Every pet parent wants what’s best for their furry friend, and that starts with a wholesome, delicious diet. Large dogs need a diet that will meet all of their needs, especially if your pup prefers to be active.
At A Glance: Our Top 5 Picks for Raw Dog Food Brands for Large Dogs:
- Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties – Our Top Pick
- Open Farm Freeze-Dried Raw Grain-Free Dog Food
- Nulo Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food
- Sojos Complete Natural Freeze-Dried Natural Raw & Dehydrated Grain-Free Dog Food
- Primal Freeze-Dried Dog Food Chicken Formula
Feeding your large breed dog raw food can have several benefits including increased joint mobility support as well as improved digestion and weight control.
We’ll cover the best raw dog food brands for large dogs in this article. We make recommendations that take all of the hassles and guesswork out of preparing raw food yourself.
Facts About Feeding Raw Dog Food
Choosing a raw diet for your dog can be highly beneficial. Many pet parents who feed raw diets report improvement with their dog’s teeth and breath, weight, skin, and coat health, energy, and mobility.
Feeding actual homemade raw diets can be risky due to salmonella and other bacterial concerns. However, commercial raw diets eliminate those risks.
Commercial raw food is dehydrated or freeze-dried to preserve freshness and nutrients. Sometimes the water is required to soften the food, or you can add it as an option.
Raw dog food generally consists of muscle meat still on the bone, plus ground bone and organ meats such as kidney and liver. Eggs and superfoods such as broccoli, spinach, and apples are often added for additional vitamins and minerals.
When dog owners make raw meals at home, there is a risk of unbalanced diet needs, which can lead to health problems over time. Investing in commercial raw food removes that risk, and instead offers a complete and balanced diet.
Best Raw Dog Food Brands for Large Dogs
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
 | Our Top Pick Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Open Farm Freeze-Dried Raw Grain-Free Dog Food
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Nulo Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Sojos Complete Natural Freeze-Dried Natural Raw & Dehydrated Grain-Free Dog Food
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Primal Freeze-Dried Dog Food Chicken Formula
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | TruDog Freeze-Dried Raw Superfood
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Steve’s Real Food Freeze-Dried Raw Nuggets
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | The Honest Kitchen Human Grade Dehydrated Organic Whole Grain Dog Food
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties
Stella & Chewy’s is one of the leading raw dog food brands on the market. Their innovative freeze-dried recipes are hassle-free and responsibly sourced.
Notable Qualities and Features:
- Made with grass-fed beef
- Crafted with 100% certified organic fruits and vegetables
- Grain and gluten-free.
- Easy to store and no stress of dealing with messy food.
Top Ingredients: Beef, beef liver, beef kidney, beef heart, beef tripe, beef bone, pumpkin seed, organic cranberries, organic spinach, organic broccoli, organic beets, organic carrots, organic squash, organic blueberries
User Review: “My dogs loved these! You can give them as they are or by adding water, mine preferred them ‘as is’ as they always have plenty of fresh drinking water available. Highly nutritious and a complete diet. Great product!”
Bottom Line: Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-dried Raw Dinner Patties are an exceptionally convenient and nutritious solution for giving your dog the benefits of raw. Each patty contains fruits, vegetables, meat, organs, and ground-bound to support your pup’s strong bones and lean muscles.
Open Farm Freeze-Dried Raw Grain-Free Dog Food
Enhance your dog’s diet with Open Farm’s Freeze Dried Raw Grain-Free Dog Food. The recipe is crafted with nutrient-rich ingredients.
Notable Qualities and Features:
- Made with hormone and antibiotic-free meat.
- Meat sources are humanely raised.
- Ingredients sourced from Certified Humane farms.
- Can act solely as a meal or as a meal topper.
Top Ingredients: Pasture-raised lamb, lamb heart, lamb liver, ground lamb bone, carrots, blueberries , sunflower seeds, squash, spinach , kale , pumpkin seeds, cranberries, fenugreek seeds, montmorillonite clay , coconut oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), salmon oil, chicory root, dried kelp , apple cider vinegar, cinnamon
User Review: “Our dog LOVES this food! She can’t wait for mealtime and dances until we can get the bowl down. She empties her dish in about a minute! She never ate any of the other dog food like that. We like that it’s freeze-dried rather than dehydrated, so the nutrients and flavors aren’t affected.”
Bottom Line: This food is pricey, but you pay for high-quality, premium nutrition. Open Farm freeze-dried raw can be fed as a whole meal or added as an exciting topper to kibble. The bite-sized pieces also make great training treats!
Nulo Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food
Nulo Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food is suitable for pups of all ages. The food is especially beneficial for large dogs who love hiking, swimming, and being active. This naturally grain-free dog food is available in numerous protein flavors.
Notable Qualities and Features:
- Beef, duck, lamb, turkey and salmon available.
- Choose from 5oz or 13oz bags.
- 80% meat, plus organs, bone, fruits and veggies.
- Contains patented GanedenBC30 probiotics to promote healthy digestion.
Top Ingredients: Beef recipes have apples, broccoli and parsley. The duck option includes pears, green beans, kale, and spinach. Lamb contains raspberries, broccoli, dried egg yolks, and kale, and turkey comes with cranberries and broccoli. Both the salmon and turkey are paired with strawberries, pumpkin, blueberries, kale, and spinach.
User Review: “We actually use these for treats because they’re so good, and because they are a bit cost-prohibitive for daily feeding. My dog will get more excited about her food if we sprinkle a handful of these over the top of her bowl. Great for training as well. Bonus: really good for your dog, very high quality. Highly recommend!”
Bottom Line: Nulo isn’t a cheap dog food brand, but you get what you pay for when it comes to quality nutrition. Nulo freeze-dried raw will help keep all dogs, despite breed or age, healthy, thriving and active.
Sojos Complete Natural Freeze-Dried Natural Raw & Dehydrated Grain-Free Dog Food
Sojos freeze-dried raw food fills your dog’s bowl with a real, farm-fresh meal. Just add water to give your pup a chunky, whole food meal, with no refrigeration necessary.
Notable Qualities and Features:
- Diverse flavors and package sizes available for purchase.
- Just add water and serve.
- Grain, gluten and GMO-free.
- Made with USDA approved meat or poultry.
Top Ingredients: (Beef recipe) beef, sweet potatoes, carrots, whole egg, cabbage, flax seeds, cranberries, celery beef liver
User Review: “My husband’s Golden (Retriever) had a series of GI problems, allergies, skin problems, and other issues but since the food change, her health is noticeably improving. I highly recommend this food! It may seem like a lot up front but you do end up spending a lot less in vet bills.”
Bottom Line: Sojos is a fantastic raw dog food option. Pet parents will need to add water, but it’s a simple step to take in order to create a delicious deal for Fido. Sojos freeze-dried raw dog food is available in puppy, adult and senior to ensure the very best nutritional value for your canine companion.
Primal Freeze-Dried Dog Food Chicken Formula
Primal Freeze-Dried Dog Food is a complete and balanced diet for any dog. These versatile nuggets can be given to Fido as a whole meal, or crumbled onto kibble as a topper.
Notable Qualities and Features:
- Fit for dogs at any life stage.
- Add water to the nuggets to soften them if preferred.
- Made with 100% human-grade ingredients.
- The chicken is raised without hormones or antibiotics.
Top Ingredients: Chicken, chicken necks, chicken gizzards, organic kale, organic carrots, organic yams, chicken livers, organic broccoli, organic apples, cranberries, blueberries, organic pumpkin seeds, organic sunflower seeds, minerals
User Review: “I have been using this for a few weeks then placed the 2nd order. I have small dogs and used 1 nugget with their dry food then add water and they love it. My eldest dog who is 13 years old I noticed she was walking better so then gave it to them every other day then did daily. Her skin also has improved.”
Bottom Line: Primal Freeze-Dried Dog Food Chicken Formula is made with chicken raised without added hormones or antibiotics. The food contains a blend of naturally derived vitamins and minerals. Pups of all ages in any life stage can chow down on this yummy raw dog food.
TruDog Freeze-Dried Raw Superfood
TrueDog raw dog food is made from a combination of free-range, grass-fed USDA beef, meaty bones and whole organ meats. It doesn’t contain any grains, fillers, preservatives, or artificial coloring.
Notable Qualities and Features:
- All-natural and hypoallergenic.
- Great for dogs of any age.
- Easy to digest.
- Sourced, harvested and packaged in the USA.
Top Ingredients: Beef, beef tripe, beef lung, ground beef bone, beef liver, beef heart, beef kidney, beef blood, beef fat, herring oil (natural source of vitamin D), mixed tocopherols (natural antioxidant), d-alpha-tocopherol (natural vitamin E)
User Review: “All natural raw dog food small pieces perfect for a small dog. My picky eater loves it and she’s eating healthy.”
Bottom Line: TruDog freeze-dried raw dog food is vet-approved and made in the USA. It promotes skin and coat health and helps to reduce allergies. This is one of the pricier raw food options on our list.
Steve’s Real Food Freeze-Dried Raw Nuggets
Steve’s Real Food freeze-dried raw food for dogs comes in a nugget form that can be a fed as a whole meal or crumbled on top of food. This unique raw diet is fortified with raw goat’s milk.
Notable Qualities and Features:
- Easy to rehydrate by adding water.
- Sourced from vegetarian-fed and free-range poultry.
- Enhanced with raw goat’s milk.
- Hormone and antibiotic-free.
Top Ingredients: (Full list) Ground Turkey, Ground Chicken, Broccoli, Duck Necks, Duck Hearts, Turkey Heart, Turkey Liver, Chicken Liver, Apples, Celery, Raw Goat’s Milk, Romaine Lettuce, Chia Seed, Flaxseed, Dried Kelp, Taurine, Salmon Oil, Coconut Oil, Inulin, Mixed Tocopherols, Eggshell Membrane, Dicalcium Phosphate
User Review: “This is the only food I’ve found that my little Pomeranian will eat consistently! She is so picky and she will devour this.”
Bottom Line: This raw dog food is another quality choice for any hungry pup. It’s lovingly crafted with fresh raw fruits and vegetables for natural vitamins and anti-carcinogenic benefits. Feed this raw food as is, or add water for a softer consistency.
The Honest Kitchen Human Grade Dehydrated Organic Whole Grain Dog Food
This popular food from The Honest Kitchen isn’t necessarily classified as “raw,” but the dehydrated alternative is human-grade and all-natural.
Notable Qualities and Features:
- Made with free-range chicken.
- Provides maximum nutrition for puppies and adults.
- Meets rigorous FDA food safety standards.
- Just add water for an unbelievably tasty meal.
Top Ingredients: Hormone-free Turkey, Organic Oats, Potatoes, Organic Flax, Carrots, Cabbage, Alfalfa, Organic Kelp, Apples, Honey, Garlic, Rosemary
User Review: “The food absorbs the water completely…With its high-quality human-grade ingredients it’s a winner for me and I am glad I found it.”
Bottom Line: The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Chicken Recipe is dehydrated dog food. It is AAFCO complete and balanced for dogs of all life stages and breeds. It’s a wholesome recipe with delicious, quality ingredients. There are other varieties of The Honest Kitchen dehydrated food to choose from.
The Honest Kitchen is also a terrific choice for large dogs in their golden years or those who may have dental issues. The food is soft and easy to eat.
What to Look for in Raw Dog Food
Before making a final decision on the best raw dog food for your lucky pup, be sure that what you choose isn’t only a food topper. There are raw dog food toppers that do not provide the necessary nutrition to be a whole diet. The container will specify if the raw food is meant to be a complete and balanced meal option.
There are a few raw dog food brands on our list that require some water to be added in order to soften the food. Some make water optional, and others simply don’t need water. Dehydrated food will need water, whereas the raw nibbles can be poured in a bowl and devoured.
While many raw dog foods are suitable for dogs of all age, some brands make life stage-specific options. Look for this information on the food’s warning label.
Conclusion
Commercial raw dog food is a safe, healthy way to spoil your large dog. Keep them active and moving with a raw, as these diets are high in protein.
Whether your dog enjoys running, playing, swimming or hiking, the raw dog food brands on our list can offer the proper nutrition Fido needs to thrive.
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Forrest is a lover of dogs, the wild outdoors, deep mysterious conversations… and coffee. He is the owner of several websites, including Canine Weekly. He resides in Austin, Texas.