best FOOD for Large Dogs
Updated November 2020
Why Trust MyDogWantsThat?
Here at MDWT, you can trust that you’re getting the best information for your dog, because we’re dog owners ourselves. We carefully assess the best (and worst) dog products on the market, giving you a full breakdown of what’s out there so you as an owner can make informed choices when it comes to your dog.
Why Trust MyDogWantsThat?
Here at MDWT, you can trust that you’re getting the best information for your dog, because we’re dog owners ourselves. We carefully assess the best (and worst) dog products on the market, giving you a full breakdown of what’s out there so you as an owner can make informed choices when it comes to your dog.
- As Good As It Gets
- Best On A Budget
Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Large Breed Bites Dry Dog Food with Grains
Bottom Line
For owners looking for fresh, human-grade dog food, Nomnom offers a subscription-based service for wet and fresh dog food.
Vet-developed food plans that provide your dog’s daily nutritional requirements. , Made from fresh ingredients, the subscription-based dog food is delivered at your doorstep.
A premium commercial dog food made with chicken as the #1 ingredient. It’s specially formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of large breeds and also offers joint support.
Large breeds benefit from this dog food formulated to provide healthy bones and joints and maintain good digestive health and immunity.
For large breeds that inhale their food, this dog food kibble is sized to be large enough to encourage chewing and slower eating. With lamb as the main source of protein, it’s ideal for dogs sensitive to proteins.
Pros
Meals are made using fresh ingredients.
Recipes developed by veterinary nutritionists.
Always freshly made.
High protein content.
Fresh food offers additional benefits over commercial kibbles.
Customizable food plans.
Uses human-grade ingredients.
Customizable food plans.
Food isn’t deep-frozen.
Eco-friendly packaging.
Meals are pre-portioned to prevent overeating.
Uses chicken as the fresh meat ingredient.
High in protein.
Additional benefit of joint support.
Most dogs love the flavor.
Affordable price.
Made of high-quality chicken as the main ingredient.
Some owners reported improvements with skin issues.
Affordable.
Gluten-free brown rice formula.
Contains essential amino acids to maintain lean muscle mass.
Improves digestion.
Grain, gluten and poultry-free.
Ideal for dogs with sensitive tummies.
Cons
Expensive.
Some recipes have carbohydrates. Can’t be used for training purposes.
Expensive.
Fresh food can’t be used for training.
Hard to bring fresh food on trips/vacations
Contains soy which might cause allergic reactions.
Quality of ingredients is not as high as other premium products.
Some products were recalled in the past.
Packaging issues reported.
Caramel color is a controversial ingredient.
Change in formula causes itching to some dogs.
- As Good As It Gets
Nom Nom Dog Food
Bottom Line
For owners looking for fresh, human-grade dog food, Nomnom offers a subscription-based service for wet and fresh dog food.
Pros
Meals are made using fresh ingredients.
Recipes developed by veterinary nutritionists.
Always freshly made.
High protein content.
Fresh food offers additional benefits over commercial kibbles.
Customizable food plans.
Cons
Expensive.
Some recipes have carbohydrates. Can’t be used for training purposes.
- Best On A Budget
The Farmer's Dog Food
Bottom Line
Vet-developed food plans that provide your dog’s daily nutritional requirements. , Made from fresh ingredients, the subscription-based dog food is delivered at your doorstep.
Pros
Uses human-grade ingredients.
Customizable food plans.
Food isn’t deep-frozen.
Eco-friendly packaging.
Meals are pre-portioned to prevent overeating.
Cons
Expensive.
Fresh food can’t be used for training.
Hard to bring fresh food on trips/vacations
Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Large Breed Formula Adult Dry Dog Food
Bottom Line
A premium commercial dog food made with chicken as the #1 ingredient. It’s specially formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of large breeds and also offers joint support.
Pros
Uses chicken as the fresh meat ingredient.
High in protein.
Additional benefit of joint support.
Most dogs love the flavor.
Affordable price.
Cons
Contains soy which might cause allergic reactions.
Quality of ingredients is not as high as other premium products.
Iams Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food, Chicken
Bottom Line
Large breeds benefit from this dog food formulated to provide healthy bones and joints and maintain good digestive health and immunity.
Pros
Made of high-quality chicken as the main ingredient.
Some owners reported improvements with skin issues.
Affordable.
Cons
Some products were recalled in the past.
Packaging issues reported.
Caramel color is a controversial ingredient.
Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Large Breed Bites Dry Dog Food with Grains
Bottom Line
For large breeds that inhale their food, this dog food kibble is sized to be large enough to encourage chewing and slower eating. With lamb as the main source of protein, it’s ideal for dogs sensitive to proteins.
Pros
Gluten-free brown rice formula.
Contains essential amino acids to maintain lean muscle mass.
Improves digestion.
Grain, gluten and poultry-free.
Ideal for dogs with sensitive tummies.
Cons
Change in formula causes itching to some dogs.
How We Decided
Because we in MDWT want to provide reliable reviews and recommendations, we made sure to research dog food reviews. We also had our team of doggy experts weigh in their opinion on the best dog food for large breeds.
23
Models Considered
8
Hours Researched
1
Experts Interviewed
5
Consumer Consulted
Buying Guide For The Dog Food for Large Dogs
Generally speaking, all dog breeds have pretty much the same minimum nutritional requirements, especially as adults. However, beyond these minimum nutritional requirements, there are important dietary needs that different breeds have.
Large breeds are prone to bone and joint issues at the latter stage of their lives given their size and mass. That’s why it’s important to give your large buddy the right kind of food that will support their bodies as they grow and age.
Aside from this, larger breeds are more muscular and thus requiring more protein to feed those muscles. Too little protein will affect the dog’s growth and underdeveloped muscles will affect their mobility and ability to move.
Larger breeds also have lower caloric requirements, ironic considering their size. Large breeds need fewer calories to maintain and control their growth and weight. Larger breeds tend to sleep longer because of their size, and if they eat more, they’ll gain excess weight and be overweight. That’s why owners of large breeds need to monitor their consumption to make sure they don’t overeat.
Fat is another content that should be lower in dog foods for large breeds. The kibble sizes also need to be bigger so that they’ll chew and eat slower.
So while large dogs will do just fine if you feed them dog food for smaller breeds, the more appropriate food provides more health benefits that will keep your dog healthy.
Buying Guide For The Dog Food for Large Dogs
Generally speaking, all dog breeds have pretty much the same minimum nutritional requirements, especially as adults. However, beyond these minimum nutritional requirements, there are important dietary needs that different breeds have.
Large breeds are prone to bone and joint issues at the latter stage of their lives given their size and mass. That’s why it’s important to give your large buddy the right kind of food that will support their bodies as they grow and age.
Aside from this, larger breeds are more muscular and thus requiring more protein to feed those muscles. Too little protein will affect the dog’s growth and underdeveloped muscles will affect their mobility and ability to move.
Larger breeds also have lower caloric requirements, ironic considering their size. Large breeds need fewer calories to maintain and control their growth and weight. Larger breeds tend to sleep longer because of their size, and if they eat more, they’ll gain excess weight and be overweight. That’s why owners of large breeds need to monitor their consumption to make sure they don’t overeat.
Fat is another content that should be lower in dog foods for large breeds. The kibble sizes also need to be bigger so that they’ll chew and eat slower.
So while large dogs will do just fine if you feed them dog food for smaller breeds, the more appropriate food provides more health benefits that will keep your dog healthy.
Key Considerations
Caution
Some dogs have very sensitive stomachs compared to others. So when buying dog food, pick the ones that don’t have ingredients that will upset your dog’s tummy. If you’re not sure, visit your vet to find out.
Dog Food Features
There are a few features that make dog food for large breeds stand out. The most important is lean protein content. As mentioned, large breeds need more protein because they have more muscles than other breeds. Protein sources vary, but other brands offer a more premium source like lamb, salmon, buffalo, and others.
And because of the weight they have to carry, joint and bone health are critical to large dog breeds. That’s why dog food specially formulated for them offers bone and joint support. This added benefit helps your dog maintain good joint health even as they grow older.
Large dog breeds are prone to obesity especially those that aren’t too active. Obesity leads to serious health issues so to avoid this, large breed dog foods need to have low to moderate fat levels.
Another important feature is the kibble size. Dog food for large breeds have large kibbles because this prevents dogs from eating too fast or not chewing their food. This can result in digestive problems so with larger kibbles, your dog can eat slower and encourages chewing.
Expert Tip
Tailor your dog’s diet according to their needs. Large breed puppies grow at a faster rate than other dogs. This would require you to monitor their calorie intake to prevent overeating and overdevelopment.
Dog Food for Large Breeds Prices
Regardless of the size of the dog, the quality of the ingredients used greatly impact dog food prices. Regardless of the size of the dog, the quality of the ingredients greatly impacts dog food prices. If you’re on a budget, it’s recommended to get the best quality dog food you can afford.
Choosing to go cheap will hurt your dog in the long run. Cheap dog food is often of low quality and won’t provide the nutritional requirements of your dog. Furthermore, they may contain ingredients that can be toxic or deadly to your best bud.
Commercial dog food is the most affordable option you can take since raw or fresh food diets are generally more expensive.
Either way, be sure to give your dog the best food you can afford.
Tips
- Be consistent in the portions you serve your dog. Serving suggestions are always part of the dog food labels and following this prevents your dog from eating too much.
- Don’t play with your dog after eating. Physical activity after a meal causes bloating and can be painful and sometimes fatal.
- Always read the dog food labels and check the ingredients used. Avoid any products that list oils and fats as the first four ingredients.
- It’s best to check with your vet if your dog has any food allergies. This will help you determine which foods to avoid.
other products we Considered
Because of the endless choices, we couldn’t possibly put all the best ones on our list. But if you want to consider other options, these products are highly recommended by the MDWT team.
Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free Large Breed Formula. This grain-free product is full of natural ingredients but comes at a wallet-friendly price.
Blue Wilderness High Protein Grain-Free. This all-natural and grain-free dog food provides joint supplements, antioxidants, and probiotics.
FAQ's
Can I feed my large breed dog food for medium breeds?
Generally, this is acceptable since all dogs have the same minimum nutritional requirements. However, it’s still best to give food that’s specifically formulated for their breed and age.
These dog foods offer the nutritional and dietary requirements of your dog’s breed for healthy growth and development.
How can I tell if the dog food is right for my dog?
You can tell by their coat, activity level, and appearance. A shinier coat and healthy skin, higher levels of activity, and fit and healthy appearance are all signs that point to your dog food agreeing with them.
You can also tell by how excited they are for mealtime.
The Team That WOrked on This Review
Nitin Gupta
Chief Content Officer
JJ Resnick
Director of Growth
Erik Adler
Editorial Director