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The phrase “you are what you eat” is commonly used amongst us Homo sapiens, but how does that apply to the best dog food for Great Danes? It makes perfect sense that higher-quality food is better, but with so many options available, making the right choice can quickly feel overwhelming.
From kibble to canned food and raw diets, the list of options is just getting started. I also shouldn’t leave out that some owners take full control of the process and choose to go with a home-cooked meal for their Great Danes!
An owner can make any of these options work with enough money, time, effort, and planning. That being said…
The best food choice for most Great Danes will be high-quality kibble. Listed below are several kibble options that meet the strict standards I’ll cover later in this article.
This natural dry food is specially formulated to provide whole-body nutritional support for your large breed dog. It's designed to encourage a strong immune system, optimize energy levels and ensure a healthy skin and coat while promoting whole body health.
I highly recommend using Autoship with Chewy to save yourself an extra 5%!
If you’re looking for details about puppy food for Great Danes, then make sure to take a look at my dedicated article on Great Dany puppy food.
Now unlike most websites that stop here and provide very little detail about how they arrived at these choices – I’m going to cover every last bit of it!
To be fair, there’s no one size fits all answer when it comes to the right dog food. In fact, trying to discuss dog food often ends in the same uproar usually associated with politics and religion.
Rather than trying to provide a cookie-cutter answer, I think the best place to start is by understanding the types of dog food available. By taking a look at the pros and cons of each, we can begin to best understand what the best type of food for you and your dog may be.
I wasn’t kidding when I said that I’m going to cover this in a great level of detail. Below is a table of contents in the event that you want to skip ahead, or if you’d like to watch the YouTube video summary, you can find it below as well.
Table of Contents
Types of Dog Food
Type 1: Kibble
Background
Kibble is the most common type of dog food found in the United States. It can be manufactured in large quantities and has a long shelf life, making it one of the cheapest options.
Walking down a grocery or pet aisle, you will likely see dozens of kibble brands. This count can quickly balloon to hundreds of options when looking at online retailers such as
Kibble is created by mixing together the ingredients and crushing them to create a dough-like compound. The “dough” is then fed into a pressurized machine where it’s cooked and extruded into small bits of kibble.
Pros
- Cheap
- Good shelf life
- Easy to store
- Can be found in many locations
- Wide variety of brands and options to choose from
- Simple portion management
- Formulas available for different stages of life
- Easy to take on the go or travel with
- Simple cleanup after or around mealtime
Cons
- Dry composition requires extra water intake to make up for lost fluids
- Product recalls are common due to contamination and other manufacturing mistakes
- Selecting one can be tough due to a large number of options
- Very little regulation and oversight around food quality
- While not proven, the combination of low-quality nutrients and cereals is suspected to play a factor in bloat
Type 2: Canned
Background
Canned food can almost be considered the wet equivalent of kibble. It’s produced in mass quantities and generally available in a variety of locations and brands.
Canned dog food is created by blending together raw and sometimes frozen meats. These are then ground into small bits and then often supplemented with vitamins, minerals, or grains.
This final mixture is then mixed and cooked before being canned. The cans are sterilized through heating before finally being shipped out for distribution.
Pros
- Increases the dog’s water intake
- Good shelf life
- Can be found in many locations
- Soft consistency good makes it easier to eat for dogs with oral issues
- Stronger smells may make it more appealing to dogs not wanting to eat i.e. elderly, sick, etc…
Cons
- More expensive than kibble
- Lower calorie density than kibble
- Can leave a mess to clean up
- Requires additional dental due diligence to prevent periodontal disease
- Needs to be used quickly or refrigerated after opening
- Not typically used as a standalone diet. Often combined with kibble or supplementary food
Type 3: Semi-Moist
Background
Interestingly, this type of dog food was popularized in the 1960s and 1970s and came in a hamburger-like patty. You may also see it referred to as “soft-moist” food.
As the name entails, semi-moist acts as the happy middle ground to dry kibble and wet canned food. It contains more water than kibble but less than canned (usually in the 60% – 65% range).
They do not require refrigeration and use preservatives to extend their shelf life.
Pros
- Easy to chew for dogs with oral issues
- More appetizing than dry kibble
- Less messy than canned food
- Cheaper than canned food
Cons
- More expensive than kibble
- High sugar and salt content can lead to loose stool for Great Danes
- Requires additional dental due diligence to prevent periodontal disease
- Many contain artificial flavorings and colorings
Type 4: Raw diet (BARF)
Background
The concept behind a raw diet is that your dog eats foods more closely aligned to their ancestral diet. In other words, they primarily eat meat, organs, and bones as the bulk of their diet.
This often also includes a small portion of vegetables and fruits as well.
Contrary to what your own stomach may be telling you right now – this is not why it’s also often called “BARF!
It’s an acronym for “Biologically Appropriate Food” and “Bones and Raw Food”.
Now that we’ve cleared that one up…
A typical raw diet consists of the following:
- 70% muscle meat
- 10% bone
- 5% liver
- 5% other secreting organs
- 10% fruits and vegetables
Note: For more details on a raw diet, please refer to my dedicated article here.
Pros
- Easier weight management
- Many owners report better musculature and healthier coats after switching to a raw diet
- Less poop š (yes, I’m definitely keeping this one in the list!)
- Full control over your dog’s diet
Cons
- Increased risk of exposure to harmful bacteria that could make you and your dog sick
- Requires more diligence to maintain a proper dietary balance
- Switching over may result in periods of diarrhea before the dog’s body adjusts
- Typically more expensive
Type 5: Home-cooked
Background
This option needs no introduction because it’s what most of us do every day š Like a raw diet, you can choose to simply take matters into your own hands and cook food for your dogs.
A common example of this type of meal would be boiled chicken and rice or sweet potatoes. However, the options are virtually unlimited.
Pros
- Full control over your dog’s food
- Cheaper than a raw diet
- Less chance of bacterial exposure due to cooking
- Cooking softens foods which can make them easier to consume for dogs with oral issues
Cons
- Requires more diligence to ensure proper dietary balance
- Additional time spent planning and prepping meals
- More expensive than kibble food
- May lead to more food stealing and begging (you can train them not do this, but that’s also more potential work)
Result: The best type of dog food?
Now that we’ve fully reviewed all of the pros and cons of each type of dog food, we have a sound basis for decision-making. To recap, the available options were:
- Kibble
- Canned
- Semi-moist
- Raw diet (BARF)
- Home-cooked
Rather than try to pick the “best” option, let’s take an elimination approach.
First off – I’d start by immediately eliminating semi-moist foods. Great Danes have notoriously sensitive stomachs, and the amount of sugar, salt, and other additives in semi-moist foods only increases the likelihood of gastric distress.
Next up, I’d remove canned foods from consideration. Their increased cost and lack of caloric density make them hard to argue for.
While there are certainly times when they may be appropriate, they don’t seem like the best long-term option.
Now we’re left with kibble, raw, and home-cooked meal options. This is the point at which I think you have to start considering your own personal situation.
Good questions to ask yourself might include:
- How much time and effort due you have to put towards food preparation?
- Do you have the financial flexibility to spend more on food?
- How old is your Great Dane?
- Does your Great Dane have any other health considerations that should be accounted for?
For the majority of us, the truth is that we probably don’t have the time and money to dedicate to creating a well-balanced raw or home-cooked diet. This does not mean we don’t love our Great Danes and want the best for them!
It’s just an honest assessment of what’s realistic for us to take on. Knowing that your dog’s diet will have one of the largest impacts on its overall health, it’s not something that you should take lightly.
In fact, according to the Merk Veterinary Manual, a European study of home-prepared diets found that 60% of dogs had major nutrient imbalances!
This shows how tough it can be to ensure you’re providing a balanced diet.
Remember – you’re going to be responsible for putting together a healthy meal 2-3 times per day for the rest of your dog’s life! That’s a long time and a lot of preparation and dedication to ensuring that it happens.
There’s no “I ran out of time to make it to the grocery store, so I’ll just swing by a fast food joint on the way home” option available for your dog…
However, if you truly have the time, money, and preparation skills to make a raw or home-cooked diet work, then, by all means, go for it!
I would recommend that you consult with your veterinarian to ensure you’re creating a balanced diet for your pooch š
For those who have the money but may not have the time or desire to prepare a homemade meal, there are also services you can look into that will deliver the food right to you!
Here is a fantastic option to consider:
Pet Plate delivers fresh personalized meals straight to your door that, completely removes the cooking hassle. If this sounds like a good fit for you, make sure to click here to take advantage of their current 40% OFF offer!
Pet Plate is a 100% human-quality dog food subscription service. All of the meals are made with USDA meat, fresh fruits & veggies, and a proprietary supplement blend.
For the rest of us…
A high-quality kibble will be the best choice for the majority of owners to ensure that their Great Dane is consistently eating a balanced diet.
Of course, the keyword to consider is “high-quality”. Let’s dive into exactly what makes for “high-quality” dog food!
What to look for in good dog food (kibble)
There are many things to consider when looking for high-quality kibble.
While I could just give you a list of recommended foods, I think every owner should understand what’s important and use that knowledge for making their own informed decisions. You can click here if you just want to skip straight to the full list.
With that, let’s walk through each item to see how it would impact the overall quality of the food.
Protein Sources
First and foremost, high-quality dog food should have multiple protein sources at the top of its ingredient list. While manufacturers are not required to specify the exact amount of each ingredient, they must order them by weight.
That means that items found first have far more content than those found later on.
Specifically, these protein sources have animal names in them! In other words, chicken, beef, lamb, salmon, etc… are all animals you’d recognize and associate as good protein sources.
If top protein ingredients generally refer to “meat”, then that’s a sign that high-quality protein sources were not used. This is one way that manufacturers are able to disguise the questionable quality of their products.
You may also see references to “meals” when looking at ingredient lists. The key item here is to verify that they tied are tied to a specific animal source e.g. salmon meal. Once again, stay away from references to generic “meat meals”.
Meals are a combination of meat, bone, and skin that has been rendered and dried. Meals are added to increase the overall protein concentration in the kibble without drastically increasing its weight.
While these are less desirable than fresh meat, it’s ok if they’re used as a secondary form of protein when combined with fresh sources. If a meal is listed as the first form of protein, that’s a less desirable indicator.
Try also to avoid kibble, whose protein sources include meat or poultry by-products. Technically, there are “regulated” sources of by-products that would be ok for your dog to consume e.g. organ meats.
However, the risk of unregulated sources such as hooves or hair making it in just doesn’t seem worth the risk when we’ve got so many good options available to pick from.
If the food does contain a by-product, it should not be one of the first found in the ingredient list. Ideally – it will be near the bottom.
Fat Sources
Much like protein, the source of fat in your dog’s kibble is another important factor to consider. Why you might ask?
Well…. just looking at it from a caloric perspective – one gram of protein equates to 4 calories. By comparison, one gram of fat is 9 calories. That’s over twice as many calories from the same amount!
Because these calories from fat can quickly add up, it’s important that they come from quality sources.
Also similar to the protein evaluation, named sources of fat will always be better than generic ones. Chicken fat, duck fat, salmon fat – these would all be great options to come across on the ingredient list. Be wary if it just says “animal fat”.
Which animals you might wonder? To quote one of my favorite commercials growing up:
The world may never know!
Mr. Owl (Tootsie Pop)
Carbohydrate Sources
Not to be left out, the final macronutrient to consider are carbohydrates! While carbs may get a bad rap at times, they are vital to a balanced diet.
Not only do carbs provide energy, but they can also be fantastic sources of vitamins, minerals, and other important micronutrients.
You can expect them to come from a combination of vegetables, fruits, and grains. Like proteins and fats, whole carbohydrate sources are preferred over processed variations.
While you can expect to see some fractional ingredients e.g. tomato pumace or a bran show up, the majority should be wholesome.
Common examples of carbohydrate sources include:
- Peas
- Carrots
- Tomatoes
- Brown rice
- Spinach
- Barley
- Sweet potatoes
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Oats
While grain-free diets have gained popularity for humans over the last few decades, they’re not necessarily something that you should necessarily avoid for your dog.
Grains contain a wealth of nutrients and can help to support healthy hair, skin, bones, and immune system.
In the event that your Great Dane has been diagnosed as having a grain allergy by your veterinarian, then you would absolutely want to stay away from them.
However, this occurs in such a small percentage (<1%) of dogs that it’s not something you should be worried about.
If you do opt to go for grain-free food, you still make sure that it has a balanced nutritional profile.
Labeling
While this may sound obvious, the labeling on dog food can tell you a lot about its potential quality!
For example, have you ever noticed the statement on some foods that says “… is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles”. Good news, this isn’t just marketing jargon!
This means that the kibble has been specifically formulated to meet the minimum requirements established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials.
You should also be able to refer to the section on guaranteed analysis. While this is required to be listed, it can help inform you of the nutrient content.
These are typically formatted to indicate the minimum amount of a given nutrient found in the food. For example, “not less than 26% protein” or “not more than 5% fiber”.
For a more detailed explanation of the guaranteed analysis, you can refer to this article from the AAFCO.
Macronutrient Ratios
As an extension of paying attention to the food’s labeling, you should also consider its macronutrient content. Most importantly, how much fat or protein does the food contain?
These numbers will have a large impact on growth rates. Great Danes already grow extremely fast and do not need any help in this department!
In fact, speeding up their growth as puppies will increase the chances for orthopedic issues such as knuckling over, bowed legs, HOD, and OCD.
This is most important during the puppy phase as this is the time that they will experience the most growth. Most growth-related diseases occur in the 2-7 month timeframe, with the most between months 2-4.
Ideally, look for food with protein under 27% and fat between 12%-20%.
Controlling fat is important because it’s so calorie-dense. Higher levels of fat mean greater overall calories and faster weight gain for your Great Dane.
This extra weight only places more stress on their rapidly growing joints and is not conducive to healthy development.
Micronutrient Ratios
While they may be called micronutrients, these small particles play a big role in the health of your Great Dane! The good news is that you’ll largely have these covered if you selected a kibble containing a wide variety of wholesome carbohydrates.
However, there are two micronutrients that you’ll want to pay close attention to!
To help avoid orthopedic-related issues in younger dogs, the most important ones to pay attention to are calcium and phosphorus.
Because these micronutrients play a large role in the formation of bones, imbalances between them can result in growth issues.
The ideal food for Great Dane puppies will contain between 1% – 1.5% calcium, with the lower end of that range being preferred.
The ideal range for phosphorus is a ratio of the amount of calcium. For each part of phosphorus, you should find that there is 1 – 1.5 times as much calcium.
Since that probably sounds trickly, let’s look at some quick examples.
Calcium | Phosphorus Range |
1% | 0.67% – 1.0% |
1.25% | 0.83% – 1.25% |
1.5% | 1% – 1.5% |
While generic puppy formulas are frowned upon for Great Danes due to their high protein content, certain specially formulated blends do a great job of helping to keep these calcium and phosphorus ratios in check.
Once your Great Dane finishes most of their growing around 18-24 months, you can safely switch them over to adult blends.
If you’re looking for a simple guide on how to best care for a Great Dane, then make sure to take a look at my book The Great Dane Puppy Handbook.
The Great Dane Puppy Handbook takes all of the need-to-know Great Dane info and packages it together into a single, concise resource. Save yourself time, money, and frustration by avoiding the most common mistakes made by Great Dane owners!
Large/Giant Breed Specific Kibble
While selecting a kibble that meets all of the criteria we have discussed so far will go a long way towards ensuring your Great Dane’s health, there’s a shortcut to saving yourself considerable research time.
Ready for the secret…?
Start your search by looking at kibbles specifically formulated for large or giant breeds!
Thankfully, manufacturers have caught on that large and giant breeds have different nutritional requirements for optimal health and, as such, have created specific formulas.
While you can certainly find “regular” kibble that meets the same criteria, this is a good way to save yourself time.
Results: Best Foods for Great Danes
Using the guidelines established above, I researched almost 100 large breed-specific foods founds on
Why
Aside from being extremely competitive on prices, their scheduled auto-shipping really makes things easy.
Leveraging auto-ship also comes with an additional 5% discount, so yet another reason to use it! Better yet, they’ve got a promo running right now that will get you 30% OFF your first auto-ship. Click here to take advantage of these extra savings.
Without further ado, let’s jump in and take a look again that best available kibble options for Great Danes.
Best Food for Great Danes
All of the links below will take you directly to their listing on
- Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken & Brown Rice
- Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult Chicken & Rice
- Health Extension Large Bites Chicken & Brown Rice
- American Journey Large Breed Chicken & Brown Rice
- American Journey Large Breed Salmon & Brown Rice
- Purina ONE SmartBlend Large Breed
While all of these passed the same criteria for selection, I’ll share what we’ve been using for the last several years.
While it’s not the cheapest option on the list, “wellness large breed Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken & Brown Rice” has been our go-to for many years.
In addition to their use of fantastic ingredients, Wellness also has a fantastic reputation in the pet food industry.
In typical Daney fashion, Gus was not amused when it came time to take a photo of her with the latest
This natural dry food is specially formulated to provide whole-body nutritional support for your large breed dog. It's designed to encourage a strong immune system, optimize energy levels and ensure a healthy skin and coat while promoting whole body health.
I highly recommend using Autoship with Chewy to save yourself an extra 5%!
Best Grain-Free Food for Great Danes
While I don’t think grain-free food is necessary for most dogs, I did come across two with adequate nutrient profiles. Keep in mind that grain-free diets have been tied to cases of DCM, so make sure to consult with your veterinarian before making this switch.
In the event that your vet does recommend grain-free food, these are two that I would recommend looking into.
- Simply Nourish Grain-Free Chicken with Peas & Potatoes Recipe Large Breed
- Nature’s Recipe Large Breed Grain-Free Chicken, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin
While good kibble is never cheap, it will undoubtedly save you money in the long run by improving your Great Dane’s health.
Veterinarian visits add up much faster than food bills, and without the pain and heartache of watching your dog’s health suffer.
Note: We all lead busy and stressful lives, and worrying about our Great Danes is just another piece of this puzzle. If you’re looking for a guide to simply walk you through everything that you need to know from A-Z about Great Danes, then you should absolutely look at my ebook “The Great Dane Puppy Handbook“. It’s exactly what you need to feel calm and confident about caring for your dog.
I’m really surprised by this article. In it, you totally gloss over the fact that Danes are genetically prone to Dilated Cardiomyopathy (a heart condition) and that many foods which are grain free or may contain grains but still are heavy in peas or any legumes, potatoes and sweet potatoes have been linked to an ever-increasing number of cases of nutritionally mandated DCM. If the breed is already prone to this condition, feeding brands that are on the FDA’s suspect list (with cases directly attributed to feeding these brands)–typically brands who do minimal ongoing batch testing, virtually NO feeding trials, and have no full-time certified veterinary nutritionists on staff to oversee formulation–is tantamount to asking for trouble. I find it a bit irresponsible on your part.
Hi Mary,
Thanks for bringing up this important topic. In the context of an already 3,000+ word article, trying to cram in a section about DCM would be doing it a disservice. It really deserves its own dedicated page and that’s why it was not covered in detail here.
The two grain-free food brands recommended are not on the FDA list, and were listed as considerations in the event that your veterinarian recommends a grain-free diet. Without skipping the topic entirely, that seems as balanced a recommendation as one can make.
Can you tell me what you feed your Dane? Mine might be having some allergies and he doesnāt love what Iām giving him now. Any help is appreciated!!
What would you recommend to avoid this?
Is canidae all life stages a good dog food for
Danes
This is what I feed mine and 7 other of my dogs as well and they all over it and do well on this food. I feed the multi protein version and they all love this food.
Love your YouTube and blog! I have been feeding my Great Dane “Solid Gold” for a few months now. Check it out, I’m curious about your opinion. Very interesting story behind the food. Sissy McGill is the creator/owner. She is now 86, her danes were the reason for making the food. Anyway, let me know what you think.
Thanks, glad to hear that you’re enjoying it! Which Solid Gold recipe are you feeding your Dane?
I use solid gold (lamb rice and pearled barley) too! but I do mix in raw eggs with shells, raw chicken/bones, and raw meats 3 times a week now that the pups older. But so far its the best food in my personal opinion, no loose stools and I like to think its because of the pre/probiotics that are but into it! so definitely keeps that gut and other than vaccines I never had any knuckling or other issues that would need a vet. š
Hi, love your YouTube and your blog! It’s been very helpful for us. We have a 8 month old Great Dane. We’ve been feeding him Nutri Source Large Breed Adult Chicken and Rice Formula kibble food for few months now. We are giving him his food 4 cups at 7am and 4 cups at 7pm. We don’t give him human food much, we give him maybe twice a week. Lately he is not eating his breakfast, sometimes he eats a little and just not finish it. He wants to play instead. He is also not getting a lot of dog treats. However, he always finish up his dinner. I don’t want to give him all the 8 cups of food at his dinner because i heard that feeding a lot is dangerous for the danes. I’ve been also thinking to changing his food and after that maybe he might eat his breakfast. I saw your recommendations about the kibble food. I am in between the Wellness and Purina.
As you can understand, i am a bit confused and i am open to any kind of advice. Sorry in advance if i made you confused as well š Thank you so much! Have a great dane!
Appreciate the kind words! Being picky around breakfast is common, and as long as it doesn’t go on for too long it’s usually not something to be worried about. This article covers more detail about what to do if they don’t eat a meal -> https://greatdanecare.com/feed-great-dane-puppy/
Hi and Thank you Zach! I was wondering if you had any experience or analysis of Kirkland (Costco) brand food. It looks the Lamb and Rice could be a good large breed fit. Is there any Kirkland kibble you’d recommend?
Kirkland’s Lamb and Rice formula has good macros and decent ingredients, but strangely it doesn’t list the calcium/phosphorus amounts. Their “Signature Adult Formula Chicken, Rice and Vegetable” blend looks like a good option as well if you want to get the food from Costco.
Just looking for a quick clarification… based off of your recommended range for protein and fats, most puppy foods are too high. Would it be better to put a puppy straight onto the adult formula then? Most of the puppy foods I’ve looked at are closer to 27-28% protein.
Correct – that’s what I do!
Are there differences in specific nutrients needed for puppies that are not found in the adult foods?
I’ve been giving my big boy (Augie) and girl (Daisy) Royal Canin Great Dane special. It has large chunks which slows down their eating. They seem to be doing well but I’ve run into a problem where Amazon ships torn/damaged bags. I am going to try Wellness brand via Chewy’s. While any feeding regimen that yields a beautiful dog like Gus can’t be bad, I think that regular exercise and plain old love and attention is equally necessary :}
I started giving my big furkidz the Wellness brand suggested. This was in part because Amazon was damaging the food in shipping (bags torn open, food loose). While I wouldn’t say that Chewy is a lot more careful in shipping (FedEx), at least the bags are not damaged (could be a fundamental issue with Royal Canin packaging). The furkidz like the Wellness food though they have been transitioning, so haven’t been eating it long enough to draw conclusions as yet.
I’ve been giving our big girl/guy this food for right at two months now (transitioned from Royal Canin GD kibble). They definitely like the food and both seem well and energetic except my big guy seems to be having soft stools (he gets pumpkin at nearly every feeding). Our Vet is suspicious of food allergies specific to him so I might transition them back to Royal Canin GD kibble. I much prefer Chewy to Amazon as Chewy have never torn a bag of dog food. Both Royal Canin and Wellness are much more expensive at brick+mortar stores than on-line.
What are your thoughts on Wellness CORE Wholesome Grains Original Recipe High Protein Dry Dog Food for my 4 year old Dane? I saw that it had a high amount of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate for her joints.
Also what are your thoughts on Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Adult Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food and Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Adult Fish & Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog Food?
Could you tell me your thoughts on Victor high energy (red bag) I have a year and half old European Dane I feed her Victor I have only had her for a month. When I got her she was very thin 111 pounds she was on diamond naturals skin and hair I changed her over to Victor she was eating great about 5 to 6 cups in the morning 5 to 6 cups in the evening then she slowed down to around 3 to 4 cups morning 3 to 4 cups evening then she got to where she didn’t eat much in the morning so I mixed 1 or 2 tablespoons of unrefined coconut oil in the morning food which she liked and now won’t eat unless I put it in her evening food to. I also give her salmon chews because she sheds horrible bad. So I was wondering if Victor red bag , 2 to 4 tablespoons unrefined coconut oil and 3 salmon chews ( 100 paws omega and salmon health chews + him personally oil ) are all ok. Thanks
That should say omega and salmon health chews + hemp oil
Hello,
Iām picking up my new Great Dane Puppy in a few weeks and was wondering what your thoughts on feeding her the Wellness Puppy food? Should I only do adult? Also, at 8 weeks how much should I be feeding her?
Thanks
That’s what I do! You can follow the weight-based guidelines on the food packaging, or the general recommendations listed here -> https://greatdanecare.com/feed-great-dane-puppy/
Thank you. I am going to go with Wellness too for my Dane Puppy Banshee.
Hi there! Loving the site and all the recommendations/training tips. I may have picked up almost all the recommended hygiene supplies, ha.
We get our Great Dane Puppy here in a few days and he’ll be 8 weeks. Conveniently, my Pitbull is already on Wellness, but he does the Whitefish & Sweet Potato (Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Dog Food, Whitefish & Sweet Potato) as he has allergies toward Chicken. I checked the ingredient list/percentages to the “Adult Deboned Chicken & Brown Rice” and, as it is the same brand/type, they are pretty similar. I was just curious if you had any thoughts on the Whitefish & Sweet Potato diet versus the Chicken & Rice. I know the fish will help with the coat too as it does with my Pit.
Seems like everything should be fine but I figured I would ask as you didn’t put any other Wellness Floavors on your list.
Thank you!
What is your take on “Wellness Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog Food” vs the Wellness for large breed ? Looking at the ingredient list it appears it fits all the proper amounts and even little lower than the large breed version in calcium. Is there something I am not seeing why this would not be better or why it would not work for a large breed ? thanks !
It’s calcium and phosphorus are a little lower than ideal, and its calories per cup is a bit higher than I like to see.
With a proper kibble (one from your list!) would you still recommend a calcium supplement. My breeder is sent home a long list of supplements, and a food recommendation ( Diamond Hi-Energy Sport- chicken by product is the first ingredient). But I have read that too much calcium can be bad news for growing pups too.
Hi there! Thank you so much for providing such great information. We have an 18 week old female who is roughly 46 lbs. We currently have her on The Farmers Dog food and Nutro Ultra large breed puppy food. What are your thoughts on the Farmers Dog food vs. Pet Plate? Also, since we are mixing fresh food with Kibble how much of each would you feed her?
I was so hoping to see my dogās food on your list. But then got a little worried when it wasnāt. Perhaps if you do any updates you might look into Gentle Giants as they say āspecifically formulated for Great Danes.ā Interesting back story, but I didnāt care about that⦠it was all about the food and proclaimed healthy long life for my Great Dane. https://www.gentlegiantsdogfood.com/
We have been dedicated to Victor Hero Grain Free for all our dogs from pup to senior. It’s not on the FDA list and it’s primarily beef and fish which helps since many dogs have allergies with chicken. All our dogs are healthy and energetic . We rescued a Shepherd diagnosed with cancer. We were told she only had 3 weeks to 3 months to survive. Once on the Victor Hero, she flourished. She was strong enough to be operated on, removing the mass and her mastitis. We celebrated her one year with us a couple months ago and is doing great.
I’ve had all of my dogs on Purina One for years including my Dane. I’ve been told by several vets that Purina One and Hills are the only 2 who do rigorous safety testing on their foods to ensure safety. The FDA does not regulate dog food so that’s why there have been so many recalls and dogs who have died from their food. Purina One never shows up on those lists but some of the more expensive foods do. My dogs love it and my 2 oldest dogs who just passed lived to 13 and 15 minimal health issues throughout their lives (neither were Danes). My Dane is 8 now and in great shape. I recommend Purina One to anyone who wants quality dog food at a reasonable price.
Hi.
My almost 2 yo Dane neutered male has switched to adult food.
We were feeding large breed Holistic Select Lamb and Oatmeal Puppy through out him growing. I havenāt been fully in love with it and heās a picky eater so weāve had to be inventive at times.
Iāve been on the search for a lamb large breed mostly NATURAL/HOLISTIC ingredients almost since Iāve got him and found no luck that had LAMB and not just lamb meal as an ingredient. I would like to keep him on lamb since heās had no dietary issues with it and worried about allergies to chicken, reading several locations and from vet that that could be high on the list for danes if present.
I have since switched him to Fromm Family Large breed chicken because thatās all thatās in the line and I was attracted to the ingredients. Since switching I have noticed him shaking his head a little bit more. No issues with scratching or hair issues or anything visually alarming in ears. They get cleaned 1-2 a week, per vet. I am awaiting an appointment to get checked for ear issues to rule that out as well as ordered a food intolerances test to see for sure but in the mean timeā¦. Do you know of any Large Breed Adult Holistic ingredients with Lamb protein as first ingredient? Itās becoming like a needle in a haystack.
Thanks.
I just got a Great Dane Puppy (now 3 months old) and changed her food from the generic the breeder was using. Another research column I read recommended Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe with Beef for Giant Puppies. I think its grain free also. You recommend the Wellness brand and talk about not using puppy food. The main difference in nutrients I caught between the two is that Blue Buffalo has 32% protein and Wellness has 26%. Do you think I should go through changing my puppy’s diet to change food (again) or do you think the Blue Buffalo is okay and not enough protein to hurt the dog??
Thank you so much for your answer in advance.
Petco now has a large breed Puppy & Adult . It is a chicken & brown rice. Anyone have thoughts on it or feeding it now ?
Thanks
Hello- can you please provide options for canned food? I would like to mix it in with their kibble as Iām having trouble finding a kibble brand that she enjoys for an extended amount of time