The 6 Best Large Breed Puppy Foods: Tested & Evaluated 2024
Written By Vedrana Nikolic | Canine Coach, B.A Ethnology & Anthropology, M.A Semiotics.
Edited & Fact Checked By Renae Soppe | B.A Journalism & Science.
Last Updated: 20th January 2024
Welcoming a large breed puppy (or puppies) into your home? Good for you! But, you’ve probably already heard that large-breed pups have specific dietary requirements. But what exactly do they need? Is getting a kibble labelled “large breed puppy” a must, or is regular puppy food fine?
We conducted a study with other veterinarians, pet parents, and canine nutritionists to provide you with the most comprehensive review and the necessary information about the best food for large-breed puppies. We gathered various brands and tested each dog food for several months, listing all the brands that stood out.
Today, we'll reveal the results of this endeavour, answer all the questions and help you find the best large-breed puppy food available in Australia.
Quick Picks - The Top 3

Our Number 1 Pick -
Petzyo Kibble That Counts Salmon & Oceanfish
- Named protein first
- Superfood additions
- No filler or artificial preservatives
- Dogs seem to love it
- Easy subscription system

Runner Up -
Eureka Pet Food
- Named protein first
- Chicory root and apple fibre for better digestion
- No filler ingredients
- Chia and flax seeds as omega-3 fatty acid sources

Third Choice -
Meals for Mutts Turkey & Chicken Puppy & Whelping Larger Size Kibble
- Named protein first
- Healthy additions like sweet potato & turmeric
- Large kibble
- Good value for money
Australia's Best Big Breed Puppy Foods Reviewed
But enough with the theory! Below, you’ll find the best options in the category of big dog puppy food available in Australia. These are the foods that our team of independent experts and their doggos tried and loved best. Luckily, there are quite a few decent options so all that’s left to do is try them out and see what works best for your pup.
#1: Best Overall: Petzyo Kibble That Counts Salmon & Oceanfish

What sets this product apart from the rest?
Nutritional Analysis: | |
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Protein | 26% |
Fat | 12% |
Fibre | 4% |
Petzyo - 5 Star Rating
- Ingredients: Salmon & Oceanfish, Peas, Lentils, Sweet Potato, Salmon Offal, Sunflower Oil, Green Lipped Mussels Tomato, Spinach, Broccoli, Carrots, Rosemary, Oregano, Parsley, Flaxseed, Oil Kelp, Turmeric, Fish Oil, Hemp Seed Oil, Yucca Extract, Green Tea
- Named Protein First: Yes.
- Dog Food Type: Grain-free.
- Recipe Range: Kangaroo, Sweet Potato & Superfood Extras or Salmon, Ocean Fish & Green Lipped Muscles or Chicken, Turkey & Superfood Extras or Petzyo Raw Food Range.
- Suitable For: Petzyo's recipe range can be suitable for puppy, adult and senior dogs depending on the recipe.
- Cost: $$$
- Australian Owned: Yes.
Petzyo is the real star among Australia’s smaller dog food companies. They started a few years ago and quickly amassed a faithful following among Australian pet parents. The reason? They offer dog food made with top-quality ingredients delivered fresh to your door. And all that at a reasonable price.
While all Petzyo’s formulas are suitable for all ages and breeds, the Salmon & Oceanfish formula is the one that Petzyo specifically recommends for puppies, including those that will grow up to be big doggos.
The Petzyo Kibble That Counts Salmon & Oceanfish being tested by our independent expert team.

Our team of independent experts believe the reason why this formula can work great for large breed puppies is the balanced nutrient profile. With 26% of protein and 12% of fat, this recipe will provide the energy your pup needs without overdoing it. It's also grain-free, unlike our number two choice by Eureka.
Moreover, the protein we talk about comes primarily from an awesome source: salmon & oceanfish. Besides this main ingredient, the ingredient list features only wholesome additions and zero useless fillers, which is something we admire about this brand. For example, you’ll find that this specific recipe also contains sweet potato, spinach, and green-lipped mussels (among others) which all contain vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that your growing pup needs.
Pros | Cons |
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#2: Best Kibble for Large Breed Puppies Runner Up: Eureka Wild Venison & Lamb

Nutritional Analysis: | |
---|---|
Protein | 37% |
Fat | 28% |
Fibre | 2% |
Eureka Venison & Lamb - 4.5 Star Rating
- Ingredients: Venison; venison offal (liver, heart, lung, kidney, finely ground bone); lamb; lamb offal (liver, heart, tripe, kidney, lung); salmon oil; green lipped mussel; kelp; blueberry; chia seeds; flaxseed; free range eggs; chicory root; apple fibre; broccoli; sea salt; vitamin & mineral mix
*Also contains: Postbiotic (Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifdbacterium animalis ssp. Lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum), lecitihin, citric acid, mixed tocopherols (natural anti-oxidant). - Named Protein First: Yes.
- Dog Food Type: Grain Inclusive.
- Recipe Range: Wild Venison & Lamb; Wild Kangaroo & Lamb; Wild Boar & Chicken
- Suitable For: All ages
- Cost: $$$$
- Australian Owned: Yes.
Large breed puppies grow like weeds, so they need enough energy coming from the food to support their fast growth. This recipe by Eureka is specially designed to suit big dogs throughout all life stages, including their puppyhood.
This recipe contains venison and lamb, both of which are packed with amino acids and minerals necessary for your pooch to maintain healthy energy levels. These two types of meat protein are also great for sensitive dogs like mine, as they’re considered hypoallergenic.
Eureka Pet Food being tested by our independent expert team.

It’s also worth noting that protein in Eureka recipes is sustainably sourced. Wild venison is ethically harvested from the Australian Alps, while the lamb is free-range and grass-fed. This is not only good for nature, but also for your dog as well, as meat from animals grown in such conditions is leaner and more packed with nutrients.
Related: Eureka Pet Food Review.
Eureka dog food is air-dried, which kind of falls in the middle between dehydrated and freeze-dried food. According to our team of experts, the dog food is cooked just enough to get rid of potential pathogens, but not too much so that all the nutrients are preserved. That’s why the kibble appears to be a bit gummy. But don’t worry, your big puppy will surely enjoy the unique, jerky-like texture.
It's more expensive than others on this list. Which is why we point you back to Petzyo in our number one spot if price is an issue.
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#3: Third Place: Meals for Mutts Turkey & Chicken Puppy & Whelping Larger Size Kibble

Nutritional Analysis: | |
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Protein | 31% |
Fat | 18% |
Meals for Mutts - 3 Star Rating
- Ingredients: Turkey meat & chicken, sweet potato, seasonal vegetables, alfalfa, natural fats & oils, omega 3,6 & 9, coconut oil, turmeric, parsley, pre & probiotic, egg, kelp, vitamins A, C, D3, E, K, B1, B2, B6, B12, niacin, pantothenic acid, folacin, biotin, natural organic acids, plus minerals, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, copper, zinc, iron, manganese and iodine. Also contains Yucca shidigera extract and natural flavours, and is preserved using natural vitamin E and rosemary extract.
- Named Protein First: Yes.
- Dog Food Type: Grain-free.
- Recipe Range: Gluten-free grained kibble: kangaroo & lamb; salmon & sardine; turkey & lamb. Grain-free kibble: bacon & eggs, duck & turkey, salmon & sardine, turkey high performance, single-protein recipes (chicken, goat, kangaroo, lamb)
- Suitable For: Puppies (recipes available for all ages)
- Cost: $$$
- Australian Owned: Yes.
Meals for Mutts is another beloved Australian brand. Their formulas are based on a relatively small number of wholesome ingredients, with a named source of protein taking the first place.
In this case, the first ingredients on the list are turkey and chicken, which is great. The next ingredient on the list is sweet potato, like in our number one choice by Petzyo, which is one of our favourite alternatives to grains in dog food as it is full of useful vitamins.
The Meals for Mutts Turkey & Chicken Puppy & Whelping Larger Size Kibble being tested by our independent expert team.

The third ingredient on the list is one that our panel of independent experts don’t love - ‘seasonal vegetables’. Sure, that sounds innocent enough, but it would be nice to know what exactly an ingredient that’s placed so high up on the list is. The ingredient list also includes ‘natural flavours’ which is very vague.
Still, the nutrient profile of the Meals for Mutts Turkey & Chicken formula is quite impressive. It’s full of healthy protein and very energy dense, while at the same time being designed to meet the needs of large breed puppies.
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#4: Best Wet Food for Large Breed Puppies: Ziwi Peak Wet Lamb Recipe

Nutritional Analysis: | |
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Protein | 10.5% |
Fat | 4% |
Fibre | 2% |
Ziwi Peak - 4.5 Star Rating
- Ingredients: Lamb, Water Sufficient for Processing, Lamb Lung, Lamb Kidney, Chickpeas, Lamb Liver, Lamb Tripe, Lamb Heart, New Zealand Green Mussel, Lamb Bone, Lecithin, Minerals (Dipotassium Phosphate, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Selenium Yeast, Manganese Amino Acid Complex), Dried Kelp, Salt, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B5 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid).
- Named Protein First: Yes.
- Dog Food Type: Grain Free.
- Recipe Range: Chicken or Mackerel & Lamb or Beef + more.
- Suitable For: Ziwi Peaks recipe range can be suitable for puppy, adult and senior dogs depending on the recipe.
- Cost: $$$$$
- Australian Owned: No (but NZ owned).
Choose any recipe from Ziwi Peak, and you can rest assured you are feeding your dog the absolute best ingredients. This New Zealand manufacturer makes some of the best ready-made dog food you can buy anywhere in the world.
The Ziwi formulas are extremely rich in protein which comes from local and sustainable sources. They are also nutritionally balanced and contain only useful and healthy additions - absolutely no fillers or suspicious additives! The recipe is similar to Petzyo in that regard. However, the higher price point puts it more on point with Eureka.
For example, the Lamb option contains only lamb meat, bone, and offal, New Zealand green-lipped mussels, and some chickpeas which are added to ensure proper consistency of the food.
The only additives are vitamin and mineral supplements which are all clearly listed on the packaging. These include magnesium and vitamin D, all in quantities that adhere to AAFCO guidelines, including the new additional guidelines for large breed puppies.
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#5: Best Value: Savourlife Grain Free Large Breed Puppy Chicken

Nutritional Analysis: | |
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Protein | 28% |
Fat | 17% |
Fibre | 5% |
Savourlife - 3.5 Star Rating
- Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Field Peas, Tapioca, Poultry Oil, Potato, Natural Flavouring, Beet Pulp, Fish Oil, Vitamins & Minerals & Amino Acids, Linseed, Salt, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Chicory Root (Natural Prebiotic), Glucosamine & Chondroitin, Tomato Pomace, Sweet Potato, Kelp, Carrot, Broccoli, Blueberries, Natural Antioxidants (including Rosemary Extract and Green Tea)
- Named Protein First: No (but chicken meal is ok)
- Dog Food Type: Grain-free.
- Recipe Range: Kangaroo or Chicken or Salmon or Lamb + More.
- Suitable For: Puppy (options available for all ages)
- Cost: $$$
- Australian Owned: Yes.
The Savourlife dog food is a decent choice for those who wouldn’t like to spend a fortune on their pup’s food (understandable, especially with large breeds who can eat a lot), but also want to provide them with proper nutrition.
The ingredients of this Savourlife recipe for large breed puppies are not super premium: instead of chicken meat and offal, which would be the best option, you’ll find that the main ingredient is chicken meal. However, chicken meal is not bad either. Our panel of pros explain that it is basically a concentrated dry powder made from chicken meat and skin, indicating that there is a lot of animal-based protein within this formula.
The Savourlife Grain Free Large Breed Puppy Chicken being tested by our independent expert team.

Now, this Savourlife recipe is grain-free, but it does contain some carbs - primarily peas and tapioca. Those are both decent options, and better than many alternatives, which gives us an overall positive image regarding this formula.
Pros | Cons |
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#6: Budget Pick: Black Hawk Lamb & Rice for Large Breed Puppies

Nutritional Analysis: | |
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Protein | 27% |
Fat | 16% |
Fibre | 5.5% |
Black Hawk - 3.5 Star Rating
- Ingredients: Lamb meal, rice, chicken meal, chickpeas, oats, faba beans, pork fat, pork meal, hydrolysed chicken protein, beet pulp, chicken digest, fish oil, plant cellulose, sweet potato, pumpkin, essential vitamins and minerals (see tables), chicory root, natural yeast extracts, sea kelp, tomato, Yucca schidigera extract, natural antioxidants, algae-glucan, green-lipped mussel, D-glucosamine, emu oil, chondroitin sulphate, blueberries, carrots, cranberries, dandelion, peppermint and rosemary.
- Named Protein First: No (but lamb meal is OK)
- Dog Food Type: Grain Inclusive.
- Recipe Range: Kangaroo, Sweet Potato & Superfood Extras or Salmon, Ocean Fish & Green Lipped Mussels or Chicken, Turkey & Superfood Extras or Petzyo Raw Food Range.
- Suitable For: Puppies (recipes available for all ages)
- Cost: $$$
- Australian Owned: Yes.
Black Hawk Lamb & Rice for Large Breed Puppies is not the cheapest dog food you’ll find for your large breed puppy, but it is on a much higher level than grocery store brands and one of the best in the price range. And it’s also an Australian brand!
Black Hawk offers a couple of different puppy formulas, some for all puppies, some for small breed puppies, and this one for large breed pups. This means that the only flavour available specifically for large breeds is lamb & rice, but that’s the case with almost every brand.
The first ingredient on the list is lamb meal, which, as we mentioned before, is not the most premium option but is ok. However, we must also mention that the lamb & rice recipe does contain chicken meal, like our number five option above, and pork meal too. There is nothing wrong with this at all (if anything, it means there is more animal-based protein in the formula) unless your dog has a problem with chicken or pork!
Other than that, our team of independent experts could all agree that this is quite a nice formula, including nutritious veggies like sweet potato and healthy fatty acids powerhouses like fish oil and green-lipped mussels
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What I Look for in Large Breed Puppy Food
Puppies usually start transferring to solid food very early. Already when they are about 8 weeks old, the puppy’s first set of teeth appears and they are usually ready to start munching on kibble (or any other form of dog food).
Related: When To Switch Your Puppy To Adult Dog Food?
But what exactly should one look for in puppy food? What makes one option better than the other? These are the basics our team of independent experts ask you to consider:
Quality Ingredients
Finding out whether a type of dog food is good or not doesn’t have to be rocket science. For a start, it’s always good to look at the ingredient list. What you always want to see are wholesome ingredients that are clearly named.
When the ingredients are easy to identify, that’s almost always a good sign. For example, ‘lamb meat’ or ‘lamb tripe’ sounds good and is fairly exact, so not much can go wrong there. But when an ingredient is named ‘meat meal’ or something similar, there is no way of knowing what exactly is in your dog’s food.
Of course, we don’t just want nicely-named ingredients when searching for dog food, but we want to see there is lots of protein high up on the ingredient list, as that’s the foundation of dog nutrition.
For more tips on choosing dog food and figuring out ingredient lists, check out our main Australian puppy food guide. But for now, let’s consider the issues specific to large-breed puppies:
Breed-Specific Nutrition
What makes large-breed puppies different from small-breed puppies? Well, they grow at a much faster rate. This means their bones develop incredibly fast. It’s an amazing process, but one that can easily cause various health problems if anything is out of balance (1).
This is why it’s especially important to get the nutrient levels right with large puppies:
“Feeding [..] diets that are a little less energy dense, contain slightly lower levels of calcium and phosphorous, and have a very carefully balanced calcium to phosphorous ratio has been proven to reduce the incidence of developmental orthopedic diseases in large and giant breeds of dogs.” - Jennifer Coates, DVM for PetMD (2)
In short, large breed puppies need lots of energy to support their growth (which should come predominantly from proteins and fats), but it’s also important not to overdo it.
Related: What To Feed A Puppy At 8 Weeks Old?
In a similar vein, it is often mentioned that large-breed puppies need a different ratio of calcium and phosphorous in their food. Note that this doesn't mean that the bigger breed puppies need more calcium as too much calcium can even be harmful to young puppies (3).
“Until 6 months of age, the small intestinal tract passively absorbs 70% of total dietary calcium. Additional supplementation of calcium to a balanced diet (eg, dairy, bone meal, over-the-counter supplements) is, therefore, contraindicated for puppies during this period, as excess calcium will be absorbed.” - Victoria Kerby, Today’s Veterinary Nurse (4)
According to most estimates, the ideal range of calcium for large breed puppies should be somewhere between 3 and 4.5 grams per 1,000 calories. But, if you are not interested in doing the nutrition maths yourself, it is also helpful to know that since 2016, AAFCO has specific guidelines for ‘growth’ that meet the special requirements of large breed puppies (5).
Related: What is AAFCO? The Association of American Feed Control Officials
Related: What Is the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia (PFIAA)?
Related: AAFCO vs PFIAA: Dog Food Standards Comparison Australia
Final Verdict
The best dog food for your puppy? Well, it should be one that your dog loves, that is good for them, and also easily available for you to purchase. Our panel of independent experts suggest that the one option that will most likely fulfil all of these criteria is Petzyo.
Their recipes are suitable for puppies too and dogs seem to love them. Some other great options include Eureka, Ziwi Peak and Meals for Mutts, depending on the price range you are looking for.
FAQ
First of all, if your puppy is going to be a big dog, it’s important to pay extra attention to nutrition (see the first part of this guide). However, that does not necessarily mean that the dog food you choose needs to be labelled “large breed puppy”. Some high-quality foods are designed to be suitable for all breeds and ages. The important thing is to check. If a dog food doesn’t state it’s suitable for growing puppies from large breeds, it most likely isn’t.
The “puppy” stage of a dog’s life is generally considered to last until the puppy reaches the full size of an adult. Puppy formulas should be fed until your dog reaches at least 80% of their expected adult size. When exactly this will happen varies by breed, but it is safe to say that your dog will be fine on puppy food until they are 1 year old. It’s always best to consult a vet about any individual requirements your pup might have.
Most of the time, puppies are fed three times per day while they are young. When they reach about 6 months of age, puppies can usually start transferring to a new feeding regime that involves meals 2 times per day. The rules are not set in stone, though, and it’s important to figure out what works best for your pup.
References
- Tupler, T. September 15, 2020. “How to Keep Giant Dog Breeds Healthy at Every Life Stage”. PetMD. Retrieved August 16, 2022. https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/how-keep-giant-dog-breeds-healthy-every-life-stage
- Coates, J. February 3, 2012. “Nutritional Differences for Small, Toy, and Large Breed Dogs”. PetMD. Retrieved August 12, 2022. https://www.petmd.com/blogs/nutritionnuggets/jcoates/2012/feb/nutrition_differences_for_small_toy_large_breeds-12459
- Your Dog. November 2, 2016. “Myths Persist When It Comes to Feeding Large-Breed Pups”. Tufts University. Retrieved August 16, 2022. https://www.tuftsyourdog.com/dogfoodandnutrition/myths-persist-when-it-comes-to-feeding-large-breed-pups/
- Kerby, V. L. March 23, 2018. “Giant Expectations: Nutrition for the Large-Breed Puppy”. Today’s Veterinary Nurse. Retrieved August 16, 2022. https://todaysveterinarynurse.com/nutrition/nutrition-for-the-large-breed-puppy/
- Linder, D. E. February 24, 2017. “Confused About What to Feed Your Large Breed Puppy? New Rules May Help!”. Petfoodology. Tufts University. Retrieved August 16, 2022. https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2017/02/confused-about-what-to-feed-your-large-breed-puppy-new-rules-may-help/