Collection: Royal Canin Large Breed Adult Dog Food

Royal Canin classifies Maxi as an adult weight of 26 to 44 kg and Giant as 45 kg and over. This page carries both, so the range covered is 26 kg upward. This includes popular breeds such as Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Boxer, Rottweiler, Doberman, Weimaraner, and many others. Dogs over 45 kg are classified as Giant breeds and have their own dedicated formula range. It is important to choose the correct size category, as the nutrient profiles, kibble sizes and energy densities differ significantly between Maxi and Giant formulas.

Royal Canin Maxi Adult is formulated with targeted nutrients to support the joints of large breed dogs, which bear significantly more load than those of smaller dogs. The formula includes glucosamine and chondroitin - key building blocks for healthy cartilage - along with EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids that help support joint comfort. The overall mineral balance is controlled to maintain healthy bones without excess that could stress joints. This proactive joint support is particularly important for large breeds, as maintaining joint health is easier than trying to address problems after they develop.

The Maxi formulas differ from standard or small breed food in several key ways. The energy density is lower per gram to help prevent weight gain - large dogs need more food by volume, but not proportionally more calories. The kibble is larger, encouraging large breed dogs to chew thoroughly rather than swallowing whole, which improves digestion. The protein sources are selected for high digestibility, important because large breeds have proportionally smaller digestive systems. Joint-supporting nutrients are included at levels appropriate for the load-bearing demands of a bigger frame. Simply feeding more of a small breed food would not provide the same targeted nutritional support.

If Royal Canin offers a breed-specific formula for your dog, that will be the most precisely tailored option. Breed-specific formulas build on the size-based nutritional foundation and add breed-specific benefits - custom kibble shapes for the breed's jaw, nutrients targeting breed-typical health concerns, and ingredients addressing breed-specific sensitivities. If no breed-specific formula exists for your dog, Maxi Adult is an excellent choice that addresses all the key nutritional needs of large breed dogs. Both deliver the same science-based nutrition.

Daily feeding amounts depend on your dog's exact weight, activity level and body condition. The pack carries a detailed feeding guide with recommended daily amounts in grams for different weight ranges. We also include these feeding tables in our product descriptions at Canine & Co. As a general guideline, divide the daily amount into two meals. If your dog tends to eat quickly, consider using a slow-feeder bowl or the breed-specific formula (like Labrador Retriever) that features kibble designed to slow eating speed. Monitor your dog's body condition regularly and adjust portions as needed.

Large breed puppies (Maxi, 26 to 44 kg adult weight; Giant, 45 kg and over) should typically transition from puppy food to adult food at around 15 months of age. This is later than small and medium breeds because large dogs have a longer growth period. Switching to adult food too early can mean your dog misses out on important growth-supporting nutrients, while staying on puppy food too long can contribute to excess weight gain. When making the switch, transition gradually over 7 to 10 days by mixing increasing amounts of adult food with decreasing amounts of puppy food to avoid digestive upset.

The weight line, and the age line. Maxi is built for an adult weight of 26 to 44 kg, Giant for 45 kg and over: a Labrador or German Shepherd is Maxi, a Great Dane or Boerboel is Giant. They also begin at different ages, because giant breeds finish growing later: Maxi Adult follows puppy food from around 15 months, while Giant Adult is fed only from 18 to 24 months, after Giant Junior. If your dog sits near the 45 kg boundary, go by lean adult weight rather than current weight.

Joint Care Maxi is the Maxi diet with reinforced joint support for dogs whose hips and elbows carry sustained load. It is an everyday food rather than a supplement or a prescription diet, so it suits large dogs from adulthood onward. For a dog already diagnosed with joint disease, ask your vet whether a therapeutic diet is more appropriate, because the veterinary range is not sold through retailers.

Yes. Labrador Retriever Adult is stocked, with a doughnut-shaped kibble that slows eating and L-carnitine to support weight management, because the breed both gulps its food and gains weight easily. Labrador Retriever Puppy covers the growth phase. German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Rottweiler and Boxer make up the rest of the stocked large breed formulas.

Yes. The Maxi and Giant ranges and the large breed formulas are all available online at canineandco.co.za. Orders over R550 qualify for FREE local shipping, which matters here because 12 kg and 15 kg bags are heavy to carry out of a physical store. Every bag size is priced individually on the product page alongside the feeding table.