My female Malinois: Size and feeding questions

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Skyyy Icon representing the flag French
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Hi everyone, I’ve got a 9-month-old female Malinois puppy and I have a few questions. I find her very small and light—she weighs between 37 and 40 lbs (about 2 stone 10) and stands about 20 to 22 inches at the withers, though it's hard to be sure as she's so full of energy! She might be perfectly normal, but since I have a very large male, it might be skewing my judgement. She isn’t thin; she has a lovely athletic build and you can’t see her ribs, but in terms of height, she seems a bit small. Also, we’re currently on puppy dry food; she doesn’t seem to hate it, but she isn’t exactly enthusiastic and doesn’t eat much. I feed her morning and evening, and she often doesn't touch her morning bowl but scoffs her dinner, or sometimes the other way round. However, she absolutely loves my male’s adult dry food—she lunges for it and stuffs her mouth, so I have to separate them at meal times. So, I was wondering if her size is "normal" and when I should switch her onto the adult food she loves so much?

Thanks a lot, have a good day!

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3 answers
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    Taki_ktos Icon representing the flag Polish
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    For pets with allergies, it’s really worth choosing food with a clear ingredient list and a specific protein source. We spent ages looking for the right option, and in the end, a high-quality natural brand worked best for us.

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    ProvetoJuniorConseil
    Provetojuniorconseil Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi,

    Females are often smaller in build than males. She is indeed a bit on the light side; she really should be reaching around 3 stone 2 lbs (20kg), but based on your description, she isn't too skinny yet.

    To switch from puppy food to adult food, your dog needs to have finished growing. Dogs need a lot of protein while they’re growing, and adult food tends not to have enough. For a Malinois, she’ll probably reach her adult size between 10 and 18 months. Given her build, it’s probably best to keep her on puppy food for a while longer. You could consider changing her food if you think she’s gone off her current one.

    Either way, if you do change her diet, you must do a transition. This takes about a week: give 1/4 of the new food and 3/4 of the old for two days, then half and half for another two days, and so on until you’re only giving the new food.

    Best wishes,

    Quitterie

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    Maya_abeille Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there, Small-framed female Malinois do exist. At 50cm at the withers, 37.5 lbs (about 2 stone 9) is lean, but it’s nothing to worry about. She’s still young and will fill out. As long as her ribs aren’t sticking out and her hip bones aren't protruding, it’s just her natural build. It’s better for a young dog to be on the slim side than chunky. A photo would help us get a better idea.
    Translated from French

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