Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Natural Adult Wet Dog Food
Image courtesy Blue Buffalo
If you’re searching for high-quality, all-natural wet dog food, Blue Buffalo Wilderness is a wonderful alternative.
This dog food is high in protein and low in carbohydrates, making it ideal for an entourage diet. It’s made with real beef and chicken, can be served as a delicious treat, or blended into your dog’s regular dry food.
The Blue Buffalo puppy food contains no chicken by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, or artificial flavors or preservatives making it a healthy choice for your dog.
The Best German Shepherd Diet And Meal Plan For Every Age
The best German Shepherd diet needs the right formulation to support the breeds powerful strength, athletic abilities, and superior intelligence.
And the stores have no shortage of colorful marketing gimmicks and fancy product descriptions at your fingertips to entice you to part with your money at every turn.
Its enough to make your head spin and for you to turn running!
But, this article will more than explore the best German Shepherd diet
Itll be your comprehensive, easy-to-understand road map to choose an optimum diet with balanced nutrition.
Lets jump right in!
Dog Nutrition For German Shepherds
While all dogs require a healthy diet that provides the right blend of protein, fat, calories, and essential nutrients, muscular large-breed dogs like German Shepherds have some special nutritional requirements.
German Shepherds generally grow to an adult size of 50 to 90 pounds. Though theyre fairly active, this breed has a slower metabolism than dogs that weigh under 20 pounds at maturity. That means youll want to control the amount of fat and calories they consume to prevent unhealthy weight gain. The same goes for puppies. If your German Shepherd puppy grows too quickly, they may have a higher risk of developing bone and joint problems in adulthood. When buying food for your German Shepherd puppy, select large-dog recipes specifically designed for slower, steadier growth.
Every German Shepherd is unique, and your dogs age, body weight, and activity level will determine their calorie needs. But generally speaking, the active German Shepherd requires a more calorie-dense diet than many large-breed dogs. And protein is extremely important to help these dogs build and maintain lean muscle mass.
Here are some key elements to look for when selecting dog food for your German Shepherd:
- A high percentage of animal proteins like meat, poultry, and fish
- Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat
- Up to 5% fiber, with digestible carbohydrates like whole grains and vegetables
- A complete and nutritionally balanced formula in line with AAFCO nutrient profiles
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How Much To Feed A German Shepherd Puppy
Depending on your puppys current weight, activity level, and metabolism, you should plan to feed your puppy 3 or 4 times each day.
Older puppies can be fed fewer times per day, but be sure not to limit the caloric intake below the recommended amount.
Smaller, more frequent meals will help prevent bloatgastric dilatation volvulus is a potentially life-threatening condition.
Frequent meals will also help stabilize your puppys blood sugar and energy level to help them grow steadily, not in fits and starts.
Puppies need two or three times the number of calories as adult dogs do. This may seem strange considering puppies are much smaller than adults.
However, German Shepherd puppies grow extraordinarily fast, so their caloric intake needs to support that.
To figure out how much to feed your German Shepherd puppy, look at his or her weight. Females will be slightly smaller and lighter than males.
| AGE | |
| between 31 and 49 pounds | |
| 5-6 months | between 35 and 57 pounds |
Using the weight chart above, the general food chart in the previous section, and considering the gender and activity level of your puppy, you can calculate the approximate amount of food to feed daily.
Split that daily amount up between all meals. For example, if your 3-month-old GSD puppy is a male and weighs 30 pounds, you should feed him approximately 2 cups per day.
If he is eating 4 times per day, that would be ½ a cup of food at each of 4 meals.
What To Do If My German Shepherd Does Not Want To Eat
You are used to your German shepherd running to the kitchen upon hearing their food poured into the bowl but lately, they seem not interested or even not finish their food.
There are a few reasons that may be making your German Shepherd puppy not eat their food. These include dental problems, health conditions, or does not like the food.
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Create A Positive Meal Time Experience
If you have a new puppy that youve just brought home they might feel scared, anxious, or stressed. You can create a positive meal time by using the following tips:
- Always offer fresh water during their meal times.
- Keep the area where they eat their food in calm and out of the way of the family hustle and bustle.
- Dont pester them while they eat, reach into their food bowl to remove food, or try to play with them.
I found sitting with a book reading, just keeping my GSD puppy company, encouraged my dog to eat their meals while giving us time to quietly bond. If your new German Shepherd puppy still isnt eating, try feeding them by hand.
Diamond Naturals Premium Large Breed Formulas
Heres a power-packed meal to provide antioxidants, probiotics, essential vitamins, and added minerals. The superfoods in the meal promote a long and hearty life for your fluffball. Diamond Naturals formula is specifically for large breed puppies. They need more nourishment to sustain their bone development.
GSDs tend to suffer from elbow and hip dysplasia. So, it is imperative to fortify their immune systems as well as ossein buildout. That will make sure that your pooch does not suffer from joint pains in their adult life.
Furthermore, the antioxidants in the blend prevent cancer. The probiotics in the mix keep the gut flora flourishing, and the omega fatty-acids keep the skin, coat, and vision healthy.Diamond tops it all up with a great price tag to give you the ultimate value for your money.
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Bundle: Nylabone Teething Pacifier Puppy Chew Toy + N
Why do we like it? Its a 2-for-1 pack to spoil your pup. Comes with a Nylabone Teething Pacifier Puppy Chew Toy and a 3-pack of N-Bone Puppy Teething Ring Chicken Flavor Dog Treats.
Features
- Treats are designed specifically to help relieve sore gums and teething pain.
- Treats are made in the USAwithout any corn, wheat or soyto be completely edible and digestible for puppies of any breed.
- Toy is crafted to keep puppies happy, busy and entertained while ridges and nubs clean teeth, reduce plaque and tartar, and promote proper oral hygiene.
Hills Science Diet Large Breed Puppy Food
Rating:
Large Breed Chicken Meal is one of 6 dry recipes evaluated in our review of the Hills Science Diet product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken meal, whole grain wheat, whole grain oats, whole grain sorghum, corn gluten meal
- Type: Grain-inclusive
- Profile: Growth
- Best for:German Shepherd Puppies
This classic Science Diet formula gets the majority of its animal protein from chicken meal. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 27% protein, 12% fat and 53% estimated carbs which creates a fat-to-protein ratio of about 46%.
A fully-balanced, large-breed puppy diet. Contains just the right amount of calcium for controlled skeletal growth to help lower the risk of canine hip dysplasia in shepherd puppies. Highly recommended.
Sample buyer reviewAfter doing research, I found that many large boned puppy foods had much more calcium than recommended by the Veterinary Council. Science Diet is much stricter about the ingredients. I switched and feel much better about my German Shepherds food! My dog loves it!
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How Often Should I Feed My German Shepherd Puppy
Serve puppies younger than 4 months four small meals every day. Reduce the meals to three between 4 and 9 months. From the 9th month onwards, your puppy can eat two to three large meals during the day. Consult your vet or read the labels for calorie content to ensure you are serving the right amount.
What About Dog Food
The first 5 ingredients listed on a dog food label are required to be listed in order of their pre-cooked weight. So the first 5 ingredients in dog food are the most important and should never include: Corn, Wheat, Gluten, Artificial Colors or Byproducts
“When evaluating any dog food youre always looking for a high quality, digestible meat-based protein as close to the top of the list as possible. So, if you havent found quality protein in those first few ingredients whatever the number its game over for that dog food.” Dog Food Advisor
The best way to choose a food for your new puppy is to read the ingredients on the dog food label and discuss the food with your breeder.
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Protein should be the top ingredient in any dog food.Good protein comes from meat ingredients, but not just any meat ingredients. Good dog foods have specific meat sources, like beef, chicken or turkey, eggs & cheese. Bad protein ingredients include byproducts, like “chicken byproduct meal,” or mystery meats, like “meat meal,” which can include road kill, diseased animals from slaughterhouses and even euthanized dogs and cats.
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AVOID foods that rely on corn products as the main protein source.
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Best Brand Of Dog Food For German Shepherd
Royal Canin German Shepherd Dog Food
Royal Canin has mastered themselves in formulating unique diet meals for German Shepherds. The main factor that makes them stand out among others is that they offer effective nutritional dog food from pure and original ingredients. Not just improving your pets body structure but also providing complete overall body development.
Natural Balance Dog Food
Natural Balance combination of love for pets plus their innovative knowledge of dog food formula makes them unique in creating premium dog food products. They are known to make products that meet the high nutritional, good taste, and clear all safety standards. Their innovative L.I.D is a hit with providing simple and specific nutritional formulated formula diet food for your pet.
Blue Buffalo Dog Food
Blue Buffalo has always indulged in producing dog food with the finest high-quality ingredients from the very beginning of its journey. None of their German Shepherd dog food contains soy, wheat, or corn. Blues every bite is rich in antioxidants that help improve your pets immune system. All of the pet food is slowly processed and not overcooked since overcooking may eliminate its nutritional value. We would recommend Blue Buffalo if you are looking out for a premium quality dog food product.
Purina Dog Food
Merrick Dog Food
Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition German Shepherd Puppy Dry Dog Food
Why do we like it? One of the most obvious options if you happen to own a GSD. The ingredients have been specifically formulated with GSD puppies best interests in mind.
Features
- Designed to meet the nutritional needs of purebred German Shepherd puppies 8 weeks to 15 months old.
- Specialized kibble shape is designed for a German Shepherds long, strong muzzle to encourage chewing.
- Helps protect puppys development of the immune system and natural defenses with an exclusive complex of antioxidants, including vitamin E.
- Aids digestion with highly digestible proteins and specific fibers to promote optimal stool quality.
- Maintains bone and joint health with glucosamine and chondroitin to support large breed bodies.
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Can German Shepherds Eat Human Food
German Shepherds can eat human foods. We mustnt forget that dogs historically ate people food long before dog food was invented. Dogs evolved from wolves thousands of years ago, and as they lived alongside humans, they shared food.
As society advanced and dog ownership grew, table scraps and leftovers were never enough to feed our dogs, and so in the 1850s, the first dog biscuit was created by businessman James Spratt.
The biscuit was made from wheat, vegetables, and beetroot and bound with beef blood and was the start of commercial dry dog food as we know it. By the 1920s, canned wet food was also in production.
Learn More on the History of Dog Food In This Video
Purina Proplan Large Puppy Has:
HealthGerman Shepherds are full of energy and require a large amount of stimulation as puppies you should play with them frequently, but avoid excessive roughhousing which can damage fragile joints. Your GSD has a double coat which changes with the seasons: the bottom layer sheds in the warmer weather, but will need daily or weekly brushing to help it along. After around 8 weeks your puppy will be due for some vaccinations, so they will need a checkup at the vet and to arrange for boosters after that.
PURINA® PROPLAN® Puppy contains natural bovine colostrum, which is proven to boost the immune system.
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Best Food To Feed A German Shepherd
The best food to feed a German Shepherd is dry kibble dog food that uses traditional muscle meat as one of the top ingredients. Muscle meats are listed on the label simply as beef, chicken, fish, or any number of meat-based proteins. Meat-meals are an important source of high protein and are perfectly healthy. Ideally, look for a food that also contains glucosamine and additional joint supplements for an adult German Shepherd. Stick to large-breed diets for your German Shepherd puppy, with DHA, thought to promote brain development, as a preferred supplement.
Your German Shepherd Dog doesnt need sugar in their food, so dont purchase dog foods with any added sugars. Sugars are also bad for their dental care and contribute to tooth decay.
Based on optimum nutrition and performance indicators, here are the best dog foods for German Shepherds:
What Are The Nutritional Requirements For German Shepherds
The six basic nutrients are water, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins.
These essential nutrients are required as part of the dogs regular diet and are involved in all of the basic functions of the body. Good nutrition plays a large part in the appearance and vitality of your dog.
The minimum dietary requirement has been established for many nutrients. Keep in mind, these are the minimum requirements, and not what will give your German Shepherd optimal health.
To understand more, lets focus on the two most important building blocks of your German Shepherds nutrition: proteins and fats.
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German Shepherd Puppies Dietary Needs
German Shepherd dogs require at least 22% protein during their growth stage and 18% protein when they become adult dogs.
German Shepherd Puppies need to consume 8% fat, while adults need 5% fat to meet their energy requirements.
Carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals like calcium, are also requisites for a healthy German Shepherd throughout its various life stages.
Since German Shepherds are susceptible to food allergies, you should avoid giving them food that contains typical allergens like corn, wheat, chicken, and beef.
They may also develop osteoarthritis and other joint maladies like hip dysplasia, so you should opt for products that have glucosamine and chondroitin, which help treat or prevent such conditions.
Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are also great nutrients to incorporate into your German Shepherd puppys diet, as they are known to promote joint health, reduce inflammation, and improve coat conditions.
Additionally, foods that contain probiotics greatly improve your German Shepherd puppys digestive health and smoothen its function.
This is particularly essential as the breed is oftentimes afflicted with gastrointestinal issues like bloating.
As such, you should encourage your dog to eat slowly, and chew their dog food instead of gulping it down.
Your German Shepherd Puppy is more likely to chew larger kibble pieces, so remember to take into account the sizes of different options before you make your selection.
Hills Science Diet Dry Dog Food Puppy Large Breeds
Give your German Shepherd the best start in life so that he or she can grow to their full potential with balanced minerals that promote strong bones and strong teeth. Hills Science Diet Large Breed Puppy dry food has a delicious chicken flavor and is made with the optimal level of calcium for controlled bone growth: a unique developmental need of large breed puppies. This dog food is made with natural ingredients and uses DHA from fish oil to support your large dogs eye development and brain function for a happy, healthy dog.
- High-quality protein helps your large dog build and maintain muscle.
- Made in the USA with global ingredients you can trust
- Science Diet is the recipe #1 Veterinarian Recommended
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What Is The Best Food For German Shepherd Puppies
The best food for a young GSD is one that supports healthy development, and tastes great too. Fortunately, there are lots of good options on the market right now that will give your dog a great start in life.
German Shepherd Puppy Nutritional Needs
Dogs are carnivores. Although they will eat vegetables and fruits, their natural diet is meat based. This means that their food should contain high protein and fat levels. German Shepherds also have thick fur, and tend to shed continually throughout the year. The fat content in your dogs diet helps to keep his skin and coat in good condition.
Best Food for German Shepherd Puppy Energy Levels
In general, German Shepherd puppies eat more food than adult dogs. They are curious, extremely busy little creatures who spend much of their day exploring their environment and playing. Such high activity levels coupled with rapid growth demand plenty of fuel to keep them going! As a large breed of dog, your pups growing body needs a particular blend of nutrients in order to reach their full size properly and remain healthy.
The Best German Shepherd Puppy Food for Health
German Shepherds are especially prone to certain health problems, including skin conditions, hip dysplasia, and bloat. These conditions are common to a lot of large breeds of dog, and many manufacturers take them into account. Look for puppy food designed for large, active breeds. The right food might help to prevent these conditions from affecting your pup in later life.