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Great Danes, as the name suggests are large/giant breeds but gentle in heart. They are generally referred to as Gentle Giants or Apollo of Dogs. They are canines with great pride, prestige, power, and poise in a single package. In this blog, we inform you about the top 5 great Dane puppy food for your gentle giants.
Great Danes are affectionate and playful, highly energetic, and teen Danes are found to be “zoomies.” They love galloping and bouncing, leaping and spinning, jumping on and over things.
Great Danes are friendly even with kids. They have a limited lifespan and live only up to 7-10 years.
These giant breeds are well known for various things such as their massive physical build-up, noble status, and the amount of food they intake.
Great Dane puppies grow at an exponential rate and are capable of almost doubling their weight, i.e, 5-8 pounds at 4 weeks of age and up to 20 pounds by 6 weeks.
They grow rapidly until they are 2 to 3 years old. Once they become adults i.e., at 3 to 4 years they may weigh a minimum of 100 pounds and can go up to 200 pounds.
They need to have lots of calories to maintain their immense growth, and what you feed is equally important as how much you feed them.
This article discusses the requirements of puppy food, whether it is safe to feed puppy food to Great Danes and how many nutrients they require, and various puppy food suitable for Great Danes.
Also Read:- Healthy Low Calorie Dog Treats to Reduce your Dog’s Obesity
What Is The Importance Of Puppy Food?
For many dogs, puppy food is important as it supports their accelerated rate of growth. It provides them with the nutrition that helps puppies to grow healthily and also gives them immunity against possible diseases.
Puppies grow at an incredible rate during the first few months of their life. To support this growth, they need a surplus amount of calories and nutrients. Puppy foods are hence formulated with more calorie-rich ingredients to support their growth requirements.
After they reach or near their ideal height, they no longer require such surplus calories to support ongoing growth.
From then they can be switched from puppy food to an adult formula that provides adequate calories for maintenance rather than considering growth level.
But as giant breeds like Great Danes grow at immense speed, the question arises in mind, “can I feed my Great Dane puppy with the puppy food?”
Yes, Great Danes can also have puppy food that is specially tailored for them. Great Danes can safely eat puppy food as it meets the nutritional requirements at the micro and macronutrient levels, and calories, and contains high-quality ingredients. This ensures that they receive proper nutrition for supporting their growth and minimizing growth-related issues.
Great Dane Puppy Food Considerations
Great Dane puppies also require additional calories to support their growth as well. But there are a few things to be considered that make a big difference.
1. Growth Timeline
Small and medium-breed puppies typically take a few months to reach their potential height, but giant breeds like Great Danes can take up to 2 years for reaching their full height.
Their bodies will experience massive growth and transformation during this period, which has to be handled carefully.
Feeding Great Dane pups with too many nutrients will result in unnecessary weight gain, orthopedic issues, and growth-related issues. So, it is best to control their food to encourage slow and controlled growth during the first two years of their age.
2. Metabolism
Great Dane pups have a faster metabolism. But many giant breed dogs in general have slower metabolism compared to small breeds. It means that they burn calories consumed through food at a slower rate.
Feeding them the same quantity of food similar to the smaller breed would result in excess calories, weight gain, and other orthopedic issues.
3. Stomach Size And Satiety
Small and medium-sized dogs can’t overeat because of their small tummy. They can’t have as much as giant breeds.
Great Danes on the other hand consume a relatively larger volume of food to feel full as they have larger stomachs.
Choosing The Right Dog Food For Your Great Danes
The best food for your Great Dane varies depending on his age. While puppies need a higher quantity of protein and calories, adult dogs require a bit lower amount of these nutrients.
When shopping for Great Dane puppy food, you need to consider a minimum of 22% protein or about 25% to 30% protein.
The ideal fat for your Great Dane pup is about 12%-18%. Avoid going for high-calorie food as it can contribute to overgrowth.
Adult Great Danes can benefit from high-protein food as it helps them to maintain their physique. But, the fat intake has to be reduced once they have grown into their full size and no need for more calories.
You Need to Consider the Following Specifications While Selecting the Foods for Great Dane Puppies.
- It needs to have real meat, poultry, or fish as the main ingredient.
- It has to contain two animal proteins within the first three ingredients.
- The animal-based fat (like chicken) should be of moderate content.
- It should have low concentrations of digestible carbohydrates like whole grains and veggies.
- It has to contain natural sources of key nutrients balanced with other supplements.
- It has to be free from artificial additives such as colors, flavors, or preservatives.
- The recipe that you choose has to be formulated for large and giant breeds.
This special recipe that is formulated for large and giant breeds will meet the specific nutritional needs required for Great Danes and other larger breeds.
It also offers the right balance of proteins and calories that helps your pup to maintain his healthy weight. They also contain a specific amount of calcium and phosphorous ratio for bone and joint health.
It is important to change his diet from large-breed puppy food to large or giant-breed adult food when his growth becomes slow. It happens between 18 to 24 months for Great Danes.
Also Read:- Top Ten Toxic Foods That Will Kill Your Dog
Best Great Dane Puppy Food
With so many options available, it becomes a bit difficult to choose the right dog food. Here is a list of some of the pup’s favorite food for your Great Dane baby.
1, Nom Nom Chicken Cuisine Fresh Dog Food – Best Overall
It is considered one of the best dog foods for your Great Dane puppy for many reasons. It is made from fresh and human-grade ingredients.
The Nom Nom Fresh dog foods come in 4 different recipes and a chicken recipe has the highest protein and moisture content that is needed for the growth of a Great Dane puppy.
It is freshly prepared in Nom Nom kitchens and is gently cooked so that no nutrients are wasted.
2. Gentle Giants Canine Nutrition Chicken Dry Dog Food
Gentle Giants chicken recipe dry dog food is one of the best foods for your Great Dane pup and is available at an affordable rate.
Each serving is packed with high proteins, healthy fat, and fiber. It lacks some moisture but has health benefits for your pup.
3. Spot And Tango Beef Millet Dog Food
They use only real ingredients that are freshly cooked before shipping to your home. They supply both dry and fresh dog foods that are specially customized for specific dogs.
There are 3 fresh food recipes and three dry food recipes and all are free from artificial additives, fillers, and preservatives and use only 12 simple ingredients. They consider your dog’s age and then formulate the recipe.
4. Wellness Complete Health Just For Puppy Canned Dog Food
This is created especially for your Great Dane pup. It provides him with a healthy mix of meats, fruits, and veggies that are delicious and easy to digest.
It is high in protein but is a bit expensive and not breed-specific, but it can be good food for your Great Dane pup also.
5. Taste Of The Wild Pacific Stream Canned Dog Food
This canned food is gentle on your Great Dane pup’s teeth, gums, and digestive system. It uses clean and fresh ingredients and is affordable. It is grain-free and each recipe is nutritious and well-balanced.
Final Thoughts
Great Dane being massive in the outlook is too soft and gentle. He grows enormously tall and big and so you need to give him breed-specific puppy food to control his overgrowth.
Feeding your gentle giants is a great balancing act. You need to ensure your pup is getting adequate food but doesn’t have to feed too much.
Start feeding them with high-quality nutritional large-breed puppy food to ensure your Great Dane pup grows big and strong but not too quickly. Once he is grown up you can shift to adult food.
This article listed the top 5 puppy foods for Great Dane puppies.