A menu for every age
Needs change over time
Puppy : Growth must be steady and controlled with a large-breed puppy food, in order to avoid overly rapid weight gain and to protect the joints.
Adult : The diet must cover muscle maintenance and daily activity without excess energy, with split meals and monitoring of body condition.
Senior : With age, it may be useful to opt for a more digestible and moderately energy-dense formula, while maintaining a good protein intake and regular veterinary follow-up.
Which food?
Kibble, wet food, or home-cooked diet?
Premium kibble formulated for large dogs often provides a practical base, provided it offers good-quality proteins and an appropriate mineral profile. A home-prepared or mixed ration can also be suitable if it is properly balanced with the help of a veterinarian.
Amounts
How much should you give?
Quantities vary depending on weight, age, neutering and activity. In this breed, it is preferable to divide the daily ration into several meals rather than giving a single large meal, in order to promote digestive comfort and to limit certain risks in large dogs.
| Weight | Daily amount | Meals/day |
|---|---|---|
| 35 - 40 kg | 565 - 772 g | 2 |
| 40 - 45 kg | 560 - 760 g | 2 |
| 45 - 50 kg | 620 - 840 g | 2 |
Change
Managing the food transition
Any dietary change must be gradual over several days in order to avoid digestive disorders. A slow transition makes it possible to observe the dog's tolerance, stool quality and changes in appetite before definitively adopting the new food.
Hydration
Water: do not overlook it
Clean, fresh water must be available at all times. Hydration deserves increased attention in hot weather, after exercise and when feeding dry food, because a large dog can have significant needs without always showing its thirst immediately.
Little extras
Treats, in moderation
Treats should remain occasional and be included in the overall calculation of the ration. It is preferable to favor small, simple rewards, useful for training, rather than rich and repeated intakes that promote weight gain.
Good habits
For a top-notch bowl
- Split the daily ration into at least 2 meals.
- Avoid intense exercise just before and just after meals.
- Regularly monitor body condition rather than feeding by eye.
- Adapt the food to growth, then to the adult large-breed format.
Never give
As with all dogs, you should avoid in particular chocolate, grapes, raisins, onion, garlic, avocado, alcohol, yeast dough, cooked bones, xylitol and very fatty or very salty foods, as they can cause serious digestive disorders, poisoning or veterinary emergencies.
