We evaluated 11 dog foods and found Wellness Complete Health Large Breed Puppy to be the best choice for the controlled growth of active Doberman Pinscher puppies.
Your Doberman Pinscher puppy is small right now, but he needs balanced nutrition that helps him grow to his recommended size and weight. Wellness provides your Doberman puppy with nutrition that allows slow and controlled growth that prevents health problems later.
Wellness Complete Health Large Breed Puppy food is best for maintaining the healthy weight of a large breed dog. According to the American Kennel Club, the optimal weight for male Dobermans is 75 to 100 pounds and 60 to 90 pounds for a female.
Keep reading to learn more about the best foods for Doberman puppies. All of these puppy food suggestions are approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
1. Wellness Complete Health Large Breed Puppy – Best Overall
Wellness created this puppy food for large breed puppies from 8 weeks to 10 months old. This high-quality, dry food puppy provides nutrition to help Doberman puppies thrive.
Wellness Complete Health products include wholesome grains, proteins, antioxidants, and probiotics to encourage muscle growth, strong bones and teeth, and optimal brain development.
The first five ingredients include:
- Deboned Chicken
- Chicken Meal
- Peas
- Brown Rice
- Salmon Meal
Many vets and breeders recommend this food. It provides 29 percent protein, 13 percent fat, and 5 percent fiber.
2. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Large Breed Puppy – Best for Healthy Development
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Large Breed Puppy food gets its protein from real meat. It also contains wholesome grains, fruits, and vegetables, along with LifeSource Bits.
LifeSource Bits provides your Doberman puppy with a blend of antioxidants and nutrients that support the healthy development of bones, muscles, brain and eye health, and a strong immune system.
The ingredients in Blue Buffalo Life Protection Large Breed Puppy food are made up of 26 percent protein, 15 percent fat, and about 5 percent fiber. Here are the first five ingredients:
- Deboned Chicken
- Chicken Meal
- Brown Rice
- Oatmeal
- Barley
The blend of vitamins and minerals in this puppy food will give your Doberman the energy he needs for his busy puppy day.
3. Orijen Puppy Large – Best for Grain-Free Diet
The grain-free formula in Orijen Puppy Large formula keeps your Doberman puppy lean and healthy. This premium puppy food gives your puppy all the nutritional requirements for large breed, active dogs.
This food is high in protein with freeze-dried raw meat, including organs, bones, and eggs. It boosts digestive health and energy, as well as maintains a shiny coat. The ingredients in this puppy formula provide your Doberman puppy with 38 percent protein, 16 percent fat, and 4 percent fiber.
The first five ingredients include:
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Flounder
- Whole Mackerel
- Chicken Liver
As you can see, Orijen Puppy Large is packed with whole prey protein for the best Doberman puppy food.
4. Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy – Best for budget-friendly, everyday health
Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy food is recommended by breeders and veterinarians for optimal growth and balanced nutrition for large breed puppies like Doberman Pinschers.
Its nutrients target the growth needs of large breeds of puppies.
The first five ingredients in Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy are:
- Chicken
- Rice
- Corn Gluten Meal
- Whole Grain Corn
- Poultry By-Product Meal for Glucosamine
Also included in the Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy formula are vitamin and mineral supplements for a complete, wholesome diet for your Doberman puppy.
5. Victor Nutra Pro All Life Stages – Best for controlled growth
Victor Nutra Pro All Life Stages is a high protein, low carb diet for all stages of your Doberman Pinscher’s life. It’s designed for high-energy dogs like Dobermans. The nutrient-rich recipe helps your puppy or adult dog remain energetic, even with physically demanding training or competing in dog sports.
This food provides a great start for your puppy with 92 percent meat protein. The low-carb formula helps keep him fit and trim as he grows into his adult weight and size.
Victor Nutra Pro All Life Stages supplies your puppy with 38 percent protein, 18 percent fat and 3.5 percent fiber. The following lists the first five ingredients:
- Chicken Meal
- Blood Meal
- Whole Grain Millet
- Chicken Fat
- Yeast Culture
If you’d like to keep your Doberman puppy on the same food throughout his life, Victor Nutra Pro All Life Stages is a nutritious choice for large breed, high-energy dogs.
6. Hill’s Science Diet Large Breed Puppy – Best for bone growth control
Hill’s Science Diet Large Breed Puppy formula brings to your Doberman puppy a diet that meets all the nutritious needs of puppies that will grow over 55 pounds as adults.
This puppy-tailored diet is suitable for Doberman puppies, supplying them with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals for a strong immune system.
The first five ingredients in Hill’s Science Diet Large Breed Puppy food include:
- Chicken Meal
- Whole Grain Wheat
- Whole Grain Oats
- Whole Grain Sorghum
- Corn Gluten Meal
This large breed puppy food contains 24 percent protein, 11 percent fat and 3 percent fiber.
7. Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy Formula – Best for vision and brain development
Developed with large breeds in mind, this holistic puppy food contains BHA that encourages optimal brain and vision development.
It is also rich in L-Carnitine for superior energy, muscle development, and a healthy coat. This formula doesn’t have any wheat, corn, or artificial flavors.
Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy Formula has 27 percent protein, 15 percent fat, and 3.5 percent fiber. Here are the first 10 ingredients in this puppy food:
- Lamb
- Lamb Meal
- Grain Sorghum
- Dried Yeast
- Egg
This well-balanced, holistic dry puppy food is a good choice for the overall health of your Doberman Pinscher puppy.
8. Purina One Natural High Protein Large Breed Puppy Formula – Best for high protein
Purina One Natural High Protein Large Breed Puppy Formula is made for large breed puppies like Doberman Pinschers. It’s a high-quality protein diet that provides all the nutrients puppies need for their first year of life.
This is an economical puppy food recommended by veterinarians.
Here are the first five essential ingredients in Purina One Natural High Protein Large Breed Puppy Formula:
- Chicken
- Rice Flour
- Soybean Meal
- Corn Gluten Meal
- Chicken By-Product Meal
This puppy food is a top choice for Doberman puppies for a high-protein, inexpensive puppy food. It meets all the nutritional needs for your large breed, active puppy with 28 percent protein, 13 percent fat, and 6 percent fiber.
9. Canidae All Life Stages Multi Protein – Best for multi-dog home
Canidae All Life Stages is suited for Doberman puppies and adults of any size. This versatile dog food is convenient because you can keep your Doberman puppy on this food throughout his life without having to go through a transition period that can cause digestive upsets.
Canidae All Life Stages comes in a variety of flavors. If you are a multi-dog household, you can feed all your dogs Canidae All Life Stages.
Here are the first five ingredients in Canidae All Life Stages:
- Chicken meal
- Turkey meal
- Brown rice
- Peas
- Oatmeal
Canidae All Life Stages Dog Food is rich in protein and has less fat than many other dog foods. This makes it highly recommended for Doberman Pinscher puppies and adults.
10. Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy – Best for complete nutrition
Eukanuba has spent over 50 years creating nutritional dog foods. The Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy Formula supports the mind, body, and energy of your pup.
The wholesome ingredients support large breeds of puppies up to 15 months old.
Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy provides 26 percent protein, 14 percent fat, and 3.7 percent fiber. The first 10 ingredients are:
- Chicken
- Chicken By-Product meal
- Corn
- Wheat
- Chicken Fat
All of these ingredients provide nutritionally balanced puppy food for Doberman Pinscher puppies.
11. Royal Canin Large Puppy – Best for healthy digestion
Royal Canin manufactures its large puppy formula for strong, energetic dogs like Doberman Pinschers. Royal Canin Large Puppy food is rich in protein, healthy fats and grains, and vitamin and mineral supplements. It also incorporates prebiotics for firm stools and healthy digestion.
The first five ingredients in Royal Canin Large Puppy are:
- Corn
- Chicken By-Product Meal
- Wheat Gluten
- Chicken Fat
- Brewers Rice
This puppy formula contains 28 percent protein, 14 percent fat and 3.5 percent fiber.
What to Look for When Buying the Best Puppy Foods for Doberman Pinscher Puppies
With all the large breed puppy food available, you might be bewildered about which to choose for your Doberman Pinscher puppy. Hopefully, the following tips will help you make an informed decision.
Doberman puppies have nutritional requirements that are different from smaller breed puppies. Their diet should be developed for their adult size and activity level.
Features to Look for in Puppy Food
Keep these factors in mind when selecting Doberman Pinscher puppy food:
- Calories – Select puppy food that doesn’t add unnecessary calories.
- Nutrition Label – Read the label on the bag of puppy food. Check that it has the Nutritional Adequacy statement. This is the AAFCO label.
What Are Some Problems with Puppy Foods?
Nutrition – Nutritional imbalance can cause many health problems for your puppy, such as cardiac disease and skin allergies.
Shady Dog Food Company – Check the experience and reputation of the dog food manufacturer. Always find out if the dog food manufacturer employs a certified veterinary nutritionist.
Doberman Pinscher Puppy Owner Reviews for Wellness Complete Health Large Breed Puppy
Doberman puppy owners are the best people to find out about the best puppy food for Dobermans.
Case #1
One lady rescued a Doberman Pinscher puppy from a shelter. The puppy was shy and didn’t react well to the food the shelter sent home with her. The new owner tried Wellness and her Doberman puppy loved it. His stool became firm and the transition to the new food went without a hitch.
Case #2
After trying another puppy food, this owner gave Wellness Complete Health Large Puppy a try. His Doberman puppy’s loose stools stopped, and the puppy now has a shiny coat and healthy skin.
What Is the Best Puppy Food for Doberman Pinscher Puppies?
Wellness Complete Health Large Breed Puppy food is the best dry food for Doberman puppies since it is specifically created for large breeds. A well-balanced large breed puppy food like Wellness Complete Health will help your Doberman thrive.
You can find Wellness Complete Health Large Breed Puppy food and the other suggested puppy foods at Chewy.
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