Best large breed puppy food in the UK

Puppies need to eat 4-6 per cent of their body weight daily. This is more than adult dogs who need 2-4 per cent of their body weight. Of course, this depends on the dog's activity level so feeding guides should be used for reference. Post-weaning, all puppies need more protein in their diet than adult dogs. It's important to buy puppy food as it contains the right formulation. In addition, puppies need feeding four times a day up to three months, then three times a day at six months. Once mature, dogs can be fed twice a day.

Yes, they have a big appetite and larger breeds need more food than smaller dogs. But, don't be tempted to increase the amount of food given to a large breed puppy. Overfeeding at this developmental stage can cause bone abnormalities, such as hip dysplasia in later years.
Transition your dog's diet over the course of 7-10 days to avoid any stomach upset. Firstly, introduce small amounts of the new food to the bowl containing their existing food. And increase the new food while reducing the old over time.
Split feeds into 3-4 meals so a puppy's stomach can cope with digesting small and regular meals. Use a measure for dry foods to avoid overfeeding. If you have a litter of puppies it's important to monitor their feeding to ensure each pup is getting a fair chance to eat. Similarly, it prevents dominant pups from gorging. And remember, dog bowls need to be big enough for the size of your dog.
Kibble size is important for large breed pups. Normally, dry puppy food is comprised of smaller kibble. But because a large breed puppy has a bigger mouth, they can benefit from a slow feeder to prevent them from eating too fast. Also known as a puzzle feeder, this combined with small and regular meals will reduce the risk of bloating, which is common in large breeds.
Finally, provide plenty of fresh drinking water. It should be accessible all the time. It helps with digestion, temperature regulation and eliminating toxins from the body.

What you decide to feed your puppy sets them up for the rest of their life and establishes eating habits. Whether you choose commercial or alternative dog food - time, cost and your dog's taste are all factors.
First, it's good to understand that dogs have a more limited sense of taste than humans. But, they have a powerful sense of smell. Dogs have 1,700 taste buds for detecting sweet, sour, bitter and salty tastes. In comparison, cats have 473 taste buds and humans have 9,000 taste buds. Dogs dislike bitter tastes but love meaty flavours. In addition, the instinct to bury food is a trait from their wolf ancestors who scavenged and made food stashes. Dogs have a bit of a sweet tooth - a legacy from when fallen fruit formed a part of their diet.
Dogs use their lips, tongue and teeth to explore food, liquids, objects, and surfaces the way we use our hands. This is why investing in a puzzle feeder is a great way of making eating more stimulating for dogs. Please remember that some foods are toxic to dogs so be mindful of what morsels you feed them.
Now, that you know a bit more about a dog's instinct for food, you can decide whether you want to give them a diet that's comprised of commercially produced food and treats. Alternatively, you might be interested in the raw food (or BARF) diet or a homemade diet.
Dry puppy food
Dry puppy food is a mix of cereals and meat - cooked and cut into pieces. The biscuits or kibble is then sprayed with fats, oil, vitamins and minerals. There are more expensive grain-free variations with a high meat content. These hypoallergenic complete foods are ideal for puppies with sensitive stomachs.
The benefit of kibble is that it's cost-effective and provides complete nutrition. Also, dry dog food is hygienic, easy to feed, has little odour and it's convenient. However, it's also easy to overfeed and less appetising than wet food. Additionally, dry food absorbs water from the gut so always provide drinking water. Otherwise, your pup can get dehydrated, which in the long-term causes kidney problems.
Wet puppy food
Wet puppy food is sold in tins, pouches or cartons in a range of flavours. Essentially 70 per cent water, wet dog food is good for keeping your dog hydrated. Wet dog food is ready-made, pre-portioned and easy to store. But, it's more expensive than dry food and messier.
Homemade food
Home-cooked diets are safer than offering your dog raw meat and it makes the meat more digestible. It's time consuming and expensive, but at least you know exactly what has gone into the ingredients. The diet is made up of poultry, meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, cereals and grains. You can plan, cook and store batches in the freezer. A homemade diet is not possible when you put your dog into kennels. It's a good idea to have a few commercially-produced foods that your dog enjoys.
Raw food or BARF
Biologically Appropriate Raw Feeding (BARF) is a diet based on what dogs would naturally eat. Like the Paleo diet for humans, it's a lot more expensive and high maintenance than commercial dog food. But advocates argue that a 100 per cent uncooked and natural diet has long-term health and wellbeing benefits that offset potential vet bills later in life.
It's an all-natural diet - eating uncooked foods - as dogs would in the wild. This consists of raw meaty bones, offal, crushed vegetables and supplementary small amounts of fruit, herbs and yoghurt. Raw food is available online, some butcher's shops, and some pet shops. It's not to be confused with a homemade diet, where ingredients can be cooked.
In summary, all commercial dog food is rigorously tested and veterinary-approved. Dogs can thrive happily on a mix of wet and dry food. With alternative diets, it takes a bit more effort to ensure your pet is getting the full range of nutrition so please seek the advice of a vet or raw food consultant with accreditations.