All humans may be created equal, but not all puppies grow at equal rates or end up the same size when they’re done growing. If you’ve lost your heart to a large or giant breed puppy, there are many considerations you’ll need to take that the owner of a small dog never will. For one, your puppy may very well grow up to outweigh you so obedience training is a necessity. Large and giant breed puppies are also prone to some developmental bone and muscle problems that smaller pups usually aren’t.
Proper nutrition plays a vital role in making sure large breed puppies grow and develop properly but not too quickly. To help you find the best food for your enormous pup, we’ve rounded up reviews of the 13 best large-breed puppy foods in 2023. Hopefully, you’ll find our thoughts helpful as you choose the right diet for your big baby dog.
A Quick Comparison of Our Winners (2023)
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Purina ProPlan Puppy Large Breed Chicken And Rice
Contains probiotics
High-quality protein
Designed to support joint health
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Best Value
Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy Large Breed
Cost-effective
Real chicken protein
More calcium than our top pick
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Premium Choice
Ollie Baked Beef with Sweet Potatoes
Human quality ingredients
Healthier than other dog food brands
Nutrition tailored to your dog
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Nulo Freestyle Salmon & Turkey Large Breed Puppy Dry Food
Grain-free
High-quality protein sources
Supports joint and digestive health
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Instinct Raw Boost Large Breed Puppy
Grain-free
A mix of kibble and freeze-dried raw pieces
One of the highest protein percentages we reviewed
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The 14 Best Large Breed Puppy Foods
Our pick for the best overall large breed puppy food is the Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy Dry food. Packed with protein from real chicken, this food provides plenty of fuel for your large breed puppy as they grow their big bones and muscles. Purina is one of the most well-known and oldest dog food manufacturers and this food is just one of their many quality offerings.
Protein: 28%
Fat: 13%
Calories: 419 kcal/cup
Top 3 Ingredients: Chicken, rice, corn gluten meal
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This food contains added probiotics to help ensure your pup can easily digest their meal. With glucosamine and fatty acids also included, Purina Pro Plan Large Breed is designed to support your big dog’s joint health, crucial given the strain heavy dogs can put on these areas. Users give this food generally positive reviews although some recent purchasers have noted there seems to have been a formula change that their puppies disliked.
Pros
High-quality protein
Designed to support joint health
Contains probiotics
Cons
Some puppies dislike recent formula change
Our choice for the best large breed puppy food for the money is Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy Large Breed. Made by another well-known manufacturer with 60 years of experience, this is a solid, cost-effective option for feeding your growing puppy. Real chicken is the top ingredient but this food does contain chicken by-products, common for most lower-cost dog foods. Some owners prefer to avoid feeding by-products although they aren’t necessarily less healthy for dogs.
High-quality protein
Designed to support joint health
Contains probiotics
- High-quality protein
- Designed to support joint health
- Contains probiotics
Some puppies dislike recent formula change
- Some puppies dislike recent formula change
Protein: 27%
Fat: 14%
Calories: 373 kcal/cup
Top 3 Ingredients: Chicken, ground corn, chicken by-product meal
This food actually contains a little bit more calcium than our top pick, although it doesn’t pack as many calories per cup. Some users complain that their puppies still seem hungry after eating this food and that lower calorie count could be to blame.
Pros
Cost-effective
Real chicken protein
More calcium than our top pick
Cons
Does contain by-products
Fewer calories per cup
- Ollie Baked Beef with Sweet Potatoes Subscription Service – Premium Choice
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Protein: Min 11%
Fat: Min 9%
Calories: 1804 kcal ME/kg
Top 3 Ingredients: Lamb, butternut squash, lamb liver, kale, rice, chickpeas, cranberries
Ollie’s makes our list at #3 as the best premium choice dog food for large breed puppies. If you’re not familiar with them, Ollie’s makes all-natural, healthy dog food recipes designed to ensure the well-being of your dog. They operate as a meal subscription service, so they are a bit pricier than other brands, but if you’re looking for fresh, raw foods or healthy baked foods like their Baked Beef with Sweet Potatoes recipe, you might want to give them a try.
Cost-effective
Real chicken protein
More calcium than our top pick
- Cost-effective
- Real chicken protein
- More calcium than our top pick
Does contain by-products
Fewer calories per cup
- Does contain by-products
- Fewer calories per cup
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Protein: Min 11%
Fat: Min 9%
Calories: 1804 kcal ME/kg
Top 3 Ingredients: Lamb, butternut squash, lamb liver, kale, rice, chickpeas, cranberries
When it comes to their Baked Beef with Sweet Potatoes recipe, you’ll find it has 26% minimum crude protein, making it an excellent option for large breed pups. And as far as ingredients go, the Baked Beef recipe contains real beef as the first ingredient, sweet potatoes for fiber, oats for omega fatty acids to keep skin and coat looking great, and carrots to support eye health. Add to that Vitamin E, taurine, and fish oil, and you’ve got a pretty great food that will help your dog grow up healthy and strong!
The downside of this recipe is that it contains lentils, and peas and legumes have been tentatively linked to heart disease in dogs, so keep that in mind.
Pros
Healthier than other dog food brands Tons of protein Excellent whole ingredients
Cons
Contains lentils
Pricier than other brands
If you don’t mind paying a little more to feed your large breed puppy, Nulo Freestyle Salmon & Turkey Large Breed Puppy food might be the pick for you. Not only does this food have one of the highest protein percentages on our list, but that protein also comes from the highest quality sources, including wild-caught salmon. This food is also grain-free, a popular choice for some dog owners, although not automatically a healthier one.
Healthier than other dog food brands Tons of protein Excellent whole ingredients
- Healthier than other dog food brands
- Tons of protein
- Excellent whole ingredients
Contains lentils
Pricier than other brands
- Contains lentils
- Pricier than other brands
Protein: 32%
Fat: 14%
Calories: 404 kcal/cup
Top 3 Ingredients: Deboned salmon, turkey meal, red lentils
Also made with both probiotics and fatty acids, this food supports both joint and digestive health. All those premium ingredients don’t come cheap and the cost is the biggest drawback of this food, especially when feeding large puppies with even bigger appetites!
Pros
High-quality protein sources
Grain-free
Supports joint and digestive health
Cons
Expensive
Packed with protein, Instinct Raw Boost will help your large breed puppy build up their adult muscles and develop strong bones at the same time. A mix of dry kibble and freeze-dried raw chicken, this food is also grain-free with no artificial colors or preservatives. Like most food made with whole meats rather than by-products, this food is on the higher end of the price range. With both probiotics and antioxidants, this food gives your pup an immune boost and digestive aid at the same time.
High-quality protein sources
Grain-free
Supports joint and digestive health
- High-quality protein sources
- Grain-free
- Supports joint and digestive health
Expensive
- Expensive
Protein: 5%
Fat: 5%
Calories: 485 kcal/cup
Top 3 Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, peas
This food does have a higher fat content than some others on our list so monitor your puppy’s weight carefully while feeding. Although some owners believe raw food is the most nutritious for their dogs, there are some health and safety concerns involved with feeding it. Freeze-dried raw food is a little less problematic but you should talk to your veterinarian before feeding raw food to learn how to do it safely.
Pros
A mix of kibble and freeze-dried raw pieces
Grain-free
One of the highest protein percentages we reviewed
Cons
Some safety concerns with raw food
Expensive
Higher fat food
Made with two all-natural protein sources, Wellness Large Breed Complete Health also contains an assortment of fruits and vegetables for added nutrition. Made with GMO-free ingredients, this food appeals to dog owners who value a more all-natural diet, free of fillers or artificial preservatives. Wellness has a good balance of protein and fat content, as well as one of the highest calcium percentages on our list.
A mix of kibble and freeze-dried raw pieces
Grain-free
One of the highest protein percentages we reviewed
- A mix of kibble and freeze-dried raw pieces
- Grain-free
- One of the highest protein percentages we reviewed
Some safety concerns with raw food
Expensive
Higher fat food
- Some safety concerns with raw food
- Expensive
- Higher fat food
Protein: 29%
Fat: 13%
Calories: 367 kcal/cup
Top 3 Ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, peas
Some users report that their puppies had a difficult time chewing these kibbles, which are unusual shapes and very hard. Others report their pups disliked the taste of the food. Since this isn’t the cheapest of puppy foods, you may be out some dollars if your pup refuses to eat it.
Pros
GMO-free
High calcium content
All-natural, no fillers or preservatives
Cons
Hard, unusually shaped kibble
Some pups dislike the taste
Also made with non-GMO ingredients, Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Chicken and Brown Rice is less expensive than the Wellness diet, making it a good choice for those who value both a natural diet and their budget. This food is designed to be fed until your puppy is 18 months old, ideal for slow-growing large and giant breeds. Free of artificial colors or flavors, this food prioritizes using real food ingredients that are easy to identify.
GMO-free
High calcium content
All-natural, no fillers or preservatives
- GMO-free
- High calcium content
- All-natural, no fillers or preservatives
Hard, unusually shaped kibble
Some pups dislike the taste
- Hard, unusually shaped kibble
- Some pups dislike the taste
Protein: 26%
Fat: 14%
Calories: 379 kcal/cup
Top 3 Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, whole grain sorghum
A highly-rated choice among users, this brand also has a lot of loyalty with some owners using its products for over 20 years. Some owners do report that their puppies don’t care for the taste of this food and others found it seemed to upset their stomachs.
Pros
Non-GMO ingredients
One of the most cost-effective natural foods
No artificial colors or flavors
Cons
Some pups don’t like the taste
It may not be a good choice for sensitive stomachs
Hill’s Science Diet is one of the brands most often recommended and sold by veterinarians and this puppy food is made of high-quality, natural ingredients. It contains no artificial ingredients or by-products but does contain grains, including wheat and corn. Hill’s prioritizes both safety, quality, and taste, and, based on the overwhelmingly positive reviews of this food, they seem to be doing a good job at all three.
Non-GMO ingredients
One of the most cost-effective natural foods
No artificial colors or flavors
- Non-GMO ingredients
- One of the most cost-effective natural foods
- No artificial colors or flavors
Some pups don’t like the taste
It may not be a good choice for sensitive stomachs
- Some pups don’t like the taste
- It may not be a good choice for sensitive stomachs
Protein: 24%
Fat: 11%
Calories: 394 kcal/cup
Top 3 Ingredients: Chicken meal, whole grain wheat, whole grain oat
We ranked this food lower on our list because it contains less protein and calcium than others. Some users also report this food has a strong, somewhat unpleasant smell. As with some other foods on our list, some puppy owners found that this food upset their dogs’ stomachs, with excessive gas being the most common ailment reported.
Pros
Safety and quality prioritized
Natural ingredients
Often recommended by vets
Cons
Strong smell
Lower protein and calcium content
May cause excess gas
- American Journey Large Breed Puppy Chicken And Sweet Potato
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Protein: 30%
Fat: 12%
Calories: 374 kcal/cup
Top 3 Ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal
Relying on sweet potato, blueberries, and carrots for their nutrient density, American Journey is one of the lower-cost grain-free options on our list. Whole chicken is the main protein source for this food with no by-products used. With antioxidants and fatty acids present, this food helps your large breed puppy’s brain and eyesight develop properly.
Safety and quality prioritized
Natural ingredients
Often recommended by vets
- Safety and quality prioritized
- Natural ingredients
- Often recommended by vets
Strong smell
Lower protein and calcium content
May cause excess gas
- Strong smell
- Lower protein and calcium content
- May cause excess gas
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Protein: 30%
Fat: 12%
Calories: 374 kcal/cup
Top 3 Ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal
Only available from two retailers, this isn’t the most convenient brand of food on our list. Users give the food high marks for quality, even those whose puppies didn’t like the taste! Some users also found the large kibble difficult for young puppies to eat.
Pros
One of the most cost-effective grain-free foods
Uses high-quality ingredients
Cons
Not widely available to buy
Large kibble size
Holistic Select contains plenty of ingredients designed to aid your pup’s digestion, including probiotics, fiber, and digestive enzymes. However, some users still report their dogs having tummy trouble on this food while others rave that this was the only food their sensitive pups could tolerate. With high protein and calcium, this food hits the recommended nutrition requirements for large and giant breeds and offers a high-calorie count per cup.
One of the most cost-effective grain-free foods
Uses high-quality ingredients
- One of the most cost-effective grain-free foods
- Uses high-quality ingredients
Not widely available to buy
Large kibble size
- Not widely available to buy
- Large kibble size
Protein: 25%
Fat: 16%
Calories: 433 kcal/cup
Top 3 Ingredients: Lamb meal, chicken meal, oatmeal
With the increased calorie needs of growing large breed pups, feeding them gets expensive, and more nutrient-dense foods like this one are often preferred. This brand is not the easiest to find so it’s not a good choice for those who value convenience.
Pros
Nutrient-dense
Designed for sensitive stomachs
Cons
Some puppies still don’t tolerate it well
Not widely available
Free of corn, wheat, soy, and any artificial colors or flavors, Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy is manufactured by a family-run company and counts real lamb as its number one protein source. This food is also packed full of superfoods like blueberries, kale, and quinoa offering plenty of natural antioxidants and possibly leading you to wonder if your dog is eating better than you!
Nutrient-dense
Designed for sensitive stomachs
- Nutrient-dense
- Designed for sensitive stomachs
Some puppies still don’t tolerate it well
Not widely available
- Some puppies still don’t tolerate it well
- Not widely available
Protein: 27%
Fat: 15%
Calories: 414 kcal/cup
Top 3 Ingredients: Lamb, lamb meal, whole grain brown rice
While most of the foods on our list include probiotics, this food is the only one that contains a special, dog-specific strain. Some users report this food has a strong smell and unusual texture, while others found their dogs dislike the taste and seemed to prefer a different protein like chicken.
Pros
Made by a family-owned company
High superfood content
No corn, wheat, or soy
Cons
Strong smell and unusual texture
Some puppies don’t like the taste
Royal Canin Large Puppy is designed to be fed until a dog is 15 months old, making it one of the longest-lasting puppy foods on our list, ideal for slow-growing large and giant breeds. This is the only food on our list that doesn’t include added calcium, so if you feed this product your vet may recommend a calcium supplement.
Made by a family-owned company
High superfood content
No corn, wheat, or soy
- Made by a family-owned company
- High superfood content
- No corn, wheat, or soy
Strong smell and unusual texture
Some puppies don’t like the taste
- Strong smell and unusual texture
- Some puppies don’t like the taste
Protein: 28%
Fat: 14%
Calories: 352 kcal/cup
Top 3 Ingredients: Corn, chicken by-product meal, wheat
Royal Canin is known as a premium dog food brand and the price of this product reflects that although unlike the other high-priced foods on our list, this one doesn’t contain a whole meat protein source. The company does prioritize high quality and production standards, however. Most users report their dogs enjoy this food and it’s overall highly rated.
Pros
High-quality production standards
Most dogs enjoy the taste
Can be fed until 15 months
Cons
Expensive
No added calcium
Contains by-products
Purina One SmartBlend is a less-expensive option made by the same company as our best overall choice. With real chicken also the first ingredient, this food is high in protein but does contain wheat, corn, and soy which make it likely to be poorly tolerated by dogs with allergies or food sensitivities. The texture and taste of this food are very desirable to most puppies.
High-quality production standards
Most dogs enjoy the taste
Can be fed until 15 months
- High-quality production standards
- Most dogs enjoy the taste
- Can be fed until 15 months
Expensive
No added calcium
Contains by-products
- Expensive
- No added calcium
- Contains by-products
Protein: 28%
Fat: 13%
Calories: 361 kcal/cup
Top 3 Ingredients: Chicken, rice flour, soybean meal
Made in the USA, Purina One SmartBlend contains no artificial flavors or colors and is free of preservatives. Some repeat buyers of this food have noticed some inconsistencies with quality between bags. Owners of picky eaters report their dogs to have mixed feelings about this food.
Pros
Cost-effective
Unique texture
Real chicken as the protein source
Cons
Contains wheat, corn, soy
Some quality issues
Picky eaters may avoid it
Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy can be fed until your dog is 2 years old, making it a particularly good choice for the slowest growing giant breed puppies. Eukanuba focuses on using nutritional science to make the best dog food they can.
Cost-effective
Unique texture
Real chicken as the protein source
- Cost-effective
- Unique texture
- Real chicken as the protein source
Contains wheat, corn, soy
Some quality issues
Picky eaters may avoid it
- Contains wheat, corn, soy
- Some quality issues
- Picky eaters may avoid it
Protein: 26%
Fat: 14%
Calories: 357 kcal/cup
Top 3 Ingredients: Chicken, chicken by-product meal, corn
While this food uses real chicken as its main protein source, it does contain by-products and grains which some owners don’t like to feed. It’s also priced a little higher than foods with comparable ingredients and nutrition facts. Users found that the kibble tends to be too large for very young puppies to easily chew. Some owners with picky dogs reported good results with this diet.
Pros
Can be fed up to 2 years of age
Real chicken as the protein source
Well tolerated by many picky dogs
Cons
Large kibble
Contains by-products
Can be fed up to 2 years of age
Real chicken as the protein source
Well tolerated by many picky dogs
- Can be fed up to 2 years of age
- Real chicken as the protein source
- Well tolerated by many picky dogs
Large kibble
Contains by-products
- Large kibble
- Contains by-products
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Large Breed Puppy Food
There you have it: Our reviews of the top large breed puppy foods. Now that your head is bursting with new knowledge, how do you narrow down your food choices and pick just the right one? Here are a few points to consider that might help you decide.
Nutrition Comparison
Large-breed puppies should eat food with at least 30% protein and 9% fat on a dry matter basis. To help you compare the different foods on our list, learn how to interpret the dog food labels and how to calculate dry matter correctly. Added calcium is also important to help large and giant breed puppies develop their bones properly. Only one food on our list lacks added calcium so keep the need for potential supplementation in mind if you choose that diet.
Food Sensitivities
Some dog breeds are more prone to allergies and food sensitivities than others. Even puppies of these breeds could show signs and symptoms of these issues. These dogs may do better on grain-free food or one free of common allergens like wheat, soy, and corn. Keep in mind that some common symptoms of food sensitivities, like vomiting and diarrhea, can also be signs of many other puppy health issues. See your vet to rule out other causes before trying to treat them yourself by changing your dog’s diet.
Cost
For most of us, the cost will be a factor in our decision-making. When you’re feeding a growing giant breed of dog, cost becomes even more important. These dogs can consume an enormous amount of food per week and your dog food budget could escalate quickly as your dog grows. Ingredients considered “lower quality” like meat by-products can still produce perfectly nutritious food so don’t assume you’re short-changing your dog’s health if you can only afford our best value choice.
Final Thoughts
As our best overall large breed puppy food, Purina ProPlan Large Breed Chicken and Rice offers high nutritional value at a reasonable price. Our best value choice, Iams ProActive is a convenient, cost-effective food that still brings high-quality protein to the table. Our premium choice of best dog food for large breed puppies. If you’re not familiar with them, Ollie’s makes all-natural, healthy dog food recipes designed to ensure the well-being of your dog.
With so many choices and so much money spent on dog food advertising, it can be hard to cut through it all to reasonably evaluate the options available to you. We hope our reviews of these 14 large-breed puppy foods have been helpful as you hunt down the best choice for you and your future giant dog.
Featured Image Credit: Victoria Antonova, Shutterstock
