Finding the best large breed puppy food is essential to being a great pet parent. Large breed dogs typically weigh between 50-100 pounds when fully grown. Popular large breeds include Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Boxers. These beautiful breeds all require particular nourishment to reach their full potential.
Giant breed dogs like Great Danes, Saint Bernards, and Mastiffs are among the largest canines in the world. Growing well in excess of 100 pounds, their rapid growth requires a large amount of nutrients and calories. Feeding a diet specifically designed for your giant breed puppy offers many long term health and wellness benefits.
Large and giant breed puppies can grow for up to 18 months, commonly reaching physical maturity between 18 and 24 months. The growth period of larger breed dogs takes significantly longer compared to smaller breeds. Between 3 and 6 months of age is typically the period where large breed puppies experience the most accelerated growth.
When a large breed puppy is growing rapidly, bones and joints can be vulnerable to poor development; skeletal disease and deformations are possible. That’s why it’s crucial to ensure your large breed puppy grows at their optimal rate, and has all of the nutrition they need to do so.
Large breed puppies are prone to hip dysplasia, which is caused by either genetics, overfeeding, or excess calcium in the diet. Large breed puppy foods are specifically designed to provide the perfect balance of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D for proper growth. Additionally, correct ratios of calcium to phosphorus helps regulate hormones during key growth and development stages. Vitamin D helps to metabolize both of these essential minerals.
All-life-stage dog foods are becoming increasingly popular alternatives to large breed-specific puppy formulas, however it is important to check with the manufacturer to determine whether it has been sufficiently tested and approved for large breed puppies. In most cases, high quality large breed puppy foods remain the best and safest option for large and giant breed puppies.
What are the best large breed puppy foods in Canada?
The best quality large breed puppy diets have carefully calculated the precise number of calories, vitamins, amino acids, digestive enzymes, dietary fiber, and more. Overfeeding can lead to an overweight pup, putting a great deal of strain on developing bones and joints. On the other hand, underfeeding can quickly lead to malnutrition, which may result in deformation and misaligned skeletal growth.
The most appropriate large breed puppy foods have a caloric density of approximately 3200 to 4100 calories per kilogram. Be sure to carefully follow individual feeding guidelines, as every brand is different. These guidelines may be subject to modification, depending on metabolism, activity levels, other sources of food, and more, so don’t be afraid to make adjustments if necessary.
Keep in mind, feeding guidelines between brands may vary considerably; certain foods are more calorically dense than others, meaning you don’t need to feed as much to meet your pup’s individual nutritional needs.
For best results, divide your puppy’s daily calorie intake into 3 or 4 portions, feeding at regular intervals throughout the day. Free-feeding is not recommended for many large and giant breed dogs as overeating can lead to developmental problems, digestive issues, obesity, and more.
In order to ensure your puppy is growing at their optimal pace, consider weighing your dog every 1-2 weeks. Tracking your puppy’s weight gain will tell you a lot about their overall health, and will help you to determine the correct portions to feed.
The Top 10 Large Breed Puppy Foods
Instinct Raw Boost Large Breed Puppy
From $4.75 per pound ⚬ 485 calories per cup
Made in the USA, this grain-free, human-grade kibble adds a nutritional boost with the addition of wholesome freeze dried raw bites. These bites are nutritional powerhouses, providing an excellent source of protein, probiotics, digestive enzymes, omega fatty acids, antioxidants, and more. Cage-free chicken is the first and primary ingredient, and it also includes menhaden fish, lamb, and chicken organs.
While Instinct Raw Boost is one of the more expensive large breed puppy formulas on the market, it is also among the highest quality thanks to the inclusion of nutrient dense freeze dried raw bites.
FirstMate Grain Friendly Large Breed Puppy Dog Food
From $2.35 per pound ⚬ 510 calories per cup
This Canadian made recipe is the second most affordable large breed puppy food to make our list. This kibble is made with wild caught herring, anchovy and sardines. It also contains free range, grass fed lamb with no added hormones, or antibiotics. It is packed with protein, as well as fruits like blueberries, cranberries and raspberries. This delicious recipe contains wholesome, digestible grains. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids help to promote healthy skin and a soft, shiny coat.
FirstMate Grain Friendly Large Breed Dog Food is free of corn, wheat, soy, potato, and peas. It contains 75% protein from meat and 25% protein from wholesome grains. This kibble is slowly oven baked at low temperatures, making it more like a dehydrated raw food then your average kibble. This cooking process helps to enhance the natural flavours and preserves important nutrients that are lost during high temperature cooking.
Now Fresh Grain Free Large Breed Puppy Food
From $3.68 per pound ⚬ 379 calories per cup
Made by the Fraser Valley of British Columbia, Petcurean is well known for their high quality, human-grade pet foods.
Now Fresh Grain Free Large Breed Puppy Food starts with fresh turkey, salmon, and duck, providing excellent sources of protein. Additionally, Now Fresh includes fresh Omega 3 & 6 oils from coconut and canola oil. This nutrient-dense large breed puppy food is free from grains, gluten, wheat, chicken, beef, corn, and also soy.
Now Fresh Large Breed Puppy Food combines the highest quality meats with nutritious wholefoods, like sweet potato, peas, blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, papaya, broccoli, spinach, and much more.
To naturally promote optimal hip and joint health, Now Fresh Large Breed Puppy adds New Zealand green mussels. This formulation is also rich in prebiotics and probiotics, dietary fibre, and digestive enzymes.
Acana Grain Free Large Breed Puppy Food
From $3.40per pound ⚬ 405 calories per cup
Your large breed puppy has unique nutritional needs. This is why Acana Large Breed Puppy Dog Food is made with 70% fresh meat; to promote muscle development. This formula also limits carbohydrates and excess calories, which can cause stress on developing bones and joints. This biologically appropriate dog food is made using fresh, human grade ingredients. This includes delicious free-run chicken, farm fresh eggs, and also fresh caught fish.
Acana collaborates with a specially curated group of leading farmers, ranchers and fisheries that they have had relationships with for decades. Their strong network enables them to source only the best, including lamb from New Zealand, fish from Scandinavia and many premium ingredients from our neighbours. No matter what, every ingredient used is selected for its nutritional value, digestibility and superior flavour.
Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy Food
From $1.93 per pound ⚬ 342 calories per cup
Based out of Meta, Missouri, Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy is the most affordable option on this list. While this formula isn’t as calorie-dense as the other large breed puppy diets, it still comes in at a respectable 3650 calories per kilogram.
This is a great choice for large breed puppies with common food allergies. Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy recipe is free from chicken proteins, and instead uses lamb and fish.
To provide lasting energy, Diamond includes healthy grains like whole grain brown rice, pearled barley, and sorghum. Plant-based ingredients like kale, quinoa, chia seeds, pumpkin, blueberries, and spinach provide rich sources of antioxidants, probiotics, DHA, essential fatty acids, dietary fibre, and more.
Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy food is not only an ideal choice for dogs with common food allergies, it is also the most wallet-friendly super premium large breed puppy food on the market.
Fromm Heartland Gold Large Breed Puppy
From $3.42 per pound ⚬ 389 calories per cup
Made in their family-owned facility in Wisconsin, USA, Fromm Heartland Gold Large Breed Puppy is another ideal option for dogs with poultry allergies.
This grain-free recipe is poultry free, choosing to focus on gourmet red meats like beef, pork, and lamb. Fromm boosts the nutritional profile of their large breed puppy diet with the inclusion of peas, lentils, chickpeas, carrots, sweet potatoes, and celery, making this a well-rounded choice for optimal health and wellness. Probiotics are added for improved digestive health, too.
Oven Baked Tradition Chicken Large Breed Puppy Food
From $3.56 per pound ⚬ 427 calories per cup
This recipe is made from fresh, deboned chicken as the #1 ingredient and also incorporates fresh fruits and vegetables like apples, bananas, blueberries, broccoli, pumpkin, cranberry and more. This kibble is oven baked slowly at a low temperature, making it more like a dehydrated raw than actual kibble. This means its packed with flavours and nutrients that are sometimes lost in the normal cooking process.
Oven Baked Tradition Puppy Large Breed Chicken Dog Food is packed with fiber and probiotics to keep the digestive system strong, has glucosamine and chondroitin for hip and joint health (important for large breed dogs), and is great for keeping the skin healthy and coat soft and shiny. This large breed puppy formula is not just super delicious but is made without corn, wheat or soy or anything artificial or with preservatives. Made by a proudly owned Canadian company.
Taste Of The Wild High Prairie Puppy Food
From $2.83 per pound ⚬ 364 calories per cup
Although not specifically marketed for large breed puppies, Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy food has a calcium to phosphorus ratio of 1.4:10 which meets AAFCO recommendations for large breed puppies.
Made by Missouri-based Diamond Pet Food, Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy food contains everything a large breed puppy needs to thrive. Due to the unique proteins used in this formulation, it is one of the most popular large breed puppy foods on the market.
For this grain-free formula, it all starts with wholesome pasture-raised water buffalo and delicious lamb. Other unique meats include roasted bison, roasted venison, beef, and ocean fish. Sweet potatoes, peas, salmon oil, tomatoes, blueberries, and raspberries are among the wholesome complimentary ingredients that make Taste of the Wild such a popular brand among dog owners.
Aside from being loaded with nutrition, DHA, antioxidants, and more, this recipe uses a proprietary strain of probiotics proven to be most biologically suited to canines.
NutriSource Chicken and Rice Large Breed Puppy Food
From $3.13 per pound ⚬ 400 calories per cup
NutriSource Chicken and Rice Large Breed Puppy Dog Food provides super premium nutrition in a scientifically formulated easy-to-digest food designed for puppies of breeds that will mature at more than 70 lbs. This recipe contains higher levels of protein and fat needed by large breed puppies to help them grow big, strong and healthy.
NutriSource Chicken and Rice Large Breed Puppy Dog Food is formulated to provide proper nutrition for balanced muscular and skeletal growth in large and giant breeds. NutriSource Chicken and Rice Large Breed Puppy Dog Food contains specially adjusted levels of calcium and phosphorus matched with balanced protein, fat, carbohydrates, and calories to supply large breed puppies the nutrition to grow and develop to fullest potential. This recipe combines chicken meal, chicken, rice, and other carefully selected ingredients to promote balanced growth and optimum health for for your big pup. Readily available nutrients in chicken meal, chicken, and rice go to work on the inside, resulting in less waste. NutriSource Chicken and Rice Large Breed Puppy Dog Food also supplies complete and balanced nutrition for gestating and lactating females. This grain-inclusive meal has added prebiotics and probiotics for a healthy gut and also includes L-Carnitine, taurine, choline chloride and DL Methionine supplementation to promote heart health.
1st Choice Medium & Large Breed Puppy Food
From $2.42 per pound ⚬ 510 calories per cup
Made in Canada by a family owned company, 1st Choice Medium & Large Breed Puppy food is designed to meet the unique nutritional needs of large breed puppies upon weaning. 1st Choice focuses on optimal bone development, immune support, joint health, and more.
This grain friendly recipe features chicken, oat groats, rice, barley, and whole flaxseed.
Coming in at a whopping 510 calories per cup, 1st Choice Medium & Large Breed Puppy food is the most calorie-dense food on this list.
When is it time to switch a large breed puppy to an adult food?
Large breed puppies have a longer growth curve than their smaller canine counterparts, and therefore should remain on a growth-appropriate puppy diet for longer.
Depending on the breed, it is wise to keep your large breed puppy on a large breed puppy diet until they are approximately 18 months of age, while giant breeds can benefit from a large breed diet until upwards of 24 months of age.
When it comes to large and giant breed puppies, providing optimal nutrition and controlling growth are two of the most important considerations. By feeding your large breed puppy a quality diet specifically designed to support their unique nutritional needs, you can ensure they will be living their best life for the present and for the future.
40 Responses
Hi Brandon! Very informative page and so much great research done by you! I came to this post through your ‘Top 23 dog foods in Canada’ page. I have a 4 mo BRT male pup who will mature around 130lb. He is currently ~40lb and on mixture of 2/3 cup Acana Large breed puppy and 1/3 cup First Mate large breed all stages twice a day. My vet advised to stay away from grain free, (and there’s so many conflicting reports about grain free!!) and also the “all life stages” foods so I’ve purchased Horizon’s Complete large breed puppy food to try. I notice Horizon made your top 23 but not the top 10 for large breed puppies. I am curious about your opinion on the Complete line. I’m from Sask as well, so love that it’s so local, reasonably priced, contains grains and also probiotics. Finding a high quality large breed puppy food with grains that isn’t going to break the bank is very hard.
Hello,
I have a Irishdoodle puppy who is expected to be 59-60 lbs. I currently feed firstmate large breed for all life stages (purple bag). Just wondering if this gives the appropriate balance required or if you can suggest a better alternative. Also considering Acana classics Red Meat
Hello, Kin. Thank you for your post.
All FirstMate products are nutritionally balanced, so there should be no concern about this product not providing the nutrition your puppy requires providing you are feeding the correct amount in accordance with their feeding guidelines. Acana Classics Red Meat is also another fantastic product that is worthy of consideration. To get the best of both worlds, you can consider rotating between these two products. I hope this is helpful! To learn more about my highest rated dog foods in Canada, please check out my Top 23 Canadian Made Dog Foods 2023 Rankings.
hello Brandon,
I’m not sure if you are still checking this, but thanks for this article. I currently have an 11mo old 41kg/91lbs Dogo Argentino. I am planning to change her diet from chicken based to either fish or beef based but having difficulty finding a brand that does not include ‘meal‘ in the top five of their ingredients. Any suggestions? TIA. Chris.
Hello, Chris.
Thank you for your comment and for sharing your plans to change your Dogo Argentino’s diet. I appreciate your concern about finding a brand that does not include ‘meal’ in the top five ingredients. It’s important to understand what chicken meal actually is and why it should not be feared as an ingredient in dog food.
Chicken meal is a concentrated and highly digestible protein source commonly used in pet foods. It is created by removing the water content from chicken meat through a process known as rendering. During rendering, the chicken is cooked and ground into a fine powder, which is then dried to form chicken meal. The resulting product is rich in protein and contains a lower moisture content compared to fresh chicken.
Contrary to what some people may think, chicken meal is not a low-quality ingredient. In fact, it can be a valuable component of a balanced and nutritious dog food. Here are a few reasons why chicken meal should not be feared:
Protein content: Chicken meal is a highly concentrated protein source, which is essential for your dog’s muscle development, maintenance, and overall health.
Nutrient density: Due to the moisture removal process, chicken meal is nutrient-dense, providing a higher concentration of essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals per serving compared to fresh chicken.
Ingredient transparency: Chicken meal is made from chicken meat, and reputable pet food manufacturers are required to specify the source of the meal (e.g., chicken meal, turkey meal) on the ingredient list. This allows you to have a clearer understanding of what your dog is consuming.
When evaluating dog food options, it’s important to focus on the overall quality and balance of the ingredients, rather than fixating solely on the presence of meal in the top five ingredients. Look for brands that prioritize high-quality protein sources, like chicken meal, as well as other wholesome ingredients that provide a balanced and complete nutritional profile for your dog.
If you are still interested in exploring fish or beef-based options, I would recommend seeking brands that use high-quality, responsibly sourced ingredients and have undergone rigorous testing to ensure safety and nutritional value.
I hope this information helps you make an informed decision about your dog’s diet. If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Hi Brandon,
I returned to the article and read the information again in addition to exploring the Dog page on the site.
As I am sure you are aware, there are a myriad of ‘must know’ videos, articles, IGs, YTs, etc out there and it is very difficult to decide which is best for one’s pet.
Your detailed response is very helpful
I’ve narrowed down my choices below, then realized that you already responded. So very helpful and much appreciated!
So I’m considering these and hope to find one at the store.
Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy Food
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Roasted Bison and Roasted Venison Puppy Dog Food
Fromm Grain Free Heartland Large Breed Gold Puppy Dog Food
FirstMate Limited Ingredient Pacific Ocean Fish Meal – Large Breed
Formula
FYI, Cosmo has developed skin allergies and so I thought to change her kibbles from chicken to red meat or fish.
I also have a question about cooked or raw food. What would be the ideal age to incorporate cooked or raw food for my puppy?
Thanks again!
Chris.
Dear Chris,
Thank you for your thoughtful message. As a fellow pet lover, I can definitely appreciate the challenges you’re facing when it comes to selecting the right food for Cosmo. With so many options out there, it can indeed be overwhelming.
You’ve made some excellent choices in your potential selection. The brands you’ve chosen—Diamond Naturals, Taste of the Wild, Fromm, and FirstMate—all offer high-quality, nutritious food options for large breed puppies. I would encourage you to try these and see which one Cosmo prefers and responds well to.
It’s worth noting that while we strive to provide a wide range of high-quality pet food options, we also understand the importance of affordability for our customers. To that end, we offer highly competitive shipping rates, making it easy and cost-effective for you to have your chosen pet food delivered directly to your doorstep. We strive to provide convenience as well as quality.
I greatly appreciate your trust in Canadian Pet Connection for seeking expert pet nutrition advice. As a family-owned business, we rely on the continued support of discerning customers like you. By choosing to shop with us, you contribute significantly to the sustainability of our services, allowing us to maintain the high quality of expertise and advice we offer. When our recommendations are purchased elsewhere, it directly impacts our ability to provide comprehensive assistance. I kindly request your consideration to support us by purchasing our carefully curated products. Please utilize the code SAVE15 at checkout to enjoy a 15% discount as a token of our appreciation for your support. Thank you.
Regarding your question about introducing cooked or raw food to Cosmo’s diet, there is no ideal age per se. This is largely dependent on the individual dog’s needs, breed, and size. When introducing cooked or raw food, it’s essential to ensure you’re feeding appropriate portions and providing a balanced diet. Too much or too little can have negative impacts on health. Remember to monitor Cosmo closely for any changes in behavior or physical condition when you make any changes to the diet.
I hope this information is helpful to you, Chris. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions or need more assistance. We’re here to support you and Cosmo in your pet nutrition journey.
Hi Brandon,
Your response and the 15% discount code you provided are appreciated. By the way, I did purchase the Diamond Naturals from you the first time and am glad to get Cosmo’s second with the discount. I hope that she takes these kibbles without any issues.
I was wondering if there is any discounted auto-delivery offering in the future. If so, please do let me know.
Thanks again!
Chris.
Hi Brandon,
We are getting a puppy who we expect to be somewhere around the 50 lb mark fully grown (Dad is 50 lbs, Mom is 49). From everything I’ve read 50 lb is the transition point from normal puppy food to large breed puppy food. Would appreciate your advice. Are we better to feed large breed puppy and have the dog end up under 50 lbs, or vice-versa? Thanks!
Hello, Chris. Thank you for your post, and you pose an excellent question. In my opinion it will not make a difference in your dog’s overall health if you pick a high quality puppy-specific, large-breed puppy-specific, or all-life-stage food. The key considerations are ensuring you are choosing a high quality brand made by a reputable manufacturer, and are feeding the correct amount based on your dog’s size and activity level.
I hope this is helpful, Chris. Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Pets are natural stress-relievers. Just spending a few minutes with our furry friends can help us feel more relaxed and calm.
Hi Brandon,
I have 6 month old cane corso named Bella. We took her in at 3.5 months from a family member and put her on performatrin prime chicken and rice formula. She has sensitive skin and ended up with yeast in her ear so we changed her to Acana classic red meat recipe. She seems to be doing fine on it, but I am unsure if I am feeding her too much or not. She was weighed this past Monday before getting spayed, and she was 81lbs. We have been feeding her 2 cups 3x a day and plan to start cutting her down to 2x a day. Do you recommend this dog food for her, and should we cut back on the amount of cups given?
She does not sit heavy by any means! Vet is not worried with her weight, but I worry she is growing up faster then she should and the health concerns it could cause later on.
Hello, Ellen. Thank you for your post. I am happy to help.
Acana is among the highest quality brands on the market, so you are doing just fine with that choice. With regards to feeding amount, based on the information provided, a 6-month old dog weighing 81lbs should be fed approximately 4.5 measured cups per day.
I hope this is helpful. Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Hi Brandon. Izzy is a 2 1/2 year female German shepherd who enjoys her hour walks each days and playing in her acre yard. She is a beautiful dog but I worry because I can see her ribs. She weighs about 65lbs. I feed her Acana large breed puppy. I aim for 4 cups a day but sometimes she only eats 3 cups. I kept her on puppy food thinking she needs the calories. I am open to changing her food to fatten her up. Or is she fine? She used to be on purina pro plan puppy large breed. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I can send pics if you want.
Hello, Janet. Thank you for posting your questions.
In cases like this, the first thing we should do is rule out an underlying illness. Has your dog been examined by a veterinarian recently? Have you done any bloodwork? This information will be very helpful.
Assuming your dog is in good general health according to a licensed veterinarian, we should also remember that GDS’s are long and lean breeds; many of them have slender builds with varying degrees of visible ribs. I have a white GSD myself, and had the same thing happen to me, however as my dog aged he began to fill out.
In order for a dog to gain weight and mass, it most often comes down to increasing caloric intake without causing digestive issues. At 2.5 years of age, she doesn’t need a puppy-specific diet, so consider checking out my Top 22 Canadian Made Dog Foods 2022 Rankings.
I hope this information is helpful, Janet. Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Hi there, I have a 6 month old Rottweiler pup who seems to have a chicken and beef allergy/intolerance. He itches all over, gets recurrent ear infections, diarrhea, vomiting and becomes lethargic. He’s been dewormed, bloodwork done, fecal test..the whole work up. I did an elimination diet and he seems to react well to a food I was able to find with lamb and rice. I recently retested the original food by adding a very small amount and after 8 days all his symptoms returned so I would say I found the suspected cause. The food he responds well to however does not have nearly high enough protein (22%) or fat (12%) for a large breed puppy, is there any that you could recommend that would better suit his nutritional needs?
Hello, Amy. Thank you for your post.
Large breed puppies should not have a high fat diet, since this may encourage a dog to grow at expedited rates. As you will notice in this list, all the top large breed puppy foods on the market are formulated to contain moderate-to-high protein, and low-to-moderate levels of fat. This is the ideal ratio for developing large breed puppies.
Most puppy foods on the market will be chicken-based, so to options for a chicken-free large breed puppy food are somewhat limited. Give some consideration to Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy Food, Fromm Heartland Gold Large Breed Puppy, Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Food, among others.
I hope this is helpful, Amy. Please let me know if you have any further questions 🙂
Just wanted to thank you for this article (and all your responses to the questions people asked in the comments area). We have a 15-month Bernese who’s recovering from OCD surgery in her shoulder but who also latey has been having some tummy troubles. We were looking for a different Canadian kibble to try with her so I started doing some research and landed on your article here. Thanks for the super helpful list! It’s given us lots of different avenues to try! :O)
Hi Brandon,
I have a 7 year old lab X who (I believe) has an allergy to chicken. I’m really struggling to find a decent food for large breed seniors that don’t have chicken but are also fully balanced. Any suggestions would be great.
Hello, Jen. Thank you for posting. I am happy to help.
There are plenty of chicken-free large breed dog foods to consider. For your senior pooch, it is simply a matter of feeding the correct amount based on age, weight, and activity level.
Please consider the following foods:
Nature’s Hug Adult Maintenance Large Breed Vegan Dog Food
Oven Baked Tradition Adult Large Breed Lamb Dog Food
Oven Baked Tradition Adult Large Breed Fish Dog Food
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Lamb & Brown Rice Large Breed Dog Food
There are others to consider, too! Please let me know if you have any questions 🙂
I have an almost 6 month old male Gordon Setter who has been diagnosed with Panosteitis. I’ve been feeding him Purina Pro Plan large breed puppy within the guidelines so am frustrated this has happened. He’s also started with ear issues so I am suspecting an allergy to the chicken perhaps. Tried to switch him to an all-stages salmon sweet potato grain free food using a very gradual method and it caused digestive issues. I would appreciate any suggestions for foods that will help with the Panosteitis and that will be suitable for a potentially sensitive digestive system.
With thanks.
Hello, Sam. Thank you for reaching out.
Panosteitis, or growing pains in dogs is something that affects younger, developing canines, and usually corrects itself once a dog reaches a point of maturity. Aside from pain management though anti-inflammatory supplements, like a joint and mobility supplement, this is something your dog will outgrow the condition – it is simply a matter of time. While the dog food you choose is certainly important for many reasons, it will not be a factor in your dog’s growing pains.
If you are concerned your dog may have some dietary issues, I am happy to help that. This is a conversation that will require a little more depth, so please feel free to email me about this at brandon@canadianpetconnection.ca. I am happy to help!
I see a lot of your recommended foods are grain free but I keep reading grain free is not good for the heart. I have a 9 week old golden retriever. Most blogs on goldens say do not feed grain free as did our vet. I obviously want great health but also a beautiful coat. What would you recommend and why?
Hello, Frank. Thank you for your post.
I can understand the concerns surrounding grain-free diets and canine heart disease. However, to this point, there has not been any conclusive scientific proof to this claim. In fact, BSM Partners’ study has determined that grain-free diets do not increase the chances of dogs developing dilated cardiomyopathy.
Here is a snippet from the study’s findings:
The peer-reviewed article, which appears in Frontiers in Animal Science, includes data that did not indicate a significant increase nationally in DCM incidence over time, from 2000 to 2019, while grain-free pet food store sales grew 500% between 2011 and 2019. Researchers also found no significant correlation between the national DCM incidence rate in relation to the grain-free pet food sales.
To get a better understanding of the situation, please refer to my article Everything You Need to Know About DCM in Dogs.
I hope this is helpful, Frank.
Hi there! I’m wondering if you offer help with adult/senior dogs, I have a 7 year old chihuahua who I rescued, his anxiety is just breaking my heart and I dont know where to turn
Hello, Phillip. Thank yo for posting. I am happy to help.
Please contact me at brandon@canadianpetconnection.com to discuss your dog’s anxiety issues. I will need more information in order to provide a confident recommendation.
Thank you, Phillip. I look forward to hear from you soon.
Hi Brandon, love your posts, very informative. We just got a golden rescue puppy and we started her on Boreal large breed puppy and I didn’t see it in your list ( unfortunately I just found your list). Wondering if you have heard of them and your thoughts? Looking forward to your response. Thanks
Hello, Joel. Thank you for posting.
I am a big fan of Boreal! They are #14 in my Top 22 Canadian Dog Foods 2022 Rankings. Their large breed puppy formulation definitely belongs on this list as well.
Thanks Brandon,
I may try the multiple products and alternate feedings approach. That was one of the thoughts I had when I sent the original query.
I appreciate your interest in my question.
John
Good luck, John! I am here to help if you need anything.
Hello. I have an olde English/American bulldog. 17 weeks. I have him on Canadian Naturals. He’s a fast eater, so we’ve had to get bowls to slow him down. I’m currently giving him 4 cups a day. Is that too much? He’s about 30 lbs now. Also wanting to switch his diet because he’s starting to eat his poop. And heard that it could be that he’s missing something from his diet
Hello, Samantha. Thank you for posting.
In order for me to help you figure out the correct amount to feed your pooch, I need to know which Canadian Naturals formula you are feeding.
With regards to coprophagia (eating poop), my best recommendation is to consider a coprophagia supplement like Brad Pattison Wellness Coprophagia Soft Chews. We have had tremendous success with this product. With that said, dogs can consume poop for a number of reasons, and there may be some experimentation needed to determine the most effective course of action.
I am happy to help you if you have any questions. Thanks, Samantha!
Re. your reply to Christina on January 28th…
Why do you recommend “rotating diets regularly”? How many different diets would you keep in the rotation and how long would you keep your dog on any one diet? Do you discard a diet if your dog seems to be unhappy with it? Do you rotate through different proteins?
Hello, John. Thank you for your post.
There are plenty of ways one can rotate their pets’ diet; there is no one true formula here. Some of my clients rotate their pet’s food with every bag, others may rotate every 10-15 bags, others may purchase multiple products at the same time and alternate feedings. What works for one pet may not work for another, so if you are curious about rotating, start off slow and go from there.
There is no limit on how many different diets you can rotate between, it is simply a matter of trying some new products and evaluating how well your pooch does on them. Get creative, and have fun experimenting with different brands!
I hope this is helpful.
Hello
We have a 12 week old pup. She is a bernedoodle and expected to be around 50 lbs.
We are feeding her what the breeder recommended, Purina Pro Puppy for sensitive stomach. We give her what is recommended on the bag for her age and weight plus extra for training (and whatever the kids sneak her).
However, at our vet visit she told us that our pup was a bit skinny and could eat more. She also recommended switching to a large breed puppy kibble. Specifically she recommended Royal Canine or Hills Science. I am hesitant to change as our breeder recommended being careful with switching diets. Also the breeder told us that this breed often has sensitivity to chicken and peas and to avoid them.
Curious as to what you would recommend? I feel so bad that the vet thinks we are under feeding her!
Hello, Christina. Thank you for your post. I am happy to help.
When it comes to your pup gaining weight, it is simply a matter of feeding a caloric surplus on a high quality diet. Puppies do go through lanky/skinny phases, so that may just be your dog’s natural build at this point in time, however my suggestion would be to switch diets to a healthier alternative to those three brands you mention. I am confident every brand on this list will provide optimal nutrition for your pup.
With regards to switching foods, rotating diets regularly is something I highly recommend. Switching from one food to another, if done correctly, is often a seamless transition. Consider starting with 75% existing food and 25% new food. Over the course of two weeks, slowly increase the new food amount.
I hope this information is helpful, Christina. I am at your service if you have any questions! 🙂
Hi there,
I’m a first time dog owner & only realizing now the importance of feeding a large breed specific food. My pup is currently eating Simply Nourish salmon & sweet potato puppy food after I suspected he was allergic to chicken. His skin issues have seemingly been fixed by this but now I’m concerned that he’s not getting sufficient nutrition. He’s a rescue, so as far as I know he’s a black lab/american bulldog mix, which could mean pitbull since I’m in Ontario & they’re banned. He’s about 40-42lbs at 21 weeks & we’re not really sure how big he’ll get. Is there a specific food you recommend? I assume these are all paid sponsorships so I understand if you’re not able to answer. Thanks in advance!
Hello, Layken. Thank you for your post.
Good news with regards to the pitbull ban as the Ford government is set to end breed-specific legislation (BSL) in Ontario!
With regards to your dog’s diet, what makes you think your dog has a chicken allergy? What symptoms did your dog have? I am happy to help you with any questions you may have. Please contact me at brandon@canadianpetconnection.ca.
I look forward to hearing from you 🙂
I have a 13 week old rottweiler puppy. I am moving him from the puppy food the breeder was using (Hills Sci Diet) to Smack. Will Smack meet his needs or should I be using a puppy specific food?
Hello, Yvette. Thank you for your question.
Providing you are feeding the correct amount as suggested in Smack’s feeding guide, your dog will receive all the nutrition he needs. No supplementation is necessary.