside.   When your dog barks often, it’s best to remove them firmly but calmly from the situation to make them relax before you continue walking them.  3. Your attitude matters too While it’s important for your dog to adjust to its environment, you also need to be mindful of how you treat your dogs. Dogs may bark at strangers, other dogs, or even at anything that excites or agitates them. In these cases, forceful or restrictive actions like pulling back their leash will only worsen their reactions.  Remaining calm, confident, but firm will play a long way in getting your pet’s emotions under control. A reassuring tone of voice or command they’re trained to respond to beforehand may help get them to quiet down.   Socialization isn’t something that happens instantly, but something that’s done over a large part of your dog’s life. If done correctly, your dog will be more mature and will most likely be open to new experiences without overreacting too badly.  – Addiction Pet Foods