A Great Dane is certainly one of the biggest breeds of dog you could ever own, so as you’d expect, they’re going to need a good supply of quality food if they’re going to stay in strong and healthy condition.
Obviously, there are many different options on the market for larger breeds, but not all of them live up to the hype.
Fortunately, we have reviewed many of the top brands available, and we’ve picked out several of the best choices you could choose when it comes to feeding your beloved Great Dane. With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at the best options we’ve picked out for you.
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An alternative to the Wellness Complete formula is the Core version, which receives equally outstanding reviews.
The formula is entirely grain-free, making it perfect for dogs with sensitive stomachs or dogs who need to manage their weight, and it uses plenty of premium grade protein such as chicken and turkey to keep your Great Dane interested.
What’s more, it’s free of any meat by-products or artificial preservatives and flavorings, yet benefits from the addition of glucosamine and chondroitin to support healthy joints in your dog.
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The Blue Buffalo brand is a company that virtually every dog owner has heard about, and it’s safe to say that they make some top products that won’t let you down. This version is the Life Protection large breed formula that receives outstanding reviews.
The blend comes with added glucosamine and chondroitin that’s essential for supporting the healthy development of larger breeds, and it’s also nice to know that the formula is made exclusively in the USA.
Additionally, the large breed version comes in a number of flavors, including chicken, fish, and lamb – so it’s relatively straightforward to pick an option that your Great Dane will appreciate and enjoy.
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Holistic Select has two primary options designed for large breeds, one for puppies and one for adult dogs, and they’re both generally solid products that should serve you well. This adult food formula uses larger kibble which your dog is sure to find satisfying, and it uses premium real chicken to give your dog an excellent source of protein, too.
Additionally, there are no cheap meat byproducts used in the food, and it instead relies on all-natural ingredients without any artificial colorings or flavorings. However, there is the addition of prebiotics, natural fibers, probiotics, and digestive enzymes that help to support a healthy digestive system.
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Here’s another interesting option made by Diamond Pet foods, and while it isn’t as popular some of the other varieties presented in this guide, it is still a favorite of many, and well worth a closer look.
The formula contains the all-important glucosamine and chondroitin that benefits a larger dog’s joints, as well as further antioxidants and fatty acids that maintain your dog’s skin and coat.
Additionally, it comes with probiotics and various ‘superfoods’ that’ll help to keep your Great Dane’s digestive system in top shape. Another advantage for sensitive dogs is the fact that it’s entirely free of wheat, soy, and corn.
Of course, this particular version of the product is specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs of a large breed dog, making it highly suitable for a Great Dane.
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This brand of dog food is another large and giant breed formulation, specifically designed for puppies. It uses three different animal proteins to give plenty of protein to the blend, which also goes a long way towards supporting your dog’s muscle tone as well as giving the food a delicious flavor that your Dane will enjoy.
The formula benefits from the addition of further vitamins and minerals, as well as vitamins C which helps to support the immune system of a growing puppy.
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Another top product from the Blue Buffalo lineup is the Wilderness version, which comes with all of the things a bigger breed requires to stay strong and healthy. It’s formulated with extra chondroitin and glucosamine to support the strength and healthy development of your dog’s joints, and it’s made exclusively in the USA to ensure top ingredient quality.
Interestingly, the Wilderness line is inspired by the ‘diet of wolves’, so it offers your dog a tasty blend of protein-rich ingredients, along with no grain or anything that could trigger allergies or stomach upsets.
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Wellness Complete is an excellent choice for virtually any dog, and the large breed version, in particular, is highly regarded. The formula features a larger kibble size that’s more appropriate for a bigger breed like a Great Dane, and it features deboned chicken as the primary protein source which a Great Dane will always enjoy.
All of the ingredients are of reasonably good quality, and there’s added glucosamine and chondroitin that’s always important for maintaining joint strength. What’s more, the formula is made exclusively in the USA for added peace of mind. Overall, it’s another excellent choice that your Great Dane is sure to love.
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Hill’s Science Diet makes some reasonable and affordable formulas, so they’re always worth a closer look.There are actually two different formulas for large breeds on offer here, with the Adult Light option coming with 18% fewer calories than the standard Adult Large Breed version.
As you may have guessed, the Light version is a good choice for any dog that needs to lose some excess weight or slow their growth to some degree.
The formula comes packed with additional minerals, vitamins, and amino acids – and it also promises to give clinically proven antioxidant benefits as well. Additionally, there is no use of artificial flavorings, colorings, or preservatives.
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This food from Merrick uses deboned Buffalo as its number one ingredient, giving it a very high protein ratio in the region of 70% meat protein, along with 30% of the formula being comprised of fresh produce.
What’s more, the food is rich in omega 6, glucosamine, chondroitin, and omega 3 fatty acids – giving your Great Dane all of the nutrition required to stay strong and healthy. As a grain-free recipe, it should help to keep your dog’s digestive system functioning effectively, as well as preventing too much excess weight gain.
It’s also worth noting that the ingredients are of the highest quality, and they proudly state that no ingredients are sourced from China or other areas that have been associated with low-grade ingredients in the past.
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Purina Pro Plan offers a well-formulated large breed dog food for both puppies and adult dogs, with the primary ingredient being chicken – which gives a quality source of protein that any Great Dane is sure to find delicious.
In the formula, you’ll find EPA, omega 3 fatty acids, and glucosamine support that will help to give your dog healthy joints and improved mobility, which is always important for a big breed such as Great Dane.
Interestingly, the formula is comprised of 26% protein and 12% fat, which works to keep your dog within acceptable weight limits along with a strong physical condition. Overall, this is a reasonable and cost-effective solution that many dog owners are very pleased with.
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Our next suggestion is this large breed adult dog food by Fromm. While it is a lesser-known brand, it has a good composition and is generally well-liked by dog owners.
The food is particularly well suited for large breeds, and it also comes with added cartilage to support healthy joints for your dog. Additionally, there’s a good amount of omega fatty acids and the assurance that no cheap byproducts are used, either.
In general, the Fromm brand makes some excellent products that are unlikely to disappoint, so if you can pick it up for a reasonable price, it’s well worth your consideration.
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Royal Canin is certainly a popular brand of dog food that often receives rave reviews, and while some of their formulas can be a little hit or miss, this giant formula is a good option for a Great Dane.
It comes with a healthy dose of chondroitin and glucosamine that supports your dog’s joint health, and there’s also a wide array of antioxidants and vitamins, including vitamins E, and C. There’s also taurine and L-carnitine used in the blend, which can support a healthy heart – which is always a key consideration for a larger breed such as a Great Dane.
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Hill’s Ideal Balance is another highly respected brand of dog food, and it’s surprisingly affordable, too. This product uses fresh chicken as its number one ingredient, helping to give your dog a quality source of lean protein that will keep them in great shape.
Of course, you will also find additional vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to support your dog’s health – along with the ever so important omega 3 and 6 fatty acids that will keep your dog’s coat and skin in excellent condition.
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AvoDerm is an interesting formula that comes with a unique blend of ingredients that you’re unlikely to find in any similar product. This particular version is specifically designed to cater for large breed dogs, and it features plenty of natural chondroitin and glucosamine, which goes a long way to ensuring healthy joints for your Great Dane.
It uses tasty protein as the primary ingredient, in the formula of chicken meal, and it also features a range of antioxidants that will support your dog’s immune system.
Interestingly, this formula contains avocados, which are known for being highly rich if omega fatty acids – which obviously work well for maintaining a healthy coat and skin. What’s more, there’s no animal by-products, corn, or wheat used in the product.
The Best Great Dane Puppy Food
Choosing an appropriate brand of dog food for a growing Great Dane puppy is always an important consideration, not least because the slow, steady development of a large breed puppy needs to be handled with care, to ensure they grow up to be a strong and healthy adult dog without any health or joint issues.
With this in mind, we have an overview of the top large breed puppy food formulas that should meet all the key requirements of your Great Dane pup.
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You’ll rarely go wrong by relying on the Blue Buffalo brand, and this large breed puppy formula is a common pick for any dog owner who owns a bigger dog. It contains real chicken that’s sure to entice your puppy, and it’s free of many troublesome ingredients you’d want to avoid such as animal by-product meals, corn, soy, or wheat.
Of course, it comes with Blue’s exclusive ‘LifeSource Bits’ – which is a handy way of adding key minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants to the mix and supporting your dog’s overall health. As a puppy formula, it also includes key ingredients such as DHA, which helps to support healthy cognitive development, too.
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This puppy formula is specially designed to cater for large and giant breed puppies, making it an excellent choice for a Great Dane puppy in most cases.
The formula is made exclusively in the USA, and it features a wide range of key nutrition that provides your Great Dane puppy with all of the essential ingredients they need to grow up into a strong and healthy adult dog.
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Here’s another top-quality puppy formula that ticks many of the key boxes you’re looking for in a quality big breed puppy formula. A key feature is the use of freeze-dried raw pieces along with the kibble, which makes it very tasty and enjoyable for your Great Dane puppy.
It comes with chicken meal as the primary ingredient, which also contains a decent source of chondroitin and glucosamine, and it features a range of vitamins and minerals that are important for development, too.
There’s no use of grain or gluten, nor is there anything that’s best to avoid such as wheat, corn, soy, or other fillers. What’s more, there’s also DHA for cognitive development and omega fatty acids for a healthy and shiny coat.
Great Dane Nutritional Tips
- Keeping your Great Dane at a healthy weight is always a good idea, and most Great Danes will weigh somewhere around 100 pounds (if they’re female) or 120 pounds (if they’re male).
- Maintaining a slow and steady rate of growth as a puppy is very important, especially in the first few years. Until your Great Dane is over 2 years old it’s best to keep then fairly lean to avoid health issues later on down the road.
- You can expect your Great Dane to grow considerably in the first 12 months, all the way through to 18 months – so growing them slowly is a smart move to make.
- If you’re feeding your Great Dane puppy food, you need to be very careful to ensure you’re providing them with a formula that’s appropriate for large/giant breeds specifically. Otherwise, the protein, fat, and calorie levels are likely to be too high.
- Quality dog food needs to contain adequate calcium and phosphorus to maintain bone and joint health, and this is always important for a big dog like a Great Dane. Of course, too much can also be hazardous, too! As such, it’s usually recommended to keep the calcium levels between 1.2% and the phosphorus at or below 0.9%.
- In general, it’s best to ensure your Great Dane’s protein intake is within a specific healthy range to avoid certain defects and conditions. It’s commonly recommended for the protein level to be below 24%, with the fat level being between 12% and 14%, although these numbers can vary slightly depending on who you’re listening to.
