German Shepherd Feeding Guide

Hey, my furry brown-paw lover! Welcome to my ultimate guide to feeding a German Shepherd.

In this guide, I will cover how much to feed a German Shepherd, how often to feed a German Shepherd; when to feed your French bulldog, what foods to feed your German Shepherd, what foods to avoid feeding your French bulldog; and other questions you may have about your French bulldog’s nutrition.

You can read this guide all the way through or use the table of contents provided below to navigate to the part of the article that answers your immediate problem.

I’ve been asked a lot of questions about the German Shepherd diet during my internship for a vet during my bachelor’s program. This article will answer all the questions you have concerning your furry buddy.

German Shepherds are big eaters due to their enormous size and athletic abilities. Their giant appetite makes their nutrition our number one priority if we want them healthy and strong to defend us during unexpected circumstances.

Let’s jump into the article.

German Shepherds Nutritional Requirements

The nutritional requirements are the first thing to consider when choosing the best dog food for German Shepherds, because feeding your furry friends with low-quality dog food can lead to a host of problems like malnutrition, osteoarthritis, gastrointestinal issues, and poor athletic ability.

Your German Shepherd’s meals should primarily consist of protein, fat, and fiber.

Your German Shepherd’s source of fiber should come from blah, blah, blah, while its source of protein must come from animal flesh like fish, poultry meat, beef, and organ meat. And its source of fat must come from vegetables and fish oil.

Nutritional Requirement for a German Shepherd Puppy

The diet of a German Shepherd puppy and adolescent should consist of 22% protein, 8% fat, and 6% fiber. Your puppy would need a large amount of these nutrients when compared to other stages of development to facilitate growth and strong bones.

Nutritional Requirement for an Adult German Shepherd

The meal plan for a mature and adult German Shepherd should consist of 18% protein, 5% fat, and 4% fiber. Your adult dog will require a lower percentage of nutrients at this stage to prevent them from gaining excessive weight that would affect their athletic abilities.

Nutritional Requirement For a Senior German Shepherd

The food your pet will eat at this stage of its life should ideally consist of 23% protein, 9% fat, and 7% fiber. A German Shepherd at this stage of life needs a higher percentage of nutrients in their meals to prevent certain health issues that may arise as a result of old age.

Factors Affecting the Feeding of a German Shepherd

There are some factors that will affect the diet of your German Shepherd, such as the size of the breed, its age, its activity level, and its underlying health conditions.

Let’s take a quick look at those factors before we jump into the quantity of food to feed your dog.

Size consideration

The average length of a German Shepherd is 26 inches from the sole of its feet to its shoulder. The weight of the male is around 66 to 88 pounds, while that of the female is around 49 to 71 pounds.

The large size of the dog makes it prone to a large appetite, which means the male will require a larger intake of calories than the female to stay healthy and strong.

Age consideration

As different weight sizes will require different intakes of calories, so too will different ages require a suitable level of nutrition to match their stage of development.

German Shepherds grow fast, so the nutritional requirements of a GSD puppy will be different from those of a senior GSD to maintain its health and agility.

Activity Level

Athletes are required to maintain a strict diet compared to non-athletes, so you should also keep your dog away from certain foods if you want to maintain its athletic abilities.

You wouldn’t want to feed your pet with food high in fat and sodium like cheap fast food, which would make him sluggish and lethargic.

These fast foods don’t consist of the nutrients that would make your dog perform to the best of their abilities and make them slow to learn new tricks or obey your commands.

Health Consideration

German Shepherds are prone to certain health issues, which should be addressed in their diets if you want to manage or prevent them from developing those issues.

Some health issues that affects your dog breed includes Arthritis, Kidney problems, (list other health issues)

These health issues could be prevented or mitigated by taking or avoiding certain foods right from the start rather than waiting to treat them when they pop up.

It might be tempting to cut corners and go for the cheapest food. But engaging in such an act in the long run could lead to pain, seeing your furry friend sick, frequent visits to the vet, and thousands of dollars in expenses.

German Shepherd Feeding Amount

Your German Shepherd, just like any other dog breed, will require a different amount of food according to their stage of development. The amount of food a puppy will need will be different than the amount of food an adult will need according to their nutritional requirements.

On average, feed your puppy GSD 1 to 3 cups of food that has 1000 to 2000 Kcal per day; feed your adult GSD 3 to 4 cups per day that has 2000 to 2,500 Kcal per day, according to its activity level; and feed your senior GSD 3.5 cups per day that has 1,300 to 1,600 Kcal per day.

I will provide you with the charts below to help you plan your dog’s meals from its puppy years to its senior years. However, this meal plan is not a one-size-fits-all. It’s just a general guideline that should be followed based on your dog’s needs and the recommendation from your vet or dog nutritionist.

How Much To Feed Your Puppy German Shepherd?

The meal meant for your puppy and adolescents should be very rich in protein, and contain a moderate amount of fat that can be gotten from animal meat for them to grow into healthy adults.

A German Shepherd puppy should be given 1 to 3 cups of food per day that contains 1,000 to 2,000 kcal of nutrients based on its age, weight, size, gender, and physical activity.

The feeding requirements of your puppy are given in detail in the charts below:

Age	Daily Food Quantity (Cups)	Kilocalories (Per day)	Protein	Fats
2 – 3 months	1 – 1.5	1050 – 1500	22 – 25%	8%
4 – 5 months	1.5 – 2	1200 – 1400	22 – 25%	8%
6 – 9 months	2 – 3	1600 – 1800	22 – 25%	8%
10 – 12 months	3 – 3.5	1700 – 2000	22 – 25%	8%

Following the guidelines above will aid in bone development, muscle growth, and strengthen their immune systems to fight off common bacteria and viruses that can lead to some health complications.

How Much To Feed Your Adult German Shepherd?

The nutritional requirements for the meal of an adult German Shepherd are different than those of a puppy. The food of a mature GSD should have a lower percentage of proteins and fats to prevent obesity.

A mature and adult German Shepherd puppy should be given 3 to 4 cups of food per day that contains 1,700 to 2,400 Kcal of nutrients based on its age, weight, size, gender, and physical activity.

The chart below will give you an understanding of the daily consumption needs of an adult German shepherd to help you with their meal plan.

Age	Daily Food Quantity (Cups)	Kilocalories (Per day)	Protein	Fats
1 – 6 years	3.5 – 4	1700 – 2400	18%	5%

How Much To Feed Your Senior German Shepherd?

Senior German Shepherds are generally less active than their younger counterparts due to fragile bones and joints. This means their meals will contain fewer calories, protein, and fat.

Geriatric German Shepherds often have a host of health issues like sensitive stomachs and tend to be picky eaters when it comes to commercial dog food and their favorite kibble.

Senior and geriatric German Shepherd puppies should be given 3.5 cups of food per day that contains 1,300 to 1,600 Kcal of nutrients based on their age, weight, size, gender, and health issues.

The table below gives you some details about the meal plan of an older German Shepherd.

However, you must make sure their food contains the essential nutrients they need.

Age	Daily Food Quantity (Cups)	Kilocalories (Per day)	Protein	Fats
7 years and above	3.5	1300 – 1600	16%	>5%

You can continue giving your senior dog the same food you gave them as an adult, only in a lesser quantity as they don’t need as many calories as adult dogs. However, you should still consult your vet or pet nutritionist to be on the safe side.

German Shepherd Feeding Schedule

Your German Shepherd’s meal frequency will vary, as will the feeding amounts, which are largely dependent on its age. Below is a list of how often to feed your German Shepherd:

How Often To Feed Your German Shepherd Puppy?

• During the weaning process or at 8 weeks old and below: feed them four times a day at equally spaced intervals.
• 8 weeks to 9 months old: feed them three times a day at equally spaced intervals.
• 9 months to 12 months old: gradually transition to feeding them two times a day with 12 hours spacing between meals. Ideally, one meal in the morning and the other in the evening.

How Often To Feed Your Adult German Shepherd?

You should feed your adult German Shepherd two times a day, with a 12 hours spacing between meals.

How Often To Feed Your Senior German Shepherd?

You should feed your senior German Shepherd two times a day except given a specific schedule by a vet.

German Shepherd Feeding Schedule

· German shepherd puppies should be fed in the morning, afternoon, evening and night due to a faster metabolism in comparison to their adult colleagues

· Adolescent German Shepherds should be fed in the morning, afternoon, and evening to help them transition properly into adulthood.

· Adult German and Senior German Shepherds should also be fed in the morning and in the evening unless stated differently by your vet or pet nutritionist.

As a general rule, you should feed your German Shepherd a few hours before going to bed in the evening, so they have enough time to digest the food before going to sleep.

In total, we shouldn’t spoil our companions with treats as they may grow too attached to them. Treats should be used mostly as a reward when training your dog.

What Food To Feed Your German Shepherd?

The food to feed your German Shepherd should specifically cater to large breeds and contain the required nutrients necessary for a strong and healthy dog.

The kind of food to feed your German Shepherd includes dry dog food, wet dog food, home cooked diet and Biologically Appropriate Raw food to ensure your dog eats a balanced diet.

Let me touch on these few points to make you understand what to feed your dog:

• Dry Food: Dry dog or Kibble is a commercial pet food made by grinding and mixing up ingredients like meats, grains, and nutritional additives which are then shaped into little kernels and cooked at high temperature to remove the water content. Dry Dog contains more carbs, less fat, less water, and sometimes less protein and is often recommended by vets due to its lower cost, dental health benefits, convenience, weight loss support and playtime perks.
• Wet Food: Wet dog food or canned food are made by mixing up and cooking the ingredients before adding or extracting varying amounts of water. Unlike dry dog food, wet dog food contains more water, fewer carbs, more fat, and often, more protein. They are recommended by vets due to their high water content, taste, ease of eating, and high nutritional profile.
• Home-Cooked Diet: Home-Cooked diet is a great option for pet parents who are not into commercial dog food, and want to go the extra length to prepare the meal for their furry companion. Feeding your dog home-cooked meals will give you control of its nutrition and can put you at ease knowing that you will always give your dog the best treatment.
• BARF Diet: Biologically Appropriate Raw Food is a type of food that contains raw meat, raw eggs, crushed animal bones, fruits, vegetables, probiotics, and other natural ingredients. BARF diets are used as a substitute for processed foods with preservatives. However, consult your vet before feeding your pet raw diets to avoid health complications from harmful substances.

What Food To Avoid Feeding Your German Shepherd?

You should take caution when giving whatever food you’re eating to your German Shepherd. They have large appetites, which makes it tempting to hand them whatever we find ourselves eating.

There are certain human foods, fruits, and vegetables to avoid feeding your German Shepherd because they contain toxins that are harmful to your pet and could lead you to frequent trips to the vet.

Human food to avoid feeding your German Shepherds includes chocolates, coffee, gums, peanut butter, candies, and cooked bones, etc.

The Fruits and vegetables to avoid feeding your German Shepherd include grapes, avocado, garlic, and onions, etc.

You should always check the ingredients on the food label to see if these ingredients are present in the food. Or you can simply consult a vet or pet nutritionist to check the ingredients with them.

When To Transition My German Shephard From Puppy Food To Adult Food?

You should transition your German Shepherd puppy from puppy food to adult food when he’s around 18 months old.

Transitioning your adolescent German Shepherd from puppy food to adult food is an important stage in your dog’s development. Puppy food contains more calories and nutrients than adult food to meet the nutritional requirements at that stage of life.

However, feeding your adult puppy food will fill them with more protein and fat than their body requires and will lead to obesity due to the high fat content the body doesn’t need for optimum growth.

Why Is My German Shepherd Not Eating?

Your German Shepherd will not eat if it has one or a combination of the factors listed below:

Illness, Dental Problems, Teething, Medication, Separation Anxiety, Time of Day, Spoiled Food, Stress, Picky Eaters

You shouldn’t hit the panic button just yet if your dog refuses to eat. The best thing you can do at this stage is to consult your vet to perform a checkup on your dog.

Why is My German Shepherd Always Hungry?

It may seem like they eat a lot since German Shepherds often have a big appetite. The following are possible causes for your GSD to exhibit constant indications of hunger if you make sure that the meal is correctly weighed and that you have selected food that is appropriate for big breeds.

Your German Shepherd can feel hungry all the time if it has engaged in lots of exercise, is going through stress and anxiety, has an illness, or has engaged in bad habits reinforced by people around them.

Frequently Asked Questions On German Shepherd Nutrition

Final Thoughts on German Shepherd Feeding Guide

As responsible dog parents, we must be certain of how much and when to feed our pets. German Shepherds require special consideration when preparing their diets since they are active canines with voracious appetites.

They do well on options including dry, wet, raw, and homemade diets. Giving them too many gifts or free food might have a serious negative impact on their health.

Knowing which meals are healthy and which ones should be avoided is also crucial since some foods might be poisonous.

To guarantee that we are giving them the needed nutrients for growth, good health, and development at all phases of their life, especially for large German Shepherds, we must visit their veterinarian in addition to conducting research.