What to Feed Your Large Breed Puppy

Less is More for Your Big Pup

A major difference between large breed puppy food and regular pup food is the amount of calories. Big fur babies grow much more slowly than smaller sizes and it takes them anywhere from 1.5 to 2 years to reach their full size. If they are fed too many calories, it could cause rapid growth that will be damaging to their skeletal structure and cause dysplasia.

Yummy Big Pup Foods

Fresh dog food such as The Farmer’s Dog, Nom Nom and Ollie Dog Food are our top recommendations. This is because their recipes are fully customizable and can include or exclude any ingredient depending on your dog’s needs.

Fresh dog food subscription brands such as these guarantee freshness, a balanced nutritional profile, and everything is made from human-grade ingredients cooked on low heat to preserve the nutrients.

You also have the breed specific dog foods from trusted commercial brands such as Purina Pro Plan, Royal Canin, Hill’s Science Diet among others that take your big pooch into consideration and tailors the ingredients list.

When to Take to Go Big

Puppies at 8 weeks old can start to eat solid food. This is when you can introduce the large breed puppy food. The reduced calories won’t mean anything if you overfeed your pooch. Schedule feeding sessions every day about 3-4 times a day at the same time

It’s tough to advise the proper amount for your large breed pup because the ideal portion size depends on the breed and the weight of your dog at the time. If you have any questions consult your vet.

So when can you go big and switch your large breed puppy to large breed dog food? Even as an older pup, your large breed may still require large breed dog food. Big canines suffer from hip and elbow dysplasia. This will lead to immobility and pain in their later years.

However, the right food with additional amounts of glucosamine and chondroitin can definitely ease the problem or prevent it altogether! A good time to switch from puppy to adult food would be at the 18-month mark. If you have a bigger large breed pup that borderlines on giant, wait until closer to 2 years.

Wet or Dry?

Dog food is sorted into two main categories – dry and wet dog food. Is there really one that’s better for your pooch? Kibble is dry, the taste is blander but it’s much easier to balance the nutrients during processing. It maintains dental cleanliness but you need to keep lots of water handy.

Wet food is much more delicious and provides adequate moisture. It is more expensive than dry dog food. But for large dogs, wet dog food, which is much richer in protein could cause them to grow too quickly.

A good balance is to combine the two. That way your dog can experience some delicious flavors and have a nutrient packed meal.

Conclusion

The bottom line is, a large breed will need the right amount of calories and nutrition to balance their growth. This will be necessary well into adulthood. Look for additional additives such as glucosamine and chondroitin for joint protection, something that is highly valued in food for large breed puppies.

If you liked reading this article, refer to more puppy food reviews on TreeHousePuppies.