Best Puppy Food for Large Dogs 2024

If you’re searching for the best fresh food for your large-breed puppy, there are plenty of good reasons why you should check out The Farmer’s Dog. 

This meal subscription service features human-grade meat and veggies in recipes designed to exceed AAFCO nutrition standards. 

Feeding plans with The Farmer’s Dog are customized by veterinarians to suit your dog’s unique nutritional needs. 

There are 4 recipes to choose from — Turkey, Beef, Chicken, and Pork — and all are formulated to meet the AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles for all life stages, including the growth of large-sized dogs (70 pounds or more as an adult).

Meals are delivered to your door in refrigerated boxes within days of being cooked, making this an easy and convenient way to give your dog the high-quality nutrition they need.

For the full scoop on this furrific brand, hop over to our review of The Farmer's Dog.

Taste of the Wild is recommended by Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and one of Wag!’s veterinary consultants.

“Taste of the Wild offers both wet and dry dog and cat foods for all life stages incorporating species-specific probiotics, antioxidants from ancient grains, fruits and seeds, and omega fatty acids,” she says.

So if you’re on the lookout for a high-quality dog food suitable for a large-breed puppy, Taste of the Wild’s Pacific Stream Puppy Recipe is well worth a closer look. 

This egg-free recipe features salmon, ocean fish meal, and salmon meal as its protein sources, and it comes in a small kibble size to make it easier for pups to chew.

With 80 million prebiotics per pound, this recipe is designed to ensure good gut health, while it also features DHA from salmon oil to promote brain and vision development. 

And with ingredients like sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and blueberries providing a host of important nutrients, it also supports a strong immune system for a healthy pup.

For a closer look at the brand's products, history, and more, dive into our Taste of the Wild dog food review.

Searching for a high-protein diet for your large-breed puppy? Look no further than this formula from Orijen. 

Featuring 85% animal ingredients and 15% fruit, vegetables, and botanicals, Orijen Puppy Large is made for meat lovers. It also has 38% protein content to help develop your pup’s muscle mass and help them stay in a healthy weight range, reducing strain on joints. 

This recipe is also high in animal fat to support your dog’s growth and development, and it contains DHA and EPA from fish to support your pup’s immune and nervous systems. 

And with glucosamine and chondroitin to promote joint health, there are lots of good reasons to consider this diet for your large-breed puppy.

Dig into our Orijen dog food review for a closer look at the company's products, recall history, and more.

If your pup goes wild for wet food, check out the Merrick Puppy Plate range. There are 2 flavors to choose from — a Beef Recipe and a Chicken Recipe — and both are sure to have your pup licking their lips.

The recipes are 96% meat or poultry and feature USDA-inspected deboned meat or chicken. They feature DHA for brain development, savory broth for added palatability, and can be used as a topper or a complete meal.

Best of all, Merrick food is recommended by Dr. Georgia Jeremiah. “Merrick products are made with high-quality, whole food ingredients, and they use no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors,” she says.

If you’re shopping for a wet food your large-breed puppy will love, give Merrick Puppy Plate a try.

Related: Merrick Dog Food Review

If you’re searching for a food you can feed to a large-breed dog at any life stage, this recipe from Canidae could be a pawfect fit. 

Featuring a larger kibble size for your big-breed pup, this formula is marketed as a “one bag fits all” pet food.

Canidae is also a brand that Dr. Georgia Jeremiah recommends to her clients. “Canidae dog food is made with high-quality animal protein sources, providing essential amino acids, and is free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, which can trigger allergies."

This food is high in omega fatty acids for skin and coat health and important amino acids, and it doesn’t have any corn, wheat, soy, or animal byproduct meals. Add in probiotics for healthy digestion and this food is a solid choice for many pet parents.

Related: Canidae Dog Food Review

If you’re searching for the best large-breed puppy food, this recipe from Blue Buffalo is our top pick. 

Featuring real deboned chicken as the first ingredient along with a mix of wholesome grains, this recipe is specifically designed to help your big fur-baby grow up healthy and happy.

This Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe is high in protein for muscle development and energy, features fish oil with omega-3 fatty acids and DHA for brain development, and features antioxidant-rich fruits like cranberries and blueberries.

“Blue Buffalo dog food products cater to different life stages, sizes, and breeds of dogs,” notes Dr. Georgia Jeremiah. “They offer formulations containing limited ingredients, which may be beneficial for dogs with certain dietary sensitivities.”

So, if you’re preparing to welcome a large-breed pup into your family, make sure you add this Blue Buffalo puppy food to your shopping list.

Dig into our Blue Buffalo dog food review to learn why we give this food 4 paws up!