Best Dog Food for German Shepherd Puppies (Review) in 2024

We may receive a commission from some of the products or service recommended on our site, at no cost to you.This form of advertising helps us continue to provide you with free advice.

German Shepherds are the second most popular dog in America. It’s not hard to see why. Not only are they attractive, but these dogs are also loyal, intelligent, and active. When they’re puppies, German Shepherds are energetic little animals curious about the world around them.

In this guide, “Best Dog Food for German Shepherd puppies,” I will review what German Shepherd puppies need when it concerns their nutrition. The searchings may surprise you, so keep on reading to ensure your pup obtains all he requires to grow up healthy and happy.

Best Dog Food for German Shepherd puppies – Our Top Pick

Royal Canin German Shepherd Puppy Breed Specific

What Is The Best Dog Food for German Shepherd puppies?

What nutrients do German Shepherd puppies need?

All puppies require particular nutrients to support their growth, and they grow super fast within the first six months of their lives. However, they stay to grow up until 18 months, yet at a much steadier rate.

He requires the most excellent quality nutrients to ensure he grows well and will also support him to decrease the chances of having predisposed health problems.

You also need to make sure your puppy has the nutrients it requires to keep their coats shiny and nice.

No matter if you have a black german shepherd, white-coated GSD, or a GSD with a fluffy coat, you’ll need to ensure you are using high-quality Food to keep their skin healthy.

He particularly needs top-quality kibble that is mainly aimed at large breed pups. They have a more significant number of carbohydrates, calcium, and calorie levels, which will develop bones and bodies with everything required.

Regular puppy kibble aimed at canines of all sizes may not include sufficient nutrients that this big boy needs, so it is essential to feed him Food for large breeds.

Preferably, GSD puppies should have 500 calories a day which slowly grows to around 1,600 as soon as he reaches around 15 months old.

The kibble should include a fat content between 8% to 12% and a protein content anywhere between 18% and 22%.

Be sure not to serve your German Shepherd puppy any extra calcium. Too much calcium can increase both Hip and Elbow Dysplasia’s possibilities in later life so that the puppy recipe will have just the correct amount in it.

Essential Factors for German Shepherd Dog Foods

In addition to choosing a product with the qualities you’d want in any good dog food, you must consider a few extra elements when buying Food for your German shepherd puppy; This will help you address the specific necessities of your puppy.

Some of the essential factors to look for in a German Shepherd puppy food:

Foods that add probiotics might be able to help soothe your GSD’s digestive system and improve its function; This is particularly crucial given the breed’s common gastrointestinal problems.
Since German Shepherds usually develop food allergies, it can help choose foods that do not add some of the most common allergens, such as soy, grain, and corn.
Because German shepherds might develop osteoarthritis and other joint diseases, you should look for items including chondroitin and glucosamine, which might help prevent or treat such issues.
Because German shepherds usually experience bloat, it is a good idea to encourage your dog to chew instead of gulp and eat slowly. Your puppy is more likely to eat bigger kibble pieces, so try to compare the sizes of different alternatives when making your choice.
Omega-3 and Omega-6 fats are essential additions to your German Shepherd’s nutrition. They are thought to support promoting joint health and good skin condition and reduce inflammatory reactions by the body.
To further prevent digestive issues, it is crucial to give your GSD food that your puppy seems to absorb well. Regrettably, you’ll never identify how a provided food will affect your pooch until you try it. It may be essential to look for ingredients most puppies digest well, such as rice and lamb.

The 5 Best Dog Foods for German Shepherd puppies – Reviews

1- Royal Canin German Shepherd Puppy Breed Specific

This dry German Shepherd puppy’s Food from Royal Canin is explicitly created for German Shepherds. It satisfies the breed’s unique nutrition and health needs.

The Food appropriates for puppies as old as 15 weeks and addresses lots of usual health problems. To deal with digestive issues, it has probiotics that introduce beneficial flora into your pup’s gut.

To prevent joint and bone problems, it has a healthy quantity of phosphorus and calcium. Lastly, it has an excellent blend of antioxidants to improve your GSD pup’s vulnerable immune system.

2- Taste of the Wild Dry Dog Food

Taste of the Wild provides what it says on the package, as it is a taste of the wild. With Bison being the main ingredient, it gives rich protein that is essential for healthy muscle growth and being high in amino acids.

The kibble is created to be smaller for pups, but it is still packed with DHA and antioxidants, which are great for vision and cognitive development. It is 100% grain-free for those dogs with allergies, and it has plenty of canine probiotics, making it very absorbable.

3- Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein, Natural Puppy Large Breed Dry Dog Food

This formula from Blue Buffalo is a beautiful alternative to whatever your GSD puppy requires to stay healthy and happy. Its protein content is 35%, which is well above the suggested amount.

The majority of that protein comes from wholesome meat sources like fish and deboned chicken. While the kibble has much more fat than your GSD needs, it’s all excellent fat. The omega fatty acids will maintain your canine’s coat healthy while also maintaining ocular health.

When it concerns minerals, you’ll be happy to know that this kibble uses the suggested phosphorus and calcium ratio of 1:1.2.

4- Eukanuba Puppy Dry Dog Food Chicken – Large Breed

This Food has been specially created for large breed pups who will surpass 55 pounds on maturity, which your German Shepherd definitely will.

It has the optimal dose of phosphorus and calcium to ensure that his bones and joints have the most effective nutrients to reduce the probabilities of him developing Hip and Elbow Dysplasia in later life.

It also claims clinically proven DHA levels for their brain growth, encouraging more trainable and smarter puppies.

5- Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Puppy, Large Breeds

Specially developed for large breed pups like the German Shepherd, this Hill’s Science Diet dog food is an excellent choice for your puppy. It’s made to give controlled joint and bone growth.

It does this with an optimum dose of phosphorus and calcium. It’s also packed with healthy antioxidants to promote cell function and immune health. DHA supports brain growth, while minerals help to make your pup’s teeth healthy.

As for protein, the kibble is comprised of regarding 26 percent. It comes from a chicken meal.

Wet Canned Food for German Shepherd Puppies

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain

The grain-free and high-protein wet Food from Blue Buffalo is an excellent introduction to solid foods for your puppy. It includes DHA for proper eye and brain growth.

The canned Food consists of chicken and chicken liver.

The meat ingredients are joined with potatoes and pea protein. It’s all swimming in a tasty chicken broth that your puppy will like.

Overall, the Food has 7 percent fat and 10.5 percent protein. There are no soy, corn, or wheat ingredients, making sure that your GSD starts on the right foot.

Blue Buffalo Blue Homestyle Recipe Puppy

This wet Food uses just deboned chicken, along with whole grain rice and barley.

It tries to give your puppy the high-quality protein, fiber, and carbs he requires for growth and energy.

This best dog food for German Shepherd puppies includes carrots, cranberries, blueberries, and sweet potatoes.

No corn, soy, meat meal, wheat, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives are used in this natural Food.

How often should you feed my German Shepherd puppy?

German Shepherd Puppies younger than four months old must eat four small meals daily. From 4 months to 9 months, pups need to eat three small meals daily, and after nine months, puppies can eat 2 or 3 meals daily. Each day’s overall quantity of Food will vary by the Food brand, so read the label and consult a vet to be sure of the right amount.

DO NOT free feed your GSD puppy! This implies you do not fill their meal with the whole day’s quantity and let them eat as much as they want.

Puppies do not understand how to control themselves or the effects of eating such a large quantity of Food and eat the entire meal. Eating a lot at once can create vomiting or bloat.

Whatever brand or type of Food you feed your GSD, be sure to examine his weight and overall condition closely. Baby fat is acceptable when the dog is very young; however, he needs to slim down and develop muscle tone as he reaches five months. Decrease your puppy’s feeding if he continues fat as he gets closer to 6 months old.

Furthermore, if your canine develops itchy skin, loose stool, or patchy fur, he may have a food allergy and require a different formula.

Also Read:

Best Dog Food for German Shepherd puppies – FAQ

What Food should a German Shepherd Puppy NEVER eat?

You must never allow your precious German Shepherd puppy to eat the following food products:

Chocolate: this includes theobromine, which is very toxic to puppies.
Tomatoes: these can impact his cardiac system extremely fast.
Garlic and Onions: feeding these in any form, either paste, raw, or power, will create anemia.
Gum and Candy: these have sweeteners produced from xylitol which can be mortal.
Avocado: the entire avocado is toxic to puppies.
Raisins and Grapes: these cause kidney failure very instantly, so keep them unreachable.

How many calories does a German Shepherd need?

German Shepherd puppies require the correct balance of fat, protein, phosphorous, and calcium. Ideally, the puppy recipe will have a fat content of 8% to 12% and protein content of 18% to 22%. The formula must also have a 1.2/1 calcium to phosphorous ratio.

German Shepherd puppies need to have 500 calories daily at an expanding level as they grow. As soon as the puppy is a young adult, he must eat 1,500 to 1,700 calories each day.

Be careful of formulas with high protein content. Puppies can be sensitive and can get a loose stool or an upset stomach.

Additionally, never supplement additional calcium into a GSD puppy’s diet. Too much calcium increases the possibility of hip dysplasia earlier in life.

Conclusion

I hope this guide has been valuable to you in buying the best dog food for German Shepherd puppies. I highly recommend trying these foods for yourself to see what others had to say and have a good time with your German Shepherd puppy!

Have you found the best Food for your Shepherd? Tell us in the comments below.