There is a big debate going on in the world of big dogs. People are very confused about whether they should feed their Great Dane puppy food or adult food! Large breed dogs such as Great Danes need specific nutrition that is designed for their explosive growth, size, and needs. I’m going to clear this up today with a research-backed discussion, so you know what to feed YOUR big puppy!
In the world of Great Danes, there is a lot of misinformation about nutrition. Everybody has an opinion.
It used to be said that you should always feed a Great Dane puppy an ‘adult’ kibble.
The truth? A dog’s diet should change depending on its life stage!
Spoiler alert: Science has allowed dog food manufacturers to change and update their formulations. This means that finally, large-breed puppy formulas are now ideal for Great Dane puppies!
So today we are talking about the importance of large-breed puppy food for Great Dane puppies.
We are going to discuss the difference between puppy formula and adult dog food. We will also talk about what type of diet is best for large-breed adult dogs and Great Dane puppies!
BEST DOG FOOD PUPPY LARGE BREED FOR GREAT DANES
Large breed puppies such as Great Danes are prone to a number of growth disorders that can be caused or worsened by an incorrect diet.
Knuckling is a common developmental orthopedic disease that causes the puppy’s legs to ‘bow out. Other growth disorders include panosteitis, HOD, and hip or elbow dysplasia.
Choosing the right large breed dog food for a Great Dane puppy is extremely important. Smaller breeds don’t have the same requirements, so if you are new to Great Danes it’s time to research!
We believe that puppy foods are ideal for growing Great Dane puppies! Many large breed puppy foods are formulated with the growth of large dogs in mind and are appropriate for their brain, eye, joint, bone, and muscle development.
Important note: Dog food manufacturers consider Great Danes to be ‘large breed’ dogs. We know they are ‘gentle giants’, but for the purposes of science, let’s stick with ‘large’!
The most important factor to consider when choosing pet food for a large breed (such as a Great Dane) is the calcium and phosphorus ratios.
Calcium should be at or below 1.4%
Phosphorus should be slightly below calcium.
An example of an ideal calcium-phosphorus ratio to see on a bag of large breed dog foods is:
Calcium (Ca) (Min) 1.1%
Phosphorus (P) (Min) 0.9%
A properly balanced diet for large breed dogs will have a high-quality protein source (including meat and meat meals), omega fatty acids, probiotics, and balanced fat and carbohydrates to keep your puppy at a healthy weight.
NOTE:
Food with perfect calcium/phosphorus ratios can still cause growth problems!
The correct balance of amino acids, protein, carbs, fat, and vitamins is extremely important, too.
The special nutritional needs of Great Dane puppies have been addressed by dog food companies that have dedicated a lot of time, money, and effort to testing, research, and formulations.
In other words, the advice of ‘no puppy food ever’ for Great Dane puppies is now considered dated and inaccurate, especially when you are considering science-backed kibbles such as Purina Pro Plan that are heavily researched and tested.
Pet owners are not necessarily experts in nutrition, so it’s helpful to know that the dog food company you choose is extremely thoughtful, thorough, researched, up-to-date and diligent with your dog’s health.
We recommend choosing a large breed puppy dog food that is formulated by a board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist, from a company that has invested heavily in canine nutrition and health research.
Ideally, the kibble you choose is also clean with quality ingredients from known sources.
The dog food you choose for your Great Dane puppy should have one of the following AAFCO nutritional adequacy statements on the label.
These statements will help you make a more educated choice about the actual balance and nutrition behind the large breed formulas being compared.
Some minor variations in these statements are normal. Click any button on the left to see the AAFCO statement associated with each option for your Great Dane puppy.
IDEAL: Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that [THIS FORMULA] provides complete and balanced nutrition for all life stages, including growth of large sized dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).
MODERATELY ACCEPTABLE: [THIS FORMULA] is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for growth of puppies and maintenance of adult dogs, including growth of large sized dogs (70 lb or more as an adult).
NOT ACCEPTABLE: [THIS FORMULA] is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance of adult dogs.
QUESTIONABLE: [THIS FORMULA] is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages.
The following foods meet our guidelines for growing Great Dane puppies:
IS YOUR GREAT DANE PUPPY KNUCKLING?
Check out our science-based and constantly growing knuckling resource page.
BENEFITS OF LARGE BREED PUPPY DOG FOOD FOR GREAT DANE PUPPIES
Large breed dogs require specific nutrition that they will not get from small breed dog food.
A good quality diet for a Great Dane puppy will have been specifically formulated with large breeds in mind.
Healthy bones, healthy joints, healthy skin, and reducing the risk of growth disorders such as hip dysplasia and knuckling are just some of the considerations put into puppy kibble formulation.
Nutrition + research for large breed dog food
Puppy formulas from companies that are actively researching big dog nutrition and growth are most likely to have the correct balance of nutrients, proteins, fats, carbs, calcium, phosphorus, and amino acids for Great Dane puppies.
What do veterinarians say about large breeds + nutrition?
The veterinary community agrees! Large breed puppy dog foods are the best choice for growing giant breeds.
Food formulated for Great Dane puppies has a slightly higher protein level and a more appropriate balance of fat and carbs than adult dog food. Not to mention the correct ratios of vitamin d, fatty acids, amino acids and probiotics.
WHEN SHOULD A PUPPY TRANSITION TO AN ADULT FORMULA?
When deciding what age to transition your big dogs’ diet from a puppy to adult formula, keep in mind that large breeds don’t reach maturity until they are around 18-24 months of age.
While small breed dogs become adults much faster, large breeds are slow to mature and require a lot of time, excellent nutrition, and slow growth to reach peak health as an adult.
Large breed dog food for puppies is formulated to promote slow and healthy growth in big dogs.
Age ranges + food formulas
A scientifically formulated canine diet will actually indicate the recommended age range for their foods. If the food company you have chosen understands their product, they can also tell you (through customer service).
For example, Purina Pro Plan Large Breed food for puppies is food formulated to be fed to large breeds for the first 2 years of life! Other formulas are different and the nutrition is based on breed size and age.
Fish oils, probiotics and the correct balance of nutrition slow down the growth rate and contribute to energy levels, bone development and healthy skin.
These things matter a lot to a big dog, especially before large breeds fully mature! If you are surprised by all of this, keep in mind that small breed dogs mature so much faster, and that’s ok!
Do not rush or force the growth of your puppy. Having the ‘biggest dog’ can mean having the unhealthiest dog!
WHAT IS THE BEST FOOD FOR GIANT BREED DOGS?
When looking for a large breed food, make sure that meat or meat meals are listed in the first ingredients. Probiotics and omega fatty acids are also important.
You may notice ‘vitamin d’, riboflavin, biotin, and other important nutrients added as well. These necessary vitamins and minerals contribute to a balanced diet, although they may make the ingredient list look long!
A dog food (puppy large breed) that is ideal for your growing Great Dane will typically say ‘Large Breed Puppy Food’ on the label.
In some brands, a comparable large breed food for adult dogs may be acceptable (in lieu of a puppy formula). Talk to your veterinarian and read the AAFCO statement on the label before making a purchase.
A senior dog may benefit from a transition to senior dog foods, which will be labeled accordingly and may offer additional support for the kidneys, heart, joints, energy levels, and weight.
If you have a small breed dog in your house, we recommend feeding a comparable small breed dog food if possible.
Small breeds, like giants, have unique nutritional needs, and taking advantage of modern advances in science and nutrition is better for everybody!
DO LARGE BREED DOGS HAVE TO EAT LARGE BREED FOOD?
Large breed adult dogs can technically be fed any ‘all-life stages’ food however they greatly benefit from large breed food that is formulated specifically for them.
A pet’s health is often tied to their nutrition, so choosing the right pet food formula matters. A large breed dog needs more joint support than a small breed dog, and large breed dog food offers the correct balance of nutrients and supplements for their orthopedic needs.
Adult Great Dane health problems
A dog’s risk of developing arthritis increases as they age. Many Great Danes also gain weight once they have been spayed or neutered. Keeping your Great Dane at a healthy weight is a key element in increasing their lifespan and reducing their risk of painful joint problems!
These are just some of the reasons why choosing a large breed dog formula for the correct life stage (puppy vs. adult) is so important: the correct formulation for each life stage will help maintain appropriate growth, overall weight and joint health.
Unfortunately, not all dog food brands are created equal, and it can be difficult to know which one is best for your pet.
The nutritional needs of a Great Dane puppy are different than the needs of an adult. It is so important to choose an appropriate, large breed, science-backed food formulated by credentialed professionals!
Here are some great adult options for your Great Dane, once maturity is reached:
WHAT FOOD DO GREAT DANE BREEDERS USE?
The American Kennel Club supports breeders and recommends that dog owners speak with their veterinarian when choosing a food for their large and giant breed dogs.
Some breeders will recommend ‘Life’s Abundance’. You can read our blog post here on why we don’t consider this an appropriate, safe, ethical, or quality food.
The majority of breeders with the top show dogs in the world feed and recommend Purina Pro Plan formulas. Contrary to popular belief, Purina is not a low-quality food. It’s highly tested, extensively researched, and formulated by veterinary nutritionists.
While ‘sweet potatoes’ and ‘whole grain brown rice’ may sound healthy, the truth is that they are both carbs which may throw the nutrition and balance off!
Kidney disease, heart disease, allergies, weight gain or weight loss are just some of the problems with feeding a poorly balanced or incorrectly formulated food. This is especially true for senior dogs who need as much support as possible to maintain robust health.
We believe that this is why it is so important to not make purchase decisions just on the ingredients list of the food.
Dog food labels can be exceptionally confusing to dog owners. When you are in the pet stores searching for adult food or a puppy formula for your Great Dane, it’s helpful to have a basic understanding of dog food ingredients and analysis.
However, it’s also important to recognize that as a dog owner, you likely aren’t a nutritionist with a veterinary degree and advanced certifications (and probably don’t know anybody who is, either). Sales reps and staff at dog food stores generally lack reputable knowledge and education about nutrition as well.
Reading the ingredients and analysis label can only give you a tiny picture of the information needed to make a decision about which large breed food to choose for your Great Dane!
Look at science, then look at marketing
Look beyond the marketing of the brand. The claims of ‘robust health’, ‘human grade ingredients’, ‘no recalls’ and ‘all natural’ are all there to make you buy the food.
This list below from the WSAVA is a helpful guideline for choosing dog food!
You’d be surprised how many pet food brands do NOT meet these guidelines, despite being marketed as ‘high quality’, ‘natural’, and ‘family owned’.
(This information is helpful for owners of small breeds, too!)
Treat training pouches for training your Great Dane!
THE BEST LARGE BREED DOG FOOD FOR ADULT GREAT DANES
Unlike large breed puppies, an adult large breed dog is not growing and has different nutritional and support needs.
Adult formulas in general tend to be a lower calorie food with different vitamins, minerals and slightly different protein-fat-carb-fatty acids balance.
We recommend choosing large breed kibbles that, as above, are scientifically formulated and backed.
Your dog’s diet should be complete and fully balanced for their life stage. Keep toppers to a minimum (10% of less of the overall intake) to avoid creating picky dogs or causing your dog foods to become unbalanced.
Natural dog food for Great Danes
If you are looking for a more ‘natural’ option for your large breed puppies or adult dogs, Just Food For Dogs makes an excellent topper. Fiber and fresh foods can also help reduce the risk that your large breed dog will develop bloat!
A well balanced raw meat diet may also be appropriate for large breed dogs.
This option is worth looking into for dog owners that are willing to do diligent research and have the time and freezer space for it.
Large breed dogs that suffer from allergies and intolerances may thrive on a balanced raw diet; talk to your veterinarian!
IMPORTANT FDA ALERT ABOUT GRAIN-FREE KIBBLE AND HEART DISEASE IN GREAT DANES
FDA officials are investigating possible links to diets for dog heart diseases. DCM is a devastating and often silent disease that many large breed dogs, including Great Danes are prone too.
It is believed that poorly formulated and untested foods may be a contributing factor in dogs developing this heart condition, which often presents as sudden death before any symptoms are seen.
Suspect dog food ingredients
Some suspect ingredients in lower quality, untested large and giant breed kibbles include peas, lentils, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and garbanzo beans. When choosing your dog’s food, these ingredients are worth noting and asking a veterinarian about.
Dog nutrition can be complicated, especially when manufacturers must put as much nutrition as possible into a user-friendly baked and extruded kibble product!
DACVN & The Credentialed Veterinary Nutritionist
For information about veterinary nutritionists and the advanced degrees and certifications available to veterinarians to advance their knowledge of food and formulations, check out these links below:
American College of Veterinary Nutrition: www.acvn.org
Companies that do not have a board-certified veterinary nutritionist employed to formulate their large breed dog food kibbles are treading in dangerous water. Regardless of your stance on the grain-free vs. DCM debate, that’s an important take-away for anybody trying to choose a healthy kibble diet for their big dog or smaller dogs, too!
Please visit this link if you want more information and to find out if your pet’s food is putting them at risk.
Looking for more information on how much to feed a Great Dane puppy? Is free feeding or scheduled feeding a better choice?
Read our famous ‘Ultimate Great Dane Feeding Chart’ post and learn more about choosing a kibble, how much to feed, raw meat diets, home-cooked diets, and more.
Age
Timing
Amount
Puppies under 12 weeks
3x/day
2-4 cups/day
Puppies 12-24 weeks old
3x/day
3-6 cups/day
Puppies 24 + weeks (6 months) or older
2x/day
5-10 cups/day
Puppies 12-18 months
2x/day
6-12 cups/day
Adults 18+ Months
2x/day
4-8 cups/day
These values are averages. Your pet may need more or less. Always talk to your veterinarian and use the manufacturer’s feeding chart as a guideline.
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Looking for a Great Dane feeding chart with some awesome food information? Curious about the best foods for Great Danes, and what dog food to raise your Dane puppy on?
This is the ULTIMATE everything you need to know about feeding Great Danes blog post. We’re going to cover the following topics:
The best food for Great Dane Puppies
Whether adult food or puppy food is best for Great Dane puppies
How to choose food for Great Danes
How to prevent knuckling and other orthopedic disorders
Why nutrition is SO important for Great Danes, especially those under the age of 2!
PRO TIP: This post is huge. Use the table of contents to navigate.
Let’s dig in!
Why is Nutrition SO Important for Great Danes?
Great Danes are a giant breed dog that has sensitive needs when it comes to their bone, joint, muscle, brain, and heart health.
These are not dogs who can survive well on unbalanced or poorly formulated dog foods. As puppies, rapid growth demands exact amounts of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D and zinc.
Many orthopedic growth disorders in Great Danes are a result of feeding too much calcium, or feeding too much food overall. The results are devastating and may not be apparent until the dog is older and suffering with their mobility and health.
Researchers have theorized that too much or too little calcium fed to large & giant breed puppies may contribute to increasing their risk for diseases such as brittle bones, Wobblers and Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer) as adults.
Choosing food for a Great Dane puppy is important, but it’s also very simple when you learn what to look for and how to look past common dog food marketing tactics.
Great Dane Puppy Food & Nutrition
Great Dane Puppies are massive dogs that need a specific diet to ensure they grow at a healthy rate. As mentioned above, Giant breeds are not like other dogs, it’s important to know how to choose the right food.
Before we dig in, it’s important to understand that excess calcium and overfeeding are #1 culprits behind a range of orthopedic growth problems seen in Great Dane puppies.
Because giant breed puppies grow so quickly, the wrong nutrition can be devastating and cause a lifetime of orthopedic problems.
We aren’t trying to scare you here, but this is important. Don’t worry, we’re going to share information with you below on what food to choose!
Here are some of the (often lifetime) health complications associated with feeding the wrong food to Great Dane Puppies:
When choosing food for a Great Dane puppy, we recommend the following guidelines:
Grain-inclusive
1.2% or less calcium
Phosphorus close behind
1.1 to 1 or 1.2 to 1 CA/PH ratio, no more than 1.3 : 1 if necessary
3.5g or less calcium per 1000kCal
Large or giant breed PUPPY formula OR an appropriately formulated All Life Stages type
AAFCO statement “Including the growth of large 70+ lb as adult dogs”
A healthy, correctly balanced diet can help prevent devastating orthopedic growth disorders (such as knuckling, panosteitis, HOD, or Dysplasia) and will help make sure that your Great Dane puppy is receiving the nutrition it needs to thrive.
To save you some time, here is our popular list of appropriate veterinary recommended Great Dane puppy foods.
Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.
Should Great Dane Puppies Have Adult or Puppy Food?
You may have heard that Great Dane puppies should ONLY have adult food. This information is outdated and potentially dangerous (it’s 2023).
Great Dane puppies should be fed a well-formulated large or giant breed PUPPY or All Life Stages food that was designed specifically to support the slow, even growth of large and giant breed dogs.
That advice to feed adult foods is based on anecdotal evidence and is NOT supported by science.
Most top Great Dane breeders, Board-certified Veterinary Nutritionists, researchers from Cornell, Tufts, and CSU, and the solid majority of practicing veterinarians recommend feeding large or giant breed puppy food to giant breed puppies.
There are a handful of people who are still telling giant breed owners to feed low-protein adult foods. These people include dog owners, a few practicing veterinarians who have not done any continuing education on the topic, and some breeders (many of whom are actually unethical in their other practices, having skipped full OFA health testing or breeding dogs out of standard).
A few old school highly ethical preservation breeders still feed adult food, and this is understandable. They remember the days when we did NOT have safe options in puppy food, and trusting the new standard of practice is a huge leap of faith.
Why Should Great Dane Puppies Have Puppy Food?
Many adult dog foods lack the nutrition that Great Dane puppies need for muscle development, brain health, tendons, and bones.
Lacking this nutrition, puppies may actually eat too many calories and receive too much calcium, two things that are major risk factors for developmental skeletal disorders in giant breed dogs.
We believe that this is a major reason why we see so many teenaged Great Danes who are hopelessly lanky and boney, and many adult Danes who fall apart well before their time.
They are starved for nutrition to support their growth!
Dane puppies will overeat to compensate and then also suffer from chronic loose stools, which are a direct result of overeating. People blame the loose stools on chicken or grain allergies, not realizing that the solution is literally right in front of them.
Science and nutrition in dog food have changed drastically. “Adult food only” is tragically dated advice.
Keep in mind, however, that some puppy foods are DANGEROUS for Great Dane puppies to eat. A traditional high-calorie, high-fat puppy food for smaller dogs is not appropriate.
What are the Top Foods for a Great Dane Puppy?
The brand of food you choose matters here, though.
Many brands do NOT have qualified people formulating their foods. They do not participate in research, feeding trials, or truly comprehensive quality control testing. As a result, their puppy formulas may not be reliably correct to support slow growth.
A lot of brands are manufactured in facilities that the company doesn’t even own, spit out from machines that made a different brand the day before.
This is why you will not find brands such as Victor, Taste of the Wild, Blue Buffalo, Diamond, Fromm, Orijen, Earthborn, Whole Hearted, Health Extension, Annamaet, or 4Health on our list. None of them can check every single box when it comes to ethics and dedication to formulation, research, and manufacturing.
The food MUST be correctly balanced as follows:
Formulated by an on-staff veterinary nutritionist or somebody with a PhD in Animal Nutrition
Has meat meals or meat by-product meals within the first ingredients (will result in a higher meat content than ‘fresh deboned meat’
Amino acids correctly balanced and bioavailable, ideally from meat based sources
Balanced calcium and phosphorus ratios (IMPORTANT!)
Balanced protein, fat, and carbohydrate levels
Correct amount of vitamin D, Zinc, and other important nutrients
Includes grains such as wheat, oats, rice, or corn
Ideally manufactured in owned facilities
Formula should have ideally undergone feeding trials and lab testing
To best fit those needs, we recommend a large or giant breed PUPPY food from Pro Plan, Eukanuba, Hill’s, or Royal Canin (the only brands that spend millions of dollars each year investing in feeding trials, board-certified veterinary nutritionists, and peer-reviewed research).
You can use the search tool at the Giant Dog Food Projectas well, to compare brands head to head.
If you have any questions about what kind of dog food is best for your Great Dane Puppy to eat, read our blog post HERE or continue below (we’ve included recommendations for our favorites):
Most Dane pups will need to eat between 3 and 12 cups of large breed puppy food each day. The actual amount depends on their activity level and the food you choose! We outline more of this below.
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) is a non-profit organization that provides common-sense recommendations. WSAVA does not endorse or recommend any specific brand of food, and their scientific efforts go far beyond nutrition into every aspect of small animal health.
Any food brand can donate to and support the WSAVA, however, only a few do.
Surprisingly, many kibble manufacturers do not meet thefollowing common-sense guidelines:
The company employs a DACVN/board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist or PhD in Animal Nutrition, and that person is there to formulate and test the diets.
They utilize AAFCO feeding trials to prove their formulation, especially the one you want to feed, in real life (not just on paper).
The company participates in scientific research and contributes to common peer-reviewed studies.
They own and operate their own facilities (no co-packing) and have strict supply chain protocols, sourcing ethics, sourcing protocols and quality control.
The food has a nutrition adequacy statement from AAFCO, ideally indicating that the food was substantiated in feeding trails.
Call your food company and ask these questions. Look past their marketing department and get real answers from them about their practices.
Tread cautiously with the places you receive nutrition information from. Many dog owners, influencers and “pet nutritionists” are spreading dangerous misinformation.
For more helpful information about canine nutrition and manufacturer practices, search for your brand at the Pet Nutrition Alliance! They’ve established a database that answers important and relevant questions for each company that you might choose from.
You can also visit the Tufts University Petfoodology Blog for information about corn, by-products, DCM, and other nutrition-related topics.
Pet Vet Corner on Facebook has a fantastic nutrition file (search for the group and join).
When your Great Dane is 18-24 months old, it’s time to transition to an adult formula. Ideally, the transition should happen no sooner than 24 months but can happen after 18 months if early spay/neuter was elected.
Remember, puppy foods are higher in calories, fat, and protein and may be too rich for mature adult dogs or those that have been spayed/neutered. Great Danes are not fully mature until age 2.5-3 years.
Click below to see our favorite adult foods for Great Danes:
Most quality Great Dane food will indicate a rough estimate based on age or weight, which is a good baseline for determining how much food daily will be required.
Your Great Dane puppy is going to eat a lot of food! New Great Dane owners may be alarmed at the intake but shouldn’t be.
It’s important to note, however, that orthopedic growth disorders can be triggered by overfeeding, even if the food is correctly balanced! Monitor your dog’s intake and don’t let them gorge on food.
Lean is best! It is normal to see some ribs on Great Dane puppies.
While it’s true that too much kibble can actually cause a Great Dane puppy to experience gastrointestinal distress (and loose stools), too little kibble can hamper energy as well as good muscle and bone development.
Healthy Body Condition in Great Dane Puppies
It is normal for Great Dane puppies to have a little rib showing!
As long as they are bright, active, curious, and energetic, they are doing great.A Great Dane Puppy should never be overfed to encourage fast and explosive growth!
Too much nutrition, overfeeding, and too many calories can lead to knuckling, HOD, Panosteitis, and poor overall structure, no matter what formula or food brand you choose.
When looking at a Great Dane feeding chart to determine roughly how much to offer your 12-week-old Great Dane puppy, it’s important to remember that the information is simply a guideline. Good feeding practices involve intuition and close monitoring!
If you have any questions about how much food to feed your Great Dane puppy, please consult your veterinarian, read the feeding chart on your kibble bag, and reference our Great Dane feeding chart below.
These values are averages. Your pet may need more or less. Always talk to your veterinarian and use the manufacturer’s feeding chart as a guideline.
How to Feed a Great Dane Puppy
When it comes to Great Dane puppies, how you feed them is just as important as what you feed them.
Puppies have small stomachs and need to eat several small meals throughout the day, rather than one large meal. They will also need frequent potty breaks as their digestive systems are still very immature.
We recommend that your Great Dane eats from a using stainless steel bowl. These are easy to sanitize and can help prevent puppy acne!
Frequent smaller meals can help prevent bloat, a potentially deadly condition that can occur in large and giant breeds.
To avoid creating a ‘picky eater’, do not start adding toppers as a form of bribery!
For puppies under 3-5 months of age, we recommend a loose free feeding schedule where you put food down 3x/day but leave in the bowl what they don’t finish, so they can graze. Don’t overfeed.
After 5 months of age, offer food 3x/day and pick the bowl up. Pup will learn to finish what is offered.
Around 7-10 months of age, many Danes need less food. People sometimes believe this means their dog has become picky. That’s not true! Just feed less.
Using Kibble for Training
Another way to feed your Great Dane is to offer their pre-rationed kibble and healthy balanced toppers as training treats!
Keep them in a treat pouch (this is our favorite one) and use them throughout the day to reward your dog for doing things that you like.
Engaging with you, sitting, laying down, and coming when called are great ways to encourage positive behaviors!
Resting before & after meals has never been shown to prevent bloat. As a matter of fact, most dogs who experience bloat do so while resting and on an empty stomach. It’s ok for your puppy to have training rewards while playing with you!
Science in Dog Food
After years of diligent research, I’ve personally come to realize that the answer to dog food had been in front of me all along.
The unfortunate truth is that many dog food brands are spending more money on marketing than they are on formulating their foods, researching how nutrition affects the body, and contributing to peer-reviewed science that addresses giant breed growth, cancer, wobblers, heart disease, and more.
That marketing is designed to mislead us. For example, ingredient splitting is a common practice of certain brands. Ingredient splitting is completely legal and can make dog food look like an organic meat feast when the truth is that it’s nothing more than meat-flavored peas.
Fresh deboned meats, for example, are roughly 70% water. Pair that with ingredient splitting and a formulation that came from a computer (not a veterinary nutritionist), and well…you’re often paying a premium price for fancy marketing.
You may be inclined to think that the ‘holistic’, ‘super premium’, ‘human grade’ choice at the pet store is the healthier option. Keep in mind that those are unregulated marketing terms with no legal definition.
You may be ‘grossed out’ by things such as ‘by-product meal’ or ‘meat meal’, but those ingredients are actually more nutritious and more species appropriate than deboned meat!
Many Great Dane owners rely on kibble brands from companies such as Fromm, Zignature, Nutro, Victor, Nulo, 4Health, Farmina, Solid Gold, Taste of the Wild, Life’s Abundance, Earthborn, Honest Kitchen, Canine Caviar, Acana, Orijen, Gentle Giants, Diamond Natural’s and Costco/Kirklands.
Search for your brand at the Pet Nutrition Alliance. See how they stack up against other brands that were asked a few simple questions. If they didn’t answer or refused to answer, find a different brand.
The brands we’ve listed in the paragraph above are NOT formulated by on-staff veterinary nutritionists, and we don’t recommend a single one of them.
Fromm is formulated by a chemical engineer.
Victor is formulated by a guy with a science degree and simple online certificate in ‘nutrition’.
Diamond (which makes Diamond, Costco, 4Health, Taste of the Wild, Nutra Nuggets, and others) is a giant co-packing company. They use a single off-site, marginally qualified consultant and a ‘proprietary formulation technology’ (a computer program or spreadsheet).
Midwestern pet foods (which makes Earthborn, Sportmix, Unrefined, Venture, and Wholesomes) is another giant company with no Veterinary Nutritionist on staff (not to mention repeated issues with aflatoxins and salmonella).
Unrefined is an excellent example of a ‘premium’ label that uses a lot of fancy marketing words and makes you think it’s a small, family-owned healthy option. It’s formulated, packed, and shipped along side several other Midwestern Pet Foods brands, each targeting different demographics.
These are huge companies, selling their products as ‘premium’, at a premium price point, and not a single bag of it is backed by legitimate feeding trials or peer reviewed research.
Identity Pet Foods ‘Understanding DCM’ (I don’t love that this small, upstart brand is anti-kibble, uses a co-packer, has no feeding trials, does not provide AAFCO statements, and does not staff a veterinary nutritionist as of 2022, but I do love what they are trying to do as a whole and this DCM article is ON POINT!)
Kibble Brands to Avoid
While there are many brands to avoid, these brands are absolutely on the ‘do not fly’ list. We’ve reviewed some of them below for your convenience.
Any food that is ‘vegan’, ‘plant based’ or ‘cricket based’ (NEW EXCEPTION: ROOT LAB may be acceptable)
Any food with 2 or more types or forms of PEAS, LENTILS, or LEGUMES listed in the ingredients. For example peas, dried peas, pea protein, pea fiber, pea flour, split peas, yellow peas, green peas, lentils, whole lentils, lentil fiber, etc.)
Any food that has a lot of peas, potatoes, legumes, garbanzo beans, beans, sweet potatoes, or chickpeas in general
Any one of the 300-400 new boutique food brands in the U.S. each year
What about Dog Food Advisor?
Many people turn to the ‘Dog Food Advisor’ blog to make decisions about what food to feed.
While that blog provides some interesting analysis about certain kibbles, it’s important to note that the blog is run by a dentist…NOT a Veterinarian or a Canine Nutritionist with any kind of legitimate, commonly accepted credentials. The blog is extremely profitable, as it is littered with affiliate links to purchase foods.
The rating system is made up, and has been changed to match current trends.
If you don’t trust your veterinarian because they are “not a nutritionist”, why are you trusting pet store employees, dog owners, the Dog Food Advisor, influencers, and people who obtained easy pay-for-purchase ‘pet nutritionist’ certificates on the internet?
If you are looking for a nutrition blog that uses science and actual research, not marketing and theories, visit PETFOODOLOGY! It’s run by Tufts University and has many helpful topics.
At Hello Danes, we follow, promote, and share the advice given by board-certified veterinary nutritionists.
Adult Great Dane Dog Food
Adult Great Danes still require dedication to their nutrition.
As an adult, your Great Dane will need a quality dog food that is rich in animal protein to maintain lean muscle mass.
The most appropriate meats that you want to see in the dry dog food you choose include meat meals and meat by-product meals. We recommend chicken, salmon, or beef.
Chicken allergies are wildly over-diagnosed by dog owners. Contrary to popular belief, Great Danes are NOT sensitive to chicken!
They are, however, sensitive to poor quality diets, environmental factors, overfeeding, and issues related to gut health that are resolved through other means.
Avoid lamb (it’s incredibly difficult for dog food manufacturers to work with, and may cause nutrient deficiencies) and exotic meats such as bison, cod, quail, kangaroo, or yak. Exotic meats are not well researched for small companion animals.
Meat meals of any type (including by-product meals) include a rendered form of whole prey. That means that the ingredient includes things such as meat, tissue, cartilage, bone, and organ.
While this may sound gross to you, these things are loved in parts of the world that don’t waste any part of an animal after slaughter. They are also the same things that make up a correctly balanced bowl of raw dog food: necks, feet, guts, skin, and fat.
Raw feeders know that dogs need and want by-products in their diet! They go straight for the organs, will crunch up the bones and love to chew up feet, necks and yes, eyeballs.
Choose a kibble formulated with your dog in mind, not your personal taste.
Transition to a comparable adult formula between 18-24 months.
Fiber, fresh foods, and canned foods have been shown in studies to reduce bloat risk!
The safest topper you can add to your dog’s food is a canned version of their kibble. This has been shown to reduce bloat risk, will be correctly balanced, is tasty, provides hydration, and will be free of salmonella and e.coli.
When offering puppies canned food, make sure you are choosing the large breed puppy version.
We love Olewo’ Carrots (rehydrated) which are great for your dog’s stomach and overall gut health. 1 TBSP of dried Olewo Carrots will make over a half cup of fresh carrots to mix in with the kibble you feed your Great Dane.
Olewo Carrots work BETTER than pumpkin and are easier to store, too!
We also like Dr. Harvey’s for easy, healthy fiber & fresh food toppers!
While some of these are technically made to be served as a whole meal with raw meat, they actually make a great ‘topper’ (less than 4-10% of all intake) for kibble and well-balanced raw diets.
Rehydrate a scoop or two of this with water! Dogs love it and the bag lasts a long time, too.
Can Great Danes have Grain-Free Food?
Grain-inclusive kibble formulas are best for Great Dane, as they are less likely to be filled with peas, potatoes, legumes, and pea protein that can throw off the balance of important amino acids.
These amino acids, including taurine, are necessary for heart health. Many grain-free food options are nothing more than meat-flavored peas.
Many dogs have been diagnosed with DCM (heart failure) caused by grain-free foods and foods of all types that were not formulated by veterinary nutritionists.
We recommend the addition of fish oil and Dasaquin or Green Lipped mussel, especially if your kibble food does not include these supplements in the ingredients list.
A quality science-backed food with meat meal or meat by-product meal (such as Royal Canin Giant Breed Adult) will contain joint support!
Big dogs benefit from the addition of these, and probiotics for their health.
Home-cooked diets are rarely healthy and can be exceedingly difficult to get right.
Balance It is a great website for determining if you are formulating your home-cooked diet for your Great Dane correctly. Test your recipe over there!
We haven’t found a dog food recipe on Pinterest yet that was balanced correctly.
You’ll likely find that the very common homemade Great Dane food diet consisting of ground meat, rice, and veggies is horribly deficient. Even recipes created by influencers and veterinarians (such as the famous ‘pup loaf’ by holistic influencer Judy Morgan) is dangerous.
I plugged Dr. Judy Morgan’s pup loaf recipe into Balance It, and the system could NOT resolve the recipe as-is (meaning, it’s unbalanced). It also indicated that the recipe could result in dangerous levels of vitamin D!
What your Great Dane eats will affect their health, and unfortunately, most home cooks have little to no credible background in canine nutrition!
An unbalanced home-cooked diet may be missing key nutrients, proteins, and amino acids that are necessary for a long and robust life.
Great Dane dogs are particularly susceptible to health issues of the heart and bones; an incorrectly formulated home-cooked diet for a Great Dane can be exceptionally dangerous.
Many veterinarians say that brittle bones are a very common complication associated with clients who make their dogs food at home.
One study found that nearly all of the 200 recipes they tested had nutrient deficiencies. (READ THAT STUDY HERE).
That’s not to say that it cannot be done! As a matter of fact, with the help of a board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist and the website listed above (Balance It) you can take full control over what your dog eats.
If you want to offer food that is similar to a home-cooked diet, we recommend looking into Just Food For Dogs.
This fresh food option for Great Danes is a professionally formulated alternative to DIY. The jury is out on if it fully and truly meets the WSAVA guidelines above. However, it is a tested food with a respectable staff of formulators behind it.
There is nothing wrong with kibble. Don’t feel pressured or guilted into spending large amounts of money on ‘fresh’ or ‘holistic’ options.
Just Food For Dogs can be used as the entire diet, or as an outstanding fresh-food topper that dogs LOVE. It is VERY expensive.
For young dogs, we recommend the chicken and white rice or fish and sweet potato flavor only. As of this writing, they are the only ones formulated correctly for the growth of large or giant breed dogs.
Free Feeding Great Danes
Many pet lovers who offer kibble wish to free-feed their Great Danes.
Contrary to popular belief, resting after meals is not a reliable preventative for bloat in Great Danes! That’s great news for people who do not mind when their Great Danes eat and would prefer allowing them to graze.
The only difference is that instead of scheduling meals, you will offer food around meal times and leave the bowl down for your dog to graze.
Free-feeding can result in obesity. Talk to your veterinarian.
We recommend feeding 2-3 meals/day.
How to Reduce Bloat Risk
Always encourage slow eating! Fast eating, scarfing, gulping, and guarding are key predictors of bloat risk.
As a matter of fact, we believe that slow eating is a much more reliable way to reduce bloat risk in giant breed dogs than large, quickly-eaten meals followed by rest.
Studies show that bloat most often happens 2-3 hours after meals and often while resting or in the middle of the night!
Stop stressing every time your Dane eats food! Bloat is related to genetics: pedigree, temperament & gut health.
Our Great Dane feeding chart (below) still applies when choosing to free feed a Great Dane. Adult food requirements will be different than they will be for a 12 or even 18 week old Great Dane.
Resource Guarding & Picky Eaters
One important thing to note when choosing a free Great Dane feeding ‘schedule’ is that it will be inappropriate for some dogs. Great Danes that scarf food, guard food, stress about food, nitpick food, or obsess about it will require diligent training and management.
For those dogs, we recommend 2-3 meals each day, fed in a stress-free environment, and offered in a slow feeder bowl or food puzzle to manage intake and reduce scarfing (which can increase bloat risk and contribute to an unfortunately short life span).
Picky eaters benefit from scheduled mealtimes, not more enticing toppers or yet another change to the food offered!
Many pet parents are unsure of how much to feed a Great Dane or their Great Dane puppy. The condition of your Great Dane is the best indicator of how much food you should (or should not) be feeding.
If your Great Dane or Great Dane puppy is at a healthy weight, you are likely feeding the appropriate amount. Adult Great Danes should be on large or giant breed adult or senior formula.
Use the food chart as your guide.
You can see roughly how much to feed your Great Dane by looking at the back of your bag of dog food. As above, a Great Dane puppy may need to eat more than an adult Great Dane.
If your dog is overweight or obese, you will need to reduce your dog’s food intake and make sure they don’t get too many calories from their food, wet food, treats, or toppers.
If your dog is underweight, you may need to add more food and closely monitor food intake.
Age
Timing
Amount
Puppies under 12 weeks
3x/day
2-4 cups/day
Puppies 12-24 weeks old
3x/day
3-6 cups/day
Puppies 24 + weeks (6 months) or older
2x/day
5-10 cups/day
Puppies 12-18 months
2x/day
6-12 cups/day
Adults 18+ Months
2x/day
4-8 cups/day
These values are averages. Your pet may need more or less. Always talk to your veterinarian and use the manufacturer’s feeding chart as a guideline.
The easiest way to check your dog’s body condition is to use the Body Condition Score. This nine-point system is based on how easily you can feel your dog’s ribs and whether or not there is an obvious waist.
For the Great Dane breed, you want to see a defined waist, a tuck in the abdomen, and good muscle development. Great Dane dogs should be lean and fit, never heavy or slow.
In general, a female Great Dane will be smaller, and a male Great Dane will have more substance. ‘Euro’ is a marketing term and not actually a reason for a dog to be heavy, chunk or overweight.
If you are unsure of your dog’s body condition, please consult your veterinarian.
An Underweight Great Dane
A Healthy Weight Great Dane
An Overweight Great Dane
What if my Great Dane is Picky?
If your Great Dane or Great Dane puppy is turning their nose up at food, always address medical reasons first.
Most ‘picky’ dogs have either had enough and don’t actually need more kibble, or they have trained you to offer them different foods (they know you’ll give in)!
Remember, any Great Dane feeding chart that you find is a loose guideline, not a hard recommendation. If you really feel that your Great Dane is not eating enough, you must first start with a veterinary visit to rule out health problems.
You can also try enticing toppers such as raw egg, bone broth, Dr. Harvey’s (rehydrated), or canned foods; however, tread cautiously!
Bribing your dog to eat is a rabbit hole that you may not want to go down. Dogs will work for their food (training) and will not let themselves starve.
Giant breed puppies have big appetites and can eat up to 12 cups of food per day!
The cost of feeding a giant breed puppy will depend on the quality of food you choose and the size of your puppy.
On average, you can expect to spend $50-$100 per month on food for your giant breed puppy.
We also recommend supplements that can benefit the joints, increase gut health and reduce bloat risk.
Our favorite supplements for Great Dane owners to consider include:
Great Dane Feeding Chart
We recommend using this Great Dane Feeding Chart as a guide:
Fast-growing 12-week old Great Dane pups may actually eat more than adult Great Danes!
Because they tend to grow larger, a male Great Dane may also need more food than a female Great Dane. Great Danes in general have more complex nutritional needs than other breeds!
When considering exactly how much to feed a Great Dane, we recommend starting with the feeding chart on the back of the bag.
FEEDING GUIDELINES FOR GREAT DANES
This chart assumes you are feeding a quality kibble. Every kibble is different and some have more nutrition per cup than others. Some puppies receive more exercise or have a higher metabolism than others, too.
Remember that adding a lot of treats or toppers will change these ratios! These feeding guidelines are based on Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Formulas. Other kibbles and fresh foods may be different, and raw feeding will be by weight, not volume.
Age
Timing
Amount
Puppies under 12 weeks
3x/day
2-4 cups/day
Puppies 12-24 weeks old
3x/day
3-6 cups/day
Puppies 24 + weeks (6 months) or older
2x/day
5-10 cups/day
Puppies 12-18 months
2x/day
6-12 cups/day
Adults 18+ Months
2x/day
4-8 cups/day
These values are averages. Your pet may need more or less. Always talk to your veterinarian and use the manufacturer’s feeding chart as a guideline.
Great Danes age 18-24 months +: switch to an adult formula and closely monitor body condition, especially after spay/neuter. We’ve linked to an important blog post on this topic below.
Does your Great Dane eat a lot? Leave a comment below! We’d love to know more about your Dane pup and the experience you’ve had with dog food.
We hope this Great Dane feeding chart has been helpful in determining how to best feed your pooch. As always, if you have any questions please consult your veterinarian.
Choosing the right food for a Great Dane sometimes feels like rocket science. We get it because we’ve been there. Selecting the right food for your Great Dane is crucial for maintaining its health and well-being, so this is important! Our Great Dane Dog Food 101 post cuts through the fluff and gives you the best and most up-to-date answer.
This post covers several Great Dane food topics including:
How much dog food does a Great Dane need?
What is the best food for Great Danes?
Is Grain-free food good for dogs?
Should pet owners be feeding large breed puppies puppy food or adult food?
What does a senior dog need to be eating?
Let’s dive into the best dog food as well as get answers to other commonly asked questions.
Great Dane Dog Food Nutritional Requirements
Giant breed dogs, such as Great Danes, possess distinct nutritional needs due to their size, growth rate, and physiological characteristics. The sheer magnitude of their bodies requires careful attention to nutrient levels to support healthy bone development and prevent musculoskeletal issues.
It is well-studied, for example, that excess calcium is damaging to growing bones. Giant breeds undergo rapid growth during their puppy stage, making their nutritional requirements specific to this critical phase.
Additionally, their slower metabolism and susceptibility to health conditions necessitate controlled calorie intake and a balanced diet to avoid obesity-related complications.
Here is our shortlist of requirements. Check each one of these items to narrow down your choices!
Calcium level of 1.0 – 1.3%, ideally less than 1.2%
3.5g or less of calcium per 1000kCal
For puppies under the age of two: AAFCO Large Breed Growth Statement
Formulated for large or giant breed dogs
Grain inclusive (never feed grain-free dry kibble, more on this below)
Ideally formulated by a company with a board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist on staff, that does feeding trials and nutritional research
At Hello Danes, we researched this for you and recommend the following formulas (for your convenience). All of these meet the current science-backed recommendations:
Determining the appropriate amount of food for Great Danes requires a balanced approach, taking into account their size, age, activity level, and individual metabolism. The food you choose matters, too.
Generally, adult Great Danes may consume between 2,500 to 3,500 calories per day, but this can vary. Puppies, during their rapid growth phase, may require up to twice the amount of calories compared to adult dogs!
It’s crucial to follow feeding guidelines provided by reputable dog food brands and to monitor the dog’s weight and condition regularly.
Feeding too much to puppies can contribute to orthopedic growth disorders, and feeding too much to adults can contribute to obesity-related health problems.
Consulting with a veterinarian to tailor the diet to the dog’s specific needs and adjusting portion sizes based on age and activity level is key to maintaining optimal health and weight in Great Danes.
I’ve seen puppies eat 6-12 cups/day, while adults may eat only 3-7 cups, depending on the nutrient density of the food.
Author’s Note: The outdated practice of feeding adult food to Great Dane puppies is NOT recommended. It often results in above-average food intake, because the puppy is starved for protein and nutrients. Read more about this HERE.
Never Overfeed a Great Dane
More is not always better when it comes to feeding your dog. Overfeeding can lead to health problems like obesity and digestive issues.
Great Dane puppies that are fed too much will grow too quickly, putting them at risk for developmental orthopedic conditions such as Panosteitis, HOD, OCD, and Carpal Laxity.
In many cases, chronic loose stools can be attributed to excess intake of food! Cutting back is a healthy choice.
Accelerated Growth: Overfeeding can lead to rapid growth in puppies, contributing to musculoskeletal issues and joint problems.
Obesity: Overfeeding contributes to obesity, placing extra stress on joints and exacerbating existing health concerns.
Digestive Issues: Consuming more food than necessary can lead to digestive problems, including indigestion and diarrhea.
Reduced Lifespan: Overweight dogs are more prone to various health issues, potentially reducing their lifespan.
In adult dogs, overfeeding increases the risk of many conditions, including surgical complications. For overweight dogs that get Osteosarcoma, life-saving amputation surgery may not be an option.
Many people are tempted to feed their Great Danes too much food out of concern that they are too thin! They are rarely undernourished.
For dogs that refuse food and lose weight doing so, a medical emergency is indicated. This is not a sign to add fatty foods to the diet.
Here are some common health problems associated with excess weight in adult dogs:
Arthritis: Overfeeding can contribute to excessive weight gain, placing additional stress on the joints and increasing the likelihood of developing arthritis in dogs.
Joint Problems: Excessive weight can lead to joint issues, including hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia, affecting the dog’s mobility and comfort.
Cardiovascular Conditions: Overweight dogs are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular problems, such as heart disease and hypertension.
Respiratory Issues: Obesity can strain the respiratory system, leading to difficulties in breathing and increased susceptibility to respiratory infections.
Reduced Immune Function: Excessive weight can compromise the immune system, making dogs more susceptible to infections and illnesses.
Liver Disease: Overfeeding may contribute to the development of liver problems, impacting the organ’s function and overall health.
Decreased Quality of Life: Dogs that are overfed and overweight may experience a reduced quality of life due to limited mobility, discomfort, and increased vulnerability to various health issues.
Can Great Danes Eat Grain-Free Food?
In recent years, concerns have been raised about a potential link between certain grain-free diets and a serious heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). While not exclusive to Great Danes, this breed, like others, may be susceptible to DCM if their diet lacks proper nutrients.
DCM is a condition where the heart becomes enlarged and weakened, affecting its ability to pump blood efficiently.
Several studies have suggested a likely connection between grain-free or boutique diets and an increased risk of DCM. In some cases, the condition is reversed with a diet change, indicating substantial theories that diet does indeed play a huge role in heart health (just as it does in humans!).
Many holistic veterinarians and influencers promote that grain-free foods “have more meat and fewer carbs and fillers”. They also believe that removing grains from the diet can help resolve allergies, itching, and digestive issues.
This is an absolute myth. At least, the part about having “more meat and less carbs”, is. Grain-free dry diets are loaded with carbs in the form of lentils, potatoes, peas, and other legumes…not more meat as marketing has led us to believe.
In our popular Great Dane group on Facebook, several members have come forward to tell us their stories of losing (or nearly losing) their beloved Great Danes to heart disease after feeding them grain-free foods. Until we have more information, it’s just not worth the (very real) risk.
If you have a Great Dane suffering from an unhealthy gut, allergies, and itching, perhaps a trip to a veterinary dermatologist or veterinary internist is in order. They have other treatment options that will be ultimately safer and more effective.
Feeding Guidelines for Great Dane Puppies
You cannot feed a Great Dane Puppy the same way that you feed an adult dog. Great Dane puppies must have a diet with strictly controlled calcium, phosphorus, vitamin, mineral, and energy levels.
Here are some general feeding guidelines to ensure the healthy development of your Great Dane puppy:
Large or Giant Breed Puppy Food: Choose a puppy food specially formulated for large breeds. Look for options that specify “large breed” or “giant breed” on the packaging, as these diets typically address the specific nutritional requirements of growing Great Danes.
Balanced Calcium and Phosphorus: Ensure the puppy food has a balanced ratio of calcium to phosphorus, typically ranging from 1:1 to 1.2:1. This helps support proper bone development and minimizes the risk of skeletal issues.
Caloric Intake: Great Dane puppies have a high metabolism, but it’s crucial not to overfeed. Follow the feeding guidelines on the food packaging, but individualize portions based on your puppy’s age, weight, and activity level. Regularly monitor their weight and adjust portions as needed.
Meal Frequency: Feed young Great Dane puppies three to four meals per day to accommodate their fast growth and reduce the risk of bloat. As they mature, you can gradually transition to two meals per day.
Avoid Rapid Growth: While it’s essential to support growth, avoid overfeeding to prevent excessively rapid growth. This helps reduce the risk of musculoskeletal issues, including hip dysplasia.
Treats and Table Scraps: Limit treats and table scraps, as excessive treats can contribute to weight gain. Too many goodies will unbalance the diet and encourage picky eating.
Regular Veterinary Check-ups: Schedule regular check-ups with your veterinarian to monitor your Great Dane’s growth and ensure they are meeting developmental milestones. Your vet can provide guidance on adjusting the diet as needed.
Here is our list of foods that meet all recommendations for Great Dane puppies. They need to stay on an appropriate formula until age 2. This is the most current recommendation (2023-2024).
Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.
Supplements for Great Danes
Navigating the world of supplements for Great Danes is like walking into a Jungle! There are so many options and a lot of companies trying to get our money. The supplement industry is largely unregulated!
It’s easy for companies to bring new-fangled options to market. All they have to do is pay a factory to manufacture their products and package them with a well-designed label.
The truth is that many supplements are not proven, not researched, not carefully manufactured, and may do more harm than good.
When considering supplements for your Great Dane, stick to brands that are both veterinary recommended and/or have the NASC Seal (which is obtained by proving the safety and potency of the formula being sold).
Never give a multivitamin or multi-supplement. If your pet’s diet is properly balanced, a vitamin or mineral supplement may result in excess nutrients such as vitamin D and calcium intake. This can result in a slew of nutritional problems. More is not better!
Here are some supplements you might consider!
The Best Fish Oil for Great Danes
Great Danes are prone to many health conditions. Some include food allergies, skin issues, joint conditions, and digestion problems.
Fish oil is a great way to support large breeds regardless of the dog’s age. It can be given at any life stage, in moderation. Because fish oil is high in fats, it does add a lot of calories to the diet. Watch your pet’s body condition score and don’t let them become overweight!
Buyer beware, not all fish oils are created equal. With any product you choose, you must verify that the company is using exceptional quality control and proving its supplements in clinical and safety trials.
Nutramax Welactinis a great example of a fish oil that is carefully sourced and formulated, manufactured by a company that backs up their promises with clinical research and industry-leading quality control.
Joint Supplements for Big Dogs
There are MANY joint support options on the market, and like the others, it can be hard to choose. Save your money! Don’t even consider ones that don’t have clinical research and owned manufacturing facilities.
We use and recommend Dasaquin and Cosuquin products.
A lot of Great Dane breeders recommend giving all puppies a lot of vitamin C to “prevent knuckling”.
This practice is not backed by science. Like many home remedies, this is one that may do more harm than good.
See, here is the thing. Puppies DO need vitamin C in their diet. At one time, decades ago, pet food manufacturers didn’t know how to formulate food for giant breed puppies.
As a result of incorrect nutritional levels, big puppies were experiencing all sorts of problems with growth including Carpal Laxity and growing pains. In response, breeders tried all sorts of things!
They tried feeding adult foods to slow growth (you’ve probably heard this outdated and damaging recommendation before!) and adding vitamin C to promote healthy bones and collagen development. These remedies seemed to work, and this advice has stuck around in the giant breed community for decades now.
There is a fair amount of clinical research showing the important role that vitamin C plays in bone growth and stability!
“Overall, vitamin C exerts a positive effect on trabecular bone formation by influencing expression of bone matrix genes in osteoblasts.”
Now it’s 2023 and modern large and giant breed puppy foods have been formulated correctly to remove dietary influence on bone growth disorders. We no longer have to starve our puppies of nutrition on adult foods to slow their growth.
These new foods also contain the correct amount of vitamin C to support healthy bone and cartilage development. There is not too little, nor is there too much.
Reread the above quote about “influencing [the] expression of bone matrix genes in osteoblasts”. To put this simply, in the context of wanting to SLOW bone growth and prevent the bones from maturing too quickly, we have to consider once again that over-supplementation may be harmful.
I’d also like to point out that too many Great Dane puppies suffer from chronic loose stools. This is a side effect of excess vitamin C.
Don’t blame those loose stools on chicken or grains; look at your supplements, first.
Great Dane Feeding Chart
The numbers on the chart below can vary depending on the food you feed, your dog’s age, their overall health, and their activity level. If your pet receives a lot of additional calories in the form of treats, toppers, enrichment toys, and supplements this chart will be inaccurate.
We recommend offering puppies 3 small meals a day. Transition to 2 meals each day at around 6-8 months of age, if you wish.
This chart is just a guideline of what you can generally expect when feeding a proper diet that meets WSAVA recommendations. Follow the manufacturer’s directions and your veterinarian’s advice. Always monitor body condition, too! Fast growth and excess weight are bad for Great Danes. Err on the side of caution.
Pro Tip: if your dog has loose stools, you may be overfeeding them!
Age
Timing
Amount
Puppies under 12 weeks
3x/day
2-4 cups/day
Puppies 12-24 weeks old
3x/day
3-6 cups/day
Puppies 24 + weeks (6 months) or older
2x/day
5-10 cups/day
Puppies 12-18 months
2x/day
6-12 cups/day
Adults 18+ Months
2x/day
4-8 cups/day
These values are averages. Your pet may need more or less. Always talk to your veterinarian and use the manufacturer’s feeding chart as a guideline.
Pet Food Ingredients 101
Distinguishing between fact and fiction is crucial when making informed choices while selecting pet food. Common misconceptions can arise regarding ingredients such as by-products and grains.
A lot of misinformation about pet food is spread by profit-driven influencers and veterinarians who want to drive sales for their books, courses, and supplements.
Not to mention the millions of dollars made by pet food rating websites such as Dog Food Advisor. They earn money every time you click.
Here is some information about pet food ingredients that mirrors what board-certified veterinary nutritionists have to say on the topic!
Chicken Meal and By-Product Meal in Dog Food
Meals (such as chicken meal, beef meal, salmon meal, or chicken by-product meal) in dog food are essentially a concentrated and dehydrated form of meat, excluding moisture content.
When utilized in well-formulated pet foods, meat meals are far superior to ‘fresh meat’ or ‘raw meat’ in terms of nutritional content, protein, and balanced amino acids.
To put this simply, pet food companies that attempt to woo you with “freshly roasted meat” as the primary or only meat ingredient may be making up for the resulting nutritional deficiency in the synthetic vitamins (which are in all pet foods). Some companies have to use more added vitamins than others.
Fresh meat is 80% water and doesn’t have bone, organ, or cartilage in it; these are nutrient-dense and biologically appropriate foods for dogs, even if they don’t sound good to all humans.
Chicken By-Product meals from companies like Royal Canin are a nutritious and high-quality source of protein that is more similar to a properly formulated raw diet than anything else. If you’ve heard otherwise, you’ve been misled.
I don’t know about you, but I am SICK and tired of predatory influencers that spread misinformation in exchange for profits. Let’s move onward…
Rice & Corn
Rice and corn are commonly included in dog food for several nutritional reasons. While many influencers have disparaged these ingredients, they are desirable when feeding Great Danes!
Energy Source: Both rice and corn are excellent sources of carbohydrates, providing a readily available energy source. Carbohydrates are crucial for fueling the day-to-day activities and metabolic functions of dogs.
Digestibility: Rice, in particular, is easily digestible for dogs, making it a suitable option for those with sensitive stomachs. Corn, when processed properly, is also digestible (more digestible than beef, actually) and provides dogs with essential nutrients.
Fiber Content: These grains contain dietary fiber, which aids in promoting healthy digestion. Adequate fiber in a dog’s diet supports regular bowel movements and helps prevent constipation. It can also reduce the risk of bloat!
Nutrient Profile: Rice and corn bring a range of essential nutrients to the table, including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These nutrients contribute to overall health and well-being, supporting functions such as immune system maintenance and skin health.
Cost-Effective: Both rice and corn are cost-effective ingredients, which can contribute to making dog food more affordable without compromising on nutritional value. This affordability allows pet owners to provide their dogs with quality nutrition at a reasonable cost.
Alternative Protein Source: While not as high in protein as meat, rice, and corn can still contribute to the overall protein content of the diet. This can be beneficial for dogs that may have allergies to certain meat proteins or for pet owners looking to diversify protein sources.
Gluten-Free Option: Rice is naturally gluten-free, making it a suitable option for dogs with sensitivities or allergies to gluten-containing grains. This provides a grain alternative for dogs with specific dietary requirements.
It’s important to note that the quality of rice and corn in dog food depends on factors such as sourcing, processing, and overall formulation. Responsible pet food manufacturers carefully select and process these ingredients to ensure they meet the nutritional needs of dogs.
Additionally, individual dogs may have unique dietary requirements, so consulting with a veterinarian can help tailor a diet that best suits a particular dog’s health and preferences.
Walking into a dog food store is like walking into a shark tank. You’re immediately inundated with nutrition advice and thousands of bags with bright colors and promises of better health for your pet. If you are interested in what we believe are the best foods for Great Danes, this blog post is the place to be (NOT the pet store)!
Back in the day, before Natalie and I started this site and put literal years into educating ourselves about the most current advice for Great Dane care, we were confused. So confused! It’s easy to get sucked into marketing and anecdotes from other dog owners. We all love our pets and want what is best.
When we dug around in search of the best foods for our Great Danes, here is what we found:
Outdated advice, including food brands that no longer exist
Nutrition information and ideas that are not based on any actual research and science
Recommendations for food brands that are poorly formulated
Click bait articles that seem to know very little about Great Danes
Promotional articles from dog food companies that don’t know how to formulate for Great Danes
Fear mongering, elitism, and pseudoscience in pet food marketing
A whole lot of confused Great Dane owners!
This blog post today is for those who feed Great Dane KIBBLE, and we are bringing you science-backed, UP TO DATE information about what to feed your giant breed dog! Raw and fresh info coming soon, though we share some of that here, too!
Great Danes have very specific nutritional requirements.
The appropriate food will keep them at a healthy weight and will support their gut health, joints, growth, and structure. Read on!
Food Requirements for Great Danes
The best foods for Great Danes may not be what you think.
Remember, on this blog we look at science, research, and evidence; not marketing.
Foods for Great Danes must be formulated specifically for the growth (puppies) and maintenance (adults) of large and giant breed dogs. This means that puppies need a large or giant breed puppy or all life stages food, and adults over the age of 2 need an adult or all life stages food.
Additionally, we like to see foods meet the following guidelines (especially for Danes under the age of 2):
Calcium level at or below 1.2%
3.5g or less calcium per 1000kCal
Calcium to Phosphorus ratio of as close to 1 : 1 as possible
Specifically labeled for large or giant breed dogs
Grain-inclusive
Includes meat meal or meat by-product meal, which may lower the risk of bloat
Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist or PhD in Animal Nutrition employed by the company
We are going to break down the science of dog food in this blog post below. Our recommendations MAY surprise you, so we’re backing up our information with science!
Now before you go crazy and start looking at a million labels, let us help you.
What are the Best Food Brands for Great Danes?
To keep things simple, here is our list of foods that meet the guidelines and recommendations outlined in this post. Click on any to see them on Chewy.
Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.
I like to note that some people have not loved our recommendation to choose well-researched, science-backed foods. We believe that such opinions are often misinformed. To be perfectly honest, I used to be misinformed as well, and actively considered foods such as Purina and Royal Canin to be absolute garbage.
Of course we all want to believe that the ‘holistic’ option is best, but I’ve learned that’s not always the case; millions of dollars are spent every year on dog food marketing and we are all susceptible to it.
A dry diet which contains named (chicken, beef, or salmon) meat meal or meat by-product meals will have MORE meat and more meat based nutrition in it, and that’s just good science.
“Fresh meat” and “deboned meat” can be in the food as well. It’s important to note, however, that fresh meats are roughly 70% water, and once extruded into kibble won’t be a large portion of the final product.
For this reason, we recommend steering clear of foods that only use fresh or deboned meats to appeal to YOUR taste and wallet.
Organ, bone, tissue and cartilage on the other hand (in the form of meat meals and meat by-product meals) are species-appropriate and will contain necessary amino acids, vitamins, proteins, fats, and even glucosamine!
All about Calcium & Phosphorus Levels
Calcium should be 1.0% – 1.2% Phosphorous should be 1.1%-.8%
The overall calcium level should not exceed 3.5g per 1000kCal
For puppies, it is also very important that the food has the AAFCO Large Breed Growth Statement, indicating that the formulation is appropriate for growing puppies that will be 70+lbs or more as adults.
The ratio of calcium to phosphorus should be as close to 1:1 as possible. (For example, a 1.4 to 1 ratio is not acceptable, but 1.2 to 1 is)
However, these are NOT the only considerations!
A food with the correct ‘analysis’ and ‘healthy sounding ingredients’ may still be incorrect.
This is why choosing an appropriate large or giant breed formula from a company with qualified nutritionists on staff matters so much.
Additionally, many foods on the market that are popular in the Great Dane community are actually dangerously high in calcium and way too low in protein.
There is a lot of outdated misinformation out there about protein levels in Great Dane food. Many people believe (and promote) that Danes should be fed ‘low protein’ foods to ‘prevent knuckling’.
That statement is unfortuantely based on pseudoscience, anecdotes, and misunderstandings about protein in pet food.
Quality protein from meat, meat meal and meat by-products is necessary, and studies show that protein does not actually “cause knuckling”.
Too many calories and too much of the wrong kind of nutrition is what causes growth problems in Great Danes, not too much protein.
Foods that use a lot of peas or legumes, especially when paired with “fresh deboned meat” (which as mentioned above is 70% water) may have replaced a significant amount of meat protein with plant-based protein. This is not healthy.
Large Breed foods that are backed by legitimate peer-reviewed science and research will have optimal fat, protein, calcium, and phosphorus levels. Most also offer joint support.
If you are choosing an appropriate food, the protein level on the bag should not be a consideration.
A more extensive list of our favorite foods for Great Danes is below, but until then, here are some of our favorites.
Great Dane Food Dealbreakers
Here are some foods that you definitely want to avoid for your Great Dane.
Grain Free Food for Great Danes
Unbalanced foods from boutique companies are believed to lead to dietary-induced heart problems (Secondary DCM).
Grain-free foods in particular are problematic as most are from boutique food companies that tend to replace a lot of actual meat content with peas, potatoes, chickpeas and legumes.
There is a growing body of evidence that should be addressed, especially because Great Danes are already prone to genetic heart problems (Primary DCM).
Secondary (nutritional) DCM is often a silent killer. You may not know your dog is sick until it’s too late.
Secondary DCM is often reversed completely, however, by choosing science-backed dog food formulated by Veterinary Nutritionists.
Bloat & Nutrition Risk Factors
To date, no food brand has been correlated with an increase in bloat risk.
However, the following factors HAVE been noted and require more study:
Low fiber diets
Poorly formulated diets with fat in the first 4 ingredients, often seen in foods from Victor and Life’s Abundance which are not formulated by a veterinary nutritionist or backed by research. There is one exception to this rule; the Royal Canin Giant Breed line. Read more about this HERE.
Dogs that are fed only a dry food diet (we recommend mixing in canned food into at least one of your dog’s daily meals
Dogs that eat quickly (we recommend slow-feeder bowls)
Dogs that eat from raised bowls (though more study is needed). This is likely related to gulping and excess intake of air from the unnatural eating position that occurs with raised feeders.
MLM Foods for Great Danes Scam
MLM foods such as Life’s Abundance (also NuVet Vitamins) are foods where breeders profit off of the (expensive) food being sold to puppy buyers.
Some breeders also participate in the unethical practice of essentially requiring this purchase or in offering a more robust health guarantee if you feed this food.
These foods are backed by a lot of marketing claims, but no science.
Some foods meet WSAVA Guidelines but unfortunately, most don’t.
Look past the marketing and fancy words on your dog food bag.
Start asking questions.
Food should be formulated by on-site, employed, credentialed Ph.D Veterinary Nutrition professionals with extensive, certified knowledge in veterinary health and nutrition.
If you reach out to a company and they have a list of excuses for why they don’t actually staff a full-time board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist (DACVN or ACVN), or why they don’t also then test their foods by investing heavily into research and trials, tread cautiously.
Many companies will say they use a “team of nutrition experts, including nutritionists“.
What this most often actually means is that they paid a consulting company to sign off on a formula they generated using software or spreadsheets. If it meets nutritional minimums, a box can be checked and the company can claim that a ‘Nutritionist’ was involved.
Photo credit to @born.greater
The List of Best Foods for Great Danes
As before, this food list is not exhaustive. Remember to get your nutrition advice from credentialed professionals and those who share the same ethos of choosing science-backed, highly researched nutrition.
This list is for ADULT dogs over the age of 12-18 months.
These are the same foods that are recommended by veterinarians and fed by the top breeders (whose dogs are healthy, lean, robust and long-lived). We recommend putting your favorite on autoship from Chewy.com!
For puppies, choose the Large Breed puppy version.
The addition of fresh whole foods and toppers (up to 10% of the diet) on a professionally formulated food will provide better nutrition than a few dried blueberries in a bag of ’boutique’ food ever will.
We recommend feeding same-brand canned food, in addition to dry food.
Here is a list of ‘popular’ Great Dane food brands that we do not recommend.
Why are these foods on the ‘not recommended’ list?
Simply put, they don’t meet basic criteria for ethical, quality formulation and nutrition.
In other words, these foods are not typically formulated, researched and/or then fully tested by people with legitimate credentials to do so.
Most ’boutique’ foods only look healthier and feel ‘higher quality’ because of marketing, not because they actually are.
They do not participate in common canine health research and journals (choosing instead to do their own ‘testing’), and they often do not substantiate their formulas in actual food trials (choosing instead to pay somebody to just look it over on paper to see that AAFCO minimums are reached).
Most of these brands below have documented, verified cases of secondary (dietary-induced) DCM.
This is despite having only a tiny market share and minuscule sales compared to ‘big dog food’ (science-backed brands with a huge market share) that do not have any documented cases of nutrition-related DCM).
It is a myth that ‘holistic’, ‘ancient grains’, ‘super premium’, or ‘human grade’ boutique dog foods are healthier or better for your pet.
These are marketing terms with no true regulations or standards.
Foods that are not Recommended
Many of these foods are popular in the Great Dane community, but that doesn’t make them better. A lot of these foods are made in factories that manufacter many other brands on contract, and none of the brands listed below have qualified nutritionists on staff. Many of them have calcium levels that are in excess of current recommendations, too!
Nutrition is a KEY element in Great Dane health. We believe these brands should be looked at with higher consumer demands of quality and ethical formulation practices:
Earthborn Holistics
Diamond Naturals
4Health
Victor (high calcium levels in all but one formula)
We tend to do things more often when we are rewarded for them. Dogs are the same way.
Most dogs are highly motivated by food. From a biological perspective, this makes a lot of sense. Use food to your advantage when training, and gradually distance and eventually fade out the rewards over time.
Treats for Puppies
Puppies especially need teeny, tiny bites.
I like to use pieces that are the size of my pinky nail or even smaller!
You do not need huge chunks of meat to teach with food; offering several rewards quickly is much more effective than a few big rewards spaced farther out.
By minimizing the size of each reward, you are also able to give more rewards in the same span of time, which is really handy for teaching difficult behaviors such as ‘STAY’ and ‘COME’.
Start with a high-rate of reward and as your dog understands the trick, space the rewards out.
Zuke’s mini natural are amazing and dogs go wild for them. I like to cut them in half so they go farther; these are rich, use sparingly.
Frozen veggies: some dogs will go nuts for a basic blend of carrots, peas and green beans in tiny bites.
Freeze-dried organ meats are fantastic when you really need to ‘get the point’ across. Use tiny bites sparingly.
Training has to be fun, otherwise why would either of you be interested? If you or your dog aren’t having fun, figure out why that is and fix it. The goal here is to reinforce correct behavior and build a bond based on trust, engagement and good habits.
The best training treat is the one that your dog will work for. Some dogs are happy to work really hard for plain old kibble, others need more motivation. The more difficult the skill you want to teach, the more valuable the rewards need to be.
Your puppy can only learn so much in a day. Break training sessions up so they happen several times per day, only a few minutes at a time.
Lastly, make sure you aren’t using so many training treats that it replaces more than 10% of the diet.
Great Dane puppies are exceptionally sensitive to dietary and diet-based growth issues, so you need to make sure that most of the nutrition is coming from their actual food.
If you notice loose stools or excess gas, back off on the training treats! Try even smaller bites, or use a spoon coated in pumpkin to do a quick lesson in ‘heel’, where they walk in position and lick the spoon as the reward.
We recommend that ALL Great Danes, especially puppies receive a daily probiotic supplement. This can help keep the gut bacteria healthy which is great for eliminating gas and loose stools. Additionally, gut health and bloat seem to go hand-in-hand! Having a healthy gut may be a key factor in reducing bloat risk.
The information contained in this post is for informational purposes only. We do our best to present the most up-to-date research, however it is up to the reader to make decisions regarding the health and well-being of their dog. We make no claims here to prevent or treat bloat or any other condition related to Great Danes. Find a veterinarian with GIANT breed experience, and chat with them.
Some of the products we list on our website contain affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase, we may receive a small commission for referring you. We only recommend products that we truly believe in. This commission does not affect the price of the product and is used to fund our content and expenses related to operating this website.
