Best dog food for a St Bernard
A St Bernard does best on a large or giant-breed food, formulated with controlled calcium and calorie levels to support slow, steady growth rather than a rapid one, because a giant breed that grows too quickly is at greater risk of joint problems later in life. As an adult, the priority shifts towards weight management and joint support, since the sheer size of the breed puts extra strain on hips and elbows over a lifetime.
Why growth rate matters so much for a giant breed
A St Bernard puppy can put on an enormous amount of weight in its first year, and feeding a standard puppy food formulated for smaller breeds risks pushing that growth too fast, which is linked to a higher rate of skeletal problems in giant breeds specifically.
A large or giant-breed puppy formula is designed with this in mind, with calcium and calorie levels set to support steady, controlled growth rather than the fastest possible weight gain, which is exactly the opposite of what a giant-breed puppy needs.
As an adult: weight and joints
Once fully grown, keeping a St Bernard at a healthy weight becomes one of the more important things an owner can do, since every extra kilogram adds meaningful strain to joints that are already carrying a very large frame.
A food with added joint-support ingredients, or a separate joint supplement alongside a good quality adult diet, is worth considering for a breed this size, and is something many owners introduce well before any obvious signs of stiffness appear.
Feeding practicalities
St Bernards are a deep-chested breed, which carries an increased risk of bloat, so feeding two or three smaller meals a day rather than one large one, and avoiding vigorous exercise immediately before or after eating, are sensible precautions.
Drooling is a normal feature of the breed rather than a feeding issue, but keeping water bowls easily accessible and topped up matters more for a dog this size, particularly in warm weather when a heavy-coated giant breed can overheat more easily.
Foods that suit this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Pedigree Tasty Minis Puppy Treats Chewy Cubes with Chicken
Soft chewy puppy training treats with 13% chicken and added calcium, 125g
£2.25
Forthglade Complete Puppy Chicken with Liver Grain Free — 18 x 395g Trays
Sold as a case: 18 x 395g trays. A complete grain-free wet food for puppies, built on 71% chicken and 4% chicken liver
£35.89
Bakers Puppy Superfoods Chicken with Vegetables
Bakers Puppy Chicken & Vegetables dry dog food, 12.5kg, complete food for puppies from 6 weeks to 24 months
£39.15
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
James Wellbeloved Grain Free Puppy/Junior Dry Dog Food Turkey & Veg
Grain-free turkey and potato kibble for puppies and junior dogs, evenly balanced recipe
£12.75
Wagg Puppy Treats
Puppy Treats in a 120G pack, with 23.2% protein and 7% fat and full label detail
£1.49
Burns Puppy Junior Original Chicken Rice
A complete puppy and junior food with dried chicken 31% and controlled fat at 15%
From£14.99
Lily's Kitchen Puppy Chicken Recipe — 6 x 400g Tins
Sold as a case: 6 x 400g tins. Complete 400G wet puppy chicken recipe with 67% fresh chicken
£22.79
Pooch & Mutt Puppy Bite Size Beef Jerky
Bite-size beef jerky training treats for puppies, scaled by dog size
£3.99
Whimzees Puppy
Softer dental chews for puppies over three months old, grain free and gluten free
£7.99
Burns Grain Free Puppy Duck Potato
Grain-free duck and potato puppy food with a prebiotic, for starting a new litter on a novel protein
From£16.49
Common questions
- When should a St Bernard switch from puppy to adult food?
- Giant breeds typically stay on a puppy or growth formula for longer than smaller dogs, often up to 18-24 months, since their skeletal development takes longer to complete. Your vet can advise on timing based on your individual dog.
- How much should I feed an adult St Bernard?
- Follow the manufacturer's guide for your dog's weight as a starting point, then adjust based on body condition rather than age alone, since activity levels vary considerably between individual dogs of this breed.
- Are St Bernards prone to joint problems?
- As with most giant breeds, hip and elbow issues are more common than in smaller dogs, largely due to the sheer size and weight the joints carry. Controlled growth as a puppy and healthy weight as an adult are the two biggest factors an owner can influence.
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.