Complete Guide to Breed-Specific Dog Foods

Your dog's breed may play more of a role in its nutritional needs than you think, which is why a few dog food brands have taken a tailored approach to dog nutrition. 

In this guide, we explain breed-specific dog food and whether it's the right choice for your dog. 

How Important is Your Dog's Breed?

One of the most diverse species on the planet is the canines. Not only can they be found in almost every country, but there are thought to be anywhere between 195 and 500 different dog breeds, plus all the designer dog breeds and crossbreeds that have come into being either experimentally or by complete accident (we’re looking at you, Pomskies).   

Every dog breed is unique, and the breed of your dog not only determines its appearance but can also influence its temperament, build, activity level, and dietary needs.   

What is Breed-Specific Dog Food?

Breed-specific foods are formulated after years of studying different purebred dog breeds, their unique needs, and medical predispositions.

This impacts various factors in their diet, from additional vitamins and minerals to support certain functions, kibble size and shape, and nutritional adjustments depending on conditions your dog breed may be susceptible to.  

But is breed-specific dog food worth it? Below, we explore the pros and cons of breed-specific diets to help you decide if your dog could benefit from a breed-specific diet.  

Benefits of Breed-Specific Dog Food

If you have a purebred dog, there are several benefits to feeding them a breed-specific diet, such as:  

• Tailored nutrition—Breed-specific diets are formulated to prevent predisposed health conditions in certain breeds. 

• Optimal caloric intake—Different dog breeds have differing energy levels, which are considered to ensure optimal body condition. 

• Adapted kibble—Breed-specific diets also alter the size and shape of their kibble according to each breed's size, jaw structure, and eating habits.  

• Convenience—It's easier to provide a complete diet for your dog when all its breed’s nutritional differences have already been considered. 

Many dog owners choose a breed-specific diet to enable their dogs to live their life as happily and healthily as possible.  

Drawbacks of Breed-Specific Dog Food

While breed-specific foods are bursting with benefits, it’s time to look at some of the drawbacks, including:  

•  Price—Breed-specific diets tend to be more expensive than other dog foods, and if you have more than one breed of dog in your home, the cost of feeding breed-specific diets begins to add up.  

• Availability—The UK Kennel Club recognises 224 dog breeds, not all of which have the option for breed-specific dog food. And that's without considering cross-breeds, or mixed breeds.  

• No Guarantee—While breed-specific diets are based on research, there is no scientific evidence to show that they’re better at preventing health problems than other high-quality foods. 

• Your dog is unique—Your dog breed can tell you a lot about potential health problems, but every dog is still unique in their needs, and you may need to supplement their diet regardless of what food they’re on if their food doesn’t meet those needs.  

If you’re still trying to find the best food for your dog, then the best resource available is to speak with your vet. They will understand your dog’s health better than anyone and can make specific, science-backed recommendations that put their health first.   

Is Breed-Specific Dog Food Better?

As mentioned, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to say that breed-specific foods are the best diet for dogs. Many dogs do well on a breed-specific diet, while others do as well on other high-quality diets. 

The truth about the best dog food will come down to your dog. Even purebred dogs of the same breed differ from each other in terms of temperament, preference and even health. That’s not considering the number of crossbreeds and mixed-breed dogs that don’t have breed-specific food options.  

If you’re looking to offer your dog the best tailored diet, then you need to know where their current diet is lacking and supplement accordingly, either through trying a new food or by introducing dog food supplements.  

What Types of Breed-Specific Dog Foods Are There?

There aren’t many dog food brands that offer completely tailored breed-specific foods, but there are a couple of options from names you’re sure to recognise: 

Royal Canin® Breed Health Nutrition® Dog Food 

The Royal Canin® Breed Health Nutrition® range offers a collection of wet and dry dog foods tailored to meet the nutritional requirements of particular dog breeds. They combined scientific and nutritional research to create precise diets that vary in nutrients, shape, size, and texture depending on the intended breed. 

Their range covers over 20 dog breeds and offers complete dog food for every stage of life so that you can meet your dog’s nutritional needs.  

The Royal Canin breed-specific range includes 

• Royal Canin Labrador Food

• Royal Canin Chihuahua food

• Royal Canin Dachshund Food

• Pomeranian Food Royal Canin

• Royal Canin Poodle Food

• Royal Canin Shih Tzu  

• Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Food

• Royal Canin Beagle food

• Royal Canin Bichon Frise food

• Royal Canin English Bulldog food

• Royal Canin Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Food

• Royal Canin Dalmatian Food

• Royal Canin English Cocker Spaniel Food

• Royal Canin French Bulldog Food

• Royal Canin German Shepherd food

• Royal Canin Golden Retriever Food

• Royal Canin Great Dane dog food

• Royal Canin Jack Russell food

• Royal Canin Maltese food

• Royal Canin Miniature Schnauzer food

• Royal Canin Pug Food

• Royal Canin Rottweiler food

• Royal Canin West Highland White Terrier food 

Not all Royal Canin’s breed-specific range currently offers breed-specific puppy or senior food.  

Eukanuba Breed-Specific Dog Food 

Another popular brand taking the breed-specific approach is Eukanuba's breed-specific dog food range.

These foods are tailored to meet the unique dietary demands of some of the most popular dog breeds, providing an even more tailored diet that is complete and balanced to support your dog’s health and well-being.  

Eukanuba has also noted that while each food is named for a specific breed of dog, it is also a convenient choice for mixed breeds to an extent, depending on the size and health requirements of your dog’s breed.

For example, the Eukanuba Golden Retriever dog food is also suitable for other breeds with similar traits, including Flat-Coated Retrievers, Portuguese Water Dogs, Irish Water Spaniels and Italian Spinones.  

Another popular brand taking the breed-specific approach is Eukanuba and its breed-specific range. These foods are tailored to meet the unique dietary demands of some of the most popular dog breeds, providing an even more tailored diet that is complete and balanced to support your dog’s health and well-being.  

Eukanuba has also noted that while each food is named for a specific breed of dog, it is also a convenient choice for mixed breeds to an extent, depending on the size and health requirements of your dog’s breed.

For example, the Eukanuba Golden Retriever dog food is also suitable for other breeds with similar traits, including Flat-Coated Retrievers, Portuguese Water Dogs, Irish Water Spaniels and Italian Spinones.  

The Eukanuba breed-specific dog food range includes:  

• Eukanuba Dachshund dog food 

• Eukanuba Yorkshire Terrier dog food 

• Eukanuba West Highland White Terrier food 

• Eukanuba Jack Russell dog food 

• Eukanuba Cocker Spaniel food 

• Eukanuba Rottweiler dog food 

• Eukanuba Labrador food 

• Eukanuba German Shepherd food 

• Eukanuba Golden Retriever dog food 

• Eukanuba Boxer dog food 

Eukanuba does not currently offer breed-specific diets for puppies or senior dogs.  

What if they don’t make breed-specific dog food for my dog’s breed?  

As we've mentioned, there are hundreds of dog breeds worldwide, so breed-specific formulas aren’t available for every breed. Instead, dog food manufacturers have focused on making breed-specific dog foods for the most popular breeds.   

Plus, there are more and more mixed-breed dogs now, with reports claiming that the number of homes with a mixed-breed dog (commonly referred to as a ‘mutt’) grew 65% between 2015 and 2019. That said, mixed-breed dogs can still benefit from the nutrition of a breed-specific food from either breed.   

If there's no breed-specific food on the market to suit your dog, then size-specific dog food is a good alternative to help your dog get all the nutrients they need.  

Breed-specific diets can be an excellent choice for purebred dogs, when available. They offer tailored nutrition that supports where they need it most. That said, if a breed-specific diet is not available for your dog, you can still provide it with a diet that meets all its nutritional needs.