What Human Foods Are Dangerous For A German Shepherd Puppy
Though your German Shepherd can enjoy human foods, some of them can cause harm and they should be avoided to avoid making your puppy ill.
Chocolate contains the theobromine toxin which causes health issues for your puppy these include rapid heartbeat, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and hyperactivity.
Avocado is another toxic food for your puppy because it contains persin which causes serious gastrointestinal issues when eaten. Other foods to avoid feeding your German Shepherd puppy include onions, raisins, grapes, fruit pits, macadamia nuts, and sometimes dairy.
Best Foods For German Shepherd Puppies
Below are five of our natural dry dog kibble recommendations that are made from natural ingredients, and all have the best overall nutritional content as guided by the AAFCO.
We have also considered the overall product rating given by dog owners across the world, as well as the reputation of each brand, so that you know you are choosing the best products from expert companies.
Feeding Your German Shepherd Puppy Raw Food
Feeding raw food to your German Shepherd puppy means that they are always eating wholesome, fresh, allergen-free foods that do not have any fillers and preservatives.
Raw food is easy to digest for your puppy and can help prevent Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Raw food means that your puppy does not eat unnecessary carbs allowing them to maintain a healthy weight.
However, uncooked raw foods can cause contamination with pathogens causing illness to your puppy. Unbalanced raw food can also affect the overall health of your puppy.
Raw foods such as muscle meat, edible bone, liver, vegetables, and fruits will ensure that your puppy is getting all the necessary nutrients. Consult with your vet to come up with raw diet recipes for your puppy.
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What Is The Optimal Protein Content For German Shepherds
This breed requires a diet that is very protein-rich with around 22% of the diet being dedicated to protein, according to the Association for American Feed Control Officials.
The slightly higher protein requirement is due to this breed being larger and more energetic or active. Protein is vital for helping dogs keep up their energy levels as they play, and it can keep their coat and skin healthy.
A German Shepherd can eat almost any protein source, and any meat from a bird is safe to give them.
Birds give this dog the necessary fat, protein, and nutrients they need to support optimal growth.
Raw diets are very popular, and feeding this type of diet will help your dog get the vitamins and nutrients they need that would normally get cooked out.
If you cook your German Shepherd meat, you should boil or bake it before giving it to them.
According to the American Kennel Club, any bones you give your dog should be raw instead of cooked because this decreases the chances of them splintering and causing problems in your dogs digestive tract.
Fish and other seafood are also safe to give your dog, and fish contains amino acids that are healthy for your dogs skin and coat.
Salmon is an excellent choice, but you do want to ensure you get all of the small bones out before you feed it to them.
Organ meat like liver and gizzards or kidneys contain a host of vitamins and nutrients that are excellent for your dog. You do want to feed them small amounts to avoid causing loose stools.
Training Goal #: Socialization
Puppies of all breeds have a critical socialization window that closes at 12 to 16 weeks of life, and your GSD puppy is no exception. In fact, for GSDs, who by nature are protective guardians, socialization is extra important so that your puppy learns which strangers are friendly and not a threat.
GSDs are very observant, and your puppy will pick up on your cues and reactions around new people and new situations. During this critical period, having exposure to many different kinds of people in non-threatening situations will help your puppy be confident among friendly strangers rather than fearful or aggressive. And even during times of social and physical distancing, you can still socialize your puppy safely.
Proper socialization cannot be overemphasized for this breed; as Adams notes, The foundation for most training is confidence. It is critical that the GSD puppy is well socialized from an early age onward. Safely exposing the puppy to new sights, sounds, and smells is absolutely critical for development. Good socialization translates to confidence.
Certified dog trainer and CGC evaluator Jacqui Foster, CPDT-KA, echoes this sentiment: I tend to lean more towards developing self-confidence in the puppy. For this I recommend short, fun, three-minute games that engage the puppy with the owner as well as in noises, weird and uneven surfaces, family members, etc., throughout the day. A confident puppy is a happy puppy.
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Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Natural Puppy Wet Dog Food
The high-protein and grain-free wet food from Blue Buffalo is a great first introduction to solid foods for your pup. It contains DHA for proper brain and eye development.
DHA is found naturally in milk, so it helps to make the transition as smooth as possible. The canned food is comprised of chicken and chicken liver. The meat ingredients are paired with potatoes and pea protein. It’s all swimming in a delicious chicken broth that your pup will love.
In total, the food has 10.5 percent protein and 7 percent fat. There is no corn, wheat, or soy ingredients, ensuring that your pup starts off on the right foot.
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.
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German Shepherd Stomach Problems
Theres nothing quite as upsetting to you as a;German Shepherd with an upset stomach.;; German Shepherds are prone to stomach and digestive tract sensitivity, and they can suffer from diarrhea and other stomach discomforts.
It is important to keep a watchful eye on both input AND output and note changes in both, making sure you communicate these to your vet if anything is abnormal.
Have a conversation with your vet about the best supplements and dog food options for your dog that will promote optimal health and wellness.; In cases of severe sensitivity, you may even want to have your GSD tested for food sensitivities and food allergies so that you can begin to eliminate things that are not healthy from his diet.
Allie has a sensitive stomach.; Her stomach issues were much worse when she was younger, and I spent a lot of time finding the right food that agreed with her;stomach.
When her stomach was really upset, her vet suggested incorporating chicken breast and white rice into her diet to help it settle.; I think she liked the chicken and rice better than her normal dog food:)
Finding a dog food that incorporates the nutritional requirements for a healthy GSD, includes some of your German Shepherds favorite foods and agrees with their sensitive stomachs will keep them healthy and happy for years to come.
What Is The Best Dog Food For My German Shepherd
When shopping for a new dog food for your German Shepherd you need to find a product that offers complete and balanced nutrition from high-quality ingredients. Large-breed dogs need plenty of protein in their diets with moderate fat content, unless your dog is particularly active or trained for work. To make sure that your German Shepherds basic nutritional needs are met, start with a large-breed specific formula and see how your dog does on it for a few weeks. If he loses weight or appears to be low in energy, you may need to increase his daily ration or switch to an active breed formula. Below you will find reviews for several high-quality dog food formulas that could be a good choice for your German Shepherd:
Healthy Ingredients : Turkey breast, turkey liver, kale, carrotsKey Features :
Healthy Ingredients : Deboned Salmon, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Peas, Sweet PotatoesKey Features :
Healthy Ingredients : Buffalo, Lamb Meal, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, PeasKey Features :
Healthy Ingredients : Deboned Lamb, Potatoes, Peas, Pea Starch, Pea ProteinKey Features :
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Blue Buffalo Natural Puppy Formula
- Real chicken is the first ingredient.
- Contains no by-product meals.
Blue Buffalo created this puppy food with the finest natural protein ingredients to promote strong muscle growth, and it is 100% grain-free for German Shepherd puppies who suffer with grain allergies.
This formula also includes fatty acids such as DHA and ARA, which are also found in his mothers milk, which supports cognitive development and eye health. Its ingredients also include Taurine and L-carnitine, which support cardiac health.
We love that Blue Buffalo has infused this kibble with their own Lifesource Bits that not only add extra vitamins, minerals and antioxidants which are great for your puppys health, but they are packed full of flavor too!
Interested In Training Your German Shepherd The Right Way
If you havent trained your German Shepherd properly, then this is the perfect time to start. Whatever bad behavior your shepherd has, whether its barking at night or other bad behaviors, using the right training program is the key to having an obedient and happy pup.
The training program I love and highly recommend is Brain Training For Dogs.
With Brain Training For Dogs youll save yourself a ton of time and effort. Instead of banging your head against the wall trying to figure out why your dog wont listen, youll follow a path that has been tried, tested, and most importantly, thats given proven results. Not to mention the fact, youll be able to fit the course around your schedule, not fit your schedule around a trainer or obedience class.
So instead of worrying about whether theyre going to be well-behaved or not, youll only have to worry about how much fun youll have with them!
And in most cases its still going to be:
- Cheaper than hiring a professional.
- Cheaper than replacing everything they might break.
- And definitely cheaper than a lawsuit against you, if they decide to bite someone.
Just imagine how great it will feel to finally be able to trust your German Shepherd completely and never worry whether theyll be naughty or not. Instead, youll have the peace of mind that you have a well-behaved pup, and the boundaries you set for them, will always be there, EVEN IF YOURE NOT.;
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Senior German Shepherd Nutrients
As German Shepherds age, they start to lose mobility in certain areas of their body, most notably their rear legs and rear joints.; Hip dysplasia is very common in this breed due to their gait and how they are genetically built.; As your GSD ages, it will require different nutrients than as an adult or as a puppy.; Most GSDs arent prone to getting overweight because the breed is so active, but this is still something that should be monitored.
As your dog ages, its also possible that your vet may advise you to put your pup on a high fiber dog food, or a food thats specifically made for sensitive stomachs.; Things that your GSD used to eat may no longer be tolerable for your pup as they age, so youll want to monitor any potential health issues that may arise with their diet.
Science Diet Puppy Formula
More than 220 canine nutrition professionals have created Hills Science Diet. The puppy kibble has the optimal level of calcium for controlled bone growth. This is important for the German Shepherd and Dysplasia issues.
This formula contains fish oil that provides your pup with the nutrients he needs for brain and eye development. It is made with 100% natural ingredients, it has no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives in it, but it does have added vitamins and amino acids for your pups development.
We love that this is voted as the Number 1 dry dog food by Veterinarians across America so you know this kibble must be something special!
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German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Guidelines
Here are some general German Shepherd puppy feeding guidelines that may be helpful to consider as you plan your puppys menu:
- Puppies typically need to eat more than adult dogs.
- The puppy diet is usually higher in fat and protein than the adult dog diet.
- A good puppy food will always meet these two criteria: it is formulated for large breed puppies AND it offers complete and balanced nutrition.
- Do not provide extra vitamins and minerals unless your veterinarian advises otherwise.
- Puppies generally eat at least three times per day, whereas adult dogs may eat twice or even just once per day.
- Puppies always need access to plenty of fresh water during and in between meals.
- A common age to switch GSD puppies from puppy food to adult dog food is 12 months.
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.
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How Much Food Should A German Shepherd Puppy Eat
Until the age of about 6 months, young puppies should have 3 to 4 small meals during the day. Dish these out into bowls at the start of the day, and use these rations as their training treats too. Reward them every time they do something youd like to see more of. Like laying calmly at your feet, or not jumping up your guests.
Using their daily kibble as training treats removes the potential for over feeding, and the issues that come along with it. Follow the manufacturers recommended feeding amount guidelines on the product packaging. But dont be afraid to adjust it if you think they are looking too skinny or are carrying a bit too much weight.
Royal Canin Gsd Puppy Formula
- Formulated for German Shepherd puppies.
- Made to improve skin and coat health.
- Vitamins support bone and joint development.
- Easy to chew kibble size & consistency.
- Helps maintain stool quality.
This kibble has been specifically designed with the German Shepherd puppy in mind. It has highly digestible proteins and specific fibers that maintains his digestive health, which will aid his soft stools.
Glucosamine and chondroitin also support healthy bones and joints as your puppy grows into a big boy. It has a variety of antioxidants and minerals, such as Vitamin E which help to develop his immune system, as well as Taurine which keeps his heart healthy.
We love that the biscuits are designed specifically for a German Shepherd pup, whose mouth is smaller than an adult, and the smaller shape encourages chewing and slows down his eating, and therefore he is less likely to experience bloat.
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How Much Should A German Shepherd Puppies Eat
Ideally, they should be on food with lean protein and low fats to keep their slim physique. Puppies should be fed about 2 cups of food daily, on average. The amount of food depends on the crude fat contained within the food. A puppy should eat 3 times a day, moving to 2 times a day at around a year old.