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Large breed puppy food UK: 6 foods compared on cost per day

Prices checked 21 October 2026How we compared · 8 sourcesAdWe earn from links marked Ad. It never changes the order. How we make money

Our picks from the 6 large breed puppy foods we compared, for a 6 months puppy heading for 30 kg

Lowest cost per day; no poultry listed
Eukanuba Grain Free Puppy Large & Giant Ocean Fish£1.22

Dry, complete. 390 g a day at 6 months for a 30 kg adult size. Fish meal 30%; no chicken or poultry listed.

See price at zooplusAd£37.39 checked 21 Oct 2026
Lamb recipe that also lists chicken
Eukanuba Puppy Large & Giant Lamb & Rice£1.29

Dry, complete. 395 g a day. Lamb is 14%, but dried chicken and turkey are listed first.

See price at zooplusAd£39.09 checked 21 Oct 2026
The foods with a 30 kg row cost £1.22 to £2.01 a day at 6 months. Choose by expected adult weight, weigh every meal, and never leave food down all day (FEDIAF).

Large breed puppy foods compared

Cost per day uses the single-purchase price on zooplus UK and each maker's feeding guide for a 6-month-old puppy expected to weigh 30 kg as an adult. Where a maker publishes no 30 kg row, the range runs between the nearest rows. Arden Grange feeds by current weight, so its cost is for a puppy weighing 20–25 kg now.

Sort:

Showing 6 of 6.

  • Eukanuba Grain Free Puppy Large & Giant Breed Ocean Fish
    Dry, complete; for puppies expected to reach 25 kg or more
    Best for: The lowest cost per day here, and no chicken or poultry listed
    £1.22checked 21 Oct 2026
    Price and pack
    £37.39 for 12 kg (zooplus)
    Daily amount
    390 g (30 kg expected adult weight, 6 months)
    Main protein
    Fish meal 30% (also lists pork fat)
    How we worked out £1.22

    £37.39 ÷ 12,000 g × 390 g

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  • Eukanuba Premium Nutrition Puppy Large & Giant Breed Lamb & Rice
    Dry, complete; lamb recipe that also lists chicken and turkey
    Best for: A low daily cost; check the ingredients if you are avoiding chicken
    £1.29checked 21 Oct 2026
    Price and pack
    £39.09 for 12 kg (zooplus)
    Daily amount
    395 g (30 kg expected adult weight, 6 months)
    Main protein
    Dried chicken and turkey listed first; lamb 14%
    How we worked out £1.29

    £39.09 ÷ 12,000 g × 395 g

    ViewAd
  • Arden Grange Daily Large Breeds Puppy with Fresh Chicken & Rice
    Dry, complete; fed by the puppy's current weight
    Best for: Owners who prefer to feed by current weight
    £1.35–£1.65 (puppy weighing 20–25 kg)checked 21 Oct 2026
    Price and pack
    £47.69 for 12 kg (zooplus)
    Daily amount
    Fed by current weight: 340–415 g at 21–32 weeks for a puppy weighing 20–25 kg now
    Main protein
    Chicken 35%; rice 21%
    How we worked out £1.35–£1.65 (puppy weighing 20–25 kg)

    £47.69 ÷ 12,000 g × 340–415 g

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  • Purina Pro Plan Large Athletic Puppy Healthy Start
    Dry, complete; for large breeds from 25 kg, up to 2 years
    Best for: A feeding table that runs to 70 kg adults
    £1.55–£1.89checked 21 Oct 2026
    Price and pack
    £46.39 for 12 kg (zooplus)
    Daily amount
    No 30 kg row: 400–415 g at 25 kg, 445–490 g at 35 kg (6–8 months)
    Main protein
    Chicken 19%; rice 9%
    How we worked out £1.55–£1.89

    £46.39 ÷ 12,000 g × 400–490 g

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  • James Wellbeloved Junior Large Breed Turkey & Rice
    Dry, complete; ages 1–20 months
    Best for: A turkey recipe with no chicken listed
    £1.71–£2.68checked 21 Oct 2026
    Price and pack
    £50.59 for 12 kg (zooplus)
    Daily amount
    No 30 kg row: 405–440 g at 25 kg, 580–635 g at 40 kg (5–6 months)
    Main protein
    Dried turkey protein 24.5% (also lists poultry fat)
    How we worked out £1.71–£2.68

    £50.59 ÷ 12,000 g × 405–635 g

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  • Royal Canin Maxi Puppy
    Dry, complete; for dogs of 26–44 kg as adults
    Best for: A 30 kg row at every age and a stated switch point
    £2.01checked 21 Oct 2026
    Price and pack
    £66.99 for 15 kg (zooplus)
    Daily amount
    451 g (30 kg expected adult weight, 6 months)
    Main protein
    Dried poultry protein listed first
    How we worked out £2.01

    £66.99 ÷ 15,000 g × 451 g

    ViewAd

Prices, ingredients and feeding amounts from the zooplus UK pages linked, checked on 21 October 2026.

How we compared · 8 sources, checked 21 October 2026Show

What we did

took the single-purchase price, pack size, ingredients, calcium and feeding table from each zooplus UK product page and worked out cost per day for a 6-month-old puppy with a 30 kg expected adult weight. Calcium and growth facts come from the FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines (September 2025).

What we did not do

feed these foods to puppies or analyse them. The calcium on a pack is 'as fed', while FEDIAF's limits are per 100 g of dry matter, so the two are not directly comparable. Royal Canin and Purina did not list calcium on the pages we read. IAMS Large puppy food was left out because its page showed no feeding guide.

Sources checked

  1. Eukanuba Grain Free Puppy Large & Giant Breed Ocean Fish · 21 October 2026
  2. Eukanuba Premium Nutrition Puppy Large & Giant Breed Lamb & Rice · 21 October 2026
  3. Arden Grange Daily Large Breeds Puppy with Fresh Chicken & Rice · 21 October 2026
  4. Purina Pro Plan Large Athletic Puppy Healthy Start · 21 October 2026
  5. James Wellbeloved Junior Large Breed Turkey & Rice · 21 October 2026
  6. Royal Canin Maxi Puppy · 21 October 2026
  7. FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs (September 2025), Table III-3a and footnotes · 21 October 2026
  8. Kealy RD et al., J Am Vet Med Assoc 2000;217(11):1678-80 (authors from Ralston Purina) · 21 October 2026

Prices and terms change. Confirm on the retailer's page before you buy.

Each food in detail

Lowest cost per day; no poultry listed

Eukanuba Grain Free Puppy Large & Giant Breed Ocean Fish

Dry, complete; for puppies expected to reach 25 kg or more

Cost per day
£1.22
Price and pack
£37.39 for 12 kg (zooplus)
Daily amount
390 g (30 kg expected adult weight, 6 months)
Main protein
Fish meal 30% (also lists pork fat)

Why it made the list

The lowest cost per day here, and no chicken or poultry listed

See price at zooplusAd£37.39 checked 21 Oct 2026
How we worked out £1.22

£37.39 ÷ 12,000 g × 390 g

Lamb recipe that also lists chicken

Eukanuba Premium Nutrition Puppy Large & Giant Breed Lamb & Rice

Dry, complete; lamb recipe that also lists chicken and turkey

Cost per day
£1.29
Price and pack
£39.09 for 12 kg (zooplus)
Daily amount
395 g (30 kg expected adult weight, 6 months)
Main protein
Dried chicken and turkey listed first; lamb 14%

Why it made the list

A low daily cost; check the ingredients if you are avoiding chicken

See price at zooplusAd£39.09 checked 21 Oct 2026
How we worked out £1.29

£39.09 ÷ 12,000 g × 395 g

Arden Grange Daily Large Breeds Puppy with Fresh Chicken & Rice

Dry, complete; fed by the puppy's current weight

Cost per day
£1.35–£1.65 (puppy weighing 20–25 kg)
Price and pack
£47.69 for 12 kg (zooplus)
Daily amount
Fed by current weight: 340–415 g at 21–32 weeks for a puppy weighing 20–25 kg now
Main protein
Chicken 35%; rice 21%

Why it made the list

Owners who prefer to feed by current weight

See price at zooplusAd£47.69 checked 21 Oct 2026
How we worked out £1.35–£1.65 (puppy weighing 20–25 kg)

£47.69 ÷ 12,000 g × 340–415 g

Purina Pro Plan Large Athletic Puppy Healthy Start

Dry, complete; for large breeds from 25 kg, up to 2 years

Cost per day
£1.55–£1.89
Price and pack
£46.39 for 12 kg (zooplus)
Daily amount
No 30 kg row: 400–415 g at 25 kg, 445–490 g at 35 kg (6–8 months)
Main protein
Chicken 19%; rice 9%

Why it made the list

A feeding table that runs to 70 kg adults

See price at zooplusAd£46.39 checked 21 Oct 2026
How we worked out £1.55–£1.89

£46.39 ÷ 12,000 g × 400–490 g

James Wellbeloved Junior Large Breed Turkey & Rice

Dry, complete; ages 1–20 months

Cost per day
£1.71–£2.68
Price and pack
£50.59 for 12 kg (zooplus)
Daily amount
No 30 kg row: 405–440 g at 25 kg, 580–635 g at 40 kg (5–6 months)
Main protein
Dried turkey protein 24.5% (also lists poultry fat)

Why it made the list

A turkey recipe with no chicken listed

See price at zooplusAd£50.59 checked 21 Oct 2026
How we worked out £1.71–£2.68

£50.59 ÷ 12,000 g × 405–635 g

States a switch age (16 months)

Royal Canin Maxi Puppy

Dry, complete; for dogs of 26–44 kg as adults

Cost per day
£2.01
Price and pack
£66.99 for 15 kg (zooplus)
Daily amount
451 g (30 kg expected adult weight, 6 months)
Main protein
Dried poultry protein listed first

Why it made the list

A 30 kg row at every age and a stated switch point

See price at zooplusAd£66.99 checked 21 Oct 2026
How we worked out £2.01

£66.99 ÷ 15,000 g × 451 g

What is large breed puppy food?

It is a complete growth food for puppies expected to be large as adults. The difference is about controlled growth. FEDIAF, the European pet food industry federation, says in its nutritional guidelines that high calcium intake has an adverse effect on skeletal development in large breed dogs, particularly in early growth, and recommends a strict maximum for foods intended for large breed puppies (FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines 2025).

From the FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines, September 2025 (Table III-3a, footnotes and minerals substantiation), checked 21 October 2026.
Growth stageFEDIAF calcium, per 100 g dry matterWhat it means
Early growth (under 14 weeks)At least 1.0 g; maximum 1.6 gThe tightest limits, when large breeds are most at risk
Late growth (14 weeks on), breeds over 15 kgAt least 1.0 g until about 6 months; maximum 1.8 gGreat Danes are better kept at no more than 1.6 g

Pack labels give calcium "as fed", which includes the moisture in the kibble, so a label figure looks slightly lower than the same food on a dry-matter basis. The calcium declared on the packs here ranges from 0.95% to 1.6%.

Why the amount you feed matters as much as the food

FEDIAF says that overfeeding puppies has been shown to accelerate growth, which can result in skeletal deformities, especially in large and giant breeds, and that puppies should never be fed ad libitum (with food left down all day). In a lifelong study of 48 Labradors, dogs fed 25% less than their pair-mates from 8 weeks old had hip osteoarthritis on X-ray at 8 years in 3 of 21 cases, against 15 of 22 in the dogs fed more (Kealy et al., 2000; the authors worked for Ralston Purina).

Weigh meals, check your puppy's shape every couple of weeks and adjust as the feeding guide changes with age. Our portion calculatorgives a starting amount in calories and grams. If you are worried about your puppy's growth, weight or legs, contact your vet.

When to switch to adult food

Large breeds keep growing for longer, so their puppy food runs longer than for small dogs. What each maker said on the zooplus pages we read:

From the zooplus UK product pages linked above, checked 21 October 2026.
FoodAge range or switch point
Eukanuba Grain Free Puppy Large & Giant Breed Ocean Fish1–18 months for 25–40 kg adults; 1–24 months over 40 kg
Eukanuba Premium Nutrition Puppy Large & Giant Breed Lamb & RiceUp to 18 months for 25–40 kg adults; up to 24 months over 40 kg
Arden Grange Daily Large Breeds Puppy with Fresh Chicken & RiceNot stated; the feeding table runs to 48 weeks and over
Purina Pro Plan Large Athletic Puppy Healthy StartUp to 24 months; table shows adult food from 12 months for 25 kg dogs
James Wellbeloved Junior Large Breed Turkey & RiceFeeding table marks a change to large breed adult food by expected weight
Royal Canin Maxi Puppy2–15 months; the table says switch to Maxi Adult at 16 months

Large breed puppy food without chicken

Read the whole ingredient list, not the name. Eukanuba's Ocean Fish recipe lists no chicken or poultry (it does list pork fat). James Wellbeloved's Junior Large Breed is turkey-based with no chicken listed, but includes poultry fat. Eukanuba's Lamb & Rice lists dried chicken and turkey before the lamb.

More on feeding a puppy

For small and medium breeds, see our puppy food comparison. Our new puppy checklist covers the first-year costs beyond food, and the Labrador and Golden Retriever guides cover two common large breeds. When your dog is grown, our adult dog food comparison works the same way, and our guide to choosing dog food explains complete and complementary labels.

Others we looked at

  • IAMS Advanced Nutrition Puppy & Junior Large Dog: left out because the zooplus page we read showed no feeding guide, so we could not work out a daily cost.

Frequently asked questions

What is large breed puppy food?

A complete puppy food made for dogs expected to be large as adults (makers use thresholds such as 25 kg or 26 kg). It is designed for slower, steadier growth, with controlled energy and calcium, because FEDIAF says high calcium intake harms skeletal development in large breed puppies, particularly in early growth.

Is large breed puppy food necessary?

Large breed puppies need a complete growth food that keeps calcium within limits and is fed in measured amounts. A large breed formula is the simplest way to get that, but the amount you feed matters too: FEDIAF says overfeeding puppies speeds up growth and can cause skeletal deformities in large and giant breeds. Ask your vet if you are unsure.

Does large breed puppy food slow growth?

It is designed to avoid growth that is too fast, not to stunt it. FEDIAF links overfeeding to accelerated growth and skeletal problems in large and giant breeds, and says puppies should never have unlimited access to food.

How long should I feed large breed puppy food?

Follow the pack. On the zooplus pages we checked (21 October 2026), Royal Canin Maxi Puppy covers 2–15 months and says to switch at 16 months, Eukanuba runs to 18 months for 25–40 kg adults and 24 months above 40 kg, and Purina Pro Plan Large Athletic Puppy runs up to 2 years.

What breeds need large breed puppy food?

Makers go by expected adult weight rather than breed: Royal Canin Maxi Puppy is for dogs of 26–44 kg as adults, and Eukanuba's large breed formulas for 25 kg and over. Your breeder or vet can estimate your puppy's adult weight.

What changed in this update

  • 21 October 2026: Page published with prices and feeding amounts checked on zooplus UK and calcium guidance from FEDIAF (2025).
Corrections and questions

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