To be quite honest, I didn’t know how much nourishment and calories my German Shepherd would require for ideal growth at the time I started feeding them. They require properly nourished food for their true growth and to remain energetic because they are very active dog breeds. But the important concern here is how much you should feed your German Shepherd.
German Shepherds should be fed twice a day; however, veterinarians promote eating two smaller diets rather than one larger food to ensure healthy digestion. German Shepherd puppies require four meals each day, which can be lowered to twice daily as they mature.
This dog breed is also famous for doing various physical activities and that’s the reason they require a complete nutritious diet plan to spend a healthy lifestyle.
German Shepherds are also prone to many life-threatening diseases like GDV which is also known as bloating. So feeding them a nutritious diet very early will be crucial.
This post is going to be very informative regarding the feeding plan of your furry friend as you’ll also learn the recommendations for German Shepherd adults, German Shepherd puppies, and elderly dogs.
Here you will also learn about the top brands that will benefit your breed the most. The information in this article will help you a lot in feeding the right diet to your dog. This post is going to make you learn:
• Proper Feeding Guidelines
• Nutritional Diet They Need for proper growth
• Feeding Guidelines For German Shepherd Puppies
• Feeding Guidelines For Adult German Shepherds
• Feeding Guidelines For Senior German Shepherd
So guys let’s explore the feeding guides for German Shepherds and allow them to become muscular and live a healthier life always.
Table of Contents
Feeding Guidelines For A German Shepherd:
Whether your German Shepherd is a puppy, an adult, or has reached senior status, appropriate feeding ensures proper growth.
The optimal diet for German shepherds should contain between 17 and 20 percent protein. They acquire their nutrition from cereals, vegetables, and fruits, but you also have to consider their flavor because, like us, they like eating tasty food. We ought to feed them scrumptious food that is high in calories, protein, and other nutrients.
All of us are aware that nutrition, lipids, proteins, and calories are essential for growth not only in humans but also in our dogs. You will still need to take care of them just like your baby, since they can’t tell you even they remain hungry so is the same case with your German Shepherd.
Nutritional Diet For German Shepherd Puppies, Adults, And Seniors:
The nutritional diet depends on all age groups of German Shepherds. The life span of a general dog is around 10 to 15 years and we have to categorize them as per their age.
First, the growing German Shepherd puppy, which would be between 12 weeks and 6 months old, needs a minimum of 22% protein and 8% fat.
The German Shepherd puppies must first be taught to consume smaller meals. As the puppy German Shepherds have a propensity for overeating, and it will not be a good idea if you do not fix their feeding schedule.
They will have greater health issues as a result of their heavy eating, including obesity, liver issues, and cardiac issues.
German Shepherd puppies must drink their mother’s milk in the early days, and after they are 12 weeks old, you should start them on a diet.
You should give your German Shepherd puppy three meals a day after they turn six months old to monitor its nutrition and calorie intake.
Additionally considered when determining their feeding method are their size and weight. For their correct growth, you can also use the provided table.
| Age | Weight |
| 2 To 3 Months | 11 To 30 Pounds |
| 3 To 4 Months | 17 To 40 Pounds |
| 4 To 5 Months | 31 To 49 Pounds |
| 5 To 6 Months | 35 To 57 Pounds |
Later I’ll discuss the best food products to be given to them for their proper growth.
Diet Plan For Adult German Shepherds And Seniors:
The German shepherd has a unique ability to grow very quickly, and correct nutrition is essential to their development for showing their full ability toward their owners. As we know the diet of German Shepherd dogs also depends on their age stages.
German Shepherds should have their diets adjusted in the future after being treated as adults for the first year. A balanced diet for them should include proteins, calories, phosphorus, and other nutrients.
While adult German Shepherds should be fed twice daily and require 18% of protein and 5% of fat for healthy growth. However, because German Shepherds have the propensity to eat everything placed in front of them, you must take care to feed them a balanced diet of high-quality products.
Giving your older dogs too much food loaded with fat will make them fatter and less active, in addition to making them obese, which could lead to diabetes issues.
Activeness depends on adequate nutrition as well. If you believe your dog is an adult and you have started feeding them raw meat, you may be mistaken because it is unhealthy and destructive to their metabolism.
Coming from senior dogs, their bodies have already adapted to the food they have consumed. Additionally, as they age, their digestive systems weaken, so feeding them a fiber-rich diet is a wise decision.
Compared to adult German Shepherds, they may require 20% fewer calories. Given their weight, they can adhere to the same food plan as the adults.
You should avoid adult food that contains a lot of calories, high salt, and fatty treats. You may choose apple slices and carrots for feeding them. You should not think that your dog has become older and start neglecting them, they need special care at an older age.
With the right nutrition, German Shepherd dogs can live longer in addition to becoming healthier. So, guys, every dog owner needs to be very careful about what they feed their pet, and the easiest approach to handle this kind of problem is to follow the nutritionist’s advice.
How Much To Feed A German Shepherd Puppy- With Chart!!!
You might be welcoming a German Shepherd puppy into your household, and you must be concerned about their food schedule. All we know is that German Shepherd puppies are an extremely active breed and need a nutritious diet to stay that way.
German Shepherd puppy requires food rich in calories, lipids, nutrients, and proteins that aid in their quick development and growth since they require a more nutrient-dense diet during the developing stage. German Shepherd puppies that have just been born, however, will need their mother’s milk.
A newly born German Shepherd puppy can’t be switched to a diet plan, they should only drink their mother’s milk as there is colostrum produced by the mother dog that they only need at this stage of their life.
However, it’s important to understand the feeding schedule of your German Shepherd puppy with a table that will enlighten you at a different stage of their life.
German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Chart
| Age Of Puppy | Type Of Food | Quantity Of Food | Meals Per Day |
| New Born To 3 Weeks | Mother’s Milk | Depend On Hunger | As Needed |
| 3 Weeks To 6 Weeks | Mother’s Milk | Depend On Hunger | As Needed |
| 6 Weeks To 8 Weeks | Mother’s Milk Or Puppy Soft Food | Depend On Hunger | 4 To 5 Times A Day |
| 8 Weeks To 10 Weeks | Puppy Food | 1 ½ To 2 Cups | 3 To 5 Times A Day |
| 10 Weeks To 12 Weeks | Puppy Food Or Mush | 2 Cups | 3 To 4 Times A Day |
| 3 To 6 Months | Puppy Food | 2 To 4 Cups | 3 Times A Day |
| 6 Months To 10 Months | Puppy Food Or Chow | 3 To 4 Cups | 3 Times A Day |
It’s highly important to consult a nutritionist for proper guidance and a feeding schedule for your German Shepherd puppy, if they are having any issues then it’s better to take their suggestion as the initial phase is very crucial for this little mate.
What Food Should Your German Shepherd Eat?
Dogs require savory food since they are taste-conscious as well. We’ll talk about their favorite meals, which are also packed with calories and nutrients, here when keeping in mind the taste of your German Shepherd.
In my opinion, dry food is the most cost-effective choice for large dog breeds like German Shepherds because it comes from a high-quality brand. You can also select a combination of dry and wet food, handmade food, dehydrated food, or raw food in addition to that.
Most individuals begin feeding their German Shepherd dog commercial dry food or canned food. Of course! They give them quick growth, but they should examine the food’s quality and brand.
The high-quality food you may consider for your German Shepherd:
- Good Dry Food
- Canned Food
- Raw Food
- Home-made Food
We are fortunate that there is one really strict group, and all commercial foods adhere to AAFCO’s regulations. The AAFCO’s mission is to give our large breed dogs the greatest and most complete diet possible, meaning that the food must be balanced and contain all the necessary nutrients.
You must examine the packaging and production date of commercial dog food before selecting it, and all food products must adhere to AAFCO standards. As a result, you must consider the food’s nutrition and ingredients while selecting commercial food for your breed.
Rich forms of protein like chicken, lamb, pork, etc. should be provided in large amounts to a German Shepherd and should have sources of lipids and vitamins. Fish, eggs, and cereals should all be present in sufficient quantities.
For their healthy lifestyle, you should be cautious while selecting commercial dog foods based on their size and age. All of these will ensure the well-being of your breed while also allowing you to live unencumbered.
Which food is best for your German Shepherd is now the one thing on your mind. Consider dry food instead of wet food if you are the owner of a large breed dog like a German Shepherd. Branded dry food will cost less than wet food if you choose it. Once more, you can get important advice from your veterinarians for improved suggestions.
Various Dog Food Materials Available In The Market:
Although there are numerous commercial dog foods in the market, it is always necessary for a good owner to choose the best dog food after conducting adequate research and speaking with experts for their large breed dogs like German Shepherds.
Let’s talk about some of the dog foods that are available in the market.
Dry Dog Foods
All pet owners strive to feed their breed the best dog food on the market. It aids in their growth in addition to giving them optimum health and eating dry food also brings some change in taste among German Shepherds.
I feed Royal Canin dry food because I believe it to be the best. According to what your vets suggest, you can explore other brands.
There are two varieties of dry foods that you should be aware of:
- Keeble
- Cold Pressed Dry Food
Keeble Cold Pressed Dry Food
Keeble is a dry dog food that is made through oven baking and has become much popular in the US and other regions while cold-pressed dry dog food is made at much low pressure and made quickly. This means that it contains more nutritional ingredients, flavor, and vitamins.
This type of dog food provides more nutrition than wet dog food at the growing stage, and its result is also good. You can feed your German Shepherd dry food by adding some water to it. This dog food can also be given to adult dogs as suggested by vets.
Canned Dog Foods
Canned dog Food is wet and contains around 75% of moisture. You will be surprised to know that not every brand contains the protein that your German Shepherds need.
Containing higher water content they contain less nutrition so your dog will need more food to fulfill all the essential nutrients that will help in their growth.
Apart from their nutritional function they can be more expensive as your German Shepherd will eat more food. If your German Shepherd dog is a heavy eater then they will enjoy it very much.
One of its advantages is that if your German Shepherd has become senior then it will be suitable as they might have lost their appetite because of their age factor. However, there is semi-moist food that is not so popular and has less nutrition and may be more expensive.
In my opinion, it will not a good idea to feed your German Shepherd with less moist food as it will not be appropriate in the feeding schedule for your dog. It also contains artificial colors, chemical enhancers, and many more adverse effects substances.
This semi-moist food may be suitable for German Shepherds who have a weak digestive system and find it difficult in digesting all types of food.
Mixing of Dry And Wet Foods:
Some Dog owners use both wet and dry food to feed their dogs. If you also want to feed them then you can give dry food in the morning while wet food can be given in the afternoon.
Again you will have to be careful in feeding them as it might increase their calories which will lead them to become fatty. It will be better to take the advice of your vets to give them proper nutrition
Homemade Food For German Shepherds:
Home-made food is one of the best options for German Shepherd owners. Homemade feeding has its advantage that will have no side effects on your German Shepherd.
- There will be no mixture of external substances.
- It strengthens the bond between the dog and the owner.
- It helps in avoiding any health problems.
- Gives the Proper nutrition a German Shepherd needs for growth.
Home-made feeding not only provides complete nutrition to German Shepherds but also lets them become healthy as I will also recommend this diet.
Raw Foods For German Shepherds:
After three or four weeks raw food can be given to German Shepherd puppies. As it contains fish, raw meat, and veg you will have to be sure that your dog is getting proper nutrients. They are in the growing stage and require proper nutrients, your concern should have provided a then complete and balanced diet.
There is also a big concern about food poisoning which contains bacteria and parasites. No doubt, It will degrade your German Shepherd’s health. You may concern your vets to avoid it. You will have to be highly careful in feeding German Shepherds high-quality dog food as it related to their health.
Feeding raw food has its benefits also :
- Provides better digestion
- This leads to healthier skin
- Helps in gaining stronger tooth
- Skins become shinier
After the research done by the American college of nutrition, feeding raw food to the dog has still been not proven. So this is the biggest concern in my view. So guys you will have to choose whether to give your dog homemade food or other food. Feeding German Shepherds also depends on the owner’s choice.
How Much Water Should A German Shepherd Drink?
There is always doubt in the mind of dog owners that how much water should be given to their pets. Giving Water to the dogs also depend on their size, activity level, types of food they are taking, weather, and medication.
The need for the water level in German Shepherds or other dog breeds is nearly one ounce (30 ml) of water per day and each pound per their weight.
Water also provides them to be hydrated and you should keep their bowl full of it which should be changed regularly so that they could drink whenever they want. You can also try giving it to your German Shepherd.
- ice cubes (mainly in summer)
- Add water to dry food( Increases water level)
Final Thoughts:
In this article, I have discussed all the experiences of feeding my dog and the commercial products that I use for their growth. I hope you have got the relevant information about their diet plan and advisory.
The best thing you can do that choose a product that suits your dog most at its life stage so that it could be healthy all the time.
Finally, I will conclude by saying that always choose the branded products that are under the guidance of AAFCO as I am a great dog lover and always want the dog to live a healthier life. Hope you enjoyed the article! Good Luck ! and keep your dog healthy.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1. Is It Ok To Feed German Shepherds Once A Day?
The frequency with which you feed your German Shepherd is determined by various factors. They are prone to bloating, and limiting their meals from twice a day to once reduces their risk of developing the bloat condition. You should always follow a correct feeding plan; in fact, you may try a slow-feeder dog ball, which lowers the possibility of heavy eating and will also ensure that you eliminate this dangerous ailment of GDV in dogs.
Q2. Should German Shepherds Eat Twice A Day?
German Shepherds should eat twice a day in order to be healthy. However, you should also look for potentially fatal conditions such as bloating or GDV, which are commonly caused by overeating. So it is strongly advised to establish a suitable diet plan for your dog, and it is ideal to see a nutritionist for better recommendations.