Feeding Guidelines By Weight
German shepherds can be of different weight ranges. Thats why the feeding plan of your dog can be complicated. Fortunately, theres a calculation for the feeding amount of German shepherds according to weight.
- Inactive German Shepherds: For every 1 kilogram your dog weighs, theyll need 40 calories a day.An average weighted German shepherd will then need 1400 calories per day. This only applies to German shepherds that do not exercise or inactive.
- Active German Shepherds: In the case of active German shepherds that exercise regularly, every 1 kilogram equals to 55 calories per day.So an average weighted German shepherd will require 1925 calories per day to be able to function properly.
Take note, however, that this calculation may be affected if the German shepherd has a health disorder concerned with metabolism or digestion.
Training Goal #: Impulse Control
Learning to control their impulses is important for all puppies, and for the GSD, it can be one of the most important ways to curb problem behaviors to which this breed is prone if allowed to become bored: behaviors such as excessive barking, digging, aggressive chewing, and inappropriate chasing .
The key to impulse control is getting your dog to focus on you. This will have beneficial effects for all the rest of your training efforts, especially in AKC dog sports like Obedience and Rally.
Require that your puppy sit before getting food, playing with an exciting toy, going outside to play, or any other favorite activity. As your GSD puppy advances in obedience training and knows more commands, you can require more advanced commands or tricks in order to receive treats or play.
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.
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German Shepherd Feeding Guide: Senior Years
Large breed dogs, such as the German Shepherd, age faster than most smaller breed dogs. This is evident by the fast decline in health, joint flexibility, and energy in older large breed dogs compared to same-age smaller breeds.
Because of this, its important for your dogs longevity and happiness to pay attention to signs of aging. When your GSD moves from the adult life stage to senior, you need to adjust her diet.
Large breeds reach the older stage around half of their assumed life expectancy. A German Shepherds life expectancy is anywhere from 10 to 15 years, which means theyd be considered older and borderline senior at around 5 or 6.
This is a good time to ask your vet if you should make any changes to her diet or if its okay to continue with her normal adult meals.
Inevitably, your GSD will need to switch over to a senior diet. Older large breed dogs have lower energy needs. They move slower or less overall and therefore wont need as many calories each day.
Older dogs also tend to slow down their digestion, so an increase in fiber might be a good choice for your senior GSD.
Since the calories in senior-specific dog food have already been adjusted, youll likely still be feeding the same measured amount based on your GSDs weight.
Do be sure to confirm this with your vet, however. Not all foods are created equal.
How Much To Feed A German Shepherd
There is no definite answer to how many cups of dog food should I feed my German shepherd? as it would depend on many factors. Nonetheless, here are some simple guidelines to help you get started.
- A 60-pound German shepherd should eat 3 cups of kibble per day.
- A 70-pound German shepherd should eat 3 1/2 cups of kibble per day.
- An 80-pound German shepherd should eat 3 3/4 cups of kibble per day.
- A 90-pound German shepherd should eat 4 1/4 cups of kibble per day.
Even though these numbers serve as a good starting point, you might still need to make an adjustment based on how active and how obese your dog is. Please also note that these are generic recommendations only make sure to check the food bag for specific feeding instructions.
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Homemade Dog Food Delivery Service
If you are a German Shepherd pet owner struggling to find time to cook for your GSD and wish your dog could eat whole, fresh homemade foods more often, a homemade dog food delivery service might be a great fit.
Nom Nom is one of our favorite options. They deliver fresh, prepared homemade dog food tailored to your pups dietary needs straight to your door. Everything is made from real, human-grade ingredients
Their food is developed with the input of a veterinary nutritionist and following the AAFCO nutritional guidelines. They do all the cooking for you, so you never have to worry about using the wrong ingredients, proper nutrition guidelines, portion sizes, and more.
All their meals are customizable to your dogs unique dietary needs, age, nutritional goals, and other key factors. For instance, if your GSD has food-related health issues like allergies or an illness, they will create a recipe that caters to this.
In our experience, its a huge time-saver, and you can spend time on more important things like walks or training. Plus, you avoid all the hassle of planning, shopping, and cooking. We think its worth the cost after you add up the prices of all the ingredients youll need to cook a recipe.
Our readers have access to save 50% off your first order of Nom Nom, just use this link to get your GSDs first homemade meal.
Check out Canine Bibles GSD Khaleesi trying out Nom Nom homemade dog food. She definitely recommends it!
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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What To Feed A German Shepherd Puppy
Wondering what to feed your GSD puppy?
Your German Shepherds athletic body, as well as his energy, health, and condition, depend in part on what you choose to pour into his bowl and knowing how much to feed your German Shepherd puppy.
This means choosing what to feed a German Shepherd puppy is even more serious and intimidating!
Most dog foods on the market will adequately sustain your dogs life. But you dont want adequate
You want your dog to bloom with health!
Your GSD pup eats nearly double the amount of an adult in order to maintain growth rate and their higher daily energy needs.
Balanced formulas keep their bones and muscles strong throughout their growing periods and can ward off later joint issues, a common breed problem, as they mature.
There is a greater demand for quality nutrition during the early growth stage. For these reasons, you must feed high-quality food.
Do German Shepherds Need Vitamins Or Supplements
You may choose to take vitamins and supplements, but do German Shepherds really need them?
German Shepherds dont need vitamins or supplements if they are eating complete and balanced pet food. You should only give your dog vitamins or supplements if recommended by your veterinarian to benefit their health and well-being.
Now, as my German Shepherd has been recently diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the spine, in addition to her prescribed medication, she takes YuMove Joint Supplements from Amazon. Her vet recommended these, and they contain Glucosamine and Chondroitin for joint support and easing stiffness.
I have to say Ive been pleased with how she is doing on them, so if your dog has a similar condition, Id recommend speaking to your vet.
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German Shepherd Raw Diet Cost
According to Statista, the average price of traditional kibble cost 1.97 U.S. dollars per pound while high-end kibble was $3.466 per pounds6.
We calculated the average price per pound for the most popular, high-end raw commercial foods in the market to be $6.4, with lower-end raw options costing $3.8 per pound.
We also looked into the price per pound of the most popular meats. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, beef, chicken, and turkey have an average price per pound of $3.9, $1.5, and $1.28, respectively.
If you were to cook raw homemade meals, dog food expenses shouldnt vary much when comparing kibble prices per pound against the price of meats at grocery stores.
On the other hand, buying commercial raw-meat food over traditional kibble results in a slightly higher price per pound but we think the health benefits and convenience are worth the price.
Merrick Real Texas Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe
Top 5 Ingredients: Deboned Beef, Lamb Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Potatoes
Caloric Content: 3,641 kcal/kg
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There is also chondroitin and glucosamine, which assists with a German Shepherds mobility, as well as both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to help with a shiny coat and healthy skin.
There has been some suggestion however that the kibble size is too small for some dogs, however this is not necessarily a negative for all dogs.
Additionally, this dry food is gluten free and does not contain any artificial colors, preservatives or flavors, as well as being poultry-free for any dogs that may have poultry allergies.
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Types Of Food For Gsds
The following are the different diets you can choose to feed your German Shepherd, with information about the benefits and drawbacks. You can switch from one to another if you find that it isnt working or if your dog is a picky eater. Just make sure you make a gradual change over the span of at least a week.
New elements should always be added slowly to your dogs food otherwise it could lead to upset stomachs and loose stools.
Why I Feed My Dogs A Raw Diet
That’s an easy question to answer
- Simply because I want to control the ingredients that are going into my dog’s bodies.
- Ingredients I can eat too not that I’ll ever eat green tripe though!
- I want ingredients that promote the optimal health of my dogs.
And unfortunately, as you’ve seen, with kibble, that’s not always the case.
Now I want to move on to a positive note
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Finding A Puppy Who Is The Best Fit For You
Finding a good, ethical breeder is one of the most important ways to ensure you are getting off to the right start in obtaining the puppy who will be the best fit for you and your household. Breeders observe their puppies personalities and drives and can match the right puppy to the right individual or family.
You may also wish to acquire a puppy from one of the breed-rescue organizations listed in the AKC Rescue Network currently, over 40 GSD rescues are listed, a testament to the popularity of this magnificent breed. If you choose this route, be sure to discuss with the breed rescue organization your needs and what you are looking for in a puppy they should also be able to help you find the puppy whose temperament and personality will be the best match for you.
Nadia Adams of Oher Tannen German Shepherd Dogs has been a GSD breeder for 15 years and comments, A well-bred German Shepherd Dog is highly intelligent, thriving on praise and wanting to please the owner. This combination makes them very trainable, which is one of the most appealing qualities of the breed.
This breeds high level of intelligence and strong willingness to work mean your GSD must receive consistent and ongoing training from an early age. A bored GSD is a destructive GSD. That said, states Adams, the sky is the limit, if the owner ca devote a good amount of quality time to the dog, especially during the critical first year of life.
How Can I Tell If My Dog Is The Correct Weight
Your dog should have a natural waist when viewed from above. For very long-haired dogs you may have to feel this with your hands. You should also be able to feel the shape of the individual ribs with just a little pressure when running your hands over your dogs chest. If his ribs are nowhere to be found he is overweight but if they are very noticeable he probably needs more food.
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Should You Feed A German Shepherd Puppy Supplements
Required Vitamins and minerals are an essential part of a puppys diet. This is invaluable to a healthy puppys growth. If you want your dog to have healthy skin and a shiny coat, you should feed him vitamin A. You can give him vitamin E to help support his immune system.
Minerals act as a supplement to the vitamins and also ensures the healthy general function of your German Shepherds entire anatomy.
You need to be aware that just of the best vitamins and minerals for your German Shepherd puppy by visiting your vet and assessing his overall health.
German Shepherd Puppy Food Requirements
Puppies have seemingly endless energy stores. This means they need a constant supply of calories the right types of calories to keep their energy levels high and help them develop into happy, healthy adult dogs.
As a new German Shepherd puppy owner, youre probably going to have a few questions that need specific answers. Feeding a puppy is a lot different than feeding an adult dog because youre usually housebreaking them so youll need to stay on a regular feeding schedule and their growing bodies require more nutrients from their food than adult dogs do.
Questions like
- How much food should I feed my puppy?
- How many times a day should I feed my puppy?
- How much should a puppy eat?
Theyre all legitimate concerns, and were glad youre taking matters into your own hands, instead of just giving them a constant supply of food all day or, worse, potentially starving them of vital nutrients and minerals because youre not feeding them enough.
As a general rule, you can tell that youre feeding your puppy too often if you can not see or feel their rib cage.
While, for humans, this is considered a sign of malnutrition, its actually a guideline you can use to help figure out if your puppy is getting enough calories from their diet.
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When Should You Stop Feeding Your German Shepherd Puppy Food
Puppies can begin adult kibble when they are approximately 80 percent of their adult weight. This usually occurs around 8 to 10 months of age, but you can safely feed puppy food up to one year old as long as they are not putting on excess weight. German Shepherds usually dont reach their full growth until 18 months of age.
It isnt harmful to keep a German Shepherd on puppy formula until their growth plates have fused over, which is generally around 12 to 18 months of age .
German Shepherd Homemade Food Risks
A poor diet is a major threat to the health of your German Shepherd. Here are some things to avoid to provide a healthy diet to your pup.
- Not understanding the nutritional needs of your German Shepherd
- Using inadequate or dangerous recipes
- Not preparing a balanced meal
- Using unsafe or harmful ingredients
- Not understanding the impact of food and dietary changes
- Not understanding your dogs life stages nutritional needs
- Neglecting your dogs health conditions
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary found that most homemade dog food recipes are lacking critical essential nutrients while others contained dangerously high quantities of some nutrients.
Further research published in The Journal of Nutritional Science found that 48% of dog homemade diets contained improbable amounts of ingredients and that 71.3 % of dog owners did not know how much food to serve per meal.
For these reasons, its advised that you speak with a veterinary nutritionist, who should also be able to provide you with trusted recipes, provide nutritional guidance, and/or recommend a dog food delivery service for your GSD.
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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.