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How Much Food To Feed German Shepherd Puppy

Week Old German Shepherd Puppy

Right amount to feed a German Shepherd puppy with GSM & Big Don

At 2 weeks old, your German Shepherd puppy will still be with his mother. He should be reliant entirely on his mothers milk. These small pups will begin to open their eyes to take in the world, but otherwise will not be straying anywhere.

In larger litters, make sure that all of the puppies are growing and gaining well. Pups that dont seem to be getting enough milk might need to have formula supplemented to them in order to get their weight up to a healthy level. If you are worried about this at all, contact your veterinarian.

What To Do If Your Gsd Wont Finish His Meal

If you find that your German Shepherd repeatedly doesnt finish all of his meals, there are a couple of things you can do.

  • Feed little and often If your German Shepherd isnt interested in eating the entire meal in a single sitting, try feeding more frequently throughout the day. You should take the whole days meal allowance and divide it into the desired number of meals. So, increase 2 meals to 3, dividing your dogs daily portion equally.
  • Use interactive food dispensers These are an excellent way to keep your dogs attention at mealtimes especially if hes easily distracted. I love the Outward Hounds Dog Brick Puzzle Toy from Amazon. Its a fun way to hide kibble and provides lots of mental stimulation that this breed needs. You can choose different levels from easy, intermediate, advanced, and expert. Once your GSD has mastered the brick puzzle, there are another 20 toys to choose so hell never be bored!

Further Reading:

Because dogs are so routine-oriented, a sudden change in your German Shepherds daily eating habits can signify that something isnt right. In that case, you should contact your veterinarian to ensure that there isnt an underlying cause.

German Shepherd Feeding Schedule

German Shepherds are large, powerful, athletic, and active dogs. As a working breed, raised to herd and protect sheep, they are typically energetic, enjoy physical activity, and love having a job to do.

Due to their dynamic character, they demand a high-energy diet. However, as large, deep-chested dogs, they are one of the breeds prone to bloat , and vets advise against feeding one large meal a day. You can read more about bloat here Are German Shepherds Prone to Bloat?

Twice per day is the standard, with a good few hours in between, as it allows your GSD to eat and digest his food properly. German Shepherds, like most dogs, work well when fed on a schedule.

Your dog shouldnt go more than 12 hours without food to avoid nausea, and his age, size, and the meals nutritional content should determine the amount of food given.

You may have seen the results of a recent study suggesting that dogs may benefit from certain health benefits if theyre fed one meal a day. However, scientists are not recommending that owners change their dogs feeding agenda as more research is needed on breed-specificfeeding schedules.

I absolutely agree with this, especially as the German Shepherd is susceptible to a sensitive stomach and is known to have more digestive problems than other breeds. However, if you have any concerns, you should speak to your vet.

PSST..ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A DOG FOOD HEALTHY FOR EVERY BELLY?

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How Fast Do German Shepherds Grow

German Shepherds are medium-large dogs and therefore grow at a fast rate over the first six to seven months leading up to adolescence.

Adult German Shepherds are 22 to 26 inches tall and weigh 50 to 95 pounds.

Reputable weight charts suggest your German Shepherd puppy will have attained three-quarters of their final weight over these first six to seven months.

This is A LOT of growing to do in a short amount of time when you brought your puppy home, it was probably only eight inches tall and weighed around 15 pounds.

Therefore, your male German Shepherd will be 23 to 25 inches tall and weigh 59 to 93 pounds by his first birthday.

How Often Should You Feed Your German Shepherd Puppy

Royal Canin German Shepard Junior Breed Health Nutrition Puppy Food

Now that you know how much to feed your puppy every day, the next question is, how do you distribute the meals? Do you just lump it at once and leave it for the pup to eat at their convenience, or do you set up mealtimes and apportion? Of course, the latter makes more sense. It is also an excellent way to start training your dog.

Most puppies start with small quantities and few meals. Therefore, provide feeds specially formulated for puppies. It will help you not to compromise the nutritional quality. The following guide will help you understand the feeding frequency according to the puppys age.

  • At 8 12 weeks, a German Shepherd puppy eats four times a day.
  • At 13 weeks to 6-months, a German Shepherd puppy eats three times a day.
  • At 7 12 months, a German Shepherd puppy eats twice a day
  • At one year or older, a German Shepherd can eat once a day

Not all dogs clear out their meals within minutes. Some are slow eaters and could take longer to finish a meal. This especially happens when the puppies are young and not accustomed to pet food. It is also the stage when your pup can develop picky eating habits. But you can avoid it by following these steps:

  • Serve the recommended quantity
  • Leave the food down for about 10 20 minutes.
  • Discard the remaining food after feeding time is over.
  • Do not feed the puppy until the next session.
  • At the next feeding session, reduce the quantity by the amount that the puppy left.

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German Shepherd Dog Food Calculator

Similarly, to calculate how much water your German Shepherd Dog needs, check out our German Shepherd Dog water calculator

â Select the name of the dog food that you feed your German Shepherd Dog from the list.

â If the name of the dog food that your feed your German Shepherd Dog is not on the list, then find the bag or can of your dog food, the bag should have written on it how many kcals per cup is in the dog food. Enter this value in the calculator in the place of the dog food name.

â Enter the current weight of your German Shepherd Dog.

â Select your German Shepherd Dog`s age range, activity level, and neuter status.

â If your German Shepherd Dog is overweight or underweight, and you want your German Shepherd Dog to lose or gain weight, enter the ideal weight of your German Shepherd Dog for its current age in the `How much you wish your dog currently weighs` box. Leave this box blank if your German Shepherd Dog is of normal weight.

To know how much German Shepherd Dogs typically weigh at different ages, check out our article and calculators on German Shepherd Dog weight and growth.

CONSULT A LICENSED VETERINARIAN FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE BEFORE YOU PUT YOUR DOG ON A WEIGHT LOSS OR WEIGHT GAIN DIET.

What Breeders Will Tell You

A breeder will advise you to keep your GSD pup on the same food the breeder was feeding it.

This is important for a few reasons

  • The immune system of the German Shepherd puppy is still developing. They may not have the strength to fight off any pathogens contained in a new diet.
  • Abrupt switching of the puppys diet can lead to stomach upsets, vomiting, and diarrhea.

As a rule of thumb, wait until the puppy is 12 weeks old before you start switching their diet.

Once this grace period is over, you have several options to choose from for your puppy food.

A German Shepherd puppy can thrive on four types of food

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How Much Should You Give Your Puppy

Many factors influence the quantity of food a puppy should consume. The factors include age, activity levels, health status, and many more. Also, it would be confusing and misleading to suggest a specific mass of feed because the nutritional quality of different brands varies. Instead, an approximate value of the energy requirements , is better.

On average, an adult German Shepherd consumes 1,200 to 2,300 calories a day. Highly active dogs eat the higher quantity and less active dogs on the lower side.

German Shepherd puppies also follow the same trend. But their calorie requirements will surprise you. They consume double the amount of calories compared to adults. That means, your fresh 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy can consume twice as much food as an adult!

Calculating the energy requirements for your puppy is a little complicated. This calculator from Ohio State University can give you an idea of how to figure it out.

An average German Shepherd puppy, under 16 18 weeks old, should consume about 80 90 calories per pound of body weight. This is the Resting Energy Requirement and your puppy might require more or less depending on the activity level. The figure is not cast on stone!

Puppies require all these calories to satisfy their growth and energy needs. After all, they are busy exploring the world around them and bonding with family members.

But how can you tell if your puppy is receiving sufficient nutrition?

German Shepherd Puppy Calorie Chart: 0 4 Months

How Much To Feed A German Shepherd Puppy For Best Results?
Weight in Pounds
100 2400

If you look at the feeding recommendations on your dogs food package, youll likely see the amounts to feed a German Shepherd puppy are written in cups rather than calories. Those guidelines are safe to follow because they calculate your puppys calorie requirements in the same way the above charts do. Plus, using a measuring cup is easier than figuring out caloric needs using a mathmatical formula.

Now, you need to choose the right number of feedings per day for your German Shepherd puppy.

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What To Feed My German Shepherd Puppy

German Shepherds are big dogs, and they have a hearty appetite. Although dogs are not obligate carnivores by nature, they thrive on a protein-rich diet. Ideally, most of the protein you feed your GSD will come from animal and meat sources rather than plant sources. Feed a minimum of 22% protein, although we would aim for 25% protein at the very least.

German Shepherd Meal Plan

To give you an idea of a typical feeding schedule and meal plan, heres a table based on the feeding recommendations from Royal Canins Adult German Shepherd Dry Food according to the dogs weight and activity level. This kibble is formulated for purebred German Shepherds 15 months and older.

Adult Weight
5 ½

As all feeding guidelines depend on many variables, I can give you one tip: take your Puppy to the vet every month to be weighed and get a quick health check. I loved taking Willow and popping her on the scales, plus it helps with socialization while in the waiting room!

Do you want to know when your German Shepherd will stop growing? Check out this article When Do German Shepherds Stop Growing. It also included handy growth charts.

Also Check: How Many Times To Feed A Puppy German Shepherd

Giving Water To German Shepherds

The amount of water you give your German Shepherd per day can vary due to its size, weight, activity level, and age. On average, you can offer it 2-3 cups daily. Remember that younger dogs need more water per day than adult ones. Dogs that exercise or work a lot may need more.

You do not need to closely follow how much water your dog drinks it can hydrate itself properly if it has free access. The average norms are 6 ounces per every 7.7 lbs per day. So, if your dog weighs 77.2 lbs , it needs about 60 ounces of water. However, that may depend on the temperature of the environment, too. If it is hot, this amount should be higher.

You do not need to do anything special about providing your dog with water, either. Just fill a bowl with a small amount of water. Do not pour too much. Add water if you see that your dog has gone out of it. Anyway, you need to talk to the vet about the individual water needs of your dog.

German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Chart By Age

German Shepherd Feeding Amount

As a general guideline, heres how much you should feed your German Shepherd puppy daily by their age and cups of food:

  • 8 weeks old: 1 to 1 ½ cups of food spread over 4 meals daily
  • 12 weeks old: 1 ½ to 2 cups of food spread over 4 meals daily
  • 6 months to 9 months old: 2 cups to 3 cup of food spread over 3 meals daily
  • 9 months to 12 months old: 3 cups to 3 ½ cups of food spread over 3 meals daily
  • 12 months old and above: 3 ½ to 4 cups of food spread over 2 meals daily

Adjust the amounts based on your dogs lifestyle. A more active puppy might need extra calories, while a lower energy puppy doesnt need as much food per day. These are guidelines only.

So, feel free to adjust the amounts based on your German Shepherds energy needs.

Puppy Age Total Cups of Dry Kibble Number of Meals Per Day
8 weeks old
6 months to 9 months old 2 3 cups
9 months to 12 months old 3 3 ½ cups
12 months old and above 3 ½ 4 cups 2

Offer your dog their food around the same time each day. If they dont eat their meal in 10 to 15 minutes remove their dish. Wait an hour and offer them the same meal to see if theyve changed their mind about eating.

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Ingredients

Chicken by-product meal, wheat gluten, corn, oat groats, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, chicken fat, brewers rice flour, brown rice, natural flavors, dried plain beet pulp, fish oil, sodium silico aluminate, monocalcium phosphate, vegetable oil, calcium carbonate, pea fiber, potassium chloride, psyllium seed husk, L-lysine, salt, fructooligosaccharides, sodium tripolyphosphate, vitamins , hydrolyzed yeast , choline chloride, taurine, DL-methionine, glucosamine hydrochloride, trace minerals , marigold extract , Yucca schidigera extract, chondroitin sulfate, carotene, rosemary extract, preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid.

Calorie Content

This diet contains 3639 kilocalories of metabolizable energy per kilogram or 331 kilocalories ME per cup on an as fed basis .

Guaranteed Analysis

Eagle Pack Power Adult Dog Food

Rating:

Eagle Pack Power is one of 7 dry recipes included in our review of the Eagle Pack product line.

  • First 5 ingredients: Chicken meal, pork meal, ground brown rice, peas, chicken fat
  • Type: Grain-inclusive
  • Profile: Maintenance
  • Best for:Adult shepherds only

Power Adult derives the majority of its animal protein from fresh chicken and pork meal. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 33% protein, 21% fat and 38% estimated carbs which results in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 63%.

A time-proven, grain-inclusive design free of any legume concentrates. Contains safe, natural antioxidant preservatives. No BHT or ethoxyquin. Highly recommended.

Sample buyer reviewIf you have a dog that is extremely active this is a GREAT dog food. My Shepherd and Retrievers were skinny because they are highly active dogs. I switched to this food because of the nutrition and calories that it intails. My dogs are bulked backed up and love the taste!

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Creating A Consistent Feeding Schedule

Keeping your German Shepherd puppy on a consistent food schedule will help teach him when to expect food. It will help regulate his hunger and ensure that he is eating consistently to grow well.

The ideal schedule for a puppy is to give him about 2 cups of food a day, broken up into 3 meals. When your puppy reaches one year, you can decrease the amount to 2 meals a day. The needed amount can vary from puppy to puppy.

Feeding Treats To A German Shepherd

How To Choose The Best Dog Food for German Shepherd Puppies

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:

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Feeding And Exercise Warning

Give your dog the time to digest its food after hes had a meal.

Never let your pup play hard right after you feed them.

Wait 2 hours before and after feeding your dog its meal before heaving exercise or playing hard with them to avoid any gastric problems.

A light, slow walk is fine after eating if its not long and doesnt stress your dog.

Be sure to use these best exercises for a growing German Shepherd puppy to avoid injury and teach your dog valuable coordination and balance skills.

These gentle exercises keep your puppys joints healthy and help them learn confidence skills while getting to bond with their favorite person

YOU!

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