Feeding a Dobermann puppy alongside a Pug

A 10-month-old Dobermann and a 6-year-old Pug under the same roof — that's quite a size mismatch to feed around! Puppy nutrition is one of the most important investments you'll make: the right food in that first year genuinely sets the foundation for long-term health, and the differences between puppy foods are far more significant than most people realise. Before I dive into what I'd recommend, it'd help to know — what's your Dobermann currently eating, and are you managing separate mealtimes or does food-stealing happen?

That's such a common problem with size-mismatched households, and it matters more than it might seem — especially for the Dobermann at 10 months. He's still very much a puppy. Dobermanns are a large breed and they don't fully mature until around 18 months, so getting the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio right now is genuinely important for joint and bone development. A generic large breed kibble may be doing the job, but it's worth tightening that up. Can I ask — is he lean and muscular looking, or does he seem a bit gangly still? And is he on two meals a day or one?

Good — lean and gangly at 10 months is completely normal for a Dobermann, and two meals a day is exactly right. Here's what I'd recommend: Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Dobermann Junior. It's specifically formulated for Dobermann puppies up to 18 months, which means the protein, fat, and mineral ratios are calibrated for the breed's actual growth curve rather than just 'large breed' in general. Dobermanns have a known predisposition to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and this food includes taurine and L-carnitine to support cardiac health from early on — that's not something a generic large breed food typically addresses. It also has a large kibble size, which works in your favour with the Pug situation: your Pug physically can't eat it comfortably, so if you feed them in separate rooms or use a raised bowl for the Dobermann, the cross-stealing problem largely solves itself. Continue with the Royal Canin Pug Adult for your Pug — that's a great choice and the kibble shape is genuinely designed for flat-faced mouths.

It's one of those breed-specific things that doesn't always come up until later, so good to be across it early. For the food-stealing: the most practical solution is timed separation — feed them in different rooms with a door closed, and pick up any uneaten food after 15 minutes. For a Dobermann, supervised mealtimes for those 15 minutes isn't a big ask. Some people also use a microchip-activated feeder for the smaller dog, which locks out any pet whose chip isn't registered — Sureflor make one that's popular. But honestly, separate rooms and consistent routine is the simplest fix and it works well. The key is not letting it become a free-for-all, because the Pug eating large breed junior food is fine occasionally but not ideal long term, and the Dobermann hoovering Pug Adult regularly would throw off his nutrition at a critical growth stage.

It's available on Amazon UK — search 'Royal Canin Dobermann Junior' and you'll find it in a 12kg bag which is the most cost-effective size for a dog his size. It's also stocked by most large pet retailers online. At 10 months he's probably eating around 400–450g per day depending on his current weight, so a 12kg bag lasts about 3–4 weeks. Subscribing on Amazon often brings the price down a bit too if you want to set and forget it. Solid choice for the next 8 months until he hits 18 months — at that point you'd transition him to an adult food.