Finding the Best Dry Dog Food for Medium Breeds

When sourcing the best dry dog food for medium breeds, consider that nutritional needs of mid size dogs differ distinctly from the needs of small and large breeds. Purebred or mixed breed is irrelevant, it's all about weight, body type and activity for this group. Medium breed dogs occupy a niche between the high energy and fast metabolism of small breeds, and the slower metabolism less caloric requirements of giant breed dogs.

TIP: Small breed dogs can require 45 calories per pound daily to thrive, large breeds only 25 calories per pound, medium size breeds fall somewhere right in the middle!

Owners of medium breed dogs probably have the widest array of kibble formulas to choose from but that doesn't let you off the hook when sourcing a quality food. The best dry dog food for medium breeds should be more energy dense than that for large breeds, yet less power packed than a small breed that can burn off its meal in just a few hours.

Best Dry Dog Food for Medium Breeds - How We Picked

We tossed nearly 70% of the kibble recipes sold at pet stores & online retailers since they contained corn product! We then evaluated ingredients of remaining formulas against our standards to recommend only the best dry dog food for medium breeds. And, since dogs don't nutritionally benefit from grains, we included some of the best "grain free" formulas packing excellent protein sources with low carbohydrates.. Perfect for active mid size dogs.

TIP: A quick read of the articles in our Feeding Dry Dog Food section will give you an idea of our selection process and what we look for in a quality kibble dog food formula.

Our team analyzed ingredients and guaranteed analysis of hundreds of kibble formulas to settle on top recommendations of both grain based and grain free dog food. Understand that there's a difference between "kibble" and "grain free" kibble. Grain free is often much higher in protein and this may not work for some less active medium breeds or those with digestive sensitivity to high protein foods.

Dog Food Review Out With The Bad

We scrapped all "POOR" quality kibble formulas as you really don't want to feed this stuff to your dog! Poor quality kibble contains ingredients that should be avoided for reasons you can learn about on this page. Bad ingredients include by-products of human food processing such as hulls, wheat mill run, cereal food fines, cellulose, wheat middlings, floor sweepings and more.

Dog food formulas containing corn of any type were excluded, period. Also, brands with additives like coloring dyes, chemicals, flavoring agents, thickening agents, etc. And, we chucked any formula that uses cheap protein sources like generic, non species specific "meat", or "fish", unspecified fish meal or meat meal, blood and bone meal, and any by-product meal.

We offed brands with added sweeteners such as cane molasses, sugar, sucrose, etc. We buried blends including non specific fats and oils, apple pomace, grape pomace and citrus pulp. Last but not least, we kicked formulas that use known cancer causing ingredients such as BHA, BHT, Menadione (vitamin k3 activity or whatever other way they list it).. wish we could have burned them being blunt.

TIP: Formulas that include joint health supplements for active medium breeds provide insurance towards joint health and reducing risk of orthopedic injuries. In most formulas, glucosomine and chondroitin is added but don't sweat should the formula you pick exclude these compounds. You can always use a great product like Cosoquin DS to promote and maintain healthy joints.

Finding the Best Dry Dog Food for Medium Breeds

Healthy dog in mind, quality kibble contains named meat or fish protein sources and carbohydrates from whole unprocessed grains like whole rice, oats & barley. Organic potato, vegetables, fruit & legumes can be found in formulas that top our list. Chelated minerals, amino acids, supplements, antioxidants, probiotics and digestive enzymes all good!

Recommended Best Dry Dog Food for Medium Breeds

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Adult Large Breed contains Deboned Chicken, Wholesome Whole Grains, Vegitables & Fruits plus Glucosamine & Chondroitin. NO Corn, Wheat, By-product Meals, Artificial Colors or Sweeteners.

Blue Buffalo LP Large Breed Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Additional Info

Castor and Pollux Organix Large Breed. Free Range Chicken, Whole Grains and quality Fiber sources. No Corn, Wheat, Soy, Chemical Pesticides, Synthetic Fertilizers, Artificial Preservatives, Growth Hormones or Antibiotics.

Castor and Pollux Organix Large Breed Recipe More Info

Chicken Soup Large Breed, Chicken, Turkey, Chicken Meal. Contains Antioxidants Vitamin E and Selenium as well as Glucosamine and Chondroitin for optimal joint health. Nice protein & fat levels for giants like Great Danes.

Chicken Soup for the Soul Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food

Diamond Naturals Adult Large Breed Chicken & Rice contains Chicken & Chicken Meal meat protein, plus Glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support, Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamins and Minerals.

Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult Chicken & Rice Formula Dog Food Info

Eagle Pack Large & Giant Breed provides protein from Chicken and Pork Meal. Contains Glucosamine for joint health. No Corn, Wheat, Meat or Poultry By-Products, Artificial Colors, Flavors or Preservatives.

Eagle Pack Large & Giant Breed Adult Formula More Info

Fromm Gold Adult Large Breed is prepared with Prepared with Duck, Chicken, Lamb, Whole Eggs, and real Wisconsin Cheese. Enhanced with Probiotics to aid digestion and Salmon Oil for a healthy coat.

Fromm Gold Adult Large Breed Formula Information

Horizon Complete Adult Large Breed Chicken Meal & Barley. More Grains in this formula but good Whole Grains. Also contains Carrots, Apples, Vitamins, Minerals, Salmon Oil Omega 3 & 6 plus Supplements and Antioxidants.

Horizon Complete Adult Large Breed Dog Food Formula Additional Info

Natural Balance Ultra Large Breed, Chicken, Brown Rice, Chicken Meal. Large bites uses Gluten Free ingredients, good Grains and Fiber, plus added DHA, EPA, Omega 3 & 6 Fatty Acids, Taurine, Antioxidants, Vitamins & Minerals.

Natural Balance Adult Large Breed Dog Food Additional Info

Wellness Large Breed Complete Health, is a larger bite kibble containing 4 animal protein sources. Includes glucosamine & chondroitin for joint health, Omega 3 & 6, Antioxidants and Digestive Enzymes with Live Microorganisms.

Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Formula Additional Info

Best Dry Dog Food for Medium Breeds - GRAIN FREE

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Adult Large Breed contains Deboned Chicken, Wholesome Whole Grains, Vegitables & Fruits plus Glucosamine & Chondroitin. NO Corn, Wheat, By-product Meals, Artificial Colors or Sweeteners.

Blue Buffalo LP Large Breed Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Additional Info

Castor and Pollux Organix Large Breed. Free Range Chicken, Whole Grains and quality Fiber sources. No Corn, Wheat, Soy, Chemical Pesticides, Synthetic Fertilizers, Artificial Preservatives, Growth Hormones or Antibiotics.

Castor and Pollux Organix Large Breed Recipe More Info

Chicken Soup Large Breed, Chicken, Turkey, Chicken Meal. Contains Antioxidants Vitamin E and Selenium as well as Glucosamine and Chondroitin for optimal joint health. Nice protein & fat levels for giants like Great Danes.

Chicken Soup for the Soul Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food

Diamond Naturals Adult Large Breed Chicken & Rice contains Chicken & Chicken Meal meat protein, plus Glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support, Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamins and Minerals.

Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult Chicken & Rice Formula Dog Food Info

Eagle Pack Large & Giant Breed provides protein from Chicken and Pork Meal. Contains Glucosamine for joint health. No Corn, Wheat, Meat or Poultry By-Products, Artificial Colors, Flavors or Preservatives.

Eagle Pack Large & Giant Breed Adult Formula More Info

Fromm Gold Adult Large Breed is prepared with Prepared with Duck, Chicken, Lamb, Whole Eggs, and real Wisconsin Cheese. Enhanced with Probiotics to aid digestion and Salmon Oil for a healthy coat.

Fromm Gold Adult Large Breed Formula Information

Horizon Complete Adult Large Breed Chicken Meal & Barley. More Grains in this formula but good Whole Grains. Also contains Carrots, Apples, Vitamins, Minerals, Salmon Oil Omega 3 & 6 plus Supplements and Antioxidants.

Horizon Complete Adult Large Breed Dog Food Formula Additional Info

Natural Balance Ultra Large Breed, Chicken, Brown Rice, Chicken Meal. Large bites uses Gluten Free ingredients, good Grains and Fiber, plus added DHA, EPA, Omega 3 & 6 Fatty Acids, Taurine, Antioxidants, Vitamins & Minerals.

Natural Balance Adult Large Breed Dog Food Additional Info

Wellness Large Breed Complete Health, is a larger bite kibble containing 4 animal protein sources. Includes glucosamine & chondroitin for joint health, Omega 3 & 6, Antioxidants and Digestive Enzymes with Live Microorganisms.

Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Formula Additional Info

Is Your Medium Breed's Formula Listed?

If your formula did not make our list we may have excluded it for one reason or another, send us a note. Additionally, many highly marketed brand name dog foods contain corn and similar questionable ingredients, even some brands that are Vet recommended!

We all want a healthy dog that lives forever. What we feed, and genetics, are the two most determining factors in the health of our pets. Hopefully, our best dry dog food for medium breeds recommendations will help you select the best food to meet nutritional needs of your medium breed dog:)