Top 5 Best Dog Foods For Great Danes [2021 Buyer’s Guide]

Our Top 4 Food Choices For Adult Great Danes

• Taste of the Wild Dry Dog Food
• Blue Buffalo Freedom Grain-Free Recipe for Dogs
• Earthborn Holistic Dog Food, Natural Flavor
• Nature’s Variety Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

BEST FOODS FOR GREAT DANE COMPARISON

Last update on 2019-01-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Great Danes are considered the gentle giants of the dog world. These gentle, but humongous creatures – most range between 100-200 lb – are also known as the German mastiff. In part, because of their large size, this dog breed has very specific needs in terms of exercise and nutrition to keep them healthy and happy.

If you are the lucky owner of the world’s largest lap dog or are considering adopting one, you need to be vigilant in how you feed your pup and monitor how much physical activity it gets. So, what does that mean exactly? Well, let’s take a look.

Special Dogs, Special Needs

Great Danes are a large breed and have specialty needs when it comes to exercise, especially Great Dane puppies as it is actually a rather fragile breed despite its imposing physical size. While most medium sized breeds require 45 minutes to an hour of exercise a day, this will prove excessive for a giant breed like a Great Dane.

Great Danes are also at higher risk of heart disease, which is another reason not to allow them to fatigue themselves through excessive cardiovascular activity. Of course, Great Danes still require exercise, but more moderate forms of exercise are appropriate for this breed.

Great Danes also have a slower metabolism than other dog breeds. It seems logical that, being a pet parent to this massive mutt you would be feeding them massive amounts of food. So, why don’t we feed them that way?

Great Danes slow metabolism means that they are not using up as much energy per pound of body weight. This fact, coupled with their predisposition to heart problems, means it is important to feed them a moderate diet and food that is specially formulated for giant breeds.

Food Facts – What Your Great Danes Food Should Be Made Of

In terms of nutrition, because they have a slower metabolism, it is important that you choose high-quality dog food for your huge hound. Like all dog food, food for Great Danes should have the highest amount protein, then fat and then fiber. For a Great Dane, however, these levels should be slightly lower than they are for the general pooch population.

An important note on feeding Great Danes that is unrelated to nutrition: break up your pup’s feedings into as many small meals as possible and do not allow exercise after meals.

Feeding Your Big Baby

OK, so now you might be wondering if the same is true for Great Dane puppies. After all, puppies are resilient and need calories to support their growth and strengthen bones, right? In fact, it is even more important to feed and exercise your Great Dane with moderation.

Great Danes grow quickly. While most puppies reach their full size within a year, Great Dane pups continue growing well into their first year and will continue to grow girth-wise after that. A Great Dane puppy’s food should not exceed 26% protein and 16% fat.

If your Great Dane puppy consumes too many calories while it is young, you may quite literally overgrow him. This is a term that is used to describe a puppy whose body is growing too quickly for its skeleton to support.

For obvious reasons, this is very dangerous for a dog breed that is prone to joint injuries, hip dysplasia, and Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy or HOD, which is a serious swelling of the bones that is extremely painful and can cause lameness.

To avoid these sorts of problems for your sweet puppy, we recommend feeding your dog CANIDAE Life Stages Dry Dog Food for Puppies, Adults & Seniors.

Canidae All Life Stages Large Breed Puppy Food Made With Duck Meal, Brown Rice & Lentils, 30 Lbs

• Optimum Protein From Duck Meal + Calcium & Phosphorous
• Premium Ingredients: No Corn, Wheat, Or Soy

Last update on 2019-01-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This dog food is appropriate for dogs of all life stages, which means that you may not think switching your puppy’s food is necessary, as it gets older. This dog food is healthy but contains moderate percentages of protein (22%) and fat (13%).

This nutritionally dense dog food contains no harmful fillers such as corn wheat and soy, with the carbohydrate sources being healthy lentils and brown rice instead. The Canidae Lifestages is made with duck meal instead of chicken, which is a benefit as chicken is a common dog allergy.

It is enriched with probiotics to protect your dog’s gut healthy and formulated with important omegas to keep its skin healthy, shiny and soft. Omegas are also beneficial to bone and joint health, which is a great perk when picking a food for your Great Dane pup. This enhanced formula also includes glucosamine and chondroitin. Each kibble is also enriched with an antioxidant punch to protect your dog’s immune system.

The Bottom Line? Although relatively expensive, this dog food is a high-quality, U.S. product that has appropriate levels of protein and fat, as well as vitamins and minerals that help support your Great Dane puppy into a healthy and happy gentle giant.

With a dog food like the Canidae above, the timing of transition from puppy food to adult food is less important, since this particular dog food brand is quite balanced and is suitable for all life stages. However, puppy food is generally much higher in fat than regular dog food, which, again, for a breed like the Great Dane can be quite dangerous.

Most Great Dane owners, in fact, recommend that you never feed your Great Dane puppy actual puppy food, as it is too high in fat and protein.

As a general rule, you can feed a puppy a dog food formula designed for puppies “until their growth plates have sealed” usually between 1 and 2 years. With a Great Dane, however, you will want to either feed an all stages formula dog food from the beginning or switch your dog to adult food around 7-8 months to prevent overgrowth.

Again, an adult Great Dane, like any other pooch, needs protein, fat, and fiber in that order to thrive physically. However, it may need a little less than some of its smaller, more energetic canine companions. An adult Great Dane’s food should contain around 23% protein and 12% fat and you should pick a dog food with high-quality ingredients and perhaps some joint support for optimal Great Dane health. Below, we will profile the best dog foods for a happy, healthy Dane.

The Best Dog Food for Great Danes

1. Taste of the Wild Dry Dog Food

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Taste Of The Wild Grain Free Premium Dry Dog Food Sierra Mountain - Lamb

• A taste of the wild with ROASTED LAMB; REAL LAMB is the #1 ingredient; optimal amino acid profile, PROTEIN rich for LEAN, STRONG MUSCLES
• Premium ingredients with added vitamins & minerals; fruits and vegetables as SUPERFOODS for hard-working ANTIOXIDANTS; fatty acid blend for SKIN & COAT

Last update on 2019-01-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Taste of the Wild dog food series is designed to mimic the types of foods that your pup would be eating if it were wild. This quality, inexpensive dog food brand is made up of real roasted meats and vegetables. It is high-fiber and comes in a variety of flavors to add a bit of excitement to your dog’s diet.

The Taste of the Wild dog food is free of harmful additives such as corn, soy, and wheat. A dog would never eat these things in his natural environment, so why put them in its dog food! At 25% protein and 15% fat, it is a little high in protein and fat to be perfect the perfect food for a Great Dane, but the sources of proteins and fat are high quality.

This high-quality dog food is packed with antioxidants for a healthy immune system. It also contains important omega acids for a sleek, shiny coat and to help support joint health.

Great Dane’s are prone to gastrointestinal issues and this high fiber formula is perfect for a sensitive tummy or a picky pet.

The bottom line? This dog food consists of what your pet would be eating if it were a wild animal. It is healthy, contains high-quality ingredients and will help with tummy and joint issues, both common Great Dane problems.

2. Blue Buffalo Freedom Grain-Free Recipe for Dogs

Blue Buffalo Large Breed Freedom Grain Free Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food, 24-Pound

• Contains One (1) 24-Lb Bag Of Blue Freedom Grain Free Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food, Chicken
• Always Features Real Meat As The 1St Ingredient.

Last update on 2019-01-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This high-quality dog food formula developed for large breeds is perfectly nutritionally-valued for a Great Dane with a 22% protein and 12% fat makeup. This formula is also Great Dane-approved containing important omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, as well as glucosamine and chondroitin to help support longevity in your pup’s joints.

It also contains taurine, an amino acid important in maintaining heart health.

The kibbles are shaped to help control tartar. This dog food includes the protection of LifeSource bits, designed to pack a nutritional punch with a precise blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

This food is also gluten-free and free of common canine allergens such as chicken. It also contains no fillers like corn, wheat or soy.

The bottom line? This food is a great buy for a Great Dane owner. It is appropriate for dogs prone to bowel issues and allergies. It also contains special LifeSource bits that are packed with healthful ingredients. It is perfectly nutritionally balanced for a large breed dog, containing appropriate levels of protein and fats and provides additional support where your big baby needs it: its heart and his joints.

3. Earthborn Holistic Dog Food, Natural Flavor

Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch Grain Free Dry Dog Food, 28 Lb.

• Grain-Free, Gluten-Free, 28 Lb. Resealable Bag
• Herring And Salmon Meals, Rich In Omega Fatty Acids, Help Maintain Overall Good Health

Last update on 2019-01-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This dog food from Earthborn Hollistics is grain and gluten-free and contains no harmful additives. Although it is higher than our guidelines recommend in protein and fat, this food contains lean and healthy fish-based protein sources. It also contains real roasted fruits and vegetables and healthy sources of carbohydrates.

This food is also enriched with antioxidants such as blueberries and cranberries and is formulated to help maintain a healthy weight.

This dog food promotes the growth of lean and healthy muscles. It also contains taurine to encourage long-term heart health. This Earthborn Hollistics product also contains omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. These are essential for a healthy coat as well as for joint support.

Finally, Earthborn Hollistics is a brand you can trust. All ingredients that can be sourced in the USA are and this brand has no history of recalls.

The bottom line? You can trust Earthborn Hollistics with your dog’s health. This food is made of high-quality, fish-based protein sources, enriched with antioxidants and helps maintain joint and heart health. It is free of harmful additives and common canine allergens.

4. Nature’s Variety Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain Free Turkey Meal Formula Natural Dry Dog Food By Nature'S Variety, 25.3 Lb. Bag

• Formulated For Dogs With Food Sensitives - Made With One Animal Protein Source And No Grain Or Gluten
• Contains The Fewest, Most Essential, Easily Digestible Ingredients

Last update on 2019-01-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This dog food brand prides itself on creating the most nutritious food possible with the most simple of ingredients. This food is gluten-free and well as free of common allergens such as chicken.

This formula is appropriate for a pet with a sensitive stomach as it contains easily digestible ingredients for dogs. This food is also appropriate for dogs with food sensitivities or allergies.

Although it is higher in protein and fat than we would recommend for a Great Dane, this food contains important omega fatty acids to help promote a healthy coat and support joint health. It is also coated with green tea extract to promote health, as well as improve aroma and taste for your pup.

The bottom line? This food is a great option for a dog with lots of sensitivities or simply a very picky eater. This formula helps to maintain a healthy weight and is gluten free to mimic the way a dog eats in its natural environment. It is also a simple formula, with Nature’s Variety priding itself on creating a wholesome and nutritious food with the least amount of extra ingredients possible.

In conclusion, all of these foods are fantastic options for feeding your Great Dane. We are partial to the Blue Buffalo Freedom Grain Free recipe, because this dog food formula not only helps maintain heart and joint health, but it also has optimum protein and fat levels to help your large breed thrive.

It is also free of harmful additive, gluten and common allergens and will help keep your pups teeth clean. However, for a dog with severe allergies or a pet parent on a little bit of a budget, all of these foods are great options for keeping your huge hound happy and healthy for the entirety of its life.

Mary Nielsen

I grew up in a household that was filled with animals. I believe that my fate as a dog-loving person was sealed in early childhood since my parents owned several dogs of varying sizes and breeds. There was no choice but to take care of and learn about dog habits and the best animal care practices — otherwise, I’d be clueless about how to go about the creatures I was surrounded by day and night.

As a life-long puppy lover, I know a thing or two about dogs and how to go about caring for them in the best way possible. Although I’m not a professionally trained dog behaviorist, trainer, or veterinarian, all of my knowledge and experience with canines comes from a place of love and a deep-rooted passion for dogs and animals in general.

Seeing as dogs kept me company throughout every stage of my life, I decided to follow a different path in my academic life and obtained a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Marketing Management and Digital Advertising, which ultimately allowed me to combine my professional training and personal experience by creating the ultimate dog lover’s resource website! Along with my husband, Dave, I run MySweetPuppy for like-minded dog lovers who want to have a single, clear, and reliable information source about anything and everything related to dogs and their well-being.