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If you’re a dog lover and meet that special pup that melts your heart, you may decide to scoop him up without a second thought. However, what happens when that dog ends up being a doggy giant? For one thing, large dogs come with several challenges, including requiring a lot of exercise and training and costing you a lot more than you expected.
Sometimes, when you decide to get a new furry family member, you probably assume that your expenses are going to increase a little; things like vet bills, grooming, and dog food are all no-brainers. The thing is, depending on what dog breed you have, your pet food bill can vary dramatically. For example, small dog breeds, like a Maltese, may only eat roughly two-thirds of a cup of food per day, and medium breeds might eat around 2 cups of food per day, but what if the dog of your dreams comes in the form of a 200-pound St. Bernard? This powerful canine requires an average of 6.5 cups of food per day. What a difference!
Your budget aside, it’s important to know what your dog needs, no matter what his size. The largest dogs, such as the Mastiff and Great Dane, need more food, plain and simple, but not all large dogs eat the same amount. Plus, dogs within the same breed may have different food requirements due to things like activity level, existing health conditions, metabolism, and age. Therefore, your first step is to know your pup, then decide what he needs to eat daily to perform at his optimal level.
So what are some of the largest dogs, and exactly how much can one dog possibly eat in one day? Here’s a quick peek at some of the largest breeds and their dietary needs, based on an average of the breed size and activity level.
Daily food amounts are shown for an adult dog and shown as a range since the exact amount will vary based on your dog’s gender, age, and activity level. For example, a female will usually require less food per day than her male counterpart since females are normally smaller in size than males. In addition, a puppy often needs almost twice as much food as an adult dog since it is still growing, while a senior dog will need less.
So, who exactly are the big dogs? Here’s a look at the 15 largest breeds:
Weight: 120 to 230 pounds
Height: 27.5” to 30” and up
Daily Food Amount: Between 6 and 10 cups per day
Weight: 110 to 175 pounds
Height: 28” to 32”
Daily Food Amount: Between 5 and 10 cups per day
Weight: 105 to 120 pounds
Height: 30” to 32” and up
Daily Food Amount: Between 4 and 8 cups per day
Weight: 120 to 180 pounds
Height: 26” to 30”
Daily Food Amount: Between 6 and 7 cups per day
Weight: 88 to 110 pounds
Height: 23.5” to 27.5”
Daily Food Amount: Between 4 and 8 cups a day
Weight: 70 to 115 pounds
Height: 23” to 27.5”
Daily Food Amount: Between 3 and 6 cups per day
Weight: 100 to 150 pounds
Height: 26” to 28”
Daily Food Amount: Between 4 and 6 cups per day
Weight: 85 to 100 pounds and up
Height: 25” to 32”
Daily Food Amount: Between 4 and 6 cups per day
Weight: 80 to 130 pounds
Height: 26” to 30”
Daily Food Amount: Between 4 and 6 cups per day
Weight: 90 to 170 pounds
Height: 25.5” to 31.5”
Daily Food Amount: Between 5 and 7 cups of food per day
Weight: 75 to 110 pounds
Height: 28” to 32”
Daily Food Amount: Between 3 and 4 cups per day
Weight: 70 to 150 pounds
Height: 24” to 26” (minimum)
Daily Food Amount: Between 2 and 4 cups per day
Weight: 99 to 110 pounds and up
Height: 23” to 27”
Daily Food Amount: Between 5 and 6 cups per day
Weight: 100 to 130 pounds
Height: 24” to 27”
Daily Food Amount: Between 3.5 and 4.5 cups a day
Weight: 110 to 150 pounds
Height: 24” to 31”
Daily Food Amount: Between 6 and 7 cups per day
Very carefully. All jokes aside, when it comes to feeding your massive canine companion, having the right tools is an essential part of the process. For example, if you try to cram a serving of dog food into a dish that is the wrong size, you’re in for a huge mess. In addition, if you let your 160-pound angel go full force at a bowl lacking a non-skid bottom, then you can bet that bowl will be slipping and sliding all over the place, leaving chaos in its wake.
Besides having the right products, you also need to consider your dog’s feeding schedule. Big dogs eat a big amount of food, and putting all of his food down at once isn’t the best idea. It is a better plan to break up your dog’s daily amount of food into smaller portions that he can eat throughout the day. If you have multiple dogs, make sure to keep their food separate, not only to avoid food fights and food aggression issues but to also ensure that you know exactly what each of your dogs is actually eating.
It’s also critical to ensure that your dog receives adequate nutrition from the food he is eating. Nutritional needs vary depending on the size of a dog, and not all foods are created equal. Therefore, carefully read the ingredients of the foods that you serve your furry pal and pay attention to the ratio of different nutrients like protein and fiber. Plus, younger dogs will usually require a lot more than older dogs within the same breed; these are all things to keep in mind when planning your dog’s feeding schedule.
Although the largest breeds will definitely require a substantial portion of food per day, this amount can vary from breed to breed. Still, it’s a safe assumption that a large dog should eat smaller portions throughout the day. How often your pup eats will depend on several factors. The general rule of thumb is that a dog should eat twice-a-day, but this can change based on your dog’s activity level, age, and any medical conditions that may require them to eat more frequently throughout the day.
Using a dog dish that is specifically designed for large breeds ensures that your pup’s food will fit nicely and leave room for his muzzle, avoiding frustration and the inability to eat all of his food. Slow feed dishes, like the Neater Slow Feeder, are an excellent option because they encourage your dog to eat slowly, limiting the mess, as well as the potential stomach upset and other health problems that can occur from eating too fast. They even have an option to elevate the bowl which can help reduce bloat and other problems from eating too fast.
In a nutshell, feeding a large dog doesn’t have to be a big deal. Simply keep these three tips in mind:
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