Best puppy food for a Dogue de Bordeaux
A Dogue de Bordeaux puppy needs a complete food formulated for large or giant breeds, because controlled, steady growth matters more for this breed than fast growth does. Giant breeds are more prone to developmental joint problems if they grow too quickly on a diet that is too calorie-dense, so the large-breed formulation on the pack is the detail to look for before flavour or price.
Feeding a Dogue de Bordeaux
A giant breed
An adult Dogue de Bordeaux typically weighs 45–50 kg, so a healthy Dogue de Bordeaux 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 5–8 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 Dogue de Bordeaux weigh?
Adult 45–50 kgfully grown at 18–24 months
| Age | Stage | Typical weight | Of adult size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Just home | 4–4.4 kg | 9% |
| 3 months | Young puppy | 6.4–7.1 kg | 14% |
| 6 months | Growing fast | 12.9–14.3 kg | 29% |
| 12 months | Adolescent | 25.7–28.6 kg | 57% |
| 18–24 months | Fully grown | 45–50 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 Dogue de Bordeaux
Complete foods from our range, matched to a Dogue de Bordeaux'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 growth rate matters for this breed
A Dogue de Bordeaux can weigh 45 to 60kg or more as an adult, and getting there too fast during puppyhood puts extra strain on bones and joints that are still developing. Large and giant breed puppy foods are formulated with this in mind, controlling calcium and calorie density more tightly than a standard puppy recipe does, to support steadier growth rather than the fastest possible growth.
This matters even if your puppy looks lean rather than overweight, because the risk here is about growth rate and joint development, not visible body fat. A large-breed puppy formula is designed around that difference specifically, which is why the packaging for this breed size looks for that label rather than simply the biggest bag on the shelf.
What to look for on the pack
Check that the food is labelled for large or giant breed puppies specifically, rather than a general puppy formula, and that it states a complete food for growth. The feeding guide on the pack gives an amount by current weight and expected adult size — follow that as a starting point and adjust based on body condition rather than sticking rigidly to a chart.
Dogue de Bordeaux puppies also tend to have a shorter growth period relative to some other giant breeds, transitioning to an adult or large-breed adult food earlier than a smaller dog would, so check the pack's guidance on when to switch rather than assuming a fixed age for every breed.
What we stock for large-breed puppies
Our puppy food range includes large and giant breed formulas suited to a growing Dogue de Bordeaux, alongside food-specific treats sized appropriately for training a large-breed puppy without overdoing calories. What is shown in the grid above reflects what is currently available to order.
As with any breed prone to joint issues later in life, it is worth asking your vet about diet and exercise together at your puppy's routine check-ups, rather than treating food as the only factor — controlled exercise during growth matters just as much as what is in the bowl.
Common questions
- When should I switch a Dogue de Bordeaux from puppy to adult food?
- Check the guidance on the specific food you are using, since giant breeds often move onto an adult or large-breed adult formula earlier relative to their size than smaller dogs do. Your vet can advise on timing based on your individual puppy's growth and condition at check-ups.
- Can I feed a Dogue de Bordeaux puppy a standard puppy food?
- A large or giant breed specific puppy formula is generally the better choice, because it is designed to support steadier growth appropriate to a dog that will end up considerably heavier than an average breed. If you are unsure which formula suits your puppy, ask your vet.
- How much should I feed a Dogue de Bordeaux puppy?
- Follow the feeding guide on the specific food as a starting point, based on your puppy's current weight and expected adult size, and adjust according to body condition. Your vet or vet nurse can help assess whether your individual puppy is on track at a check-up.
- Are Dogue de Bordeaux puppies prone to joint problems?
- Like other giant breeds, they can be more susceptible to developmental joint issues if growth happens too quickly, which is one reason a large-breed puppy food and appropriately controlled exercise both matter during this stage. Speak to your vet about your puppy's individual growth and activity.
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.