High Protein Dog Food For German Shepherds

Purina Pro Bright Mind

Purina Pro is well known for their higher quality grain-inclusive kibbles. This pro formula is in the Bright Minds line of dog foods. It includes botanical oils which can improve mental clarity and sharpness for older pups. As mentioned, this formula includes grain, so its best to avoid if your aging German Shepherd has a sensitive stomach thats intolerant to grains.

This senior-appropriate dog food also contains additional glucosamine support to help prevent joint deterioration. The additional probiotics do support gut health, which is also important for aging dogs. Purina pro rounds out this formal with additional fatty acids to keep your seniors coat and skin soft and nourished.

We love most of Purina Pros recipes, despite their higher price tag. The added botanical oils in this formula will keep your aging pups mind bright and agile for the long term.

Senior German Shepherd Nutritional Requirements

Senior German Shepherds with no preexisting conditions do best on dog food with a guaranteed analysis of 24% 30% protein, 10% 15% fat, and 3% 7% fiber. Calorie intake can range from 1,300 for a very sedentary German Shepherd to 1,700 for a more active German Shepherd. Look for recipes with added supplements for brain, joint, or skin health. Keep in mind if your dog is overweight or underweight, as the manufacturers caloric content can vary widely.

Purina Beyond Natural Grain Free Ground Wet Dog Food

Image courtesy Purina

Purina Beyond Natural Grain Free Ground Wet Dog Food is a delicious and nutritious wet dog food. It’s made with real meat, vegetables, and fruit.

This recipe is grain-free and free of artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. It’s also high in protein and low in carbohydrates.

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Other Dog Food Recommendations For German Shepherds:

• Nutro Wholesome Essentials Original good if your German shepherd has a particularly sensitive stomach.
• Iam Proactive Health Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food this is a quality dog food suitable for German shepherds. It is not recommended for dogs with grain sensitivity.
• Nutro Wholesome Essentials Senior Excellent dog food choice if you have a senior German shepherd.
• Ultramix Adult Dry Dog Food The focus is on natural and organic ingredients in their dog food.
• Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin & Stomach Adult Dry Dog Food this is one of the best choices for dogs with skin hypersensitivity or a sensitive stomach.
• Nulo Adult Grain Free Dog Food this is a good grain free alternative dog food for German shepherds.
• Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Maxi Adult Dry Dog Food this is another choice food for German shepherds with skin allergies and is formulated for the working dog group.
• Orijen Adult Dog Food another choice of high quality food for large breed dogs. This diet most closely mirrors the way wolves eat in the wild.
• Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition German Shepherd Adult a great dog food geared specifically for German shepherds in every way to the size and shape of kibbles.

Best products

How About German Shepherd Puppies

German shepherd puppies also need the same consideration as to their dad and moms. They grow fast so they also need high quality proteins. As much as possible, avoid exposing them to common irritants and allergens.

Watch out for labels with chicken, bison and beef as the main ingredients. Do not fed them foods with labels such as by-products as their initial offering. Preferably, pick products with good reputation and no any history of recall-free pet dog food production.

Go for products with consumer advocacy.

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German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Guide: 6 Months To 12 Months

At this stage in your German Shepherds development, growth will be considerably slower.

Since she no longer needs the extra calories to help support her fast growth period, you can safely reduce her feedings to 2 or 3 meals per day.

Youll still want to watch her weight, health, and activity level, but now you can split her daily total calories over fewer meals.

While she should still be eating puppy food at this point, you may consider purchasing a bag of her eventual adult formula.

You can use individual kibbles from the adult formula for treats or training rewards. This will help her get used to the new flavor and texture.

Around 9 months of age, you can begin slowly adding a small amount of the adult formula into her puppy food, though she should still be eating primarily puppy chow.

Again, its imperative that you speak with your vet before making any changes to your GSDs diet.

Only your vet will be able to tell you when your dog has reached maturity and can be safely moved to adult food.

Some GSDs stay on puppy food for a whopping two years! So, make sure you are in close contact with your vet to be sure that your feeding plan is individualized for your specific dog.

Pregnant Or Nursing Dogs

If your German shepherd is pregnant or nursing a German shepherd puppy, it needs food that is higher in protein and contains a lot of water. Chicken meal may not be a good choice because it has the water and fat removed, but deboned chicken is fine. This will provide the nutrition the mother needs for the German shepherd puppy and support adequate breast milk production after delivery.

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Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet Dry Dog Food

The Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet Dry Dog Food is best for all-life stages meaning in both puppies and adult dogs. It has limited ingredients so it wont cause any allergic reactions to your dogs. This product is also made from USA so it is of high and premium quality. If your dogs have sensitive stomach, skin allergies and other skin issues, you may try this out!

Transitioning To Homemade Dog Food

Most dogs dont have a problem making the switch to homemade food. If yours is prone to digestive issues, start slowly by mixing a little bit of the homemade food with the commercial food.

Over the course of a week or two, gradually increase the amount of homemade food while decreasing the commercial food.

If your dog vomits or has diarrhea, try introducing only a couple of new ingredients at a time until their systems are well adjusted to the fresh diet.

For dogs with health issues, please consult with a veterinarian if you arent sure what kind of supplements are needed. Use your best judgment, the way you would when feeding yourself or your family.

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How Often Should I Feed My German Shepherd Puppy

Puppies receive all the relevant nutrients from birth by feeding on their mother. However, its safe to begin the weaning process onto a new diet for your German Shepherd after three to four weeks.

As previously mentioned, a growing German Shepherd puppy has different nutritional needs than an adult dog. But did you know puppies also need feeding more frequently at various stages of growth?

Taste Of The Wild Pacific Stream

• Grain-free formula.

This recipe is made without grain, potatoes, by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, artificial colors or preservatives. Only 100% natural ingredients are used in this formula. Its made with smoked salmon, which is a taste that many dogs love as much if not more than chicken or red meat. Salmon is also the first ingredient.

This dog food recipe is also packed with extra nutrients and antioxidants. These will help boost your pups immune system. They will also help keep your German Shepherds digestive system in tip top condition.

We love that this recipe contains Taste of the Wilds proprietary probiotics. This will ensure your German Shepherds gut health is a priority during their adult years.

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German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Guide: Birth To 12 Weeks

All dogs should stay with their mother for no less than eight weeks, ideally up to ten weeks. During this time, the mother will nurse the pups until they are old enough to begin eating puppy mush.

Puppy mush is usually regular dog kibble thats been soaked in water, formula, or homemade puppy milk made with human-grade ingredients.

After the puppies are fully weaned from their mothers milk, they will get all of their nutrition either from puppy mushmade progressively drier every few daysor other puppy-safe foods.

Its important to continue feeding your puppy whatever the breeder started them on, at least for the first few weeks. This will help prevent gastrointestinal distress.

Also, be certain it is food intended for puppies and not adults or senior dogs. Adult dog foods do not have the proper nutrients to support a growing puppy.

Once your German Shepherd puppy is homebetween 8 and 12 weeksyou may begin weaning them off of the breeders food and introducing their new foodif youve decided to switch, that is.

Over the course of the next few weeks slowly introduce the puppys new food into her old food, adding more of the new food each day.

Start with ¾ of the serving of the old food and ¼ of the new food. After a few days, make it half and half. After the first week or so, make it ¾ the new food and ¼ the old food.

Then by two to three weeks, your pup should be fully on her new food.

Ingredients To Look For

The number one ingredient to look for is a healthy source of protein. The very first ingredient on the bag should be a source of proteinand one that your dog is not going to be allergic to.

Chicken, beef, and fish are all great choices for dog food, but there are dogs in the German Shepherd breed that are allergic to one of these three sources of protein, so always make sure to read the bag.

Additionally, there should be a healthy source of fat. Fish is another good option, but vegetable oils are primarily used as a healthy fat for dogs. In order to keep his energy up, you will want to look for carbohydrates like barley and rice. In short, you want the dog food to be dominated by real food with names that you know and recognize. Anything that contains by-products should go back on the shelf.

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The Best Dog Foods For German Shepherds

German Shepherds contribute A LOT to our world. And they deserve the best health we can offer them. That means finding them the best dog foods. It may take a little more research , but its worth the effort. These dog foods for German Shepherds will keep your pup as active, sleek, and shiny as you could wish. Best of all, they get a paws up from dogs on flavor approval!

Diamond Naturals is an awesome dog food for German Shepherds. You have puppy and large breed options, and they come in different flavors, including chicken and lamb. Then they add in superfoods like blueberries, papaya, and kale to give your dog a kick of nutrients. And every pound of kibble contains 80 million CFU of live probiotic cultures. Not to mention omegas, glucosamine, AND chondroitin. It checks all of the GSD boxes, and it comes in three handy sizes.

Downsides? Its a little high in the fat department . Youll want to oversee those calories when you measure your food amounts. Also, the 23% protein is high for even puppies.

Taste Of The Wild Puppy Formula

• Grain-free formula.

Taste of the Wild offers what it says on the package, as it really is a taste of the wild. With Bison being the first ingredient, it offers rich protein that is important for strong muscle growth as well as being high in amino acids. The kibble is designed to be smaller for puppies. Its also one of the most popular dog foods in Taste of the Wilds entire kibble lineup.

Despite the smaller kibble size, its still packed with antioxidants and DHA. Both of these ingredients are important for cognitive development and vision. It is 100% grain-free for those pups with allergies and it is full of canine probiotics which make it highly digestible.

We love that it is based on his wild ancestors diet that is high in natural and tasty protein that your German Shepherd puppy will love.

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Science Diet Sensitive Stomach Formula

• Made specifically for sensitive stomachs.
• Veterinarian endorsed brand.

Does your German Shepherd suffer from sensitive skin or a sensitive stomach? Hills kibble for sensitive skin and sensitive stomachs is the perfect recipe for both problems. As the German Shepherd has a sensitive gut and digestive system this offers a gentle recipe of probiotic fibers.

It is also grain free which often is the best recipe for dogs with allergies, and it is packed full of omega-6 fatty acids and vitamins that nourish his skin and fur for a healthy coat. It is voted by Veterinarians across America as the best kibble for dogs with specific needs, as the recipe really is based on science. When you start feeding your pup food formulas specifically for sensitive skin, youll have a quick fix for many skin-related issues.

We love that Science Diets sensitive stomach formulas are well-liked by dog owners of many different breeds. If your pup has a sensitive stomach, its hard to go wrong with this formula in their golden years.

Is Purina Pro Plan Good For German Shepherds

Purina Pro Plan is another well respected dog food brands that can be a great option for German Shepherds. Since German Shepherds will typically be categorized as large breed dogs it may be the best option to opt for a Purina Pro Plan large dog breed dog food. This will provide them with the nutritional requirements that best matches their physical size and active lifestyle.

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Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe

The Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe by Blue Buffalo offers the same excellent benefits as the adult variant. But apart from a smaller kibble size suited from smaller jaws, it also contains slightly more protein and crude fat. This makes it more beneficial for dogs in the critical stages of development.

Among the most important benefits of this dry dog food is the inclusion of LifeSource Bits, which is Blue Buffalos exclusive blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals formulated to support your dogs overall health.

In addition, it doesnt contain any wheat, corn, or soy. Instead, it uses brown rice, barley, and oatmeal as its source of energy and fiber. Lastly, it is enriched with probiotics to ensure proper digestion and gut health.

German Shepherd Breed Summary

Originally bred for their herding and guarding instincts within the German countryside, the wolf-like shepherding dog was created by Max von Stephanitz in the late 1800s. Stephanitz crossbred various shepherding breeds found throughout Germany that fit his ideal personality traits of intelligence, loyalty, and diligence the physical attributes required for working.

The German Shepherd Dog gained more popularity in Hollywood with the likes of Strongheart and Rin-Tin-Tin taking center stage on silent screens. They are now most used by police and military task forces, as well as serving an important role in home protection. With enough space to run around for playtime, a balanced diet, this active dog breed can also be a great family dog. They are intensely loyal towards their family but because of their size and appearance, it is vital that you train them accordingly.

Because of their size and genetic history, German Shepherds are susceptible to a few different health issues. Feeding your German Shepherd the best possible dog food for the nutritional needs can help to them healthy and happy.

American Kennel Club Breed Classification: Herding Dog

Recommended Daily Exercise Amount: 1-2 hours/day

Physical Traits of German Shepherds

German Shepherds are known for their large, muscular, and athletic body shapes. They can come in a wide-variety of different fur colors that range from brown, black, to golden.

Personality Traits

Incredibly intelligent, loyal, and protective.

Also Check: What To Give German Shepherd Puppy To Eat

Video Answer: Top10 Best Dog Food For German Shepherds Reviews 2021

So, do German Shepherds need large breed food? German Shepherds need large breed food as it is made with balanced nutrition specifically designed for larger breeds. These foods include a higher amount of protein, lower amounts of calcium, phosphorus, fat, and the correct amount of fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.

Best Breeds that get along best with German Shepherds include:

• Siberian Huskies.

Best Shampoos for German Shepherds

• One of our favorite German Shepherd-approved shampoos with all of these qualifications is the 4-Legger Certified Organic Dog Shampoo*
• We are totally in love with the Pupkiss Pets Professional All-in-One Natural Dog Shampoo for Healthy Skin & Coat*.

How Much Food Should A German Shepherd Puppy Eat

So, what about puppies, you may ask. How much should you feed a German Shepherd puppy?

A German Shepherd puppy needs about twice as many calories per pound of body weight as an adult German Shepherd. Therefore a mature puppy weighing 45lbs needs around 2100 calories, the same as an active adult twice its weight.

Heres a rough guide on how much dry food to feed your German Shepherd puppy.

If you are feeding dry dog food, your brand choice should have the recommended feeding guidelines on the packaging for puppies . In addition, most brands display helpful tables or calculators on their websites.

Pro Tip: When my German Shepherd was a growing puppy, I visited my vet every month to weigh her and get a quick overall check of her general health.

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