11 Best Puppy Foods for Great Pyrenees in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks
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The Great Pyrenees is a giant, fluffy teddy bear of a dog with a thick white coat. They have a fascinating history as a shepherd’s dog and a guardian. They are bound to protect you and anyone else they are fond of in their family.
Such a faithful dog deserves caring owners to watch over them. A significant part of this is finding the best food for your giant pup. They are powerful; at their shoulder, they stand from 25 to 32 inches tall. When they are fully grown, they can weigh between 85 to 115 pounds.
They need plenty of protein and high-quality formula to support their continued growth. Great Pyrenees can live for 10 to 12 years, and you want to maximize every moment that you have with your wonderful pup.
The best food gets you to that long-term goal. Read through our reviews of the top picks for this year.
A Quick Glance At Our Favorites in 2024
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Ollie Fresh Dog Food Lamb recipe |
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Purina Beneful Healthy Puppy With Farm Raised Chicken High Protein Dry |
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ORIJEN Amazing Grains Puppy Large Breed |
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Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Puppy Recipe |
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ACANA Wholesome Grains Real Chicken Eggs & Turkey |
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The 11 Best Foods for Great Pyrenees Puppies
1. Ollie Fresh Dog Food Lamb Recipe — Best Overall
If you’re looking for fresh, high-quality dog food, Ollie Lamb with Cranberries is an excellent choice. This premium meal consists of nutrient-dense ingredients with essential vitamins and minerals that puppies need for healthy growth and development.
Lamb is the first ingredient, and it’s a great source of high-quality protein, iron, zinc, and vitamin B12. It’s also a safer choice for allergy-prone puppies as beef and chicken allergies are more common in dogs. The recipe uses gentle ingredients, such as butternut squash and potatoes, and the simple ingredient list makes the dish palatable and easily digestible for puppies. The best part is that this meal is suitable for all life stages, so you can continue to feed your Great Pyrenees puppy this food as it reaches adulthood.
The only downside is that Ollie meals are more expensive than many brands that you can find in pet stores. With Great Pyrenees being a giant dog breed, their giant appetites and daily food intake can really take a significant chunk out of your wallet. However, with Ollie’s clean recall history and vigorous quality control procedures, you’re guaranteed to be giving your pup one of the safest and most nutritious meals on the market.
- Lamb is the first ingredient
- Suitable for puppies with food allergies
- Easily digestible recipe
- Suitable for all life stages
- Relatively expensive
2. Purina Beneful Healthy Puppy With Farm Raised Chicken High Protein Dry Dog Food – Budget Buy
The Purina Beneful Healthy Puppy With Farm Raised Chicken High Protein Dry Dog Food is the best puppy food for Great Pyrenees for the money. Not only is this option affordable, but it is also highly nutritious.
The first two ingredients are farm-raised chicken and chicken by-product meal. This recipe has no artificial flavors or preservatives, and it is made in the United States. Your puppy will also get a boost of vitamins and minerals from this meal.
The kibble is bite-sized and designed for a puppy’s mouth, making it easier for your Great Pyrenees to chew. On the downside, many pet parents reported that Purina Beneful has a foul smell, sometimes so strong that even their dogs shied away from it.
- Affordable
- The first two ingredients are animal-based
- Made in the United States
- Overpowering odor
3. ORIJEN Amazing Grains Puppy Large Breed Dry Dog Food
If you are looking for a great choice, you will want to try ORIJEN Amazing Grains Puppy Large Breed Dry Dog Food. ORIJEN Amazing Grains is designed to boost the health of your dog’s digestive system. It also contains ingredients that support their immune system and nourish their skin and coat.
The first five ingredients in this meal are chicken, whole herring, whole mackerel, chicken liver, and salmon. This gives your dog a healthy protein source at 38% minimum crude protein. ORIJEN Amazing Grains is also manufactured in the United States.
As a premium option, ORIJEN Amazing Grains is naturally a bit pricey. If you plan to make this recipe a regular part of your puppy’s meals, you’ll want to budget extra carefully.
- The first five ingredients are animal-based
- Designed to support your puppy’s digestive system, immunity, and skin and coat
- Made in the United States
- Expensive
4. Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Puppy Recipe Dry Dog Food
The Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Puppy Recipe Dry Dog Food is our next pick. This meal is an excellent source of DHA, omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin, which are essential to a healthy puppy’s development. In addition, this recipe includes essential vitamins, minerals, and grains that promote healthy digestion in dogs.
Deboned chicken and chicken meal are the primary ingredients in this meal, giving your puppy a good source of protein. Merrick Classic Healthy Grains is also made in the United States. The main drawback to this recipe is that it is expensive, so keep that in mind when making a purchase.
- Includes high levels of glucosamine, chondroitin, DHA, and omega fatty acids to support your puppy’s development
- The first two ingredients are animal-based
- Made in the United States
- Expensive
5. ACANA Wholesome Grains Real Chicken Eggs & Turkey Dry Puppy Food
Next is ACANA Wholesome Grains’ Real Chicken Eggs & Turkey Dry Puppy Food. ACANA Wholesome Grains is crafted in the United States with high-quality ingredients sourced from all around the world. The first two ingredients are animal-based proteins, while others include wholesome grains, vegetables, and fruits.
Plus, the inclusion of omega fatty acids boosts the health of your dog’s skin and coat. Overall, your puppy is getting a very nutritious meal from ACANA Wholesome Grains. If your puppy is a picky eater, you may have trouble with ACANA Wholesome Grains since not all puppies seem to love the taste of this meal.
- Made in the United States
- The first two ingredients are animal-based
- Contains omega fatty acids to support the skin and coat
- Some puppies don’t like it
6. Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Large Breed Dry Dog Food
Hill’s Science is widely known as a premium health-conscious dog food brand. It has special formulas for any stage of life that your animal is at, including for a large breed puppy. Hill’s Science focuses on sourcing its ingredients from the best.
The first ingredient in this formula is chicken meal, an easily digestible source of protein. Following this is whole-grain wheat, oats, and sorghum. Some people contest the corn gluten meal, while others believe that it helps support puppy growth. This recipe is specifically for puppies up to 1 year old and over 55 pounds when they are fully grown. It controls the levels of calcium for optimal bone growth without excess that can lead to digestive issues.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are major players in healthy muscles and joints. The whole bag is processed and manufactured in the United States. For some younger puppies, the kibble size might be difficult to chew right away.
- Controlled levels of calcium, glucosamine, and chondroitin
- The first ingredient is chicken meal
- Supports growth of large breed puppies up to 1 year
- Large enough kibble size to be difficult for young puppies
7. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food
Blue Buffalo makes its food to protect the puppies that it feeds. The first ingredients are always real meat, followed by whole grains, fruits, and veggies.
It includes LifeSource Bits in all its blends. These contain vital blends of nutrients. In this food, they are enhanced with a Super 7 blend of ingredients rich in antioxidants. DHA and ARA are included in the mixture to aid in the development of the brain and vision.
Blue Buffalo measures out healthy amounts of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins in its food. The kibble is good for small jaws, even if the puppies will grow up to be big dogs. Every bite they take promotes tartar removal through a specialized texture.
- Balanced nutrient level for proper development
- LifeSource Bits
- Tartar removal encouraged by kibble size and texture
- Somewhat expensive compared to similar brands
8. Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food
Diamond Naturals formulates their puppy formula for dogs that will be over 55 pounds as adults and are currently less than 1 year old. The dry recipe is enhanced by using a mixture of doggie superfoods and probiotics.
This large breed puppy food stands out from the crowd because its first ingredient is lamb. The following ingredients are made with a rice mixture and real fruits and vegetables for just the right blend of vitamins and nutrients. These include coconut, garbanzo beans, papaya, and peas.
Beyond containing the required DHA in a puppy’s diet, it has probiotics to make digestion easier. It doesn’t include any corn or wheat products, filler ingredients, artificial flavors, or preservatives. Perhaps due to the lack of grains, some dogs experience loose stool when eating this food. A family-owned company in the U.S.A. manufactures it.
- Lamb is the first ingredient
- Real fruits and veggies used in production
- Doesn’t include fillers or artificial flavors and colors
- Some negative experiences with loose stool
9. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
A wolf’s diet inspired this grain-free dog food. It is rich in accessible proteins, with the first two ingredients being deboned chicken and chicken meal.
This food is specifically formulated to meet the needs of a growing large breed puppy, such as a Great Pyrenees. It includes DHA, the fatty acid essential to brain and eye growth found in a mother dog’s milk. Beyond the required essentials, Blue Buffalo has found an optimal blend of calcium and phosphorus. These allow your dog to maintain healthy bone and joint structures without leading to excess that messes with their digestive systems.
The kibble is bite-sized for a puppy’s smaller jaw, and the shape prevents tartar buildup on the teeth.
- Optimal blend of essential vitamins and nutrients
- Bite-size kibble for smaller jaws
- First ingredients from chicken
- Grain-free foods can cause digestive issues if switching
10. Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Puppy Dry Dog Food
When considering the food for your large breed puppy, it is essential to factor in how fast they put on weight compared to other breeds. Wellness considers this when formulating their mix for fast-growing large-breed puppies.
Part of how the company ensures that its food is the best for your pup is by measuring precise amounts of calcium and phosphorus levels. Salmon meal is included and is this food’s source of DHA. Flaxseed provides the omega-3 and omega-6 nutrients essential to healthy coats and skin.
Sometimes as a puppy develops, they can have a hard time with digestion. Yucca extracts in the kibble work to reduce stool odors. Additional taurine helps support a happy heart. One of the only controversial ingredients is garlic powder.
- Well-balanced levels of calcium and phosphorus
- Healthy sources of necessary nutrients
- Yucca extracts reduce stool odors
- Controversial garlic powder additive
11. Nutro Wholesome Essentials Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food
The first ingredient in Nutro’s Wholesome Essentials Large Breed puppy food is real lamb, sourced from Australia and New Zealand. This protein gives quickly growing puppies the amino acids that they need to build up the muscles necessary to maintain them.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are vital parts of this dog food and are sourced naturally. They support healthy joints, vital to dogs who struggle with muscle and joint failure with age. Brown rice and oatmeal maintain a proper fiber balance while promoting healthy digestion.
This formula is precise, hitting pre-decided targets of digestible protein and fat. This way, your pup always has the nutrition to maintain high energy levels without bloating. No preservatives or artificial flavors and colors are used in the manufacturing of the food.
- Lamb source safely is the number-one ingredient
- Additional glucosamine and chondroitin
- Targets healthy levels of proteins and fats
- Large kibble pieces
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Puppy Food for Great Pyrenees
From newborn pups to fully grown adults, different breeds have various needs. For example, a Chihuahua is going to grow in a different way and at a slower rate than a Great Pyrenees or Rottweiler. Here are a few things to consider before buying food for your GP.
Great Pyrenees Puppy Age
The first 12 to 15 months of a dog’s life are the biggest in terms of development. They are going to need more energy and calories than they will as they get older and their metabolism slows down. Puppy food is developed for dogs that are 15 months or younger. They should be transitioned to adult food as they grow older, or they could struggle with obesity later in life.
Another way to figure out if your dog needs puppy food or adult food is to gauge their size. For most adult large-breed dogs, once they are over 55 pounds or stop growing, they should eat adult food.
Nutrition for Large Breed Puppies
Carefully select a formula that has the right blend of protein and nutrients. It is not good to always trust that whatever company developed the food did it in just the right way for your pup.
Protein
Puppies need a high-protein diet, especially large breed dogs who are developing a heavier muscle mass. Typically, lamb or chicken is used and should be either the first or second ingredients on the list, if not both.
If a puppy food uses the by-products of meat like chicken, it might not be as safe for them. “Chicken by-products” can mean that dead animals were taken from farms or ranches and used in food production.
Calcium to Phosphorus Ratio
Balancing calcium and phosphorus is essential for any dog, no matter the age. Large breed puppies require 0.8% to 1.2% calcium on a dry matter basis. Up to 6 months old, they absorb up to 70% of this. That means that any more calcium in their diet is superfluous and can end up negatively affecting them.
Typically, the levels of calcium and phosphorus are considered together and put in the form of a ratio. It should be around 1.1:1 to 2:1 for the levels to keep appropriate hormone levels balanced.
DHA
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an essential nutrient in puppy food. It is commonly found in mother’s milk and is needed for proper mental and visual development.
On a dry matter basis, a healthy diet should provide around 0.02%. While this might not sound like much, it is absolutely necessary. You can find it in some omega-3s or marine fish supplements.
Calorie Density
Dogs like the Great Pyrenees always struggle with obesity because their metabolisms are slower. They need to be carefully monitored, and it is best not to free-feed them. Recommended daily diets for these pups have a caloric density between 3,200 to 4,100 kcal/kg.
Grain vs. Grain-free Puppy Food
Some dog owners believe that dogs are naturally carnivorous and should not be fed grains that can damage their digestive systems. Others believe that wheat and corn give them vital nutrients in a way that is more readily available than in oats and rice.
When it comes to your pup, first figure out what you think is best for them. Their preferences might play a big role in deciding since some dogs process one kind of food better than another.
Conclusion
For any dog, large or small, you want to do your best. If you are lucky enough to call a Great Pyrenees your own, then making sure that they are properly cared for is likely a priority.
We’ve discussed several excellent puppy foods, but our favorite is Ollie’s Lamb With Cranberries. Ollie provides fresh food with simple ingredients, which are easier for your puppy to digest. Since it’s suitable for all life stages, your Great Pyrenees don’t need to switch to another formula when they become an adult. If you’re looking for a brand that’s easier on your budget, you can try Purina Benefuls’ Healthy Puppy With Farm-Raised Chicken. The high-protein formula has smaller pieces that are ideal for hungry puppies. We hope our reviews and buyer’s guide help you select the perfect food for your Great Pyrenees pup.
Featured Image Credit: Pxfuel
