Ok so I'm about 90% finished with my puppy buying checklist... Caoihme will be 3 weeks tomorrow, which means 5 weeks until we pick her up!

There are so many different food I want to try and have sent away for samples from various companies like Earthborn, TOTW, Solid Gold, bought THK trial sizes, SOJO and others.

I bought a small bag of Fromm and TOTW High Prairie. (PS it TOTW IS an all stages formula right? I noticed they have a puppy version too?)

My plan is to transition her from Diamond Naturals she is on from the breeder and then have her on a rotational diet, adding in some raw. My question for those of you who do rotate is this: how long do you keep them on one food before you transition to a new one? OR does it not matter as long as they seem to be handling it?

For me, when I was first starting out the pack on a rotating diet, I followed the normal 25-50-75-100% rule. Then for the next food I would do 50-75-100% and spread it out over a couple more days then before. Then I would jump to 50-100% with the next food.

My dogs are not at the point where they can switch from food to food with no problems. I switch every month usually;the longest I have stayed with one flavor is about 3 months.

I have been doing this for close to two years though.

With a puppy, I would probably take it a little slower. However, what I did with Sheba some may not agree with; but I jumped her from food to food without a transition period. She has never had any problems and is my heartiest eater LOL.

You can also get some canned pumpkin to help with the transition process.

All dogs are different, so you will have to just play around and see what works best with your pup .

I figured it'd be mostly trial and error (and poop patrol )lol but I had read that it is easier to get them used to it as pups because their stomachs are not quite as "set in their ways yet" so maybe that's why Sheba did well?

I will definitely take it slower with the transition from breeders food but after that I may just go for it if she does well lol! Thanks Kelsey

Puppies do tend to have more adaptable tummies. A little pumpkin or goats milk can always make it a little smoother too.

I always have pumpkin on hand!

For Karli since I only switch between the different protein sources of the food brand I feed her (I feed blue buffalo wilderness) I just switch her. I usually do two bags of one protein source then switch to the next but this next time, once I finish her duck, she's getting one bag each of the newest protein sources (red bison and red meat, she picked them out, wouldn't leave them alone at the pet store!!)

I tend to always be in a bit of flux with my puppy. Right now he's on a mix of Merrick Lamb & Rice, Merrick Grain Free Buffalo & Sweet potato, TOTW Sierra Mountain, and a wee bit of Nutrisca Lamb & Chickpea. I just ordered Canidae Duck & Turkey grain free. I just combined all the current stuff yesterday into a big mix and will start mixing that with the Canidae when it gets here. Someone suggested always having a couple brands in the mix in case there is a recall. Usually I have two different bins I keep them in, and keep the new stuff 'pure' until its almost out and time to order something new. Once the current mix is gone, I'll just order one new brand/flavor and have a mix of 2. This one was kind of a mess of experimentation... As long as I go slow though, he seems to do okay.

I am finally starting rotation of the same brand different flavor/protein for my whole pack. My girls are good herders and switch real easily. Bourbon has a turkey allergy so I am careful to add in. But what i did was get one small bag of the new and I am doing like Kelsey said and then I plan to eventually switch every big bag to a different flavor. But I do already know based on samples the I have a second Brand that i can transition to if needed ie recall food.
I say it is kind of trial and error cause all my others had/have switch to anything even the furniture it all works for them but it was not as easy to switch Bourbon. (Except the 5 lbs of turkey our previous one at at the inlaws house.).