Large dog breeds cover a broad range of dogs that typically weigh from around 25 kilos and upwards, where the very largest such as the Great Dane, Newfoundland, Saint Bernard and Caucasian Ovcharka move far beyond that threshold. Among them you will find the breeds that many British families know best in everyday life: German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Bernese Mountain Dog, Dogue de Bordeaux, Irish Setter, Bearded Collie and the many hunting and working dogs bred to work a full day in the field. What they have in common is that the body requires something different from that of a small dog, and that the choice of breed has consequences for home, time and meals alike.

What characterises the large dog breeds?

Size alone says little about temperament. A Newfoundland is bred to work in water and has a calm, obliging nature, while a Belgian Shepherd in the same weight class needs tasks all day long. That is why the most important distinction, when you look at large dog breeds, is not centimetres at the shoulder, but what the breed was originally created for. Herding and working dogs are bred for endurance and cooperation. The molosser breeds such as the Mastiff and Dogue de Bordeaux are bred for weight and watchfulness and move at an entirely different pace.

The other common denominator is time. Large breeds take longer to become fully developed, and a large puppy may weigh 30 kilos long before bones, joints and tendons are fully mature. This means that everyday life in the first year should be built around calm, controlled movement rather than long, hard walks, and that meals should support steady growth rather than a rapid jump in kilos. If you have questions about how to arrange feeding in practice during that period, ESSENTIAL FOODS' nutritional advisers are ready by phone, chat and email and know the large breeds' journey in depth.

Large puppies: the finest beginning

A puppy of a large breed should grow slowly and steadily. It is about the balance between protein, energy and the minerals that build the skeleton, and about the portions following the puppy's actual development rather than the puppy's appetite. That is precisely why there is a difference between puppy meals for a small terrier and for a dog that ends up at 40 kilos. BEGINNING LARGE BREED WORKING & SPORTING is composed for exactly this task: luxurious, grain-free puppy meals with fresh ingredients, human-grade ingredients and carefully selected local and regional delicacies, entirely without grain and unnecessary fillers.

If you want the full picture of the first year, we have gathered our advice in the Puppy universe - a well-considered universe where knowledge about growth, meals and everyday life comes directly from ESSENTIAL FOODS and not from third parties.

Everyday life, space and activity level

Large dog breeds take up more space in the home, in the car and in the budget, but they are rarely the most demanding when it comes to exercise. A Great Dane needs daily, calm walks and a soft place to lie, while a working Labrador or German Shepherd easily clocks up several hours of activity. The dividing line lies between dogs with a high activity level and dogs with a more moderate everyday life, and that divide determines both the amount of food and the distribution of energy in the meal.

For dogs that work, hunt or train a lot, STAMINA WORKING & SPORTING is prepared with a high content of animal protein and fat, so the energy lasts through a long day. If your large dog has a more moderate everyday life with walks, play and relaxation, ESTATE WORKING & SPORTING provides a nutritional profile that suits that pace. Because large breeds carry their own weight on large joints, the daily body condition assessment is important, and you can use our guide to determine whether your dog has a healthy weight.

Meals for large bodies

Large dogs eat more per meal, and therefore the quality of each individual bite becomes crucial. We cook the meals in Our finest British Heritage Kitchens from exquisite ingredients, where animal protein carries the profile, and where spices, herbs and fresh ingredients are included because they have a function in the meal. HIGHLAND WORKING & SPORTING is a good example: cooked with lamb and with a flavour that many large dogs with a discerning appetite fall for.

If you prefer a profile with an even higher content of animal ingredients, SUPERIOR WORKING & SPORTING is composed for the large breeds that live an active life all year round. All the meals are premium, and the choice therefore lies not between quality levels, but between taste, nutritional profile, ingredients and life stage. In the collection of dog meals you will find relevant products gathered with the large dog's needs in mind.

How to choose a breed with care

Choose according to everyday life rather than appearance. If you have a garden, time for two daily walks and a desire for training, a retriever or a mountain dog is a natural direction. If you live in a flat and take calm, frequent walks, one of the heavier, more subdued breeds suits better, even though it takes up more floor space. Also consider the large breeds' shorter average lifespan, and how everyday life should look when the dog reaches its golden years and needs shorter walks, softer beds and meals that support wellbeing in the senior years.

Finally, the breeder is decisive. Ask to see the parent animals, ask about temperament and about how the puppies are fed in the first weeks, and have the puppy checked by your own vet shortly after bringing it home - and always contact the vet if you become concerned along the way. If you choose breed, breeder and meals with the same care, you get a foundation that lasts throughout the dog's whole life.