Nulo Freestyle Turkey & Sweet Potato Grain-Free Dry Puppy Food review

At a Glance

  • Top 5 Ingredients:
    1. Deboned Turkey
    2. Turkey Meal
    3. Salmon Meal
    4. Chickpeas
    5. Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols & Citric Acid)
  • Type: Dry food
  • Lifestage: Puppy
  • Calories: 441 kcal/cup
  • Protein: 33%
  • Fat: 18%
  • Fiber: 4%

Nulo Freestyle Puppy Food is a top-quality food that is primed to support the Akita puppy’s critical developmental periods. A grain-free diet, Nulo Freestyle bases its carbohydrates on fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber and antioxidants to promote excellent immunity and good digestion.

The correct ratio of calcium to phosphorus is present in this formulation, ensuring a correct rate of bone growth. DHA has also been enriched to assist with cognitive and vision development.

Nulo Freestyle hits all the high points large breed pups need from their diets, making it easily one of the best dog foods for Akita puppies.

Pros

  • Owners reported their puppies love the taste of this diet, eating their meals with enthusiasm every day.
  • Puppies regularly fed this food display coats that are lustrous, thick, healthy, soft, and shiny.
  • Owners are pleased with the size of the kibble pieces in this diet, feeling they are the appropriate size and shape for large breed puppies like the Akita.
  • Owners reported an improvement in their puppies’ energy levels when fed this diet regularly.
  • Puppies’ stool quality was normal when fed Nulo Freestyle Puppy.

Cons

  • Several owners cite cost as the only reason why they do not feed this diet to their puppies on a regular basis.
  • In rare cases, some puppies are uninterested in this food and will not eat it. Another Nulo puppy formulation with a different protein base may be a better fit.
  • Some puppies seem to do poorly on the turkey in this diet. A switch to the Nulo puppy formulation that contains chicken as its main protein seemed to remedy this issue.
  • Chickpeas, yellow peas, and pea fiber are all included in this recipe, ingredients of questionable nutritional value and that have been associated with such problems as DCM, rapid spikes in blood sugar levels, and lowered fertility rates.

Instinct Raw Boost Large Breed Puppy Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken & Freeze-Dried Raw Pieces Dry Dog Food review

At a Glance

  • Top 5 Ingredients:
    1. Chicken
    2. Chicken Meal
    3. Peas
    4. Egg Product
    5. Tapioca
  • Type: Freeze-dried raw and dry food
  • Lifestage: Puppy
  • Calories: 485 kcal/cup
  • Protein: 33.5%
  • Fat: 18.5%
  • Fiber: 5%

Instinct Raw Boost Large Breed Grain-Free Puppy is comprised of excellent quality ingredients to provide the Akita puppy with a nutritious and delicious food to support its growth and development. A high-protein food, Instinct contains both freeze-dried raw meat and dry kibble to encourage greater eating satisfaction and flavor.

This diet, rated among the best foods for Akita puppies, includes a blend of poultry, fish, and other good quality proteins to provide an excellent nutritional foundation from which many nutrients can be extracted. DHA occurs naturally in this recipe, a vital help in encouraging healthy cognitive development and vision.

Instinct contains no grains, potato, corn, wheat, soy, by-products, artificial colors, or preservatives.

Pros

  • Puppies love that this food offers them both freeze-dried raw meat pieces and dry food. This diet is packed with flavor, and owners report their puppies eat their meals with hearty gusto every day.
  • This grain-free recipe is ideal for puppies that suffer with allergies or specific food sensitivities, helping Akita pups to find relief from their ongoing symptoms.
  • Owners noted great improvements in the coat and skin quality of their puppies when regularly fed Instinct Raw Boost Large Breed Puppy.
  • Owners shared their puppies had fewer bowel movements and their stool quality was normal when fed a steady diet of this food.
  • The kibble pieces in this diet are large enough to avoid a choking hazard in bigger puppies like the Akita.

Cons

  • Owners expressed concern that this diet does not include any grains in its recipe.
  • Some owners felt this diet was out of their price range as a regular food for their Akita puppies.
  • A few owners indicated they felt their food did not have sufficient quantities of freeze-dried meat in their bag.
  • Some puppies pick out the freeze-dried meat pieces and refuse to eat the kibble. To prevent this, owners can reserve the meat to feed as a treat once the meal has been consumed.
  • In a few cases, some puppies seemed to require additional fiber added to their food to achieve ideal digestion.

Now Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed Puppy Recipe Dry Dog Food review

At a Glance

  • Top 5 Ingredients:
    1. De-Boned Turkey
    2. Whole Dried Egg
    3. Peas
    4. Potatoes
    5. Potato Flour
  • Type: Dry food
  • Lifestage: Puppy
  • Calories: 403 kcal/cup
  • Protein: 28%
  • Fat: 16%
  • Fiber: 3.5%

Now Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed Puppy Recipe Dry Dog Food is a high-quality diet whose formulation uniquely meets the developmental needs of large breeds like the Akita puppy. This food is free from grains and gluten, making it well-suited to pups suffering from sensitivities to wheat or grains. Now Fresh also contains no corn, soy, or by-products.

Now Fresh’s formulation includes taurine to provide protection against common heart ailments in large breed dogs. Prebiotics and probiotics have also been added to ensure the Akita puppy is able to process and utilize its meals well.

With so many nutritional benefits to its credit, it is easy to see why Now Fresh is among the top choices when it comes to best dog foods for Akita puppies.

Pros

  • Owners of large breed puppies like the Akita love that this food is based on a wide variety of lean proteins to provide the amino acids puppies need for a healthy body.
  • Taurine has been added to this recipe to provide a boost for optimal heart health in growing Akita puppies.
  • This diet is grain-free, making it an excellent choice for Akita puppies with sensitive stomachs or food-related allergies.
  • Owners noted a dramatic improvement in their puppies’ coat and skin quality with a switch to this food.
  • Puppies struggling with loose stools saw great improvements in their digestion when fed a steady diet of Now Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed Puppy.

Cons

  • Some puppies did not like the taste of this food and would not eat it.
  • Some owners felt that this food was pricey and expressed it was not affordable for them on an ongoing basis.
  • A few owners indicated they had concerns that the fat content was too high for their developing Akita puppies.
  • This diet includes peas, potatoes, potato flour, and lentils in its recipe. Each of these ingredients is of some controversy today and may be associated with such issues as DCM, rapid spikes in blood sugar levels, and lowered fertility rates.
  • This diet contains no supplements to assist with joint health in the growing Akita puppy.

Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Puppy Lamb & Chicken Meals Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food review

At a Glance

  • Top 5 Ingredients:
    1. Lamb Meal
    2. Chicken Meal
    3. Potatoes
    4. Chickpeas
    5. Lentils
  • Type: Dry food
  • Lifestage: Puppy
  • Calories: 433 kcal/cup
  • Protein: 25%
  • Fat: 16%
  • Fiber: 4.5%

Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Puppy is a well-balanced food that meets all of the high points an Akita puppy needs from its diet. A food that is formulated specifically to address the needs of large breed puppies, Holistic Select places a high emphasis on the development of a healthy immune system through its ingredients and supplements that are rich in vital amino and essential fatty acids.

This diet is grain-free, taking its carbohydrates from high-fiber and antioxidant-dense fruits and vegetables. Flaxseed has been added into this formulation to support healthy skin and coat quality. Digestive enzymes are also included to support optimal digestion, making Holistic Select one of the best foods for Akita puppies with sensitive stomachs.

This food contains no corn, by-products, artificial colors, flavors, fillers, or preservatives.

Pros

  • Puppies regularly suffering from diarrhea saw a return to normal stools when fed Holistic Select Large and Giant Breed puppy on a regular basis.
  • Owners noted that puppies that displayed chronic issues with itching found relief when fed this diet consistently.
  • Owners like that this diet does not have an overwhelming, unpleasant smell to it.
  • Puppies fed a steady diet of Holistic Select Large and Giant Breed Puppy had coats that were shiny, healthy, soft, and beautiful.
  • Owners love the balance of fat, fiber, and protein contained in this food, believing it is the ideal diet to support the nutritional needs of large and giant breed pups like the Akita.

Cons

  • Several owners indicated they found this diet a little on the pricey side.
  • Some puppies did not like the taste of this food and would not eat it.
  • In rare cases, a few puppies started on this diet developed itchy ears. This may simply be a sensitivity to one of the ingredients in the food.
  • A couple of owners noted that their bags of food came with less kibble than what was indicated on the bag.
  • Chickpeas, lentils, and peas are all included in this recipe. Many owners would prefer to feed whole grains than any of these ingredients.

Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food review

At a Glance

  • Top 5 Ingredients:
    1. Lamb
    2. Lamb Meal
    3. Whole Grain Brown Rice
    4. Cracked Pearled Barley
    5. Grain Sorghum
  • Type: Dry food
  • Lifestage: Puppy
  • Calories: 342 kcal/cup
  • Protein: 27%
  • Fat: 15%
  • Fiber: 3.5%

Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy is a grain-inclusive formulation that is big on nutrition, taste, and value to support the growing Akita puppy’s needs. A diet that has been formulated with large breed puppies in mind, this diet is protein-rich, taking whole lamb and lamb meal as its first two ingredients.

This diet bases its carbohydrates on a blend of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables that are highly digestible and rich in nutrients. Probiotics have been added to aid the Akita puppy’s digestive processes. For dogs with difficulty processing and utilizing foods effectively, Diamond Naturals is among the best puppy foods for Akitas with sensitive stomachs.

This diet is free from corn, wheat, fillers, artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.

Pros

  • Owners like the emphasis on all natural ingredients, feeling this diet offers premium quality nutrition to meet the needs of their growing Akita puppies.
  • Puppies really enjoy the flavor of this diet, looking forward to their every meal with great enthusiasm.
  • Owners are pleased that the calcium to phosphorus ratio in this food is ideal to support the correct growth rate in large breed pups like the Akita.
  • Puppies fed Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy on an ongoing basis enjoyed coats that were soft, thick, shiny, and healthy.
  • Puppies with sensitive stomachs did very well on this formula, finding relief from their symptoms.

Cons

  • A few owners noted they felt the kibble pieces in this diet crumble too easily, ruling out their use as a training treat.
  • Some puppies struggled with loose stools when fed this diet. This could be the result of too quick a change from the old diet to the new.
  • A few puppies experienced mild gastrointestinal distress such as nausea and diarrhea when fed Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy. It is possible the formula may be too rich for them, but they may also have a sensitivity to one of the ingredients.
  • Some puppies are indifferent to the taste of this food, showing little interest in eating it.
  • Some owners noted that the food has an unusual color to it. Their puppies’ stool took on this same hue when fed this diet regularly.