Last Updated on February 26, 2023
German Shepherds are a popular breed in the United States, coming in at second right behind Labradors.
They look imposing and are great guard dogs, but they are also wonderful family pets and service dogs. The first guide dog in America was a GSD called Buddy.
The best you can do for these gorgeous animals is by offering them the best dog food for German Shepherds. Read more below!
Quick Navigation
- 1 Top 5 Picks for Best Dog Food for German Shepherds
- 2 16 Best Dog Food Brands for German Shepherds
- 3 How to Choose the Best Food For Your German Shepherd?
- 4 German Shepherd nutritional requirement: What to look for in the label?
- 5 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- 6
- 7 The Best Dog Treats for German Shepherds
- 8 What Makes Dog Food Good For German Shepherds?
Top 5 Picks for Best Dog Food for German Shepherds
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
BEST OVERALL  | Chippin Pet Wild-Caught Silver Carp Dog Food
| 10 | CHECK PRICE |
BEST BUDGET  | Diamond Naturals for Large Breed Puppy
| 9 | CHECK PRICE |
BEST FOR GSD PUPPIES  | Wellness Core Grain Free Puppy Food
| 9.5 | CHECK PRICE |
BEST FOR ADULT GSDs  | Taste of the Wild Southwest Canyon Canine Recipe
| 9.5 | CHECK PRICE |
BEST FOR SENIOR GSDs  | Nutro Ultra Senior Dry Dog Food
| 9.5 | CHECK PRICE |
16 Best Dog Food Brands for German Shepherds
Dog food can be confusing because there is food for large breeds, toy breeds, seniors, and puppies.
Sometimes you’ll come across “maintenance” dog food. What does all of this mean and does it really matter?
Yes, it does. Every dog breed and dogs of all ages require different nutrition. Giving a Chihuahua a Golden Retriever’s food can cause them to have fatty liver or become obese due to the high calories.
Conversely, large breed dogs like German Shepherds need special nutrition to keep their joints and bones healthy and strong, something that smaller breeds don’t have to worry about.
1. Chippin Pet Wild-Caught Silver Carp Dog Food
Top ingredients: Silver Carp, Oats, Pumpkin, Ground Flaxseed, Dried Chicory Root
Type: Dry
This recipe is made with fresh silver carp sourced directly from USA fishermen and combined with a curated selection of all-natural ingredients, plus vitamins and minerals.
Chippin’s alternative protein-based dog food, made with all-natural ingredients like cricket, spirulina, and silver carp proteins, are important for German Shepherds with hip issues, arthritis, skin itching, and other forms of inflammation. The downside is that it can get a bit pricey.
Best Dog Food for German Shepherd Puppies
Puppies need the best nutrition to help them reach their full potential. When choosing a puppy food for your GSD, you should keep an eye out for high protein.
They should be getting at least 22% protein from their daily meals.
To keep up with a growing pup’s caloric requirements, you should feed them a high-quality large-breed puppy formula.
This is because growing puppies usually need twice the amount of nutrients as adults of the same breed.
Here are our top picks for growing Shepherd puppies.
2. Wellness Core Grain Free Puppy Food
Top ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal
Type: Dry
Fortified with antioxidants, probiotics, omega fatty acids, and Glucosamine, this formula will ensure that your puppy grows steadily and healthily.
The large kibble encourages proper chewing, which can minimize risk of bloat. The downside is that it can get slightly pricey.
3. Diamond Naturals for Large Breed Puppy
Top ingredients: Lamb, Lamb Meal, Whole Grain Brown Rice
Type: Dry
Nutrient-rich with easily digestible protein for your little pup’s developing digestive system. Comes with natural DHA for healthy brain development and eyesight.
There are no wheat or filler additives, making this a great large breed puppy food.
4. Holistic Select for Large & Giant Breed Puppies
Top ingredients: Lamb Meal, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal
Type: Dry
Each kibble is jam-packed with digestive enzymes, active probiotics, and healthy fiber which will keep your pup’s digestive health at its finest.
The kibble is also of a larger variety, made for large breed pups. An American product with quality ingredients sourced from all over the world.
5. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Large Breed Puppy Food
Top ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas
Type: Dry
Inspired by the diet of wolves, Blue Buffalo set out to craft a diet that will enhance your pup’s health and maximize his potential.
There’s extra taurine for heart health, peas that provide prebiotics which is a great source for a healthier digestive tract.
And ARA, a fatty acid found in mother’s milk to promote cognitive development and renal health.
6. Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Puppy
Top ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas
Type: Dry
A DHA-fortified option that focuses on your GSD puppy’s development. Comes enriched with salmon oil for a boost in your pup’s immune system, heart health, and cognitive function.
It’s a grain-inclusive product that doesn’t use any GMO ingredients. Only the best for your little bud.
7. Purina Pro Plan for Large Breed Puppy
Top ingredients: Chicken, Rice, Corn Gluten Meal
Type: Dry
With live probiotics for better digestive health, Purina has your furkid’s best interest at heart with their specially formulated kibble.
Naturally sourced glucosamine from fish meal and DHA from omega-rich fish oil for developing your puppy’s brain and vision.
8. Instinct Raw Boost Large Breed Puppy Recipe
Top ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas
Type: Dry
A freeze-dried option with boosted nutrition from real raw meat. Natural sources of energy from chicken fat, DHA from chicken eggs, and omega-6 from flaxseed to give your pup a shiny and healthy coat.
9. Royal Canine Giant Junior Recipe
Top ingredients: Chicken By-Product Meal, Brewers Rice Flour, Brewers Rice
Type: Dry
Specially formulated for large breed puppies. This kibble has the appropriate amounts of calcium and phosphorus to ensure healthy joint growth.
It also has the added benefit of digestible protein to take the strain off your growing pup’s system!
Best Dog Food for German Shepherd Adults
Adult GSDs often have digestive problems and might have sensitive stomachs. To prevent this, they will need a well-balanced diet.
They are also built for hard work and have certain caloric requirements to keep their minds and bodies fit and healthy.
An inactive GSD might only need 1,200 cals per day, whereas an average adult will need 1,500 cals. For working dogs or those that are always on the go, you’re looking at close to 2,000 calories a day.
Take a look at Sniper trying out some raw dishes and veggies:
10. Taste of the Wild Southwest Canyon Canine Recipe
Top ingredients: Beef, Peas, Garbanzo Beans
Type: Dry
A high-quality dog food made in the USA. No list of best dog foods is complete without a mention of Taste of the Wild.
It contains natural ingredients and sources its protein from lamb, boar, and beef, with the intention of feeding our domesticated buddies what their wild ancestors would eat.
11. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon Recipe Adult Dog Food
Top ingredients: Deboned Salmon, Chicken Meal, Peas
Type: Dry
Another wolf-inspired formula, this also boasts grain-free ingredients as well as protein-rich kibble.
Their kibbles are enriched with antioxidants as well as LifeSource Bits which will offer support to their immunity.
12. Merrick Grain Free for Large Breed Adult Dogs
Top ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal
Type: Dry
With the first ingredient as deboned chicken, you know you’re getting a high-quality feed.
Their recipe touts a 60% protein and fat inclusion, with the remaining 40% for fat, fiber, and other necessary ingredients which are both natural and beneficial to your adult dog’s health.
13. Nutro Natural Choice Healthy Weight Large Breed Adult Dog Food
Top ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Brown Rice
Type: Dry
A kibble formulated for GSDs watching their waistlines.
It promotes healthy weight loss while still supporting your dog’s nutritional needs. Made with non-GMO ingredients and rich in naturally sourced glucosamine and chondroitin.
One great thing about this is that it comes in lamb as well, so if the chicken is one of the allergens making your dog itch, you can give that a try!
14. Royal Canin German Shepherd Adult Dry Dog Food
Top ingredients: Brewers Rice, Chicken By-Product Meal, Brown Rice
Type: Dry
Specially formulated for German Shepherds above 15 months of age. It includes fish oil which is an essential source of EPA and DHA. The kibble is shaped into an X to promote chewing and slow eating.
Best Dog Food for German Shepherd Seniors
As your dog ages, he might require some additional support when it comes to their diet.
You probably want to avoid feeding him the free dog food samples you get at the supermarket or buying just about any brand off Amazon.
Your buddy is getting on the years and might have developed food allergies along the way.
To keep your GSD healthy, you should look into adding superfoods into his diet while keeping an eye on the fat content.
15. Nutro Ultra Senior Dry Dog Food
Top ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Brown Rice
Type: Dry
A low-calorie option for dogs aged 5 and above, inclusive of joint-protecting glucosamine and chondroitin.
Formulated with antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables with lean proteins. It also has added fibre to aid digestion, as well as muscle-building amino acids.
16. CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Real Bison, Lentil & Carrot Recipe Dry Dog Food
Top ingredients: Bison, Lamb Meal, Sweet Potatoes
Type: Dry
Made from only 10 ingredients, this formula takes into consideration any food sensitivities that your dog might have. With high protein content and fortified with Canidae’s HealthPLUS.
A special blend of probiotics, antioxidants, and omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, to give your dog healthy skin and a balanced diet.
Formulate for all life stages, this German Shepherd food is suitable for puppies and adults.
How to Choose the Best Food For Your German Shepherd?
As previously mentioned, dogs of all ages, sizes, and activity levels all have different requirements. A lactating dam will need nutrients closer to that of a puppy than a full-grown adult male working dog.
There are certain kibbles that are suitable for all life stages that can help you keep your dog in optimum health with minimum effort.
German Shepherd nutritional requirement: What to look for in the label?
Look at the German Shepherd. What do you see? Large, powerful, muscular.
They need large amounts of high-quality protein sourced from real meat to maintain that figure.
Not only does protein keep them strong, but it also gives them energy and the nutrients to make their coats shiny.
Adult dogs will need 18% of the protein in their diets. A working dog will require 30 – 40% in order for it to be sufficient.
Fat is another crucial ingredient.
The omega-6 fatty acids aid in your dog’s brain development, keep the coat in tip-top condition, and also provides them with twice the energy that they can get from protein or carbohydrates.
When feeding an active dog, you probably want to strive for 12% fat. This doesn’t mean that the more fat the better. If your dog doesn’t need the additional energy, stick to 5% or 8% for puppies.
With the latest trend of grain-free formula, carbs have been getting a bad rep. But are they important? Yep, they are!
Some dogs might have grain sensitivities, but if not, it’s entirely okay to feed them a grain-inclusive kibble. However, carbs should not make up of more than 40 – 50% of the recipe.
Any antioxidants, vitamins, or minerals are all a great addition.
Most large-breed dog food will have the appropriate amounts of L-carnitine, Chondroitin, Glucosamine, and EPA & DHA for their joint health.
Supplementing is not necessary unless advised by a vet.
When reading labels, search for the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) approved seal. This means that the dog food meets the basic requirements and is a well-rounded option.
The ingredients you should avoid:
Chocolate should be on the top of every “DO NOT TOUCH” list of every dog owner. What is a tasty treat to us, can be lethal to them.
Always store your chocolates out of reach because curiosity might get the better of them and it’s better to be safe than sorry.
When it comes to the ingredients list on your kibble, you want to stay away from animal by-products, preservatives, artificial coloring, and nutritionless fillers.
Are grain-free diets good for German Shepherds?
Soy, and wheat could cause irritation in some dogs but it doesn’t mean that all dogs are allergic to grain.
If your dog is scratching his face excessively, licking his paws, and exhibiting signs of gastrointestinal symptoms.
It’s not dangerous to your dog, but it can cause discomfort. Grain is not the only ingredient that GSDs can develop a sensitivity to.
Chicken and other protein sources such as eggs or beef can also be triggers. You will have to figure it out by eliminating one ingredient at a time to determine what causes the allergic reaction and remove it.
That being said, if your dog turns out to be allergic to grain, that’s probably when you should start feeding him grain-free kibble. Otherwise, it’ll only be an unnecessary expense.
Choosing a dog food for German Shepherds with health problems
When choosing a brand or product for your sick dog, there are multiple factors to consider. What can exacerbate their problem and what can help them?
Dogs suffering from hip dysplasia will benefit from glucosamine and chondroitin.
For dogs with a sensitive gut, you can try formulas that feature limited ingredients and have probiotics that promote gut health and can boost your dog’s immune system.
Choosing the best dog food for your German Shepherds can prevent illnesses
As medium-to-large breed dogs, German Shepherds are predisposed to hip dysplasia.
Having the appropriate nutrients as a puppy can help prevent the joints from growing too quickly and malformed.
Obesity can exacerbate this problem, so you should try to keep your GSD at an optimum weight.
Bloat or stomach twists usually affect dogs with deep barrel chests. The German Shepherd falls in this category.
Certain kibble helps prevent this by making them into a doughnut shape as this will force dogs to slow down when they are eating.
There are also slow feeders that you can use but it’s advisable to feed Germans 2 – 3 small meals a day to prevent them from scarfing their meals just because they are hungry.
What types of food are good for German Shepherds?
German Shepherds can thrive on all kinds of dog food. Dry kibble is the most popular option because it is convenient.
If you don’t mind going through a bit of trouble, there’s the option of dehydrated or frozen-then-thawed dog food.
The ingredients matter much more than the type of dog food it is, whether dry or moist. However, older dogs and puppies might deal with wet food better.
Also, unless your dog has certain allergies, you don’t have to feed organic or grain-free food.
Fruits and vegetables your German Shepherds can and cannot eat
| Never | Okay | In Moderation |
| Avocados | Blackberries | Bananas |
| Rhubarb | Blueberries | Oranges |
| Cherries | Carrots | Watermelons |
| Garlic | Cranberries | Celery |
| Grapes | Cucumber | Cauliflower |
| Nuts | Sweet Potatoes | Cabbage |
| Onions | Lettuce | Spinach |
| Nutmeg | Cantaloupe | Kale |
A homemade recipe you can try for your German Shepherds
Wanna spoil your GSD with a home-cooked meal? Here’s a recipe for culinary adept pawrent to try! It features 23.1 grams of protein per serving. The following recipe yields 5 servings so adjust accordingly!
Ingredients:
- 6 cups water
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 2 cups brown rice
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ (16 ounces) package of frozen broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower combination
Directions:
- Wash rice and drain
- Add rice, turkey, rosemary, and water to a large Dutch oven or cast iron pot
- Stir until turkey is all dispersed and mixed well
- Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes
- Add frozen vegetables
- Remove from the stove after 5 minutes
- Serve two cups twice a day, freeze the rest
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The German Shepherd is a stunning dog in both appearance and intelligence. They need a healthy diet suited to their needs in order to stay healthy and handsome.
Aside from the best dog food, there are also certain feeding practices that go hand in hand with a healthy lifestyle.
How often should you feed your German Shepherd?
Puppies are often fed 4 times a day when they are 4 weeks old. When they reach 4 months of age, you can drop 1 – 2 meals so you’ll be feeding them only 2 – 3 meals a day.
Some wait till their GSDs are 9 months to a year old before making that switch because it’s better to keep them too long on puppy formula than to switch too soon.
How much should you feed your German Shepherd?
The general average is 3 – 4 cups of kibble for adults but it really depends on your dog’s activity levels.
If your dog is a working shepherd, he might require much more calories than a house pet that only gets an hour of exercise daily.
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 you’re nearing the end of the bag, just throw a handful into the container!
Do German Shepherds need supplements?
Vets usually will advise senior Germans to take a heart and joint supplement. Just like humans, dogs can also experience wear and tear on their limbs and organs.
However, if you have a young and healthy pup that’s fed a well-balanced diet, there’s no reason to give him additional supplements unless recommended by a vet.
The Best Dog Treats for German Shepherds
We think that the best treats are all-natural, whole foods like carrots or homemade peanut butter oatmeal balls. It’s simply, really, just take some all-natural peanut butter, mix it with oat and freeze it.
If you’re a no-grain family, you can replace it with a pumpkin.
However, if you’re looking for a convenient treat to give during training, here’s a favorite of ours.
Wellness Soft Puppy Bites Grain-Free Lamb & Salmon Recipe
Top ingredients: Lamb, Salmon, Chickpeas
Specially made for puppies, these wholesome bite-sized treats come in a resealable bag. Formulated with all-natural products.
You also won’t find meat by-products, corn, wheat, or dairy in this treat! While it’s specially formulated for puppies, it is fortified with DHA and omega-3.
What Makes Dog Food Good For German Shepherds?
Food that can sustain his lifestyle and meet his nutritional needs is good food!
Look for high-quality ingredients and a recipe that is gentle on his digestive system.
Your adult German Shepherd will benefit from animal protein-rich foods and minimize any health issues that might arise from a bad diet.
Have you tried any of the dog food above? Let us know whether fido likes it in the comments!
Cess is the Head of Content Writing at K9 Web and a passionate dog care expert with over 5 years of experience in the Pet Industry. With a background in animal science, dog training, and behavior consulting, her hands-on experience and extensive knowledge make her a trusted source for dog owners.
When not writing or leading the K9 Web content team, Cess can be found volunteering at local shelters and participating in dog-related events.