St. Bernards are frequently associated with the classical image of a mountain rescue dog running in the snow with a whiskey barrel around their necks. The truth is they were originally bred as guardian dogs, but they are very common in households all over the world.
Being a large breed, Saint Bernards have specific dietary needs, and you should keep that mind when choosing your puppy’s food. Among the things, experts point out to look for are a large amount of protein, fats, and carbohydrates.
But beware of how much fat you are feeding your dog because while they do need energy being a giant size animal, they can have a tendency to become overweight, which can lead to many health issues.
Best Dog Food for Saint Bernard
1. Merrick Grain-Free
Features
- #1 INGREDIENT: DEBONED MEAT, FISH OR POULTRY: Merrick Grain Free dog food recipes contain leading levels of high quality proteins for healthy energy levels, building muscle mass and a great taste your dog will love.
- HEALTHY SKIN AND COAT, HIPS AND JOINTS: These grain free dog food recipes contain leading levels of Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids to support healthy skin and coat plus leading levels of glucosamine and chondroitin to maintain your dog's hip and joint function.
- REAL WHOLE FOODS FOR OPTIMAL NATURAL NUTRITION: Merrick Grain Free dog food recipes include real, whole foods like sweet potatoes, peas, apples, blueberries and contain zero preservatives, fillers, corn, wheat, soy or gluten.Calorie content:3,585 kcal per kilogram or 380 kcal per cup ME (metabolizable energy) on an as fed basis (calculated)
- A VARIETY FOR EVERY BREED AND NEED: Merrick Grain Free dog food offers a range of specially crafted recipes to nourish all types of dogs, offering: puppy food, senior dog food, large breed dog food, and an option for those dogs needing a little help to maintain a healthy weight.
- At Merrick, we promise your pet will not only love the taste of our natural dog food, they’ll be happier and healthier, too. That’s why if you (or your pet) are not 100%, absolutely, totally, completely satisfied with Merrick Grain Free dog food, return it for your money back. We don’t just make the best food ever. We stand behind it.
Our first pick is a very traditional and well-known brand, Merrick Grain Free comes in over four real meat options, all of which have balanced nutrition with real whole foods sourced from local USA farmers.
Key Specifications
- Sizes – 4lb, 12lb and 25lb
- Protein – Real Texas beef
- Probiotics – No
- Grain-Free – Yes
- Why It’s Recommended – Grain and poultry free made with real Texas beef
This is a grain-free product without any gluten ingredients making digestion a lot easier for your four-legged friend, after all, a meal should be a moment of pleasure for him!
This option we’ve selected is made using real deboned Texas beef combined with a healthy dose of sweet potatoes, lamb meal, peas, and potatoes.
It contains high levels of Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids to enrich your dog’s healthy skin and coat, making it shinier and helping with food allergies that can bring distress and discomfort to your pet. Its poultry-free recipe is also great for dogs with sensitivities to poultry ingredients, which can actually be very common these days.
The main protein (Texas beef) is the main ingredient and helps to build and maintaining a lean, healthy muscle tissue with high-quality protein, which is something you should always be on the lookout for when making the decision on which will be the right dog food for your St. Bernard.
Pros
- Grain-free
- Made with real buffalo meat and sweet potato
- Enriched with antioxidants and omega fatty acids
- Many people say it helped with their dog’s allergies.
Cons
- There are complains of gas issues on dogs
- There are complains of vomit and/or diarrhea on dogs
- Even though it’s the Buffalo flavor, it still contains chicken meat, causing allergies issues
Another great feature is that Merrick Grain Free also contains Glucosamine and Chondroitin, great for healthy hips and joints.
2. Diamond Naturals
Features
- HIGH quality PROTEIN made with real PASTURE RAISED lamb, tailored for adult dogs to thrive; optimal amino acid profile for LEAN, STRONG MUSCLES
- Premium ingredients with added vitamins & minerals; fruits and vegetables as SUPERFOODS for hard-working ANTIOXIDANTS; fatty acid blend for SKIN & COAT
- Nutrient rich and HIGHLY DIGESTIBLE with PROPRIETARY PROBIOTICS that survive and thrive in the GI tract
- NO corn, wheat, filler; NO ARTIFICIAL flavors, colors, or preservatives added; Made with scientifically advanced food safety protocols
Made with high-quality ingredients, Diamond Naturals provides your pet with complete nutrition balance in every meal.
Key Specifications
- Sizes – 6lb, 20lb, 40lb
- Protein – Lamb meat
- Probiotics -Yes
- Grain Free – No
- Why It’s Recommended – Made with lamb protein and rice
It contains real pasture-raised lamb protein and moderate levels of fat which helps to support an ideal body condition, while still presenting the nutrients your dog needs to maintain the strong muscles necessary for an active routine.
Their dry formula is enhanced for optimal nutrition and digestive support with guaranteed levels of selenium and vitamin E, to ensure your dog’s ideal antioxidant nutrition. The K9 Strain Probiotics are made of beneficial bacteria to support digestive and immune systems.
And also, the combination of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids taken from fruits and vegetables help maintain healthy skin and a shiny coat.
Pros
- Made with lamb meat and rice
- Made with probiotics
- Enriched with antioxidants and omega fatty acids
- No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
Cons
- Some dogs don’t like the taste of it.
- There are complains of gas issues on dogs
- There are complains of vomit and/or diarrhea on dogs
All of that with no addition of artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, which can be very harmful to your pet in the long run. Diamond Naturals is made with scientifically advanced food safety protocols by a family-owned company that chooses ingredients only from trusted and sustainable sources around the world.
3. Wellness CORE
Wellness CORE
Features
- ADVANCED NATURAL NUTRITION TO FUEL YOUR DOG'S BEST LIFE: Premium protein expertly balanced with nutrient rich superfoods for a complete and balanced dog food, with guaranteed levels of all the nutrients your dog needs to thrive and no fillers
- SAVORY FOOD DOGS LOVE: Wellness CORE is available in grain and grain free recipes, as well as limited ingredient diets for dogs with food sensitivities
- LEANER BODY MASS AND MUSCLE TONE: Wellness CORE dog food is made with a high concentration of protein from fresh meat ingredients
- SUPPORTS HEALTHY SKIN AND COAT with guaranteed levels of omega fatty acids from ingredients such as flaxseed and salmon oil
- WHOLE BODY HEALTH: Supported by omega fatty acids, antioxidants, glucosamine, probiotics and taurine for a healthy heart
Another product you should consider is the Wellness CORE, a dog food specially formulated for adult, non-reproducing dogs over one-year-old that will provide your dog with a balanced, 100% grain-free everyday nutrition.
Key Specifications
- Sizes – 4lb, 12lb, 26lb
- Protein – Deboned turkey, turkey and chicken meal
- Probiotics – Yes
- Grain-Free – Yes
- Why It’s Recommended – Grain-free formula with turkey meat
It is made with deboned turkey meat as its number one protein ingredient, also having turkey and chicken meals to enrich your pet’s diet.
Made with real green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and kale to ensure the best care your Saint Bernard needs and fortified with antioxidants, probiotics, vitamins, and minerals to help support healthy skin and coat and better digestion.
Pros
- Made with deboned turkey, turkey and chicken meal
- Made with probiotics
- Grain-free
- Many users say this dog food was wonderful for their dog’s skin allergies
Cons
- There are complains of hair loss on dogs
- There are complains of vomit and/or diarrhea on dogs
- There are complains of bad batches and quality control issues
Having the proper essential nutrients, Wellness CORE can promote healthy eyes, teeth, and gums, and since this an all-natural product, it is made in the USA, only using premium ingredients with no meat by-products or fillers, grain, corn, soy, wheat-gluten or artificial preservatives, colors or flavors.
4. Taste of the Wild
Features
- A taste of the wild with ROASTED BISON; REAL MEAT is the #1 ingredient; optimal amino acid profile, protein rich for LEAN, STRONG MUSCLES
- High protein ingredients with added vitamins & minerals; fruits and vegetables as SUPERFOODS for hard-working ANTIOXIDANTS; fatty acid blend for SKIN & COAT
- Ingredients from TRUSTED, SUSTAINABLE sources around the world; made with NO GRAIN, corn, wheat, filler; no artificial flavors, colors, preservatives
- Nutrient rich and HIGHLY DIGESTIBLE with guaranteed species-specific, PROPRIETARY PROBIOTICS that survive and thrive in the GI tract
Domestic dogs are proven to share DNA with wolves, and their tastes demand a more wild diet improved with the best nutrition available. With that in mind, the Diamond Pet Food Company developed Taste of the Wild, a grain-free recipe that combines premium real meat, vegetables, legumes, and fruits to satisfy your pet’s natural cravings for the wild.
Key Specifications
- Sizes – 5lb, 15lb, 30lb
- Protein – Roasted Bison and Venison
- Probiotics – Yes
- Grain-Free – Yes
- Why It’s Recommended – Grain-free formula with bison and venison meat
The grain-free formula provides lasting energy with complex carbs from sweet potatoes and peas, creating highly digestible energy for your active dog while also helping with your dog’s sensitive skin by reducing allergies, dryness, and itching.
It is made with real roasted bison and venison meat, both ingredients with an optimal amino acid profile, and protein-rich for stronger muscles.
Taste of the Wild includes probiotics with bacteria naturally found in a dog’s gastrointestinal tract and chelated minerals to maximize your pet’s nutrient absorption during digestion. A balanced diet of omega-3 and omega-6 can balance out the omega-3s working together to archive a great skin and coat health to your pet.
Pros
- Made with roasted bison and roasted venison meat and rice
- Made with probiotics
- Grain-free
- Enriched with antioxidants and omega fatty acids
- No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
Cons
- Some dogs don’t like the taste of it.
- There are complains of vomit and/or diarrhea on dogs
- There are complains of a bad batch
Taste of the Wild is a great Saint Bernard dog food, also enriched with blueberries, raspberries, and tomatoes are not only delicious, but they also have immune-boosting properties due to its many vitamins, fibers, and minerals.
5. Blue Buffalo Wilderness
Blue Buffalo Wilderness
$58.98
Features
- PACKED WITH REAL BEEF: A recipe inspired by the Rocky Mountains, this high protein dog food features a blend of red meat to satisfy your dog’s wild side while helping build and maintain lean muscle mass
- HEALTHY INGREDIENTS: Blue Wilderness grain free dog food, made with healthy carbohydrates including sweet potatoes and peas, helps fuel your adult dog’s active lifestyle; It also contains omega 3 & 6 fatty acids to support skin and coat health
- ANTIOXIDANT-RICH LIFESOURCE BITS: A precise blend of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals carefully selected by holistic veterinarians and animal nutritionists to support immune system health, life stage needs and a healthy oxidative balance
- A NATURAL DOG FOOD: Blue dry dog food is made with the finest natural ingredients enhanced with vitamins and minerals; Blue contains No chicken (or poultry) by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors or preservatives
- Contains one (1) 22-lb bag of Blue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe High Protein Natural Adult Dry Dog Food, Red Meat
One of the biggest names in the dog food industry, Blue Wilderness is a super tasty and well-balanced formula, always featuring real meat as the number 1 ingredient; in this case, it’s made using a tasty and protein-rich deboned beef, lamb and venison meat.
Key Specifications
- Sizes – 4lb, 10lb, 22lb
- Protein – Deboned Beef, Lamb and Venison
- Probiotics – No
- Grain-Free – Yes
- Why It’s Recommended – Grain and poultry free with beef, lamb, and venison meat.
Being a grain-free formula, it’s great to ensure minimizing your dog’s digestive issues because it contains healthy complex carbohydrates such as peas, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. The recipe also has antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies like carrots, blueberries, and cranberries boosting his immune system.
Not content with using the highest grade ingredients to make up their healthful and nutritious dog food blend, they have even come up with a clever way to include all of those vitamins, minerals, and even antioxidants that your pooch needs to stay fit, active, healthy, and full of vim and vigor!
Pros
- Grain-free
- Made with real deboned Beef, Lamb and Venison
- No chicken or poultry.
- Enriched with antioxidants and omega fatty acids
- No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
Cons
- There are complains of gas and bad breath issues on dogs
- There are complains of vomit and/or diarrhea on dogs
- There are complains of recalls and a class action against the manufacturer
Another great advantage is the True Blue Promise by Blue Buffalo, which consists of the manufacturer’s promise to produce no chicken (or poultry) by-product meals, and also no corn, wheat or soy, also especially, no artificial flavors or preservatives.
Bottom Line
As you can see, choosing a Saint Bernard to be a member of your family is a great choice, and you’ll never regret, but it does come with responsibilities to give him a good premium dog food, one that supplies him the energy and nutrients he’ll need to thrive. So far, we’ve listed 5 brands that are all great options for your pet, but our favorite would still have to be Taste of the Wild.
It has all the great qualities a premium dog food has, being grain-free, enriched with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids to give your pup the very best diet possible, but this product has the differential: it mimics a diet your dog craves for in the wild.
Remember when changing foods, you should never completely replace the dog food, but follow a schedule which gradually inserts the new food.
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Nadia
Nadia is passionate about all things dog related and is one of the leading writers at Dog Struggles. Her attention to detail and expertise means you can rest assured knowing her product recommendations & reviews are the best of the best.
