Whether your dog is a big sweetie, a big weirdo or a big athlete, here’s what you need to know about taking care of your big dog.
First, all big dogs start out as little dogs. But pretty soon they grow up — and so does their appetite, their toys, their dog bowls, the vet bill and their need for speed.
He started to grow.
And pretty soon
he was bigger than
the recliner.
Sometimes it can take more than two years for them to reach their full size.
And you won’t like to think about it too much, but their life spans are shorter, too: about 10 to 12 years.
No wonder
you'll let him push
you off the bed
at night.
If a large dog gets too much food as a pup, they’re at a higher risk of growing too quickly, which can cause joint trouble.
For large breeds, being overweight is especially problematic. All that extra weight can be a lot for the joints to carry around.
Keep your good old dog healthy by practicing portion control and feeding nutritious food like IAMS™ Mature Adult Large Breed.
How will she catch
a screaming
15-mile-an-hour
Frisbee in midair
if she has knee trouble.
Back in the day, large-breed dogs were especially energetic. They were working dogs, herders, hunters, cart pullers and people protectors.
Who are we to deny their evolution?
Make sure your dog gets exercise every day.
How do you accomplish this? Walk, walk and more walk. And add in some running, jumping, chasing, hiking, fetching, dog-park visiting, swimming and even agility courses.
Repeat this mantra:
'I am the alpha.'
When it comes to training, think of it this way: The bigger the dog, the harder it is to hide behavior problems. And if you can’t control your super-sized soulmate, they could inadvertently cause damage or hurt someone.
Living large is all
about biting the
wind and living
that sweet,
sweet life.






Providing your dog with a balanced diet of nutritious dog food will ensure they get adequate amounts of protein, fat and fiber. All three are essential to your dog’s health and happiness — and all three can be found in every IAMS™ product we produce. Learn more about how these three vital elements can support your dog’s whole-body health.

Protein Protein helps keep your dog’s muscles strong.
Protein helps keep your dog’s muscles strong. It also provides the amino acids necessary to build and repair proteins in their body. Many of these amino acids must be acquired through a dog’s diet.
Recipes contain animal-based proteins that provide the essential amino acids dogs need. Plus, we conduct special refining and quality assurance tests to ensure we only use high-quality, highly digestible protein sources for increased digestibility.

Fat gives your dog energy and helps nourish their skin and coat.
Fat provides energy. Your dog needs two types of fatty acids: omega-6 andomega-3 fatty acids. Omega-6 fatty acids are found in chicken fat and corn.Omega-3 fatty acids are found in ingredients such as canola, fish meal or oil, andflax. Both types help nourish and support your dog’s skin and coat.
Fiber and prebiotics help support your dog’s digestion.
IAMS™ dog food recipes feature a tailored blend of natural fiber from ingredients like beet pulp, as well as prebiotics to help support your dog’s digestion. Research has shown that moderately fermentable fiber, such as beet pulp, enhances intestinal health.
Feeding your dog a balanced diet that contains the right amounts of protein, fats and fiber is one of the most important ways you can care for and nourish them. To see the di!erence a healthy diet can make in your dog, feed them an IAMS recipe that’s tailored to their unique dietary needs, such as their size, age and breed. Are you ready to See the Wow?