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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 door
- 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
- Diamon Naturals Dog Food company has had several scares of possible salmonella contamination
Our Recommendation
Diamond Brand has a lot going on for it when it comes to producing quality dog food at a price that honestly at times makes me wonder how they do it. This is good stuff but the large breed puppy formula is a bit hit or miss. I don’t say this to blame the food but rather to highlight the concept of a low-calorie slow growth 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 foods that are 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 a better quality meat than traditionally raised beef and chicken. 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 dog foods which is something any pet parent can appreciate. Fish meal and flax seed oil are important sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids 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.
Made with ingredients of exceptional quality, Diamond Naturals provides complete, holistic nutrition for every pet. Each Diamond Naturals dry formula is enhanced with superfoods and guaranteed probiotics, for optimal nutrition and digestive support.
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, Potatoes, 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 ACIDS | 2.0% min. | – | – |
| OMEGA 6 FATTY ACIDS | 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 |
Product Alternatives
Iams Adult Large Breed Real Chicken High Protein Dry Dog Food
Feed your big breed pup a bowl of healthy benefits with Iams Adult Large Breed Real Chicken High Protein Dry Dog Food. This adult dog food has been specially formulated to support your lovable large-breed pooch.
Kids always grow up so fast and that’s no different for your fur babies either. Once they turn one they’re no longer classed as a puppy as far as food is concerned anyway. So, you may want to consider what food you’re going to graduate your pup onto next. The Iams Adult Large Breed High Protein Dry Dog Food is a great choice for just that.
The very first ingredient is chicken, a fan favorite of almost all pups. This is closely followed by whole grain barley and ground whole grain corn which provides the substance to keep a large breed dog going without getting hungry throughout the day. Your large breed dog’s muscles, joints, and bones will be well looked after thanks to the powerhouse protein, flaxseed, and added vitamins and minerals.
Let’s dive in and take a look at the main pros and cons of choosing the Iams Large Breed Dry Dog Food as the next step for your growing dog’s development.
Pros
- Farm-raised chicken is the first ingredient
- Formulated to aid in joint and bone support (perfect for large breed dogs)
- Ingredients are chosen to promote a healthy immune system and digestion
- Over 20% protein
- Affordable
- Added vitamins for overall health
- Flaxseeds help with a healthy coat and skin
- Produced in the US with locally sourced ingredients where possible
Cons
- Contains potential allergens like corn, barley, and chicken
- Doesn’t contain as many vegetables as other options
Iams Adult Large Breed Real Chicken High Protein Dry Dog Food: The Bottom Line
Iams has made a fantastic large breed dry dog food that seems to be loved by thousands of pets around the country. It’s made with farm-raised chicken, grains, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals, blended together into the ideal formula to benefit a large breed dog. It’s also super tasty and most people say their dogs can’t wait to get their chops around a bowl of Iams! Ultimately, a great choice for when you’re weaning your little buddy off of their puppy food.
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Adult & Senior Dry Dog Food, Chicken
Give your pet the wholesome ingredients they love with NUTRO NATURAL CHOICE Dry Dog Food recipes. Made for large breed adult dogs, this dry food is designed to help keep your big dog trim with a tailored blend of protein and fiber.
Nutro is a brand that’s well-known for their Feed Clean policy. They want you to feel confident in what you’re feeding your pet and therefore all their ingredients are non-GMO and they’re all recognizable ingredients, not something from a science lab. The very first ingredient is chicken, providing all the protein your large breed needs to keep growing and keep those muscles healthy.
There’s a good amount of glucosamine and chondroitin from the chicken meal (the fifth most prevalent ingredient in this food) which promotes healthy joints, so important in large breed dogs old and young. There are thousands of positive reviews for this Nutro dog food, some even from qualified vets who love this dog food and choose it for their own pets!
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of Nutro’s Large Breed Dry Dog Food.
Pros
- Chicken is the number one ingredient
- Uses only non-GMO ingredients
- Developed to keep your pup trim & fit
- Natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints
- Antioxidants for a healthy immune system
- Produced in the USA
- Large breed and large breed senior options
- Thousands of positive reviews
Cons
- Developed to keep dogs trim and fit so probably not ideal if you need your pup to gain weight
- Slightly more expensive than other brands
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Adult & Senior Dry Dog Food, Chicken: The Bottom Line
Nutro is a renowned brand that is trusted when it comes to providing natural, healthy dog food that’s formulated specially to improve the wellbeing of our little sidekicks. This formula is great for large breed dogs thanks to the healthy joint and healthy immune system boosting ingredients. If you’re looking for a dog food that’ll take your large breed from adulthood into their senior years, Nutro has your back.
The Bottom Line
If you need to limit the growth of your large breed puppy then you can’t go wrong with this 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!
Once your pup becomes an adult, you can explore other options from this brand in our Diamond Naturals dog 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 a large breed dog’s growth 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.
Made with ingredients of exceptional quality, Diamond Naturals provides complete, holistic nutrition for every pet. Each Diamond Naturals dry formula is enhanced with superfoods and guaranteed probiotics, for optimal nutrition and digestive support.
Continue reading:
Diamond Naturals Small Breed Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food Review
