The best dog food for an English Mastiff
An English Mastiff is one of the largest dog breeds, and their food needs to reflect that: a giant-breed puppy formula through a growth period that runs well beyond a year, and an adult diet that supports joints carrying a genuinely heavy frame. Portion control matters here more than with most breeds, since excess weight puts real strain on joints already working hard.
Feeding a English Mastiff
A giant breed
An adult English Mastiff typically weighs 55–90 kg, so a healthy English Mastiff eats a lot, and the sack size matters as much as the recipe compared with other breeds. Every feeding guide on a bag is written per kilo of body weight, not per breed — start there, then adjust to the dog in front of you.
Life stage
A giant breed is usually done growing at 18–24 months, which is roughly when a puppy food has finished its job. With a typical lifespan of 8–10 years, there is a long adult stretch in the middle; switch to a senior food when your vet thinks it is worth it rather than on a birthday.
Joint support is worth looking for
Their size and frame put more load through the joints than a smaller dog carries, so a food with joint support on the label is worth reading for — and keeping them lean does more for their joints than any supplement.
Weight matters more than usual here
A long back or a heavy frame makes every extra kilo count twice. Weigh portions rather than eyeballing a scoop, and reduce the food rather than the walks if the waist starts to disappear.
A shallow, wide bowl suits a flat face
A flat-faced dog cannot reach into a deep bowl without pressing its nose into the sides, which is uncomfortable and makes it gulp air. A shallow bowl, and food that does not have to be chased around it, is the easier arrangement.
How much should a English Mastiff weigh?
Adult 55–90 kgfully grown at 18–24 months
| Age | Stage | Typical weight | Of adult size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Just home | 4.8–7.9 kg | 9% |
| 3 months | Young puppy | 7.9–12.9 kg | 14% |
| 6 months | Growing fast | 15.7–25.7 kg | 29% |
| 12 months | Adolescent | 31.4–51.4 kg | 57% |
| 18–24 months | Fully grown | 55–90 kg | 100% |
A guide, from the same rule of thumb our puppy growth predictor uses — each age is that share of the way to maturity for a giant breed. Puppies grow fastest early, so a real puppy usually sits a little above the middle rows. Weigh yours and ask your vet if the number worries you.
Complete dog foods that suit a English Mastiff
Complete foods from our range, matched to a English Mastiff's size band and what the breed typically needs. Stock levels and delivery dates are live on each product.
Field & Trial Skinner S Field Trial Light Senior
A lower-fat dry food for older, overweight or less active dogs, including working breeds
From£9.85
Autarky Complete Grain Free Adult Turkey
Grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, with turkey and a marine-algae joint care package
£12.79
Autarky Grain Free Tasty White Fish & Potato Complete
Grain-free dry dog food built around white fish meal rather than poultry
£12.99
Lily's Kitchen Lily S Kitchen Dog Lovely Lamb
Complete lamb-led dry dog food offered in two practical bag sizes
From£25.15
Burns Adult Large/Giant Breed Chicken and Brown Rice
Complete large-breed dry dog food with 23% chicken and brown rice
£59.99
Burgess Greyhound and Lurcher Chicken
Complete adult dry food formulated for the specific build of greyhounds and lurchers
£35.35
Naturo Senior Rice Poultry Variety 6pk
Six 400g trays across three recipes for senior dogs, with glucosamine and chondroitin
£10.29
Naturo Senior Dog Turkey with Rice and Vegetables 7pk
Turkey at 65% in a senior wet tray, with brown rice, vegetables and added joint support
£11.99
Vitalin Adult Dog Pork with Apple
Complete dry food for adult dogs of any age, led by pork, with citrus extract for dental support
From£11.99
Why size changes what to feed
Giant breeds like the English Mastiff grow more slowly than medium breeds, over a period that can run to 18-24 months rather than finishing by a year. A giant-breed puppy food is formulated with that slower growth in mind, with calcium and calorie levels calculated to avoid the too-fast growth that's linked to joint problems in large dogs.
As an adult, a large-breed recipe or a food with a joint-supporting ingredient like glucosamine is worth looking at, given the load a Mastiff's frame carries throughout life. Keeping a Mastiff at a lean, healthy weight — checkable by feeling their ribs without a thick layer over them — does more for their joints long-term than any single ingredient in the food.
Feeding practically
Follow the feeding guide on your specific food's pack for your dog's current weight, and weigh food out rather than eyeballing it, since a giant breed's portions are large enough that small daily overestimates add up quickly. Splitting meals into two rather than one large feed is also generally recommended for deep-chested giant breeds.
If your Mastiff's growth, weight or energy levels seem out of step with what you'd expect, that's a conversation for your vet rather than something to solve by switching food repeatedly. A vet can also advise on the specific joint-support approach that suits your individual dog best.
Bloat, and why mealtime habits matter for this breed
Deep-chested giant breeds like the English Mastiff carry a higher risk of bloat, a genuine emergency where the stomach fills with gas and can twist. Feeding two or three smaller meals rather than one large one, and avoiding vigorous exercise for a while either side of eating, are commonly recommended precautions worth discussing with your vet.
A raised feeding stand is sometimes suggested for giant breeds, though the evidence on whether it actually reduces bloat risk is mixed, so it's worth asking your vet's view rather than assuming it's a settled recommendation. Knowing the signs of bloat — a swollen abdomen, retching without bringing anything up, restlessness — and treating any of them as an emergency matters more than any single feeding tweak.
Common questions
- Do English Mastiffs need a special puppy food?
- Yes, a giant-breed puppy formula is generally recommended, since it's calculated to support the slower, longer growth period giant breeds go through without the calorie and calcium levels that can encourage too-fast growth and joint problems.
- How much should I feed an adult English Mastiff?
- Follow the feeding guide on your specific food's pack for your dog's current weight, and weigh portions rather than estimating them, since a giant breed's daily amount is large enough that small overestimates add up. Your vet can help confirm the right amount for your individual dog.
- Are Mastiffs prone to joint problems?
- Their size puts real load through their joints over a long life, and giant breeds generally carry a higher risk of joint issues than smaller dogs. A joint-supporting diet and keeping them at a lean weight both help, and your vet can advise if you notice any stiffness or reluctance to move.
- When is an English Mastiff considered fully grown?
- Giant breeds typically keep growing until somewhere between 18 and 24 months, considerably longer than a medium-sized dog. Stay on a puppy or large-breed growth formula for as long as your vet recommends for your individual dog rather than switching to adult food by a fixed date.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.