kibbles are generally the same size for puppy or adult, the only difference is when you have a large breed, the kibbles get bigger.
If hes a kc spaniel id have to go with burns, I think it suits them down to the ground, keeps them healthy and trim, full of life but not overly energetic and helps their concentration if your looking to train.

probably i need to weigh him in pets at home to work out how much to feed him in relation to what it says on the bag lol.

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I dont know about lab weights, some people prefer their dogs with a little belly on them others dont - it does depends on what standard of lab you have though, as some show labs can look very big though run for days, id try to keep weight just above minimum for breed standard so as not to stress the joins/bones/organs... Your vet should have some scales you know lol

Thanks, for that!

It's not easy getting access to research papers, but there is a quite well known bit of research which showed that a 25% reduction in overall recommended nutrition resulted in leaner healthier dogs which lived longer.

I know that this does not just look at protein, but on the whole diet, but on that basis alone I would be wary of feeding a high protein/high fat diet or recommending it, as so many people overfeed.

I know that as a result of this research Purina altered the % protein in their foods down.

Details of that research are as follows:

Abstract
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
May 1, 2002, Vol. 220, No. 9, Pages 1315-1320
doi: 10.2460/javma.2002.220.1315

Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs

Richard D. Kealy, PhD Dennis F. Lawler, DVM Joan M. Ballam, MS Sandra L. Mantz, Darryl N. Biery, DVM, DACVR Elizabeth H. Greeley, PhD George Lust, PhD Mariangela Segre, DSc Gail K. Smith, DVM, PhD, DACVS Howard D. Stowe, DVM, PhD
Pet Nutrition Research Department, Nestle Purina Pet Care Co, Checkerboard Square, St Louis, MO 63164. (Kealy, Lawler, Mantz); Statistical Services Department, Nestle Purina Pet Care Co, Checkerboard Square, St Louis, MO 63164. (Ballam); Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104. (Biery, Smith); Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801. (Greeley, Segre); James A. Baker Institute for Animal Health, New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. (Lust); Department of Large Animal Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823. (Stowe)

Objective—To evaluate the effects of 25% diet restriction on life span of dogs and on markers of aging.

Design—Paired feeding study.

Animals—48 Labrador Retrievers.

Procedures—Dogs were paired, and 1 dog in each pair was fed 25% less food than its pair-mate from 8 weeks of age until death. Serum biochemical analyses were performed, body condition was scored, and body composition was measured annually until 12 years of age. Age at onset of chronic disease and median (age when 50% of the dogs were deceased) and maximum (age when 90% of the dogs were deceased) life spans were evaluated.

Results—Compared with control dogs, food-restricted dogs weighed less and had lower body fat content and lower serum triglycerides, triiodothyronine, insulin, and glucose concentrations. Median life span was significantly longer for dogs in which food was restricted. The onset of clinical signs of chronic disease generally was delayed for food-restricted dogs.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggest that 25% restriction in food intake increased median life span and delayed the onset of signs of chronic disease in these dogs. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002;220:1315–1320)

I'm going on a diet then!

Seriously though, I do agree a lot of people overfeed without realising it. A friend of mine has 2 collies and one in particular is like a blinking TANK, I've made more than a few hints that she ought to cut their food down a bit but she still free feeds them. She insists the porky one is about right and the other, who is actually overweight in my eyes, needs to put weight on

Personally I don't follow feeding guidelines, I think one of my dogs would actually be a blimp if I did. I just go on how they are looking, if they are looking a little plump I'll cut the food down for a few days and cut out any fattening treats like pig ears etc.

Our puppy was on Hills large breed puppy when we got him from the breeder so we've kept him on it. At £50 for a 15KG sack its one of the most expensive is it one of the best or are we paying too much when another brand would be better for him?

your paying too much and its actually one of the worst, you should change him and youll see benefits from obedience to less stools to coat improvements

what type of dog is he and how old... if you can manage that amount of money Orijen is top of the range at 46 pounds, both of mine are on it but still there are some better foods than Hills for a lot lot less

(you basically feed them less with orijen so it lasts a similar lenght of time to other kibbles)

He's an 18Wk old lab, Rohan.

I haven't heard of that one. a dog trainer recomended Beta but other posters have said thats not good either?

James Wellbeloved Lamb is probably the best you could buy for him at this age, its a very good adult food too, Id take him off the hills and youll see an improvement immediately. My pup was on Beta and a lot of pups are given it, I changed mine to Burns at 12wks as he was having fits of energy that just would not stop until he exhausted himself, Burns cooled him immediately and improved his attention in training. It does keep dogs lean though, so with a lab id expect youd want a few lbs on him which is why I say JWB
Orijens tip top, so maybe look at it when hes 6-7 + mths? you wont find a better food really apart from a well judged BARF diet..??