7 Best Dog Foods for Newfoundland Dogs

Choosing the best kind of food for your pet is a very important aspect of ensuring their health and happiness. Newfoundlands typically love to eat just as much as they enjoy swimming, so keeping them in optimal health is a big commitment. The variety of dog food on the market makes choosing the best brand for your gentle Newfoundland giant a significant challenge.

It is a complex subject, and it takes some time and research to make up your mind. There isn’t a perfect diet for all dogs; many professionals agree that variety is the key to giving your dog the best diet. Dog Food Care can guide you through the clutter. 

There are three primary questions for Newfoundland parents. 

• Learn the six essential nutrients every dog needs.
• Learn how much to feed your Newfoundland
• Learn what to look for on dog food labels

What are the six essential nutrients?

Many dog food labels say “Complete and Balanced,” but what is required for dog food to be complete and balanced? The six essential nutrients are listed below.

1. Water: 70% to 80% of your Newfoundland’s mature body weight is made up of water. It’s essential to make sure your dog has access to an adequate clean water supply daily. Dogs should drink approximately one ounce of water per pound of body weight each day. Without sufficient water, your dog’s body will be unable to maintain critical bodily functions shown below.

• Dissolve and transport nutrients to cells
• Regulate body temperature, 
• Digest foods
• Flush away waste, and much more.

2. Proteins: Your Newfoundland’s body uses 23 amino acids to build tissues. However, your canine companion’s body can only produce 13 of those on its own. The remaining 10 amino acids must come from proteins in the dog’s diet. To ensure your dog is fueling their day and body with enough protein, look for dog foods with natural, high-quality proteins as the first ingredient.

• Fish
• Meat
• Poultry 

3. Fats: Fatty acids, as they are called when talking about dietary needs, are essential for energy and also for your furry giant’s skin and coat health. The dog’s body cannot produce essential fatty acids and relies on you to include them in its diet to maintain optimal health. Some essential fatty acids for your dog are:

• Linoleic acid
• Omega-6
• Omega-3

4. Carbohydrates: Carbs are necessary to power the tissues in your dog’s body and for healthy digestion. Carbohydrates are plant-based, coming from grains, barley, brown rice, whole corn, potatoes, etc. It provides the dog’s body with

• Sugars
• Starches
• Fiber

5. Vitamins: Proper growth and health maintenance are impossible without including vitamins in your Newfoundland’s diet. Vitamins support many critical roles in your dog’s diet. As long as your choice of dog food is a complete and balanced meal under AAFCO’s guidelines, your pup should be receiving many of the vitamins necessary to keep them healthy and happy. 

• Vitamin D helps to regulate calcium and phosphorus levels 
• Vitamin A helps to boost the immune system 
• Vitamin E and C serve as antioxidants 
• Vitamin K helps with blood clots 
• Vitamin B12 helps maintain a healthy nervous system. 

6. Minerals: Like vitamins, minerals support several critical roles in your dog’s diet. While different minerals provide different benefits, some general functions include bone and cartilage formation, hormone regulation, oxygen flow, and nerve and muscle function. Below are some specific attributes of essential minerals for your dog. 

• Calcium and phosphorus make up a large portion of bone matter 
• Iron helps to carry oxygen through the body 
• Zinc supports proper wound healing 
• Selenium helps provide antioxidant support 
• Sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium help with nerve transmission and fluid balance.

What to look for on your dog food labels

Like your food labels, your Newfoundland dog’s food label shows what ingredients it contains and the percentage of essential nutrients in each bag. The ingredients are listed from highest to lowest content by weight and the percentage it represents. Studying the ingredients list will help you understand what you feed your dog.

Another part of the information on dog food labels is the Guaranteed Analysis (GA). It is the nutrient profile found on the back of the bag or can. GAs divulge the diet’s basic nutrient composition regarding minimum crude protein, minimum crude fat, and maximum crude fiber. GAs let you know precisely what you are getting. 

The name game when decoding the label

The first five or 10 ingredients on the list will give you a good idea about the quality of the ingredients. You always want to see the protein listed in the first position, and then it must be the real thing. If the list of a bag of Beef Dog Food shows the beef first, followed by whole-grain corn and then soybean meal, the percentage of whole-grain corn will be less than the beef, and the soybean meal will be less than the whole-grain corn.

So, if you buy a bag of kibble called Beef Dog Food, beef must be number one on the list, and as per the FDA, it must make up 95% of the product. In contrast, if that bag of dog food’s label says “Beef Dinner,” “Beef Recipe,” Beef Flavor,” or similar descriptions, the beef percentage need not exceed 25%. 

What you want to see on your Newfoundland’s dog food labels:

• Real meat is the first ingredient 
• Fillers, if any, (corn, wheat, soy) should be listed low on the ingredients list. 
• If a “meal” is listed, be sure it’s from a specific source like chicken meal, beef meal, or salmon meal. You don’t want to see a general “meal” like poultry meal, fish meal, etc., which leave you with a guess as to the source of the meal. The fact that it is a meal is not a bad thing. It is significantly more concentrated than the fresh product because the source product is dehydrated and worked into a fine meal, losing no nutrients in the boiling process. 
• Specific protein by-products like beef by-products are high in nutritional value and generally not an issue. However, watch out for general statements like by-product meals as these are lower in quality. 

What you don’t want to see on your Newfoundland’s dog food label:

• The name of the food contains the statement “with” or “flavor,” like “with beef” or “beef-flavored,” as this indicates a small percentage of real meat. 
• The same ingredient is listed multiple times using different names, such as high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, sugar, and sucrose. This tactic is often used to hide high levels of an unwanted ingredient by dividing them and using different terms on the ingredients list. 
• Fillers in foods and treats or too many fillers in dog food may not be biologically appropriate for your Newfoundland.
• Artificial colors and flavors

What are fillers?

In most dog foods, especially kibble, there are added ingredients to help your dog feel full but provide little nutritional value. Usually, fillers are bulky, starchy, and carbohydrate-rich ingredients that could have been replaced by healthier, more natural ingredients.

Usually, these products are cheap and easy for manufacturers to keep costs low. Some common fillers in commercial dog foods are so cheap that they will irritate your dog, causing allergies or sensitivities. There is no official list of fillers, and what some dog owners regard as fillers, others believe they are healthy. Examples include corn, wheat, rice, unspecified by-products, potato protein, pea protein, and more.

Dog Food Care reviewed the 9 Dog Foods listed below

After reviewing many dog food brands for your Newfoundland, Dog Food Care recommends those that stood out as best and informs you of the worst on the list below.

1. VICTOR Classic Multi-Pro Dry Dog Food
2. Diamond Naturals Premium Large Breed Formulas
3. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
4. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Dry Dog Food
5. Nutro Ultra Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food
6. ACANA Singles Wholesome Grains Limited Ingredient Diet Dry Dog Food
7. Chicken Soup for the Soul Large Breed Dry Dog Food

The packaging of the above dog foods ranges from 22.5-pound bags to 50-pound bags, and prices from $42.01 to $86.99 per bag. When broken down to prices per pound, the average is $1.95 per pound.

Dog Food Care’s choice of top 5 dog foods for Newfoundland dogs is listed below. Scroll down further for our 6th and 7th pick.

Image	Product	Features	Price
Best Overall	VICTOR Super Premium Dog Food, Multi-Pro with Beef, Chicken & Pork Nutrient-dense, high-quality formula with beef, chicken and pork meals Contains a proprietary VPRO blend with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals Ideal dog food for active dogs	10	Check Price on AmazonCheck Price on Chewy
Best Value	Diamond Naturals for Large Breed Adult Dogs, Chicken & Rice Made with real cage-free chicken Contains antioxidant-rich superfoods Proprietary probiotics support a healthy digestive tract	9.9	Check Price on AmazonCheck Price on Chewy
Best for Active Dogs	Taste of the Wild Dry Dog High Prairie Made with tasty bison meat Recipe made with natural ingredients Suitable for all life stages	9.7	Check Price on AmazonCheck Price on Chewy
Best for Senior Dogs	Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult Dry Dog Food, Chicken and Brown Rice Protein-rich chicken is the first ingredient With LifeSource bits, a blend of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to support immune system health No corn, wheat or soy, artificial colors or preservatives	9.6	Check Price on AmazonCheck Price on Chewy
Healthy Weight	NUTRO ULTRA Adult Large Breed High Protein Natural Dry Dog Food with a Trio of Proteins from Chicken Lamb and Salmon High-protein trio of chicken, lamb and salmon Contains superfoods such as chia seeds, coconut and kale No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives	9.6	Check Price on AmazonCheck Price on Chewy

Below are Dog Food Care’s top 7 recommendations for feeding your Newfoundland at its different life stages:

Best Overall
1. VICTOR Classic Multi-Pro Dry Dog Food

Introduced in 2007, VICTOR is sold primarily in farm & feed and independent pet stores across the country and through select online retailers. With a commitment to offering high-quality nutrition at a common-sense value, the company manufactures all kibble in-house at its Mt. Pleasant, Texas facility. 

10/10Our Score

• Nutrient-dense, high-quality formula with beef, chicken and pork meals
• Contains a proprietary VPRO blend with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals
• Ideal dog food for active dogs

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Keep your pup going strong with VICTOR Classic Multi-Pro Dry Dog Food. This diet is made with premium-quality beef, chicken, and pork meals for ordinarily active dogs, regular maintenance, and off-season periods of lower activity. It is also fortified with vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, protein, and amino acids. Made with gluten-free grains, VICTOR Classic Multi-Pro Dry Dog Food is a complete and balanced diet for your furry friend.

Victor Multi-Pro is an excellent quality dog food at a low price. This product has no controversial ingredients and does not use any artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors. However, it has a very high amount of carbs compared to its protein and fat content. The high carbs are a concern, but the meat and fat quality in the food are excellent. Dog Food Care does not hesitate to recommend VICTOR Classic Multi-Pro Dry Dog Food as the overall best for Newfoundland dogs.

• First 5 Ingredients: Grain Sorghum, Beef Meal, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Chicken Meal, Pork Meal
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 22.5% min, Crude Fat 10% min, Crude Fiber 3.8% Max
• Calories: 359 kcal per 8-oz cup
• Suitable for which dogs: Fairly active dogs of all breeds who need a moderate amount of daily calories
• Feeding: one 8-oz cup of food for every 25 pounds of its body weight.
• Key Benefit: Victor Multi-Pro is an excellent quality dog food at a low price.
• Price: $54.99 per 50-lb bag $1.10-lb

Best Value
2. Diamond Naturals Premium Large Breed Formulas

Diamond Foods were established in Meta, Missouri in 1970. All dry foods are manufactured at Diamond’s company-owned plants in South Carolina, Arkansas, California, and Missouri. 

9.9/10Our Score

• Made with real cage-free chicken
• Contains antioxidant-rich superfoods
• Proprietary probiotics support a healthy digestive tract

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Give your large or giant breed adult dog the deserved superior nutrition with Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food. Each Diamond Naturals dry formula is enhanced with superfoods and guaranteed probiotics to support your furry friend’s development and overall health. This large breed adult dry dog food recipe is made with real cage-free chicken, whole grain brown rice, and real fruit and vegetables, including kale, blueberries, and coconut. It provides your furry friend with protein, minerals, and omega fatty acids to help promote healthy skin and a shiny coat, plus antioxidants for overall nose-to-tail well-being.

Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult Chicken & Rice Formula is a low-priced dry dog food with good quality. This product includes no controversial ingredients like artificial preservatives, colors and flavors. However, the food has a high amount of carbs but excellent meat and fat quality at a price that deserves our Best-for-budget recommendation.

• First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Grain Brown Rice, Cracked Pearled Barley, Ground White Rice
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 23% min, Crude Fat 13% min, Crude Fiber 3.5% Max
• Calories: 397 kcal per 8-oz cup
• Suitable for which dogs: Large breeds like Bassets and Giant dogs like Black Russian Terriers
• Feeding: one 8-oz cup of food for every 25 pounds of its body weight.
• Key Benefit: Glucosamine and chondroitin support healthy joints, omega fatty acids support skin and coat health, and superfoods, including fruits like blueberries and oranges provide your large breed dog with vitamins and minerals.
• Price: $40.99 per 40-lb bag ($1.02-lb)

Best for Active Dogs
3. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food 

Taste of the Wild is made by Diamond Pet Foods in Meta, Missouri. All dry foods are manufactured at Diamond’s company-owned plants in South Carolina, Arkansas, California, and Missouri. Diamond Foods were established in Missouri in 1970.

9.8/10Our Score

• Made with tasty bison meat
• Recipe made with natural ingredients
• Suitable for all life stages

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This grain-free recipe was formulated with novel proteins, including buffalo and bison. It includes peas and sweet potatoes that deliver the highly-digestible energy active dogs of all sizes need. Along with natural antioxidant support from real fruits and vegetables and dried chicory root for prebiotic support and healthy digestion. Essential minerals are chelated with amino acids to optimize their absorption and ensure maximum benefit for complete and balanced nutrition with a taste of the wild your furry friend constantly craves.

Although this Taste of the Wild formula is mostly top class, it has one controversial ingredient that raises concern. Fish meal is usually an excellent protein source, but the fact that this ingredient is Ocean Fish Meal makes one wonder why the type of fish was not revealed. For all you know, it could include the potential that rancid, dead, dying, disabled, or diseased fish sources could have been used.

For that reason we do not consider this a high-quality ingredient However, because it is not among the top 10 ingredients, the amount of ocean Fish Meal may not be significant. Thus, Dog Food Care can confidently recommend this dog food for your Newfoundland companion.

• First 5 Ingredients: Water Buffalo, Lamb Meal, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 32% min, Crude Fat 18% min, Crude Fiber 4% Max
• Calories: 422 kcal per 8-oz cup
• Suitable for which dogs: All breeds from small Border Terriers to Giants like Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs and Newfoundlands.
• Feeding: one 8-oz cup of food for every 25 pounds of its body weight.
• Key Benefits: Contains several real meat sources within the first 12 ingredients.
• Price: $54.99 per 28-lb bag ($2.00-lb)

Best for Seniors
4. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Dry Dog Food 

Bill Bishop and his sons Billy and Chris founded Blue Buffalo in 2003 in Wilton, Connecticut, to honor their beloved family dog, Blue. The Bishop family became increasingly concerned with the quality of Blue’s food when Blue had a bout with cancer at a young age. On April 24, 2018, General Mills, Inc. Minneapolis announced its acquisition of Blue Buffalo Pet Products, Inc.

9.6/10Our Score

• Protein-rich chicken is the first ingredient
• With LifeSource bits, a blend of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to support immune system health
• No corn, wheat or soy, artificial colors or preservatives

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Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula was created for adult dogs’ holistic health and well-being. All formulas start with real meat, whole grains, garden veggies, and fruit. LifeSource Bits, a precise blend of nutrients that have been enhanced with a Super 7 package of antioxidant-rich ingredients, are added. This Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe features delicious, protein-rich deboned chicken and other natural ingredients for a healthy meal your dog will love.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult is a low-priced dry dog food with average quality. The biggest positive is that this Blue Buffalo product has zero controversial ingredients – that also means no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors. The food has a high amount of carbs causing lower protein and fat content, but excellent meat and fat quality. Thus, Dog Food Care recommends Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula as an average quality dog food.

• First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Barley, Oatmeal
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 24% min, Crude Fat 14% min, Crude Fiber 5% Max
• Calories: 377 kcal per 8-oz cup
• Suitable for which dogs: All breeds, from the Scottish Terrier to the massive Neapolitan Mastiff.
• Feeding: one 8-oz cup of food for every 25 pounds of its body weight.
• Key Benefit: Essential, high-quality protein for healthy muscle development, and excellent fat quality.for energy for an older adult Newfoundland.
• Price: $46.99 per 30-lb bag ($1.57-lb)

Best for Healthy Weight
5. Nutro Ultra Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food

Nutro Natural Pet Food, founded in 1926, was acquired by Mars in 2007. Mars Inc. was established in 1911 and is now based in McLean, Virginia. Mars Inc. has two dry pet food manufacturing facilities for NUTRO™ products located in Henderson, North Carolina, and Victorville, California. Their cans and trays also have wet food manufacturing facilities in Columbus, Ohio, Fort Smith, Arkansas, and North Sioux City, South Dakota.

9.6/10Our Score

• High-protein trio of chicken, lamb and salmon
• Contains superfoods such as chia seeds, coconut and kale
• No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives

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These tasty, dry recipes are specially formulated for large breed adult dogs, starting with real chicken as the main ingredient, free of chicken by-product meal. Add lamb, salmon, and a blend of 15 superfoods, and you have a mouthwatering, healthy meal. There are no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, and it is free of corn, wheat, and soy protein.

Chicken Soup for the Soul is a grain-inclusive dry dog food that utilizes a notable amount of named meat meals as its dominant source of animal protein, thus receiving Dog Food Care’s recommendation.

• First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal (source of glucosamine and chondroitin), Whole Grain Brown Rice, Whole Grain Sorghum, Whole Grain Barley
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 22% min, Crude Fat 13% min, Crude Fiber 4% Max
• Calories: 350 kcal per 8-oz cup
• Suitable for which dogs: Large and giant breeds like Dalmatians and Newfoundlands
• Feeding: one 8-oz cup of food for every 25 pounds of its body weight.
• Key Benefit: Protein-rich formula features chicken, lamb, and salmon—and chicken as the first ingredient.
• Price: $59.99 per 30-lb bag ($2.00-lb)

6. ACANA Singles Wholesome Grains Limited Ingredient Diet Dry Dog Food 

Champion, based in Alberta, Canada, owns Acana and Orijen. The company was founded in 1985 by Reinhard Muhlenfeld, a maker of premium pet foods available in almost 100 countries around the globe.

9.5/10Our Score

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Feed your dog the high-quality nutrition he needs and deserves with ACANA Singles + Wholesome Grains Limited Ingredient Diet Lamb & Pumpkin Recipe. This dry dog food is specially crafted with approximately 60% quality lamb ingredients, whole pumpkin, and fiber-rich grains. It offers your dog complete nutrition and is an excellent choice for picky dogs but also healthy dogs with sensitivities to certain foods. ACANA’s premium ingredients are sourced from a trusted group of farmers, ranchers, and fishers. Every batch is made in their Kentucky kitchen with a commitment to safety and quality.

Acana Singles lists both grain-inclusive and grain-free dry dog foods using a liberal amount of named meats and meals as its dominant source of animal protein, thus receiving Dog Food Care’s recommendation.

• First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Lamb, Lamb Meal, Oat Groats, Whole Sorghum, Lamb Liver
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 27% min, Crude Fat 17% min, Crude Fiber 6% Max
• Calories: 371 kcal per 8-oz cup
• Suitable for which dogs: All breeds, from the small Shetland Sheepdogs to the Doberman Pinschers and the giant Dogue de Bordeaux. 
• Feeding: one 8-oz cup of food for every 25 pounds of its body weight.
• Key Benefit: Perfect for picky dogs, this ACANA recipe provides the nutrient-dense diet your canine needs with protein from a single animal source and zero peas or plant-protein isolates
• Price: $86.99 per 22.5-lb bag ($3.87-lb)

7. Chicken Soup for the Soul Large Breed Dry Dog Food

Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet Food was founded in 2004. The family-owned and -operated company comprises a small team that works closely together to develop premium, healthy pet foods made from high-quality ingredients offering Classic and Grain Free all-life stages of dog food. Diamond Pet Foods manufacture Chicken Soup for the Soul’s pet products. This much larger national brand owns four state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in the US.

9.3/10Our Score

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Give your older pup everything he needs to keep him feeling his best with Chicken Soup for the Soul Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food. This diet contains real chicken and turkey as the first two ingredients to maintain lean muscles and glucosamine and chondroitin for optimal joint health. It has omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to promote healthy skin and coat. This food also aids healthy digestion with prebiotic fiber from dried chicory root. With no by-product meals, wheat, corn, or soy, Chicken Soup for the Soul Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food promotes lifelong health.

Chicken Soup for the Soul is a grain-inclusive dry dog food that utilizes several named meat meals as its dominant source of animal protein in the first five ingredients. The formula contains no controversial ingredients, and it is reasonably priced. Thus, Dog Food care recommends this product for your Newfoundland.

• First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Turkey, Chicken Meal (Source Of Glucosamine Hydrochloride And Chondroitin Sulfate), Turkey Meal, Cracked Pearled Barley
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 23% min, Crude Fat 12% min, Crude Fiber 5% Max
• Calories: 374 kcal per 8-oz cup
• Suitable for which dogs: Large and giant breeds like Bluetick Coonhounds and Newfoundlands, ideal for senior dogs..
• Feeding: one 8-oz cup of food for every 25 pounds of its body weight.
• Key Benefit: It Includes glucosamine and chondroitin for optimal joint health and is formulated to support the joints and bones as your senior dog enters its golden years.
• Price: $42.01 per 28-lb bag ($1.50-lb)

What are the facts that you should know about dog foods for Newfoundland?

How much should you feed your Newfoundland?

Although Newfoundlands are big dogs, they don’t require significantly more food than other breeds of dogs do. It would be best if you watched your Newfoundland’s weight very closely. If you overfeed your furry friend, your dog will develop joint and other health problems due to its size.

It is essential to remember that feeding guides on dog food bags are precisely that – guides based on age and weight. However, your dog’s activity level, metabolism, and overall health are essential in determining how much to feed him. 

Also, keep in mind that puppy food is different from the food you will feed an adult Newfoundland dog. Please buy appropriate food for your dog’s life stage. Adult dog food can be too big for puppies and can cause harm to their teeth and gums. Below are guides for feeding puppies.

Newfoundland puppies eat the following amounts of food per day:

• 15 to 23 ounces after they are weaned. Weaning typically happens from week 6 to week 8.
• 25 to 28 ounces at 3 to 6 months old
• 28 ounces at 6 to 12 months old
• 30 ounces at 12 to 24 months old

Remember that you must divide the total daily food allocation into several daily rations to prevent the deadly risk of bloat.

Here’s how many times a day you should feed a Newfoundland puppy:

• 2 – 3 months: 4 daily servings
• 4 – 5 months: 3 daily servings
• 6 – 8 months: 2 or 3 servings per day
• 8 – 12 months: 2 or 3 daily servings

At 24 months, you should feed your Newfoundland as if it were an adult.

Depending on your adult Newfoundland’s overall health and activity level, you can feed your canine companion 32 to 40 ounces (four to five 8-oz cups) of high-quality dry dog food a day. An adult Newfoundland dog typically weighs around 100 pounds. You can calculate the amount to feed your giant furry friend by working on one 8-oz cup of food for every 25 pounds of its body weight.

What type of diet is perfect for your Newfoundland?

You know your Newfoundland best, and as long as you understand that a high-quality diet is packed with nutrients, you don’t have to feed more to get the benefits. Below is a list of different diet options for Newfoundlands.

• Kibble Diet 

A kibble diet is a dog food that is processed and cooked and comes in many different varieties. It is supposed to be a balanced diet and meet the dog’s nutritional needs required by law. Dry dog foods should have necessary ingredients such as animal protein, grains, cereals, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

• Raw Diet

A raw diet usually consists of organ meat, muscle meat, whole or ground bone, raw eggs, and dog-friendly vegetables. It comes in many different forms: dehydrated raw, freeze-dried raw, pre-packaged raw, BARF ( biologically appropriate raw food), and PMR (Prey Model Raw). Newfoundland dog parents are advised to feed raw diets under the eye of someone knowledgeable in this area, such as a clinical nutritionist.

• Home Cooked Diet

A home-cooked meal prepared for a dog can consist of many different animal proteins and vegetables. It is based on the nutritional needs and health issues of the dog. Home-cooked diets require dietary supplements such as Balance IT to ensure that the dog’s nutritional needs are met. Newfoundland parents feeding a home-cooked diet would be advised to do so under the care of a veterinary nutritionist.

What health conditions should be considered when feeding your Newfoundland?

Newfoundlands are prone to several health conditions that should be considered when choosing the best dog food.

• Skin allergies

With their thick coats, Newfoundland dogs are predisposed to food allergies and occasional environmental allergies that cause skin conditions like repeated hot spots. If your gentle furry giant suffers from food allergies, it’s essential to remember that they will usually have additional symptoms. They could suffer chronic ear infections and digestion problems, along with skin issues. 

• Heart issues

Newfoundland dogs are predisposed to genetic heart conditions, and DCM (Dilated Cardiomyopathy) is one to look out for. Researchers suggest that the presence of taurine in food could be a problem because Newfoundlands may not process it efficiently.

Taurine is an amino acid found in tissues and organs throughout the body, including the muscles, heart, brain and retina. Unlike most amino acids, taurine doesn’t create protein cells, but it does play many other important roles. For example, it strengthens the heart, and many commercial dog foods have added taurine for that purpose. 

Therefore, it is crucial to remember that taurine is found naturally in meat, fish, dairy products, and human milk. It’s also available as a dietary supplement.

• Obesity

Like most large dogs, Newfoundlands are prone to weight problems that could lead to obesity. Sadly, overweight dogs are often caused by the widespread belief that giant-sized dogs must eat 10 cups of food per day. They should be fed 4 to 5 cups, divided into two meals per day to maintain a healthy weight. Overfeeding a Newfoundland will lead to other health problems such as joint conditions, heart disease, and canine bloat/GDV, which could be deadly.

What are the ingredients to avoid for Newfoundland?

Not all dog food ingredients are suitable for your giant canine companion. Some provide little to no nutritional value, while others only function as fillers or preservatives. And the dangerous part? Some pet food ingredients can put your Newfoundland’s life at risk.

For responsible owners of giant-sized dogs like Newfoundlands, Bullmastiffs, Dogue de Bordeaux, Cane Corso, and Great Danes, it pays to inspect the ingredients of dog foods closely before feeding them to your furry friend. Below is a list of some ingredients to avoid.

• BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole) is a chemical preservative added to fats and oils. The United States, Canada, and other European countries approve the use of BHA but only in small doses. However, the CDC regards BHA as a carcinogen for humans, and it could be as deadly to dogs. Potential adverse effects include liver and kidney damage and skin and eye irritation.
• White Flour is a starchy ingredient, a simple carbohydrate used as a binding agent and filler in some dog foods. During the bleaching process, most of the nutrients from the wheat are stripped away. 

This ingredient can drastically increase or decrease the dog’s blood sugar levels, and it only keeps them full for a short time. When this happens, your dog consumes more food than usual, increasing the risk of diabetes and obesity.

• Unspecified Meals can be harmful if the source is not specified. While specified meals like beef meal, chicken meal, and salmon meal are excellent protein sources, meat meal, poultry meal, and fish meal leave you guessing. It could contain low-quality, expired, or infected meat. It can also include fatty tissues or remains of dead animals from shelters.

When you see unspecified meals on the ingredient labels, you can be sure they are used as fillers. Their only purpose is to cut costs and benefit the manufacturers’ bottom lines.

• Artificial Food Colorings have no nutritional benefits. Instead, they can be harmful. Manufacturers add artificial colors to make the food appear more appetizing for dog owners. Dogs care for taste, not color. Artificial colorings used in dog foods, known as Blue 2, Red 40, and Yellow 5, are linked to hyperacidity and extreme allergic reactions to food. Only get dog food that is naturally colored.
• Corn Syrup is often used as a cheap source of flavoring in pet treats. This concentrated sweetener has a thick, syrupy consistency once extracted and processed from corn. It’s highly addictive to dogs, so they keep coming back for more. It can cause an abrupt rise and fall in your dog’s blood sugar. Letting your dog consume corn syrup with their diet also puts them at risk of diabetes and obesity.
• Rendered Fat is a non-descript ingredient that enhances the flavor of some pet foods. However, it’s one of those dog food ingredients with poor quality since it comes from unidentifiable sources. Because of this, rendered fat can become a breeding ground for mold and harmful microorganisms like salmonella. It also contains high toxin levels, such as heavy metals, highly concentrated in their fat content. What you want to see is specified fat like chicken fat.
• Vegetable Oil may seem like a pretty healthy ingredient. However, the nutrient value of this type of oil depends on where it came from and how they were processed. Vegetable oil is derived from corn and soybean oils. It contains omega-6 fatty acids, which are considered healthy for dogs in limited quantities.

 Added to other fatty ingredients in the recipe may cause excessive levels of Omega 6, which could trigger inflammation. It can negatively affect your dog’s joints and worsen their arthritis, hip and joint pains, and other related conditions.

• Farmed Salmon, unlike fresh water salmon, could harm your Newfoundland’s health. Salmon is an excellent source of healthy omega-3 fatty acids for humans and dogs. But here’s the catch: the wrong kind of salmon can be toxic to your dogs. Unlike fresh salmon, farmed salmon are bred in artificial environments instead of wild waters. They are less nutritious than fresh salmon. Farmed salmon are typically shown on ingredient lists as “salmon meal” or “salmon oil.”

Furthermore, they could contain many harmful chemicals like mercury, pollutants, and other fat-soluble toxins. When ingested in huge quantities, these substances can be cancerous to your dog. Farmed salmon also contain 9 Nitrates/Nitrites that serve as preservatives for products like processed meats. Sodium nitrite is the most common preserving ingredient linked to cancer and a blood disorder called methemoglobin in dogs.

• Melamine usually serves as a filler ingredient to reach the required protein content for pet food. But in reality, it’s a type of plastic that contains nitrogen. This dangerous substance can contaminate your dog’s food.

Ingesting this is toxic for your canine companion. Depending on their size and the amount of melamine added, its consumption can lead to kidney failure. Melamine caused one of the worst pet food recalls in 2007.

• Taurine is not dangerous for all breeds, but researchers found that Newfoundlands may not process it efficiently because they are predisposed to genetic heart conditions, and DCM (Dilated Cardiomyopathy) is one to look out for. Taurine is mostly regarded as a good source for supporting heart health and vision in other dog breeds.

When should you feed your Newfoundland?

Feed your Newfoundland twice a day to help prevent tummy upset common in the breed. Dogs who eat their daily food in one go tend to be so hungry that they gulp it up, which could cause bloat – a digestive condition that could be deadly. Newfoundlands have slow metabolisms, so splitting their food into a morning and an evening meal is recommended. 

What is the Caloric requirement of a Newfoundland?

Puppies need more protein than fat for proper joint, muscle, and bone development. Most large breed puppies experience stunted growth if the appropriate nutrition is lacking. However, there must be a careful balance between too much and too little of all the necessary nutrients when feeding giant breed puppies. 

In most breeds, puppies need more calories per pound than adult dogs because small breed pups mature faster than large breed puppies. Newfoundland pups continue growing until they are about two years old, while some small breeds are fully grown by the time they are five or six months old. Large breed dogs can develop hip and other joint problems, with potential chronic pain caused by arthritis in their golden years.

Feeding the pup a higher calorie diet could put too much weight on the developing bones and joints. The recommended puppy diet should include 30% high-quality protein and only 9% fat. 

The AKC recommends a mature Newfoundland weighing 100 to 120 pounds needs 1560 to 1945 calories per day. A 6-month-old puppy weighing 70 to 80 pounds needs 1210 to 1511 calories.