Best Dog Food for Great Pyrenees — A Product Guide for Your Herding Professional

The Great Pyrenees is a giant, impressively strong dog bred to herd and shepherd flocks in the Pyrenees mountains that divide France and Spain.

Spending their time warding off predators in the freezing mountains and tending their sheep on their own for hours on end makes for a pretty interesting and endearing demeanor in a dog (or anyone, we imagine).

Super patient and chill, these dogs will happily herd your other animals or your kids in their outdoor space with loving-kindness. Introduce a threat, though, and you’ve got a pretty sizeable, courageous contender.

Not too many predators want to take on a dog commonly weighing over 100 pounds and standing an average of 2 ½ feet tall to the shoulder.

The Best Dog Food for Great Pyrenees Are…

Product	Details
1. Gentle Giants Canine Nutrition Dry Dog Food		Formulated specifically for large and giant breed dogs Dry kibble formula Intended for dogs of all ages Comes in chicken and salmon recipes	Check Current Price
2. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula		Formulated for large and giant breed dogs Intended for adult dogs Chicken and brown rice recipe Dry kibble texture	Check Current Price
3. Pro Plan Focus Adult Giant		Formulated for giant breed dogs Dry kibble formula Intended for adult dogs	Check Current Price
4. Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Large Breed Beef & Rice Entree Chunks in Gravy Canned Dog Food		Formulated for large breed and giant breed dogs Beef and rice formula Wet, chunky consistency food Intended for adult dogs	Check Current Price
5. Hill's Science Diet Adult Large Breed		Intended for adult dogs Formulated for large breed dogs Chicken and barley flavor Dry kibble consistency	Check Current Price
6. Nutro Wholesome Essentials Large Breed		Dry kibble formula Chicken and brown rice flavor Formulated for large and giant breed dogs Intended for adult dogs Also available in a formula for senior dogs	Check Current Price
7. Iams ProActive Health Adult Large Breed		For large breed dogs over 50 pounds For adult dogs over 1 year old Crunchy kibble formula Chicken flavor	Check Current Price
8. Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition		Formulated specifically for giant breed dogs over 100 pounds For adult dogs over 18-24 months old Dry kibble texture Chicken blend	Check Current Price
9. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe		Grain-free formula, be sure to consult your baby’s vet to make sure this food is right for him Dry kibble texture Formulated for large and giant breed dogs	Check Current Price

1. Gentle Giants Canine Nutrition Dry Dog Food

This food is a powerhouse of ingredients, including farm-raised, chicken, and wholesome grains like rice and oatmeal. Round it up with a rainbow of non-GMO garden fruits and veggies like carrots, tomatoes, cranberries, blueberries, and apple — and you’ve got everything you need to keep your sweet Pyr healthy and well-fed.

With an abundance of vitamins and minerals giant breed dogs need like chondroitin, glucosamine, taurine, and pre and probiotics, this food is the best option for your giant breed’s nutritional needs — from puppyhood to retirement.

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2. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula

Blue Buffalo dog food formulas are both nutritious and delicious for your big bestie! They contain patented LifeSource bits — adding essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants sourced from ingredients like blueberries, pumpkin, apples, and spinach to your dog’s bowl.

In addition, you’ll find protein-packed deboned chicken and the glucosamine, chondroitin, and omega fatty acids that giant breed dogs need for strong joints and healthy skin.

With no meat by-product meals, corn, soy, or wheat, you can feel good about knowing he’s not getting many of the harmful ingredients some other foods include.

All Blue Buffalo foods are developed scientifically by animal nutritionists and veterans who care about the well-being of your GP.

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3. Pro Plan Focus Adult Giant

Purina has been around for over 85 years, and it’s one of the most frequently recommended brands by vets and breeders for a good reason.

Nutrition tailored to a dog’s unique needs based on age, lifestyle, medical needs, and breed size is one of the things they are focused on providing, so their Pro Plan Focus food for adult giant breeds fits the bill for your Great Pyrenees.

 After all, when a breed’s average healthy weight reaches triple digits, they need all the specialized nutrition they can get!

Purina products are manufactured in the US, and are free from additives, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

Real chicken, salmon, or lamb gives your GP the quality protein she needs to build lean muscle and stay active, while added glucosamine keeps her joints healthy and hard-working.

Round it all out with omega fatty acids, prebiotic fiber, and a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and you’ve got a balanced, nutritious bowl of doggie food!

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4. Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Large Breed Beef & Rice Entree Chunks in Gravy Canned Dog Food

Sometimes a giant doggie just wants a giant dinner, and we think adding some canned food half and half to his kibble is a good way to treat him. This adult large breed formula will satisfy your big baby and deliver the added nutrition he needs to stay workin’.

Made with quality proteins like beef and liver, he’ll be getting a well balanced fat-to-protein ratio to help him build that strong, lean muscle and make his tummy happy.

It’s also rich in omega 6 fatty acids, biotin, and calcium to keep him well-fed and healthy. This food is manufactured in the US by Purina-owned facilities and contains no artificial additives, preservatives, flavors, or colors.

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5. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Large Breed

With real chicken as the first ingredient, this formula is specifically formulated to fuel your Pyr with lots of quality protein for strong muscles.

Natural sources of chondroitin and glucosamine help maintain strong and healthy joints, added vitamins and minerals provide antioxidants for overall health and wellness.

All of Hill’s Science Diet foods are made in the US with quality ingredients. Containing no preservatives, artificial colors, or artificial flavors — Hill’s foods are subjected to the most rigorous of auditing to maintain a high standard of quality.

They also give their recipes the most rigorous taste-testing to maintain a high standard of deliciousness.

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6. Nutro Wholesome Essentials Large Breed

Delicious farm-raised chicken, brown rice and sweet potatoes will have your giant furball wagging her tail at mealtimes!

With essential, immune-boosting antioxidants, quality protein, naturally sourced glucosamine and chondroitin and nutritious sources of fiber from ingredients like beet pulp and chickpeas all work together to give your four-legged bestie all the nutrition she needs to stay happy and healthy.

Made in the USA with carefully sourced, non-GMO ingredients, this food has no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. It also contains no chicken by-product meal, wheat, corn, or soy protein.

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7. Iams ProActive Health Adult Large Breed

This large and giant breed formula provides your Pyr with all the healthy protein she needs from eggs and chicken to support lean muscle development, seven essential vitamins and nutrients for overall health, immune-boosting antioxidants, and a healthy dose of prebiotics and beet pulp to keep her digestion running smoothly. 

It’s optimal mix of proteins and carbs help give her the energy to herd away, and beneficial fish oil provides the omega fatty acids she needs for a healthy, shiny coat.

The crunchy kibble consistency helps clean your dog’s teeth as she crunches to maintain healthy teeth and gums.

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8. Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition

The Great Pyrenees is a giant-breed dog, and that means he needs extra nutrition where it counts. Royal Canin does their homework when it comes to tailoring their giant dog formulas to accommodate the special needs of big fellas like yours — so they’ve included all the chondroitin, glucosamine, and EPA/DHA giant breeds specifically need to support healthy joints, and because Great Pyrenees are prone to digestion issues, they’ve added a blend of non-fermentable and fermentable fibers to help support a happy, healthy belly.

For over 60 years, Royal Canin has studied the special dietary needs of cats and dogs and passionate about feeding them well.

Collaborating with veterinary nutritionists, pet behavior experts, and pet owners worldwide is how they evolve their formulas to keep on keeping your fur baby healthy and living their best life.

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9. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe

There is a debate among large and giant breed dogs as to whether a grain-free formula is healthy for them. At the end of the day, most veterinarians will tell you it’s all about the dog and his specific needs.

We included a grain-free formula on this list because the Great Pyrenees breed can have a sensitive tummy like a lot of other members of the giant breed clan, and for some, this means a diet high in protein with zero grains is what they need to help ease some of those digestive issues.

Grain allergies can also be an issue for some dogs as well, so if your Great Pyr has a grain allergy, a grain-free option is necessary.

When reviewing grain-free options, we found that Blue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe for large breeds was a good choice, and Great Pyrs everywhere seem to agree.

It contains all the best sources of protein from lamb, beef, and venison to keep your dog full of energy and happy with dinnertime — and the real fruits and veggies to supply him with the robust amounts of nutrition and antioxidants he needs. Added chondroitin and glucosamine help support healthy joints as well. 

For all the great stuff it has, what it doesn’t have is meat by-product meals, wheat, corn, or soy.

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Best Dog Food For Great Pyrenees — A Buying Guide

Great Pyrenees are a little different from other big dogs in that they don’t necessarily scarf down their food like they’re starving.

They do have many of the same health characteristics as other large and giant-sized breeds, making it necessary to choose a food for your Great Pyrenees that accommodates that.

What To Consider When Choosing Your Dog’s Food

Like every breed, there are certain things you want to pay attention to when it comes to feeding your doggo:

• Pick foods made in a country with high standards of quality and regulations about what goes into your dog’s food. Ingredients should be sourced carefully, and quality testing should be rigorous. For the most part, countries in Europe, the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are all countries with pet food quality standards. Experts widely recommend staying away from foods made in China or with ingredients sourced in China.
• Choose a dog food without artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors or fillers that serve no nutritional purpose other than to make your pup feel full. It’s always a good idea to avoid foods with meat fillers and by-products. A real source of protein should be at the top of the list of ingredients, or at the very, very least within the top three, so be sure to read your labels!
• A balanced blend of proteins, fruits, veg, and whole grains is necessary to keep your fluffy friend his healthiest. Remember, dogs are natural omnivores so not only do they need a balanced diet, they prefer one as well. Also, an optimal fat-to-protein ratio is preferable. If his food has too much protein or fat, this could compromise his nutrition.

How To Pick The Right Food Specifically For Your GP

Because of their size and breed characteristics, the Great Pyrenees does have some medical issues that require a special diet to keep them at their most vibrant hand their healthiest.

For that reason, there are a few things to look for in the label of his food to make sure he gets what he needs:

• Plaque and gingivitis can be a problem for some GP’s maybe a little more than other breeds, so it’s a good idea to look for foods that help scrub those teeth. Of course, dry kibble is best for this, and some dog foods make it a point to size and shape their kibble to provide optimal tooth cleaning.
• Orthopedic issues are common for Great Pyrenees, particularly hip, elbow and joint problems so it’s imperative to make sure the food you buy has plenty of ingredients like chondroitin and glucosamine to oil up those hinges!
• Less common, but are still widely found in pure-breed Pyr doggies are heart problems like atrioventricular valve dysplasia (more on this in a moment) foods with the amino acid taurine on the label is a heart-healthy choice.
• Gastro issues are another thing that commonly plagues Pyr pups, so when buying quality food for your GP, be sure to include plenty of naturally sourced fiber, and gut-healthy pre and probiotics to keep things regular. Also, clean sources of pure protein are good for supporting gut health.

Breed-Specific Health Issues

Most of the time, the Great Pyrenees is a healthy breed, but there are breed-specific health issues they carry, so when thinking about your dog’s diet, it’s helpful to know what kind of things they experience from a health perspective.

Some of the issues you may find in the Great Pyrenees breed include:

Gastric Dilatation And Volvulus, Or Bloat

This life-threatening condition affects many large and giant breeds, and it’s very important to recognize the signs of bloat early in order to treat it before it’s too late.

Particularly if he also seems anxious and restless or has a difficult time breathing. There is a pretty simple medical procedure called gastropexy, or a stomach tack that can prevent bloat in dogs.

Heart Problems, Such As Atrioventricular Valve Dysplasia

This is a condition where the heart’s mitral or tricuspid valves are malformed, resulting in insufficient closing to stop blood flow when it’s supposed to. Usually, your vet will want to do a cardiac evaluation on your Pyr to make sure his heart is healthy.

Panosteitis

Panosteitis, or bone inflammation, is a painful condition that affects some large and giant breed dogs. Its cause is generally unknown, but it affects the long bones in the legs, particularly in the front legs.

Joint dysplasia

A hallmark of large and giant breed dogs, joint dysplasia is a painful condition where the ball and socket joints in the legs grind together or don’t fit together.

Hip and elbow dysplasia can become apparent as your Pyr ages, so give him foods with lots of healthy omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin to help lubricate those joints.

These are a few, but not all, of the health problems Great Pyrenees can experience. While any breeder of pure-bred dogs should know the lineage of their litters and have their dogs screened for their specific conditions, some conditions don’t pop up until later, so paying close attention to your baby’s health is imperative.

The National Breed Club Recommends:

• Hip Evaluation
• Patella Evaluation

To read more about the breed club’s health statement, go here.

How Much Should I Feed My Great Pyrenees?

How much you should be feeding your GP depends on life-stage, weight, activity levels, and possible health issues unique to your dog.

Consult the feeding guide included with the nutritional information on your dog’s food for how much and how often your fluffy friend should be eating, but the loose standard for a dog of average weight is as follows:

• Puppies should have a minimum of 1,750 calories per day, divided equally between three meals.
• Adult Pyrs should consume an average of 2,138 calories per day, two times a day.
• Senior Pyrs should eat at least 1,750 calories per day twice a day.
• Pyrs who are still herding animals or who are just plain active should get up to 3,402 calories per day.

A Few Words In Closing

A Great Pyrenees is a joyous addition to any family. Their calm, gentle nature makes them wonderful pets for families with children, and because they’re so cuddly and fluffy, they give fantastic hugs!

To fuel all that snuggly love, we recommend Gentle Giants Canine Nutrition Chicken Dry Dog Food to deliver all of the goodness your sweetheart deserves.

With farm-raised chicken, garden grown, non-GMO fruits and veggies, and wholesome grains like rice and oatmeal, this food will keep your fluffball happy and herding until retirement!