When looking for the best dog food for a German shepherd puppy, the options can seem staggering. When you go to the store, you will likely see an entire aisle filled with bags of canine cuisine, each one claiming to be the best. Be sure to choose a brand of dog food that has the right proportion of ingredients. Our experts prepared compehensive review of most popular products which we have tried and tested ourselves.
Top 10 Food For German Shepherd Puppy in 2019
| Product | Features | Rating | Checkout | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Eukanuba Puppy Dry Dog FoodCheck price |
Meat: Chicken Recommended For: puppies up to 15 months Benefits: Supports muscle growth and bone health, healthy brain development |
5 of 5 | Check price |
| 2 |  Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition German ShepherdCheck price |
Meat: Chicken Recommended For: puppies up to 15 months Benefits: protect a puppy’s developing immune system, highly digestible proteins, maintains bone & joint health |
5 of 5 | Check price |
| 3 |  Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy FoodCheck price |
Meat: Chicken Recommended For: puppies up to 15 months Benefits: Exclusive blend of antioxidants and vitamins, promote optimal digestive health and stool quality |
4.9 of 5 | Check price |
| 4 |  Diamond Naturals Large Breed PuppyCheck price |
Meat: Lamb Recommended For: puppies up to 18 months Benefits: Highly digestible, grain-free, vitamins & minerals |
4.8 of 5 | Check price |
| 5 |  Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy Large Breed Dry Dog FoodCheck price |
Meat: Chicken Recommended For: puppies up to 12 months Benefits: Grain-free, blend of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals |
4.8 of 5 | Check price |
| 6 |  Purina ONE SmartBlend Puppy Dog FoodCheck price |
Meat: Chicken Recommended For: From 3-4 weeks up to 6 months Benefits: High Protein, Natural Sources Of Glucosamine Help Support Growing Joints |
4.8 of 5 | Check price |
| 7 |  Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog FoodCheck price |
Meat: Chicken Recommended For: puppies up to 15 months Benefits: Balanced set of minerals, High-quality protein, optimal level of calcium |
4.7 of 5 | Check price |
| 8 |  Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy Wet Dog FoodCheck price |
Meat: Turkey & Chicken Benefits: High Protein Grain Free, made without wheat, real meat as the 1st ingredient |
4.7 of 5 | Check price |
| 9 |  Blue Buffalo Freedom Puppy Large Breed Dry Dog FoodCheck price |
Meat: Chicken Benefits: Grain-free, blend of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals |
4.6 of 5 | Check price |
| 10 |  Fromm Family Foods Gold Large Breed PuppyCheck price |
Meat: Duck, chiken, lamb Recommended For: puppies up to 12 months |
4.5 of 5 | Check price |
Eukanuba Puppy Dry Dog Food - Best Food for German Shepherd Puppy
Nutrient Analysis:
Protein - 26%
Carbohydrates - 42%
Fat - 14%
According to the standards of the Whole Dog Journal, this formula meets the protein, fat, and carbohydrate requirements for ideal puppy development. Its fat-to-protein ratio is within the journal’s standards at about 55%.
Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition German Shepherd - Best Dry Dog Food For German Shepherd Puppy
Nutrient Analysis:
Protein – 28%
Carbohydrates – 40%
Fat – 14%
The product meets the ratio standards of the Whole Dog Journal and has an average fat-to-protein ratio of 50%.
Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy Food - Best Immune System Support
Nutrient Analysis:
Protein – 28%
Carbohydrates – 40%
Fat – 14%
The ratios of this formula meet the standards suggested by the Whole Dog Journal. The fat-to-protein ratio is identical to the Royal Canin German Shepherd Puppy Food at 50%.
Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy - Balanced German Shepherd Dog Food
Nutrient Analysis:
Protein – 27%
Carbohydrates – 40%
Fat – 15%
The protein, carbohydrate, and fat ratio of this formula meets the standards of the Whole Dog Journal and is comparable to other similar large breed puppy foods.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy Large Breed Dry Dog Food - Best Food for Weight Management
Nutrient Analysis:
Protein – 35%
Carbohydrates – 33%
Fat – 14%
This protein content is significantly above what is recommended by the Whole Dog Journal, which contributes to the below-average fat-to-protein ratio.
Purina ONE SmartBlend Puppy Dog Food - Best Easily Digestible Puppy Food
Nutrient Analysis:
Protein – 28%
Carbohydrates – 39%
Fat – 13%
The analysis of protein, carbohydrates, and fat in this formula are standard among similar dog foods, and it meets the recommendations of the Whole Dog Journal.
Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food - Best Food for German Shepherd Puppy Diet
Nutrient Analysis:
Protein – 29.3%
Carbohydrates – 45.2%
Fat – 16.2%
The protein content is moderately above the recommendations of the Whole Dog Journal. Its fat-to-protein ratio is average.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy Wet Dog Food - Best Wet Dog Food for German Shepherds
Blue Buffalo Freedom Puppy Large Breed Dry Dog Food
Nutrient Analysis:
Protein – 26%
Carbohydrates – 40%
Fat – 16%
This ratio meets the standards of the Whole Dog Journal and has a typical fat-to-protein ratio when compared to similar products.
Fromm Family Foods Gold Large Breed Puppy - Good Food for German Shepherd Puppy
Nutrient Analysis:
Protein – 26%
Carbohydrates – 44%
Fat – 14%
This formula meets the protein, carbohydrate, and fat standards suggested by the Whole Dog Journal and has a typical fat-to-protein ratio.
What To Feed German Shepherd Puppy: Buyer’s Guide
The German shepherd is a large and energetic breed. This is a dog that has been used for so many different work purposes that people cannot even agree on which task they perform best. However, we know they are known to be good at herding animals and helping the police deal with dangerous criminals. All of these purposes require a high-energy animal, and that equals a fast metabolism. Because of this, any food you select for your German Shepherd should be as nutrient-dense as you can afford. This breed is only slightly different from their wolf ancestors (be honest…that’s part of why you wanted a German Shepherd!), and so they should never be given cheap dog food full of wheat, corn syrup, and other fillers.
Nutrient requirements for this breed are demanding due to the size and energy of the breed. However, a growing pet needs even more and you need to know how to feed a German shepherd puppy. Your puppy isn’t just trying to maintain its existing size and weight. It is trying to grow, and if you want them to grow big and strong, it needs more than just the typical amount that would be required to maintain its current size.
Protein is an important factor, which is why you should make sure your chosen brand contains at least 22% protein. Any less will compromise your dog’s ability to maintain its required energy level. Fat is also important for the health of your German Shepherd’s skin and coat, but too much will result in a lazy butterball dog. The food you select should have 5%-8% in total fat content.
Carbohydrates are also essential for proper dog food processing. This is less important for predatory animals, but far from unimportant. Any food you select should have from 5% to 8% carbs. Be aware, however, that not all sources of nutrients are equal. The ideal diet for a German shepherd would be a plate of fresh meat, served every day on a silver platter. Unless you are well off, you probably cannot afford that. However, you can at least stay in the ballpark and select food made from wild and natural ingredients.
We should begin by talking about the nutrition of the mother. A canine mother requires extra food and better-quality food when nursing her little ones. As such, a responsible breeder will designate a higher-nutrient food (such as puppy chow) for the mother to eat while nursing. Breeders should also give her supplemental amounts of meat and fresh vegetables. To have healthy pups, you must first have a healthy mother. When you select a breeder from whom to buy your pup, make sure you get a good look at the mother.
One month old German shepherd should begin eating solid food. To select the correct food, refer to the standards of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). If you look closely at the label of any dog food, you should see a seal of approval from AAFCO, telling you that this food has met their requirements. If you do not see the AAFCO designation anywhere on the bag or label – do not buy. This AAFCO label should also give you an idea of the nutrition content, and the stage of life for which the food is intended. Food for all puppies should be labeled “growth stage.”
From weaning all the way up to six months, your puppy should be offered food three times a day. For some dogs, you can get away with two feedings a day. German shepherd puppy food has to be dense in nutrients. However, their size makes it important not to overfeed. Larger dog breeds can often suffer from skeletal and joint issues as they get older, and overfeeding will worsen the issue. Make sure you keep an eye on how fat your pup looks and adjust their food intake accordingly.
A 12-week old German shepherd can begin to eat like an adult dog. While they will still have some growing to do, there will no longer be a need for the same special attention. That being said, you still need to give it enough to maintain a nice robust girth. A two months old German shepherd will have put on some significant size and will require an increase in food intake. A one-year-old German shepherd can be switched to a fully adult diet and given a slight reduction in their food intake.
- Protein
For feeding your German shepherd puppy, you need a high protein food. Once they reach adulthood, this is not quite as important. However, a growing puppy needs plenty of protein because it is the most important nutrient for any meat eating animal. 22% protein is considered a minimum for this breed, but you should shoot for something higher.
- Carbohydrates
A German shepherd diet should also include a reasonable amount of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates provide energy in a form that can readily be stored, and will normally come from plant-based sources. Be mindful of the source of carbohydrates as cheap foods contain a lot of wheat, where rice is a far superior source.
- Fat
Fats are essential for the health of your dog’s skin and coat. If you look at the nutritional content of dog milk, you will see it contains more fat than protein. This gives us a clue about the importance of fat to a growing dog. Just make sure you don’t overdo it, or you will end up with a fat German shepherd puppy.
- Vitamins and minerals
When choosing food for German shepherds, this is a feature you don’t need to worry about as much. Vitamins and minerals are very important to your dog’s overall health, but the sources of those vitamins and minerals won’t make a huge difference. You will find here a list of the various minerals that will benefit your dog and from where they are usually derived.
Have you tried to find best food for gsd puppy your local store? We know that deciphering the true nutritional value of each formula can be daunting. Below, we’ve compiled a comparison of the top 10 dog foods for German Shepherd puppies to help you focus on the important stuff.
Q&A Section about feeding German Shepherd puppy
There is a lot to consider when purchasing food for your new German Shepherd puppy, and getting the right information about a product can prove to be difficult. Below are some important questions to consider when you bring your new puppy home.
How much to feed german shepherd puppy?
Use the guidelines on the dog food container to decide how much to feed your puppy. Before 6 months of age, you should feed your puppy several times a day. After 6 months of age, puppies should be fed only twice a day. Make sure to feed your puppy at set times during the morning and evening to create a routine and minimize the risk of blood sugar problems.
What should I feed my German Shepherd puppy?
At 12 weeks old, begin to transition your puppy from wet food to dry food. By 3 months old, your German Shepherd should only be consuming dry food. At 8 months, begin to transition your puppy from a puppy formula to an adult formula. When your German Shepherd turns 1 year old, they should be fully transitioned to adult food, and you can cut down their feeding to once a day.
Conclusion: What is the best puppy food for german shepherds?
In our opinion, best food to feed german shepherd puppies is Eukanuba Puppy Dry Dog Food. While the protein content is certainly above recommended levels, this formula contains the freshest ingredients when compared to similar products. With that in mind, we think that Eukanuba is the best dog food for your pet.
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