Newfoundlands are big, strong, friendly, sweet-natured, and amazing as family dogs. But what do you feed a dog that’s strong enough to pull a cart? What’s the best dog food for Newfoundlands? Luckily, we’ve done some research, and have come up with some pretty compelling choices!

1-Second Snapshot: Top Newfoundland Food Options

**There's more info below, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Chewy.

**Disclaimer: Our dog food reviews are based mostly on (1) our expertise and that of the experts with whom we consult and (2) the information provided by the manufacturers. We do test many dog foods (with our dog's help), but we can't test them all. As such, please remember the above recommendations are our opinions, and you should consult your vet before making changes to your dog's diet.

How Many Calories Does A Newfoundland Need?

**Please note: these estimates are based on an average weight for this breed. Every dog is different. Please talk to your vet before making changes to your dog's diet. 

This large working-dog breed can grow to a tall 2 feet, 5 inches, and can end up weighing anywhere from 100 to 150 pounds! Keeping this dog fueled and energized is definitely going to require some high-quality dog food in the right amounts—so make sure to pay attention to his/her eating habits, and adjust accordingly if you notice that your pet is getting too skinny or gaining too much weight.

As a general rule, a less-active Newfoundland will need about 1,860 calories to stay fueled and energized throughout the day, while a ‘moderately active’ animal will require closer to 2,300 calories. For highly active Newfoundlands, be ready to feed up to 3,600 calories or more on a daily basis!

This might seem like a lot—but keep in mind that this is one of the largest dog breeds in existence! A body this size is going to require some nourishment to keep functioning at maximum capacity.

Here's some More Great Info...

In this video you can learn quite a bit about the basics of owning a dog of this breed. I actually learned quite a bit from it. I really enjoy this video series—but I have to say that this video was one of the best that I’ve seen.

What to look for in a Newfoundland’s diet: Macronutrient needs

This dog breed is going to need lots of Omega fatty acids to support skin and coat health. They’re also susceptible to bloat, which means that easily-digestible foods and foods with no fillers are going to work the best.

As a large dog breed, the Newfoundland is also prone to some orthopedic problems—so feeding them a diet of healthy, nutritious dog food that won’t cause them to gain too much weight is essential.

This breed can also be prone to some eye problems, like cataracts—but a diet rich in vitamins A, C, and E can help to maintain overall eye health, and can even help to prevent such conditions from occurring.

Due to their larger size, Newfoundlands should also have increased amounts of glucosamine and chondroitin in their diet. These will help to promote joint health, and will also help to prevent arthritis in later years.

You can find some basic information on the different nutritional needs of larger dog breeds here, in an article published by petmd.com.

Surprisingly, while the Newfoundland does require some exercise—they tend to be couch-potatoes most of the time. They’re even well-suited to life in a city—as long as they’re kept cool and out of the hot summer weather.

Common Health Problems

Newfoundlands are definitely large-sized dogs—but unfortunately, this can sometimes work against them. But aside from this, they do tend to be pretty healthy for the most part—with a few rare exceptions.

Here are some of the most common health problems that you might possibly see in the breed. Not all Newfoundlands will suffer from these, but it’s good to be aware so that if they come up, you’ll be more likely to realize what you’re dealing with.

Joint Problems

Because they’re so large, this breed can suffer from conditions like Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, Ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligaments, and arthritis. To keep them from developing such problems, always make sure that their parents have been tested for genetic diseases, and maintain a diet that’s rich in glucosamine, chondroitin, and Omega Fatty Acids.

Cataracts

Pets.webmd.com says this about cataracts in an article about the condition that was published on their website…

“A cataract is an opacity in the lens of a dog’s eye, causing him to have blurry vision.”

Dogs with cataracts will probably have eyes that look cloudy or bluish in color. If you notice that your dog’s eyes are becoming cloudy, you should definitely take him/her to the vet to have it checked out. Not all cases of this condition will affect your dog’s vision, but you can never be too careful.

A diet rich in vitamins A, C, and E is said to help prevent eye problems like cataracts. In fact, this article says that vitamin E can even heal cataracts in some cases—though this approach is a bit controversial and is mostly holistic in nature.

Bloat

As larger dogs, Newfoundlands can tend to suffer from bloat. To combat this, make sure that you feed your dog in several smaller meals instead of in one large meal each day. Making sure that your dog’s food is easily digestible and free of cheap fillers (like grains) can also have a very positive impact on your dog’s risk of developing the problem.

How to feed a Newfoundland puppy

Newfoundland females can give birth to as many as 15 puppies at one time… which is crazy! But by the time the puppies are 3 to 4 weeks old, they’ll probably have started the weaning process and will begin living more independently.

Newfoundland pups definitely grow fast! By the time they’re 8 weeks old, typical puppies of this breed will weigh somewhere close to 22 pounds!

Even at this young age, they’ll need about 620 calories per day to stay energized.

Most breeders agree that puppies of this breed should stay with the litter until they’re at least 8 to 10 weeks old, as this will give them adequate time for socialization with their brothers and sisters and will ensure that they’re fully weaned by the time they leave their mother. After this point, they’re usually ready to move in with their adopted family and begin a new life as a family pet, working dog, or show dog.

So, what’s the best dog food for Newfoundlands?

As a very, very large dog breed, Newfoundlands require a tremendous amount of nutritional support. They need a high-quality variety of healthy fats, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals to keep them feeling and looking their best—which is why we definitely recommend Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch Grain Free Dry Dog Food for the Newfoundland in your life.

This nutritious dry dog food formulation contains several different types of fish—which are excellent sources of fish oil and healthy Omega Fats. These work to not only improve and maintain skin and coat health, but also to keep the joints and ligaments healthy and functioning at peak efficiency.

It also contains Vitamin A supplementation, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (a valuable source of vitamin C), and Flaxseed (a valuable source of vitamin E). These vitamins are essential for the Newfoundland’s predisposition toward eye-problems like cataracts.

And since it’s grain free and filled with natural fruits and vegetables, it’s easily digestible—which is perfect for reducing the breed’s risk for bloat.

Pros and Cons

If you’re looking for a high-quality kibble that’ll contribute to your dog’s health, happiness, and well-being, then I would definitely recommend that you give Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch Grain Free Dry Dog Food a try. There are actually quite a few awesome dog foods out there nowadays—but after doing our research and looking into the ingredients, we simply felt that this dog food formula was a cut above the rest.

Image credit: Chewy.com, https://www.flickr.com/photos/alicjap/