Large breed dogs are excellent companions and security guards. Whatever the role your dog needs to fulfil, its nutritional intake determines whether it can function optimally. This is why you need to buy food products which support your dog’s specific breed as well as its age’s requirements. Below we’ll discuss the best large breed dog foods.
Buying guide
When considering dog food you need to know what the outcome is of certain ingredients. Many manufacturers prey on dog owners’ who aren’t informed in this regard.
What you don’t need
For your dog’s optimum health you need to search for dog food which doesn’t contain any of the following dangerous ingredients:
- Wheat
- Meat by products
- Gluten
- Artificial flavoring and coloring
- Fillers
These products are known to cause allergies and they don’t offer your dog any nutritional value. Why do you want to pay for something your dog doesn’t need?
What you want
Natural ingredients are the best options for your dog’s food. When your dog food manufacturer uses natural ingredients there’s a smaller chance of your dog having allergic reactions. You can easily see if the food you pick has a positive impact on your dog. Simply keep an eye out for the following tell tale signs:
- Shiny coat which isn’t itchy
- Sparkling eyes
- High energy levels
- Healthy weight
- Strong teeth and gums that are pink, not white
What you pick now has an effect on the future
Your dog’s puppy years determine its future health. This is because the development of its bones, muscles and other areas has an effect on how much he can cope with in future. This is even more important with large breed dogs, since their joints and muscles carry a lot of weight. This is why you need to pick the correct large breed puppy food. Let’s take a look at a few options.
Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food
Features
This range in Wellness’ product list features most of the characteristics you’re looking for if you want excellent nutrition for your dog. An additional benefit is that these products are available in a puppy formula. Puppies are unique in terms of their nutritional requirements, because they’re still developing.
While going through their developmental phase puppies need enough protein, calcium and other nutrients which allow for optimum bone and muscle growth. Without these nutrients development will be below standard and the puppy could struggle with health defects for the rest of its life.
The best large breed dog foods make sure puppies are given exactly what they need to grow and develop and Wellness does exactly that for each type of dog, whether puppy, full grown or senior. Let’s see what you get in each bag of Wellness dog food.
Pros
- Wellness makes sure there aren’t any grain products inside its dog food. This is perfect to prevent the development of allergies.
- Wellness uses real meat in its dog food. In this product your dog receives the benefits of three types of meat:
- Chicken: Chicken is one of the best protein sources
- Turkey: Real meat provides dog food with authentic tastes and odors so dogs love their food
- Salmon: Salmon is rich in oils and acids which are vital for development & protection inside your dog’s body
- Wellness manufactures its products in the USA which has strict guidelines to ensure your dog receives healthy food options.
- Only natural ingredients are used. Your dog’s Wellness portion is free of:
- Preservatives and by products that can cause allergies
- Artificial flavoring which is bad for your dog’s health and doesn’t afford the same enticement as real meat’s flavor
Cons
- Wellness products are some of the most expensive pet food on the market. Make sure you can afford this brand in the long run so you don’t have to upset your dog’s diet by switching between brands.
Summary
Wellness creates dog food products in line with what dogs’ bodies require to grow and stay healthy. Your dog will love this tasty product which will ensure your puppy grows into a strong adult dog. Keep the price in mind though so you can plan what dog food to use in the long run.
Orijen Large Breed Puppy
Features
Orijen knows natural products are the best source of nutrients for adult dogs and puppies. The company focuses on allowing only healthy ingredients inside their products and with this bag of puppy food you’ll see how serious the manufacturers are about this guideline. There aren’t any unnecessary, ill tasting fillers, so your dogs are guaranteed a healthy and tasty diet.
Inside a bag of Orijen puppy food you’ll find a very large percentage of meat ingredients and a few other natural items that enhance your puppy’s health. This is especially important for large breed puppies because their build creates more pressure on their joints and require their muscles to work harder. What they eat determines whether their bones and muscles become strong enough to handle this pressure.
Pros
- Chicken is used which is an ideal source of protein so puppies’ muscles can develop optimally.
- Fish is added which serves as a source of nutrients that assist the heart, joints and development.
- Prebiotics and probiotics provided by Orijen products help dogs’ digestive systems. Only in a healthy digestive system can the necessary nutrients be absorbed.
- No grain is used in Orijen’s products which creates a smaller chance of allergies flaring up.
- Carbohydrates are kept to a minimum inside this type of food. This restriction is necessary to assist in keeping your dog’s weight under control.
Cons
- Orijen is one of the most expensive dog food brands on the market. You do get the best dog food available, but if your dog is generally healthy, another brand may afford you the same results Orijen offers.
Summary
Orijen is an excellent option for your dog’s meal times since there’s virtually no ingredients which will negatively impact your dog’s health. Unfortunately it’s an extremely pricey product which will make it unaffordable to some dog owners.
Holistic Select Natural Dry Dog Food
Features
Holistic Select turns to lamb for its source of natural nutrients and flavor. Dogs love the taste of real meat, so your large breed dog will most likely love having this brand’s food at mealtimes. No more struggles to get your dog to eat its food.
Holistic also focuses on the design of the food. Different breeds need different types of kibbles, because of differences in teeth, mouths and digestive systems. It’s comforting to know that manufacturers still take the time to look into smaller details that could have an exceptional influence on your dog during meal times.
Pros
- Holistic Select makes sure none of the following unhealthy and allergy causing ingredients form part of its food products:
- Fillers
- Artificial preservatives
- Meat by products
- Wheat
- Gluten
- Artificial flavoring or coloring
- Apart from lamb meat, Holistic Selects adds chicken and fish to this product. These products are excellent sources of:
- Protein
- Amino acids
- The kibbles are slightly bigger than many other dry dog foods. This is ideal for large breed dogs who have bigger mouths. It also assists in healthy teeth and gum development.
- This product is also ideal for giant breeds.
- Natural fibres support your dog’s digestive system so nutrients can be absorbed optimally.
- DHA inside Wellness Select products assist dogs with:
- Brain development
- Eye development
Cons
- This is another dog food which offers excellent nutritional value at a high price. Dogs’ digestive systems don’t react well when you switch their type of food, so make sure this is a viable long-term option before you start feeding your dog this food.
Summary
Holistic Select is an excellent brand of dog food. Because of the brand’s unique focus on areas such as kibble size and your puppy’s brain development, you’re sure to benefit your dog by purchasing this. Other brands may offer even more support in terms of physical development though.
CANIDAE Life Stages Dry Dog Food for Puppies, Adults & Seniors
Features
CANIDAE brings you an easy answer when you need food for dogs at different life stages. The name says it all because dogs of all ages can now be fed from one bag. This approach is beneficial especially when you need to take your budget into consideration.
However, you need to make sure that the promised benefits are really the outcomes in your specific situation. Keep a close eye on your dog’s coat, eyes and energy levels. If any of these aspects deteriorate, your dogs may need food which is designed for their specific age group and breed.
Pros
- CANIDAE offers a range of dog food products, but you can also purchase one product for all the dogs in your home.
- CANIDAE goes to the effort of keeping all corn, wheat and soy ingredients out of your dog’s food. This is beneficial especially for breeds who are prone to allergies.
- Your puppy’s development will benefit from the calcium contained in these kibbles.
- Antioxidants are essential to keep your dog’s health in check. Antioxidants fight off the effects of aging so it’s excellent for senior dogs. In younger dogs it keeps the whole immune system functioning correctly.
- Omega fatty acids are beneficial for many bodily functions. You’ll see their effects in the shininess of your dog’s coat. Among other systems, it will assist your dog’s:
- Cardiovascular system
- Joints
Cons
- If you do purchase a CANIDAE product which isn’t specifically designed for a certain breed or age dog, you run the risk of not providing all necessary nutrients. You need to keep a close eye on your dog and look for the food’s effect before committing to it in the long term.
Summary
Puppies and seniors need certain additional nutrients, especially in breeds susceptible to some health conditions such as heart or liver diseases. Don’t impact their health negatively simply to save some money. Your dog depends on you for the correct nutrients for its development and future health.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Dry Puppy Food
Features
Blue Buffalo Wilderness is a company which aims to offer dogs a meal plan which is in line with what they would eat if they were still out in the wild. This means that a lot of meat and natural herbs and plants make up these food products.
The result of this approach is dog food with natural tastes and odors. This is ideal to make meal times effortless, because your dog will be excited about its next bowl of food. Along with making meal times easy, your dog will also get many nutrients to stimulate growth and no by products which could set off allergies. Let’s look at what else you and your dog will love about Blue Buffalo.
Pros
- Blue Buffalo is manufactured in the USA according to the country’s strict health guidelines.
- Chicken meal is one ingredient. This is an excellent decision since this meal is one of the best protein sources available. This is essential for your puppy’s muscle development.
- Blue Buffalo contains LifeSource Bits. These provide necessary antioxidants to keep your puppy’s immune system in check. This is vital because any disease that breaks out at a young age will interfere with your puppy’s development and cause future problems.
Summary
Your puppy will love the taste and smell of Blue Buffalo dog food & the nutrients it will receive will benefit its whole system.
Conclusion
Wellness CORE is your ideal partner in the process of raising a healthy dog. It offers you excellent nutrients, while not being the most expensive brand on the market. Its nutritional value is worth the expense. Start your large breed dog on a lifelong healthy path today!
