Best Homemade Cooking Practices
When making homemade food for a German Shepherd , make sure you are diligent and adhere to your veterinarians recommendations.
Here are some general guidelines to follow when cooking homemade dog food for your German Shepherd:
- Never use unsafe or toxic ingredients for your dog
- Cook all animal products thoroughly to kill harmful bacteria
- Cook all grains, beans, and starchy vegetables to make them easier to digest
- Research every ingredient before using it for safety
- Follow the recipe as instructed
- Add supplements to their diet as needed
- Understand the impact of dietary changes
- Run any questions by a veterinary nutritionist
NOTE: When in doubt, ALWAYS research an ingredient. You dont want to add food that is toxic to dogs.
We strongly advise discussing your dogs nutritional needs and concerns with your vet before adding or changing your dogs diet.
Transition: How To Switch From Puppy To Adult Dog Food
Making the transition between puppy to adult food or from one brand to another is not as hard as you think. All you need to do is replace the original food with the new kibble gradually.
You can do this slowly or over the course of a month, depending on how much of the old kibble you still have.
The most common method is adding 20% of new dog food daily, so by the 5th day, your dog will have transitioned to the new food.
What I like to do is mix their new and old kibble together in a container and serve.
Adjust the radio until all the old dog food is used up, so when youre nearing the end of the bag, just throw a handful into the container!
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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The Different Types Of Diets
Before you can know how to properly feed your German Shepherd, you need to decide what type of diet will be best for them. There are a few different kinds of diets you can feed your dog, so knowing which one will be best might be a bit confusing. Take a look at the diets below and make a careful decision on whats best for your German Shepherd.
Fromm Gold Large Breed Puppy Recipe
Fromm is one of the lesser-known dog food manufacturers. However, they take great care to make the best dog food possible and make everything in small batches. Their USA-based kitchens produce some of the best-tasting and most nutritious food products around.Standout Features:
- Contains delicious proteins and fats like duck and cheese
- Real duck is the first ingredient in this formula
- Made in the USA
Top Ingredients: Duck, Chicken Meal, Chicken, Oatmeal, Pearled Barley, Brown Rice, Menhaden Fish Meal, Lamb, Potatoes, Dried Tomato Pomace, Dried Whole Egg, Chicken Fat, Salmon Oil, Cheese, Flaxseed, Brewers Dried Yeast, Alfalfa Meal, Carrots, Lettuce, Celery, Chicken Cartilage.
User Reviews: Many owners reported that their dogs health improved after switching to this large breed puppy food. Their puppies love the taste, too.
Verdict: Fromm is an ultra-premium food with a price tag to match. However, they use some of the best ingredients in the industry, and most dogs thrive on this formula.
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What Do German Shepherd Dogs Eat
You should feed your German Shepherd a high-quality, protein-rich diet such as Instinct Duck Dog Food, Turducken Dog Food or Merrick Lil Plates Chicken and Sweet Potato that includes essential vitamins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, and fatty acids.
What is German Shepherds favorite food? German Shepherd Favorite Foods. Although there are many foods your German Shepherd may like to eat, not all of your German Shepherds favorite foods are good for your dog to eat regularly. Although preferences vary from dog to dog most German Shepherds gravitate toward items containing beef, lamb, fish, and chicken.
What is the best diet for a German Shepherd? German Shepherd: 1 month old puppy diet. From 3 to 4 weeks old, when it comes to feeding a German Shepherd puppy and the best dog food for a German shepherd puppy, you should start by allowing it to taste new flavors and foods other than breast milk.
Can German Shepherds eat potatoes? The risk is in dogs eating foods that include peas, lentils, or potatoes instead of grains. Some of these cases of DCM were in German Shepherds. The underlying cause of these cases is not clear, but the FDA note suggests that caution should be used in selecting foods with these ingredients for German Shepherds and other large dogs.
Do German Shepherds Need Grain Free Food
There is a risk that German Shepherds may have sensitive stomachs or be sensitised to grains, so they should not consume any grain. In light of their age stage , a gluten-free or vegetarian diet with a protein content of 18%-22% and a fat content of 5-8% should be recommended. The person and the animal the level of activity and the health and wellbeing of the person.
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Orijen Dry Dog Food Puppy Large Biologically Appropriate & Grain Free
As it says right on the packaging, this option from Orijen is biologically appropriate dog food. It’s designed to meet the nutritional needs of large puppies without giving them any unnecessary extras.
You won’t find any potentially harmful additives or plant proteins. Instead, it has healthy meat and carbs. Protein makes up 38 percent of the recipe. It comes from an array of meat sources, including chicken, turkey, fish, meat organs, and more.
There’s also plenty of complex carbs to give your dog a constant supply of energy. To make sure that their bones grow in a healthy way, it has that magic 1.2:1 ratio of calcium and phosphorus.
Best Dog Food For German Shepherds
The best dog food for your German Shepherd, or any breed, is an important question and topic for dog owners.
Gone are the days of feeding the family dog table scraps or fending for themselves in the neighbors garbage cans as the primary source of their diet.
Like humans, dogs thrive on good quality food in the correct quantity and on a regular schedule.
This article will explore the overall dietary needs of a large, active breed like the German Shepherd and specific dog food ingredients that help German Shepherds thrive.
Lets explore the paw-fect diet for German Shepherds
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Diamond Naturals Premium Large Breed Formulas
Heres a power-packed meal to provide antioxidants, probiotics, essential vitamins, and added minerals. The superfoods in the meal promote a long and hearty life for your fluffball. Diamond Naturals formula is specifically for large breed puppies. They need more nourishment to sustain their bone development.
GSDs tend to suffer from elbow and hip dysplasia. So, it is imperative to fortify their immune systems as well as ossein buildout. That will make sure that your pooch does not suffer from joint pains in their adult life.
Furthermore, the antioxidants in the blend prevent cancer. The probiotics in the mix keep the gut flora flourishing, and the omega fatty-acids keep the skin, coat, and vision healthy.Diamond tops it all up with a great price tag to give you the ultimate value for your money.
Taste Of The Wild Ancient Prairie Canine Recipe
The Ancient Prairie Canine Recipe by Taste of the Wild is best for active dogs because it has some of the highest protein and calorie content amongst premium dry dog food brands.
Although its top protein sources are buffalo, pork, and chicken, this variant also contains roasted venison and bison, which imparts a unique flavor that German Shepherds love.
For fiber and carbohydrates, this dry dog food uses ancient grains. That includes quinoa, millet, sorghum, and chia seeds. For that reason, it is highly digestible and is naturally high in omega fatty acids and antioxidants. Additionally, it is rich in probiotics that support your GSDs gut and boost their immune system.
| Nutrition Facts Taste of the Wild Ancient Prairie Canine Recipe |
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Nutritional Needs Of German Shepherds
All dogs deserve healthy, nutritious, and satisfying food, but generic dog food isnt going to be right for most of them. Every breed has its own special dietary needs.
Small dogs, for example, need something totally different than our big, hard-working GSDs. For maximum health and energy, keep these things in mind when deciding what to feed your German Shepherd.
German Shepherd Feeding Chart
So youve got yourself a German shepherd, and you think you can take care of them just fine without any knowledge. However, this will be your undoing. Youll realize that you cant get by without studying German shepherds.
German shepherds are similar to humans in the sense that they need to eat consistently. And just like us, they, too, have specific feeding amounts and nutrient requirements. You cant just make them eat whatever you lay your eyes on. However, as their owner, you cant always rely on your keen observation.
They can be a bit dishonest sometimes. They may even hide their hunger. Thats why you wont figure out their needs by simply observing. Thats why you need to have clear standards, especially on how you feed them. Overeating can cause sugar levels to spike. The opposite can cause malnutrition.
Either way, this German shepherd feeding chart will be a helpful asset when taking care of these dogs.
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Which Is Better: Wet Or Dry Food
Wet and dry food both have their advantages. Wet food is great for younger puppies that aren’t 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 won’t 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 it’s 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.
German Shepherd Feeding Guide: Adult Years
Once your German Shepherd has ended his puppy stage and transitioned into adulthood, hes ready to eat a balanced adult diet.
Adult dog food will have a different ratio of calcium, protein, phosphorus, and other nutrients than puppy food does.
Feeding an adult dog a puppy formula can cause obesity as well as put too much strain on kidneys and other vital organs. Long term use of inappropriate food for an adult dog can have catastrophic consequences.
That said, there is no need to panic if your adult GSD eats a bowl of puppy food now and then.
Adult German Shepherds should be fed twice a day. They can get by on once per day, but its always better to split daily caloric intake between smaller meals instead of feeding it all at once.
Again, bloat is a real problem for large breed dogs, and large meals seem to be a big cause of this.
If youre not home for twice-daily feedings, you can use an automatic feeder. These will dispense the proper amount of food at set times each day so your dog isnt left waiting for meals.
Throughout the years, Ive fed a number of different high-quality dog foods to my German Shepherds.
One of my consistent go-tos is Royal Canin Adult Breed German Shepherd dry dog food. I feed my adult dogs this particular blend for a number of reasons.
In addition, this blend also uses optimal levels of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids to make a GSDs coat pop, so to speak. You really can see the difference.
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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.
Diamond Naturals Adult Dog Beef Meal & Rice Formula
The Adult Dog Beef Meal & Rice Formula by Diamond Naturals uses pasture-raised beef as its main protein source. This is enhanced by superfoods like quinoa and chia seeds, which are not only rich in protein but also offer several health benefits.
Additionally, it is enriched with the proprietary K9 Strain probiotics, which is incredibly beneficial to your German Shepherds gut health and immune system.
This dry dog food is also rich in omega fatty acids, thanks to its addition of flaxseeds and coconut. These help your dog maintain healthy skin and a shiny, luxurious coat.
Lastly, it is rich in fruits and vegetables like blueberries, papaya, spinach, and kale. These arent just a healthy source of fiber but are also powerful antioxidants that keep your dog young and energetic.
| Nutrition Facts Diamond Naturals Adult Dog Beef Meal & Rice Formula |
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- Maintains healthy skin and coat
Potential Cons:
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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.