German Shepherd Puppy Dog Food

Do German Shepherds Need Supplements

Vets usually will advise senior Germans to take a heart and joint supplement. Just like humans, dogs can also experience wear and tear on their limbs and organs.

However, if you have a young and healthy pup thats fed a well-balanced diet, theres no reason to give him additional supplements unless recommended by a vet.

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Nutro Wholesome Essentials Puppy

The Wholesome Essentials Puppy kibble by Nutro uses farm-raised chicken as its main source of protein. It is rich in omega fatty acids that support overall development, which is critical while your dog is growing.

Additional essential fatty acids come from its fish oil content. This kibble is also enriched with calcium to support your puppys bone development.

This Nutro variant of dry dog food uses oatmeal as its main source of carbohydrates and fiber. This is a gluten-free grain that is especially beneficial to dogs with food sensitivities.

Additionally, oats are rich in B vitamins, which help convert carbohydrates into energy more efficiently.

Buyers Guide: Selecting The Best Dog Food For German Shepherds

German Shepherds are big, powerful dogs and will benefit greatly from a diet that consists of a high amount of good-quality, animal-based protein. German Shepherds should have a caloric intake of around 2,000 calories a day, depending on their activity levels and age. It is important to remember that German Shepherds have different dietary needs at different growth stages puppys nutritional needs are different to senior dogs. With that in mind, there are a few important points to consider when buying food for your Shepherd.

Ingredients

The ingredients of the dog food that you choose are naturally the most important aspect. A diet consisting of mostly protein and fat is highly recommended for these powerful animals.

The food should ideally be free from grains, or they should at least be kept to a minimum. Grains can cause gas and bloat and other digestive issues in large dogs. They are most often used as fillers and other than dietary fiber, have little beneficial nutrition for your dog. The most commonly found grains in dry dog foods are wheat, corn, and soy. There is controversy around whether to feed dogs grains, as they have evolved to eat an omnivorous diet and are not strictly carnivores. Each breed and each dog is different, and the best thing to do is to assess how your pooch reacts to different food and go from there.

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What Are Some Common Health Problems German Shepherds Face

Some common health problems German Shepherds face include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and allergies. This breed of dog is also susceptible to obesity, so it is important to choose a food that will help them maintain a healthy weight.

German Shepherds are also prone to joint problems, so a food that is rich in glucosamine and chondroitin is important for this breed of dog.

Best Wet Food For German Shepherd Puppies

When looking for cans or sachets of German Shepherd puppy food, we focused on the ingredients. But we also looked for a range of types, including grain free, limited ingredients and breed specific products. There should be something for every German Shepherd puppy here.

Best dog food for German Shepherd puppy

This wet diet uses only deboned chicken, together with whole grain rice and barley*. It aims to provide your puppy with the high-quality protein, carbohydrates, and fiber he needs for energy and growth.

This good dog food for German Shepherd puppy also includes sweet potatoes, carrots, blueberries, and cranberries. No meat meal, corn, soy, wheat, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives are used in this all-natural diet.

Best puppy food for German Shepherd puppy

Wilderness wet puppy food is a high-protein, grain-free diet containing deboned turkey*.

The food also contains an important fatty acid thats found in your pups mothers milk, which is vital for good brain and eye function in puppies. Optimally balanced Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are included to promote healthy skin and a glowing coat.

Best dog food for GSD puppy

The tasty looking Chopped Puppy Dinner by Pedigree* is another good option.

Its made with real lamb, and provides a complete, balanced meal. Designed to be palatable and easy to chew, your pup is likely to love this one.

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Wellness Complete Health Large Breed Puppy

Rating:

Complete Health Large Breed Puppy is one of 13 dry recipes evaluated in our review of the Wellness Complete Health product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, peas, ground brown rice, salmon meal
• Type: Grain-inclusive
• Profile: Growth
• Best for:German Shepherd puppy

Complete Health Large Breed Puppy derives the bulk of its animal protein from fresh chicken as well as chicken meal and salmon meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 32% protein, 14% fat and 45% estimated carbs with a fat-to-protein ratio of about 44%.

Sample buyer reviewMy almost year old GSD loves this food! I transitioned him to this at 9 weeks. He was on another grain free puppy food but was not large breed. This food for high marks and I wanted to have a food that contained grains and was formulated for large breeds. My dog had no issues transitioning and loves his food. Like a lot of GSDs he does have a sensitive tummy and most treats dont agree with him so we use this as a training treat as well and he still loves it.

What Is The Best Food For An Adult German Shepherd

The best food for an adult German Shepherd is a diet that is high in protein and fat. This breed of dog is known for its high energy levels and need for exercise, so a food that can help them maintain their energy levels is important.

A diet that is too low in calories can cause your German Shepherd to become overweight or obese, which can lead to health problems. When choosing a food for your German Shepherd, it is important to read the label carefully and choose a food that is right for their age, weight, and activity level.

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Wrapping Up Best Puppy Food For German Shepherd Puppy

GSDs are known to be large dogs but are more prone to digestive issues. Choosing a suitable food for growing GSD puppies is substantial for their adulthood and life expectancy.

It will be helpful to read the German Shepherd growth chart to help you know if your GSD puppy is growing and developing well. If you want to know more about what to feed your GSDs from 0 to adults, read on The Best Diet for German Shepherds: Counting Calories.

Remember that GSD puppy food can only supply their nutritional needs until they are puppies. It is not enough to supply the needs of adult GSDs. Thus, it is best to be ready and start searching for the Best Dog Food for German Shepherd in the next stage of their life.

Wellness Complete Health Puppy

The Complete Health Puppy dog food variant by Wellness uses deboned chicken and chicken meal as its main source of protein. It also contains salmon, which is not just a good source of protein but also various vitamins, minerals, and omega fatty acids. These ingredients support your GSDs bone and muscle growth as well as their brain and eye development.

For carbohydrates and fiber, this kibble uses whole grains like oatmeal and barley. It is enriched with probiotics that dont just support a healthy gut but also a strong immune system.

Additionally, it has potent antioxidant properties, thanks to its use of fresh fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and blueberries.

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Taste Of The Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula

Image courtesy Taste of the Wild

Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula is a grain-free food made with bison, venison, lamb meal, and roasted duck. It also contains sweet potatoes, peas, potatoes, canola oil, and flaxseed.

This formula provides your German Shepherd puppy with the high protein diet they need for proper development and growth. It also has DHA and ARA, which are essential for cognitive development and retinal health.

Taste of the Wild is one of the most popular brands among dog food reviewers. It’s included as our last on this list but has ranked high among some of the best dog foods for German Shepherds because it’s high in protein and free of grains.

Dr Garys Best Breed German Dog Diet

Rating:

German Dog Diet is one of 13 dry recipes covered in our review of the Dr. Garys Best Breed product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Chicken meal, oatmeal, brown rice, dried beet pulp, chicken fat
• Type: Grain-inclusive
• Profile: All life stages
• Best for:German shepherd puppy or adult

Dr. Garys Best Breed German Dog Diet derives most of its animal protein from chicken meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 36% protein, 22% fat and 34% estimated carbs yielding a fat-to-protein ratio of about 63%.

We like the fact the formula also includes zinc proteinate and other chelated minerals which provides superior absorption and nutrition. Highly recommended.

Sample buyer reviewOur german shepherd has had a lot of itching problems since she was about 1 year old. We have tried different foods, supplements, sprays and shampoos. Nothing has seems to work as well as when we switched to this food. Scabs that were on her for months due to her itching them open all the time have finally healed over. She is still a little itchy, but significantly better than before. And she loves the food too! We used to leave her food bowl full all day because she would only pick throughout the day. With this food we are only doing 2-3 cups morning and night because she scarfs it all down in minutes! Glad we finally found something that she loves and works so well!

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How Much Does Shipping Cost

Delivery charges vary depending on the size and weight of your order and your chosen delivery address. We offer a flat rate shipping charge of $4.95 to the major metro areas of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra. Outside these major metro areas, the shipping cost you pay will be dependent on your location and the size of your order.For an accurate delivery quote: place the items you wish to order in your shopping cart, proceed to the checkout or Shopping Cart overview page. There is a Calculate Shipping calculator under your selected products.Simply enter the postcode or suburb of your shipping address and select the relevant location from the dropdown list that appears and click the Go button. The shipping cost calculator will display the total cost for delivery to your selected postcode or suburb. Your final shipping charges will be displayed in your checkout page before you proceed to payment so that you know exactly how much shipping will be. All prices are in Australian Dollars and freight costs are payable in addition to the product price.

Please note that we are unable to deliver to PO boxes or Parcel Lockers.

How And When To Switch From Puppy To Adult Dog Food

A German Shepherds diet can be changed after 12 to 15 months of age depends on the conditions, or as advised by your vet based on their growth and development.

You should constantly monitor the growth of your pet and make diet changes accordingly.

Your puppys food and drink containers should always be clean. Hygiene is very important to prevent the appearance of insects.

If there are insects in your dogs water, it could cause your German Shepherd puppy to suffer from intestinal parasites.

In addition to the German Shepherd puppy feeding diet, dont forget the importance of preventative medicines, following the appropriate vaccination schedules, and general German Shepherd dog care.

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German Shepherd Feeding General Guidelines

Most vets will tell you to watch the dog and not the bowl when deciding how much to feed a German Shepherd.

What they mean by this is that you should always be aware of your dogs body size, shape, and condition, and not being too strict with charts and graphs of food measurements.

If your dog seems to be gaining weight, reduce the number of calories they consume. Start with reducing treats or any table scraps you may be feeding him.

If he is still gaining weight, you can slowly reduce the amount of food you give him during his regular meals.

On the other side of the spectrum, if your dog is overly thin, lethargic, and not doing well, you may be feeding her too little.

Increase the amount of food in each meal by small increments. ¼ cup at a time is usually sufficient.

Do not make drastic changes to your dogs feeding schedule or the amount you give. Do not suddenly remove an entire meal.

All changes to your dogs diet should be made gradually, ideally over the course of several weeks.

Best Joint Supplement For German Shepherds

• Purpose Dog Health Support
• Breed All Breeds

Possibly the best supplement for your pet on the market, Zesty Paws comes in the form of chewable vitamin gummies that will help keep your dog healthy over the long run.

In addition to the vitamins, it also contains glucosamine and chondroitin, both of which are an awesome idea to add to the diet of larger dogs since they can help with joint problems and even prevent them if you begin when your dog passes the puppy stage.

Thats not all thats in this, however, it also contains probiotics, Omega fatty acids for the skin and coat, immune system support, and the necessary ingredients to keep your dogs heart ticking. As a complete complex, its pretty doggone good.

In addition to making a huge impact on your pets overall health, we havent seen a dog yet that doesnt love to scarf them down. Just be aware theyre a little bit expensive and each can of 90 treats is only going to last for a month with German Shepherds due to their size.

While we recommend it for joints, Zesty Paws Multivitamin for Dogs is a complete package deal and is simply one of the best overall supplements weve ever seen. Apart from the price, there are no real drawbacks here.

• Purpose Anti Inflammatory Supplement
• Breed All Breeds

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, an elderly dog will end up with joint issues. Whether its arthritis or one of the many joint issues which can affect larger dogs, you may want to look into a pain relief supplement.

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Can I Feed Treats To My German Shepherd Puppy

Yes, treats are acceptable, provided they are healthy, rich in protein and nutrients, with no added sugar or preservatives. Many store-bought snacks for dogs, including puppies, are not as natural or high-quality as claimed. Naturally dried meats with low sodium, or dehydrated vegetables and meats, are the best choice to avoid any additives commonly found in treats.

If youre training your puppy, treats are a great reward. Treats should be given in small portions, and only on a limited to occasional, until your dog reaches six months. You can gradually increase treats from six to twelve months, provided they are consistently small in portion.

Its essential to ensure that these tasty rewards dont interfere with your puppys natural eating habits, as this can cause overeating or skipping meals if excessive treats are consumed.

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.

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Feeding Treats To A German Shepherd

You can include small portions of fresh components to your puppys dry kibble for taste and flavor. But dont add more than a spoonful or two so your dog doesnt eat only the fresh ingredients and ignore the healthy kibble!

These components shouldnt make up over 10% of their daily calories to avoid them gaining excess weight.

GSD puppies enjoy eating:

Do German Shepherds Have Food Allergies

It is very common for German shepherds to have allergies to grains. Also, dogs with a sensitive digestive system can be intolerable to a number of foods. It is best to always pick a grain-free food option and visit a vet to have comprehensive detail about what you can feed your German shepherd.

• Large Breed Puppy Food Guide

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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.