Switching Ridgeback to high-protein food

Switching a healthy 5-year-old Ridgeback from a standard adult formula to something with a higher protein load is a reasonable move — but it's worth being precise about why you're doing it, because 'working dog' formulas vary enormously and some are overkill for a dog that's active but not actually pulling sleds or running field trials. Before I point you anywhere, can you tell me a bit more? What's driving the switch — has something changed in his activity level or condition, or is this more about feeling the current food isn't doing enough? And what's he on now?

That context is really helpful — and honestly it makes a lot of sense. Canicross four to five times a week is genuine sustained work, and Royal Canin Large Adult is a perfectly decent maintenance food but it's not built for that kind of output. The protein and fat levels are calibrated for a moderately active dog, not one doing regular endurance exercise. Losing condition and coat lustre are classic signs the food isn't keeping up with the energy demand. One thing I want to check though: how old is he exactly, and is he neutered? Ridgebacks are a breed where you want to be a little careful not to overdo protein if there's any underlying kidney sensitivity — though at five and with a clean vet check, that's unlikely to be a concern.

Perfect — that's a straightforward picture. Healthy, neutered, five years old, genuine athletic demand. My recommendation is Orijen Original dry dog food. It's a biologically appropriate formula with around 38% protein and 18% fat, sourced from multiple fresh and raw animal proteins — poultry, fish, and egg. It's nutritionally dense without being padded with unnecessary carbohydrates, which is exactly what you want for a dog doing sustained aerobic work. The fat content will help with coat condition fairly quickly — most owners notice that within three to four weeks of a proper transition. At 38kg doing the mileage he's doing, you'd likely be feeding around 320–350g per day, which is less than it sounds because the caloric density is much higher than Royal Canin. It's available in 2kg, 6kg, and 11.4kg bags on Amazon UK — the 11.4kg works out considerably cheaper per kilo and stores well in an airtight bin. One firm rule: transition over ten to fourteen days minimum, not seven. High-protein, high-fat foods cause digestive upset if you rush the switch, and a Ridgeback gut is not forgiving.

Yes to both. During the transition, watch for loose stools — a small amount of softening is normal in weeks one and two, but if it doesn't settle by week three or he's getting genuinely runny, slow the transition down rather than pushing through. Also keep an eye on water intake going up; that's normal and healthy with higher-protein food. On the run-versus-rest-day question, I'd actually keep portions consistent for the first month while his system adjusts and you get a baseline on his weight. After that, if he's maintaining well, there's no strong reason to vary daily — unlike humans, dogs regulate energy from food quite efficiently across days. If after six weeks he's dropping more weight, nudge portions up by 20–30g rather than switching food again. Weigh him monthly for the first three months. You're making a sensible change for the right reasons — just give it time to show results.

Good call on the large bag. One last practical note — when you open it, give it a sniff. Orijen has a strong, rich smell that some dogs go absolutely wild for and others take a few meals to get used to. If he's hesitant at first, mix a little warm water in during the transition period to release the aroma. Ridgebacks can be contrary about new things on principle. Good luck with the canicross — that's a brilliant thing to be doing with a dog like him.