Page Contents
Our Recommendation
Diamond Brand has a lot going on for it when it comes to producing quality pet food at a price that honestly at times makes me wonder how they do it since have quality dog food which provides healthy digestion, and consists of healthy fats and ingredients like Omega 3 fatty acid and more which promote healthy skin and the overall health, of course.
This is good stuff but the large breed pup formula is a bit hit or miss. I don’t say this to blame the dry food but rather to highlight the concept of a low-calorie slow growth quality dog food. Big dogs want to eat a lot and when they want.
The thought behind a large breed puppy food is that it provides the nutrition needed for controlled growth. This concept goes against the natural order in a puppy’s brain. The result can be a puppy that is simply not as enthusiastic about this formula as you would expect.
Dogs are naturally attracted to pet food that is higher in calories and flavor. This can be very apparent when you are trying to feed this formula to a puppy while also feeding the adult dog version to your older dog. The puppy will go for the adult version since it has more calories.
Also, there is the added appeal of the other dog eating it so they want it too! This puppy food will help control growth. Some pet parents give up on it simply because their puppy gets a bit stubborn.
Lamb-Based Means Grass-Based Proteins
What I like about this dog food is that it is lamb based. For those of you unfamiliar with the common farming practices in the United States, lamb is mostly grass fed and is better quality meat than traditionally raised beef and chicken meal. This can also mean that you are exposing your pets less to GMOs that are found in a lot of the corn, wheat, and soy that is used to grow a lot of the animals produced under commercial agriculture conditions.
Diamond always makes sure to include probiotics in their Diamond dog food which is something any pet parent can appreciate. Fish meal and flax seed oil are important sources of Omega 3 Fatty Acid and can help improve the coat and skin of dogs that are susceptible to skin allergies.
This is truly a dog food that offers a balanced diet of good quality proteins, veggies, and whole grains while also adding in probiotics that help your dog get the most out of their meals without any gastrointestinal distress.
Scout’s Pick: Diamond Naturals Large Breed Dog Food Review
Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy Real Meat Recipe Natural Dry Dog Food with Real Pasture Raised Lamb 40lb
Specifically formulated to meet the nutritional needs of your large breed puppy, this formula contains DHA for proper brain and vision development. Ideal protein and mineral content, along with omega fatty acids and antioxidants, help support your large breed puppy’s growth and development.
Pros and Cons
Are you trying to get a better understanding of whether or not the Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy Food is the right choice for you and your dog? We’re going to break down the pros and the cons of this dog food!
Pros:
- Designed for large breed dogs
- Affordable for specially made dog food
- Chicken is the first ingredient found in the formula
- There aren’t any types of filler ingredients such as soy, corn, or wheat found in the formula
- High-quality ingredients used in the formula
- Rich in protein, minerals, and vitamins that fully support the health of your dog
Cons:
- Contains ingredients that could be a potential allergen, like chicken
- Diamond Naturals Dog Food company has had several scares of possible salmonella contamination
Ingredients
Lamb, Lamb Meal, Ground Rice, Cracked Pearled Barley, Peas, Garbanzo Beans, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Egg Product, Fish Meal, Tomato Pomace, Pea Protein, Potato Protein, Sweet Potato, Natural Flavor, Flaxseed, Salmon Oil (Source of DHA), Salt, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Dried Chicory Root, L-Carnitine, Kale, Chia Seed, Pumpkin, Blueberries, Oranges, Quinoa, Dried Kelp, Coconut, Spinach, Carrots, Papaya, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Bifidobacterium Lactis, Lactobacillus Reuteri, Vitamin E Supplement,
Beta Carotene, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine
Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Vitamin D Supplement, Folic Acid.
Nutritional Analysis
Dog food ingredients, nutritional values, and the way they are labeled for consumers are monitored by several organizations in the United States including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the NGO, Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
Each year the AAFCO publishes two sets of nutritional minimum standards for dog food intended to help specify if a food is suitable for:
1. Dogs in the growth & reproduction phases of life
2. Adult dogs maintaining a healthy weight and activity level
Caloric Content
3,650 kcal/kg, 342 kcal/cup
Guaranteed Analysis
| Nutritional Component | Value | Meets AAFCO Growth & Reproduction Standards | Meets AAFCO Adult Maintenance Standards |
|---|---|---|---|
| ____________________________ | ____________________ | ____________________ | ____________________ |
| CRUDE PROTEIN | 27% min. | – | – |
| CRUDE FAT | 15% min | – | – |
| CRUDE FIBER | 4.0% max. | – | – |
| MOISTURE | 10% max | – | – |
| DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID (DHA) | 0.05% min | ||
| CALCIUM | 1.2% min | ||
| PHOSPHORUS | 1.0% min | ||
| ZINC | 150 mg/kg min | ||
| SELENIUM | 0.35 mg/kg min | ||
| VITAMIN E | 150 IU/kg min | ||
| L-CARNITINE | 30 mg/kg min | ||
| OMEGA 3 FATTY ACID | 2.0% min. | – | – |
| OMEGA 6 FATTY ACID | 0.3% min. | – | – |
| TOTAL MICROORGANISMS | 1,000,000 CFU/lb min |
* – indicates not yet analyzed
Feeding Amounts
Depending on your dog’s size and activity level, they may need more or less food in their daily feeding amounts.
| Weight | Daily Feeding for Ages 6-11 Weeks (cups) | Daily Feeding for Ages 3-4 Months (cups) | Daily Feeding for Ages 5-7 Months (cups) | Daily Feeding for Ages 8-12 Months (cups) | Daily Feeding for Adult Dogs (cups) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| _______________________ | _______________________ | ||||
| 5-10 LBS | 1 1/3 – 2 1/4 cups | 1 1/4 – 2 cups | 3/4 – 1 1/3 cups | 2/3 – 1 cup | 1/2 – 3/4 cup |
| 10-20 LBS | 2 1/4 – 3 1/2 cups | 2 – 3 cups | 1 1/3 – 2 1/4 cups | 1 – 1 3/4 cups | 3/4 – 1 1/2 cups |
| 20-30 LBS | 3 1/2 – 4 2/3 cups | 3 – 4 | 2 1/4 – 3 cups | 1 3/4 – 2 1/3 cups | 1 1/2 – 2 cups |
| 30-40 LBS | 4 2/3 – 5 2/3 | 4 – 5 cups | 3 – 3 1/2 cups | 2 1/3 – 2 3/4 cups | 2 – 2 1/2 cups |
| 40-60 LBS | 5 – 6 1/2 | 3 1/2 – 4 2/3 cups | 2 3/4 – 3 2/3 cups | 2 1/2 – 3 1/2 cups | |
| 60-80 LBS | 6 1/2 – 7 3/4 cups | 4 2/3 – 5 1/2 cups | 3 2/3 – 4 1/2 cups | 3 1/2 – 4 cups | |
| 80-100 LBS | 5 1/2 – 6 1/2 cups | 4 1/2 – 5 1/4 cups | 4 – 4 3/4 cups | ||
| 100-120 LBS | 6 1/2 – 7 cups | 5 1/4 – 5 3/4 cups | 4 3/4 – 5 1/4 cups | ||
| 120-140 LBS | 7 – 8 cups | 5 3/4 – 6 1/2 cups | 5 1/4 – 6 cups | ||
| 140-160 LBS | 8 – 8 3/4 cups | 6 1/2 – 7 cups | 6 – 6 1/2 cups |
Diamond Naturals Puppy Food for Large Breed: The Bottom Line
If you need to limit the growth of your giant breed puppy then you can’t go wrong with this diamond naturals dog food formula, but don’t expect your puppy to go crazy about it. It definitely provides a very complete, quality diet, but let’s face it, no puppy wants their growth controlled even if it is for their own good!
Specifically formulated to meet the nutritional needs of your large breed puppy, this formula contains DHA for proper brain and vision development. Ideal protein and mineral content, along with omega fatty acids and antioxidants, help support your large breed puppy’s growth and development.
Once your pup becomes an adult, you can explore other options from this brand in our Diamond pet food review page.
One thing that you can do to add flavor without a lot of calories is to use beef broth or reconstituted beef bouillon cube broth to add some appeal to the kibble. It is very important to limit the growing of the large breed puppy to avoid lifelong joint and hip problems.
Some breeds have such high initial growth rates that they can gain 2 lbs per day in body weight during peak growth! I actually had a hard time believing this until I charted the growth of my male Great Pyrenees and saw that he gained 14 lbs in a mere week. You want to feed them good but you also want steady growth when possible so they do not outgrow their frame.
Leave a Reply