What Should I Look For In A German Shepherd Dog Food
When looking for the best dog food for German Shepherds, you should consider several factors:
- Ingredients. Make sure that the constituent ingredients are obtained from a reliable source. Additionally, there should not be any fillers, additives, dyes, and flavors that have been added artificially. The food can also contain beneficial ingredients, including sweet potatoes, blueberries, and carrots, among others.
- Nutritional Needs. German Shepherds are large dogs that have specific nutritional needs. Make sure that the food you opt for offers these dietary supplements. You can also consult a vet for the best results.
- Shelf Life. Make sure that the brand you opt for has a decent shelf life. Otherwise, your food might expire early, and you will be left buying it over and over again. It should, however, be kept in mind that too much of a shelf life could indicate the presence of preservatives that are not considered healthy.
- Cost. Since food is a lifelong commitment, make sure that the product is cost-effective and easy on your pocket. Most premium brands will have cheaper counterparts that you can opt for.
German Shepherd Puppy Diet: 1 Month Old
From 3 to 4 weeks old, when it comes to feeding a German Shepherd puppy, we should start by letting them taste new foods and flavors. At this stage, the German Shepherd puppy’s diet plan requires them to eat a special wet food for puppies. At around 6 to 8 weeks old, a German Shepherd puppy should be given a little dry dog food with water, or unseasoned chicken stock between nursing sessions.
From their eighth week onward, a German Shepherd should be weaned and start feeding on solid food with a special puppy feed. The best dog food for a German Shepherd puppy is breed specific, but this may not be available everywhere.
In these cases, your veterinarian can create a proper food plan for your German Shepherd puppy. A professional will take into consideration a puppys feeding pattern, size and health status. At this stage, milk must be removed from the puppy’s diet as it could cause diarrhea. If by any chance your dog or puppy is suffering from a bad stomach, we recommend taking a look at our article on what to do if yourt dog has diarrhea.
In addition, it is vital that puppies have constant access to clean fresh water.
Homemade Dog Food Delivery Service
If you are a German Shepherd pet owner struggling to find time to cook for your GSD and wish your dog could eat whole, fresh homemade foods more often, a homemade dog food delivery service might be a great fit.
Nom Nom is one of our favorite options. They deliver fresh, prepared homemade dog food tailored to your pups dietary needs straight to your door. Everything is made from real, human-grade ingredients
Their food is developed with the input of a veterinary nutritionist and following the AAFCO nutritional guidelines. They do all the cooking for you, so you never have to worry about using the wrong ingredients, proper nutrition guidelines, portion sizes, and more.
All their meals are customizable to your dogs unique dietary needs, age, nutritional goals, and other key factors. For instance, if your GSD has food-related health issues like allergies or an illness, they will create a recipe that caters to this.
In our experience, its a huge time-saver, and you can spend time on more important things like walks or training. Plus, you avoid all the hassle of planning, shopping, and cooking. We think its worth the cost after adding up the prices of all the ingredients youll need to cook a recipe.
Our readers have access to save 50% off your first order of Nom Nom. Just use this link to get your GSDs first homemade meal.
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What Is Fresh Dog Food
Fresh dog food usually refers to pet food thats made with natural ingredients cooked at a lower temperature to preserve the nutrients. Thus, it doesnt contain the additives and preservatives that are often in kibble.
Most fresh dog food brands will make a custom formula for your German Shepherd based on its lifestyle, and itll get delivered right to your door. Most formulas are made from scratch shortly before shipping, which is why its called fresh food.
Some German Shepherd parents are hesitant to try fresh dog food because it can be pricier than processed dry or wet food, but it makes up for it because of the quality ingredients and the personalization.
Eukanuba Puppy Dry Dog Food Chicken
Eukanuba cares for both your pocket and your pups well-being. So, you get three different packaging options for your puppy. Its main ingredient is high-quality chicken that your puppy will devour. While the formula is enhanced with targeted levels of calcium and phosphorus. You see, German Shepherds need calcium. But, too much can harm them.
But, Eukanuba has been in this business for over fifty years. And, they only provide products par excellence. So, if you are looking for choices in the market, Eukanuba is a sensible addition to your dogs diet.
Pros
Crafted with love and care, Purina ONE SmartBlend is an epic meal for your dog. The yummy chicken flavor satisfies your poochs taste buds, and the nutrient-rich formula will keep you happy, too. Purina believes that your canine deserves only the best. So, they give you dry dog food for large breed puppies that is free from preservatives. There are no artificial colors, fillers, or flavors.Purina simply does not do meal fillers.
Vets across the globe recommend Purina, and they are so sure of their high quality that Purina offers you to take the 28-day Challenge. If you dont see a visible improvement in your dogs coat, skin, energy levels, and well-being, they are satisfied to give you your money back.
Pros
Pros
Pros
Pros
- Theres a change in the formula
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The Best Food For Adult German Shepherds
Adult German shepherds need an adult dog food or a food formulated for all life stages. You’ll have a lot more choice when it comes to the nutritional profile in adult dog recipes.
Large breed puppies need food with a moderate amount of protein and a modest amount of fat. But some adults may benefit from higher protein content and fat content it all depends on your dog’s activity level. Active dogs and dogs with higher energy levels do well on higher protein diets because it helps them build muscles.
Senior dogs often do better on higher fiber foods. They may also benefit from low-calorie foods, or you can simply reduce the serving size on their standard dog food.
Bloat is a common health issue for German shepherds. You may help reduce their risk by feeding your dog wet food that doesn’t contain animal fats, like chicken fat, in the first four ingredients.
Some German shepherds also suffer from food allergies. A food allergy test can help you determine what your dog is allergic to so you can choose the right recipe for their needs.
Buyer’s Guide: How To Select The Best German Shepherd Dog Food
What to Look for in German Shepherd Dog Food
Every dog food manufacturer claims to be the finest choice for your pet. If you know what to look for, you can look past marketing ploys and focus on the most critical factors when selecting the dog food that’s best for your German Shepherd.
Protein
Make sure to choose foods with a high amount of protein from fish, meat, or poultry. Puppies require at least 22 percent protein in their meals, while adults can reduce the quantity to 18 percent.
While protein is necessary for your dog, be skeptical of “high protein” dog food items. Protein is high in calories and might lead your dog to gain weight quickly. As you are undoubtedly aware, gaining too much excess weight might lead to health issues for your dog in the future.
Essential Fatty Acids
Choose a dog food with fatty acids like omega-6 and omega-3. These all help to a healthy coat and skin.
Fiber
Look for fiber-rich goods made from natural, readily digested carbs like vegetables and whole grains.
AAFCO Standards
The AAFCO acronym stands for the Association of American Feed Control Officials. While this group lacks the capacity to regulate or approve dog food, it does establish the standard for pet food quality.
Why Choose Grain-Free or Not?
In actuality, grains, particularly whole grains, may be highly beneficial to your dog’s diet. They supply your dog with essential nutrients as well as fiber and energy.
How Much Food Should I Feed My German Shepherd?
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Instinct Raw Boost With Real Duck
Rating:
Real Duck is one of 14 dry recipes analyzed in our review of the Instinct Raw Boost product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Duck, chicken meal, peas, egg product, turkey meal
- Type: Grain-free
- Profile: All life stages
- Best for:German shepherd puppy or adult
Instinct Raw Boost with Real Duck obtains the bulk of its animal protein from fresh duck and chicken meal. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 38% protein, 23% fat and 31% estimated carbs creating a fat-to-protein ratio of about 61%.
This formula also gets its antioxidants from natural fruits and veggies for healthy immunity and thus, greater resistance to disease. A top pick for German shepherds and other large breeds.
Sample buyer reviewI recently switched from a dehydrated raw product to Instinct Raw Boost. This is a great quality grain- free food and my guys are loving it. I have a multi dog house hold and most of them have allergies of one kind or another. This food is working well for all..
Royal Canin Specialized Dog Food For German Shepherds
This Royal Canin formula is designed exclusively for purebred German Shepherds over 15 months old. German Shepherds can have finicky digestive systems. This recipe is intended to combat that with highly digestible proteins including chicken and a selection of specific fibers. It contains brewers rice and oat groats to aid digestion and prevent soft stools. Its available in 17- and 30-pound bags.
Royal Canin Specialized Dog Food for German Shepherds
This dry dog food is tailored exclusively for purebred German Shepherds and includes easy-to-digest ingredients to help support their digestive system.
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How Much Dog Food To Feed A German Shepherd
Since German Shepherds are a larger breed of dogs, they require a large amount of food to fill their tummy. For adult German Shepherds, you can feed them about 2.5 to 3.5 cups of quality kibble a day and slowly feed it twice a day. Modify the feed according to your dogs size, weight, age, and day-to-day activity involvement. Feeding your dog high protein food will build its muscle mass. If accompanied by vitamins and minerals, then that will improve your fuzz mates mental health. Feeding our pets with the right food will influence their physical growth only if you have blended in vitamins and minerals in a sufficient amount.
Which Is Better: Wet Or Dry Food
Wet and dry food both have their advantages. Wet food is great for younger puppies that arent capable of chewing kibble just yet.
Once your dog is weaned off their mother, you should start them off with canned food.
The smooth texture is easier for them to get down and wont provide as much of shock to their system as kibble would Keep them on the wet food as their digestive system gets stronger.
At 12 weeks of age, start to add in kibble. Let the juices of the food soften the kibble pieces so that its easy to eat.
Slowly take away the canned food and proceed with the dry kibble for their daily meals.
Kibble is your best bet as your dog gets older. Not only is more nutritionally dense than canned food, but dry food also has the added benefit of scrubbing their teeth as they chew.
Canned food should be used as a supplement only.
It has a lot more moisture than kibble. So, your dog will need to eat more of it to get all the fuel they need. It should be reserved for dogs with dental issues or those who have difficulties eating normal kibble.
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Merrick Real Texas Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe
Top 5 Ingredients: Deboned Beef, Lamb Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Potatoes
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There is also chondroitin and glucosamine, which assists with a German Shepherds mobility, as well as both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to help with a shiny coat and healthy skin.
There has been some suggestion however that the kibble size is too small for some dogs, however this is not necessarily a negative for all dogs.
Additionally, this dry food is gluten free and does not contain any artificial colors, preservatives or flavors, as well as being poultry-free for any dogs that may have poultry allergies.
Royal Canin Specialized Dog Food
Royal Canin Specialized Dog Food is specially designed to meet the nutritional needs of purebred adult German Shepherds aged 15 months and older.
It offers a unique kibble shape which is particularly designed for a German Shepherds long, strong mouth and teeth to encourage chewing.
Moreover, it also includes highly digestible proteins and specific fibers that promote healthy digestive performance and optimal stool consistency, as this breed is inclined to have poor stool quality.
The healthy nutrients, such as EPA and DHA, from fish oil, reinforce the skin barrier and help to maintain skin and coat health. This adult German Shepherds dog food contains glucosamine and chondroitin to support big dogs healthy bones, joints, and cartilages.
Specifications
- Formulas are 100% satisfaction guaranteed.
- Kibble is designed with a specific shape, size, and texture for the dogs facial and jaw structures.
- Added glucosamine and chondroitin maintain bone and joint health and support large breed bodies
Pros
- It promotes a healthy heart due to the addition of fish oil.
- It is great in taste.
Cons
- Not suitable for dogs with allergies
Our Verdict
This dog food for German Shepherd is applauded for its nutrient-rich formula that supports bone and joint health, maintains healthy skin and coat, and supports digestive health. However, few buyers criticized it for its inflated price.
Royal Canin Specialized Dog Food
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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 her dental care and contribute to tooth decay.
Based on optimum nutrition and performance indicators, here are the best dog foods for German Shepherds:
Instinct By Natures Variety Raw Boost Large Breed Puppy Recipe
Advertised as the raw brand,Instinct dog food is all about providing pups with a diet that consists of wholesome ingredients. The Raw Boost large puppy food is no different.
It has 33.5 percent protein that comes from chicken, turkey meal, lamb meal, and more. Small bits of freeze-dried raw meat are thrown into the mix as well for an extra boost of muscle-building protein.
The recipe uses complex carbs and a variety of plant-based ingredients as well. They act as a source of vitamins and minerals that help your dogs growing body.
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The Honest Kitchen Grain
- Use code VETERINARIANS30 for 30% off
- PREMIUM NUTRITION: Clusters are thoughtfully prepared using human-grade muscle meat & liver, low glycemic carbs, beneficial fats & live probiotics cold pressed into delicious, bite-size, ready-to-eat pieces.
- MINIMALLY PROCESSED: Clusters are made by mixing small batches of fresh ingredients.
- WE SAY NO TO: This recipe contains no feed-grade ingredients, meat meals, fillers, GMO ingredients, artificial flavors or artificial preservatives.
Working Towards A Sustainable Future
Our belief that pets make our world better inspires and gives life to our purpose of making a better A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS
Discover our tool that calculates the daily portion for your pet. Fill in your pet’s information and you will get their daily feeding recommendation. In case of weight issues, do not hesitate to consult your vet to adapt this portion. Note that this feeding recommendation is more precise than the feeding table, therefore the values may slightly differ.
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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