If you’re struggling to find the best dog food for your German Shepard, then you’ve come to the right place. There’s no denying how many different dog food brands are out there these days, so it’s not always straightforward when it comes to choosing the right one.
However, it’s certainly crucial to ensure the food you pick has the right kind of nutritional support that’ll ensure your dog has strong joints, a healthy coat, and a long, happy life. In fact, with the right nutrition, there’s a great chance that you’ll be able to keep your German Shepard strong and healthy for many years to come.
In this guide, you’ll find a selection of dog food brands that are well suited to any German Shepard – so let’s get straight to it.
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It’s safe to say that Blue Buffalo makes some excellent dog food products, and they have long been the preferred choice for many dog owners who have come to rely on the quality and affordability on offer here. The Wilderness Rocky Mountain recipe is a great example of a top formula that features a range of tasty, high-quality ingredients that any German Shepard is sure to enjoy.
Specifically, it comes with a protein-rich formula that’s mostly comprised of deboned beef, lamb, and venison, so it’ll definitely give your dog a healthy dose of protein that they’ll find very exciting when dinner time comes.
Of course, the formula is free of the unwanted additives and preservatives that can be detrimental to a high-quality blend, but it does offer you the ‘LifeSource Bits’ that the Blue Buffalo brand is well-known for.
In particular, these added extras provide your dog with further nutritional benefits and ensure your German Shepard won’t be missing out on the key antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals they need to stay in good health. Importantly, there’s no use of corn, soy, wheat, or meat by-product meals either.
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Next, we have this popular formula from Blue Buffalo which is a favorite for many German Shepherd owners. The formula comes in a variety of flavors, but the lamb and brown rice flavor is often the most popular. In general, this is a well-formulated blend that gives plenty of quality protein and whole grains, along with added vegetables for healthy carbs and antioxidants.
Additionally, this product features Blue Buffalo’s ‘Life Source Bits’, which involves a broad blend of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants to ensure your dog is getting all of the crucial nutrition they need to stay in excellent health.
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Another top option that tends to be loved by German Shepards is this classic formula from Merrick.
It features deboned beef as the primary ingredient, which makes it nice and tasty for your dog – along with an ingredient ratio of 60% meat protein, 20% fresh produce, and 20% whole grains – making it a very well balanced formula for German Shepard’s who are reasonably active.
Additionally, the formula is further enriched with omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, as well as glucosamine and chondroitin, which go a long way towards supporting healthy joints and bones. It’s also nice to know that none of the ingredients are sourced from China or anywhere questionable – and it is fully made in USA-based kitchens.
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Another great option is Eagle Pack Natural, which comes in both large breed, reduced fat, and original versions. The original version aims to give your dog a complete and balanced formula that focuses exclusively on natural ingredients, while the large and giant breed formula uses bigger kibble pieces and still provides the same excellent nutrition that a big dog needs to stay healthy.
It’s worth noting that all of the ingredients used in the formula are of premium quality, and there is no use of wheat, corn, or meat byproducts that don’t have the kind of quality you would want to offer to your dog on a regular basis.
A number of dog owners note how the food was well-loved by their dog, even when they were previously susceptible to stomach upsets and digestive issues.
Taste of the Wild is certainly a popular brand in the dog food world, and they are even the number one bestseller in the dry dog food category on Amazon right now. The food comes in a number of different flavors, with lamb, salmon, and bison/venison being the most popular choices.
The formula relies on real roasted meats which your dog is sure to love, and it is further supplemented with fruits and vegetables which provide all of the crucial antioxidants that will help keep your dog in tip-top shape.
It’s worth noting that this food is designed to accommodate dogs of all life stages, and it’s definitely a tasty option because most dogs seem to eat this food very quickly! Overall, this is one of the most popular grain-free options on the market, and it’s easy to see why it is such a popular choice.
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This grain-free dog food uses a tasty blend of beef, peas, potatoes, and eggs along with fresh fruit and vegetables. The grain-free feature means it’s great for dogs who are prone to sensitivity, and the broad range of fruit and vegetables give your dog all of the antioxidants they need as well as the energy that’s required to fuel a busy day.
While the food isn’t the cheapest option on the market, it is certainly one of the tastiest, so if you’re looking to treat your dog, this is a great option to buy. Ultimately, this is a high-quality option that will be greatly loved by any dog.
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This dehydrated dog food option is another worthy choice for a German Shepard, and it’s also an entirely grain free formula which is great for sensitive dogs. It uses ranch-raised beef along with plenty of calories to fuel an energetic dog, and it’s also nice to know that it’s 100% human-grade, so there are no cheap filler ingredients anywhere to be found.
What’s more, the food is available in a range of different flavors such as turkey, chicken, and fish – all of which use excellent quality protein as the primary ingredient. Of course, the food is also very convenient to prepare and simply requires you to add water to prepare a warm, tasty meal that your dog is sure to love.
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Another incredibly popular brand of dog food is this one from Wellness Natural Pet Food – specifically the Complete Health formula, which is well loved by many German Shepard owners in particular.
It gives a broad basis of nutrition and ticks all of the main boxes, such as giving your dog quality chicken as the main ingredient, along with whitefish and additional minerals and vitamins.
All of the ingredients are natural, and there’s no use of corn, soy, or wheat – as it instead relies on oatmeal to fulfill the carbohydrate requirement. Additionally, the product is formulated exclusively in the USA, without any ingredients being sourced elsewhere – and it seems they’re quite strict about this, too.
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Holistic Select produce a range of quality dry dog foods, with the chicken and rice formula and large breed formula being particularly popular options. The formula gives plenty of digestive support in the form of natural fibers, digestive enzymes, prebiotics, and probiotics – which are certainly useful for any German Shepard, especially if they’re a sensitive type.
Ingredient wise, everything is natural in this formula, with no use of wheat, gluten, or artificial additives such as preservatives or colorings. What’s more, the formula is fully made in the USA. Several dog owners mention that this food has helped to give their dog an improvement in their coat and skin, which is always great to see.
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The Nutro dry dog food is a quality formula that uses excellent ingredients throughout, particularly in regards to its primary ingredient of Australian and New Zealand lamb. Additionally, the formula contains extra glucosamine and chondroitin, which aids the overall health and strength of your dog’s joints – always a positive for any German Shepard.
The product also comes with ‘greenies’ treats, which helps to keep your dog’s breath fresh and their teeth free of plaque and tartar. Many owners comment that their dog quickly takes to the new food, and it’s certainly a tasty option that few dogs will turn their nose up at.
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If you’re looking for a limited ingredient formula that won’t upset your dog’s sensitive digestion, then this is a top option to choose. It uses sweet potato and fish as the main ingredients, which give your dog the crucial protein and carbs they need with little risk of causing a stomach upset.
What’s more, the ingredients are kept to a minimum, with no use of artificial colorings, flavorings, or preservatives. Of course, the formula is also grain-free, which helps to keep your dog’s digestion healthy and fully functioning. It’s a particular favorite for owners who have sensitive dogs, and it often does the trick simply by giving them a limited ingredient formula such as this one.
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The Eukanuba brand is well-known for the popularity of their breed-specific formulas, and their German Shepard version is a great option for the average German Shepard dog. It features high-quality protein as the primary ingredient, along with added fiber to help keep your dog’s digestion system running smoothly.
Additionally, you’ll find omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, which is highly useful for keeping your dog’s skin and coat in fantastic condition. Overall, this is a decently priced dog food that covers all of the key bases your dog needs and should avoid causing any stomach sensitivity the vast majority of the time – making it a useful pick for any German Shepard.
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Finally, this option from Hill’s Science Diet, which is a well-respected and affordable brand that won’t let you or your dog down.
This particular version is the ‘perfect weight’ formula, but there’s a variety of blends that could suit a German Shepard – all of which come with a whole host of important vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that all dogs require. What’s more, there’s no artificial colorings, flavorings, or preservatives.
Of course, one of the main focuses of this specific blend is weight loss, and their research shows that around 70% of dogs will lose weight over the course of 10 weeks when they’re consuming this formula, so it’s great if your German Shepard is piling on a few too many pounds.
The Best Dog Food For German Shepherd Puppies
Next, it’s worth taking a closer look at some of the best puppies foods for German Shepards, which should go a long way towards supporting the healthy development of your new puppy.
First of all, it’s important to keep in mind that a German Shepard puppy will greatly benefit from puppy formulas that are labeled as ‘large breed’ formulas – because these products will come with additional nutrition that’ll assist the healthy development of your dog. However, the ‘large breed’ label is less important when they’re fully grown.
Additionally, it’s usually best to feed your German Shepard puppy 3 to 4 times a day, rather than giving them all of their food in one go. How come? Well, a puppy will have a tendency to keep eating continually if there’s a food supply available, and overeating can lead to vomiting. So if this is happening with your puppy, then smaller portions spread throughout the day may very well solve the problem.
With that said, let’s take a closer look at some of the top puppy food products that are well-suited to a German Shepard.
To begin with, we have this fantastic food from Orijen, and while it’s certainly on the costly side, it’s definitely a high-quality formula that would benefit any German Shepard puppy.
The formula we’ve highlighted here is the large breed version, which gives your puppy the added joint protection that helps healthy development, as well as giving them adequate calories to fuel their growth carefully and steadily.
The ingredients break down as 80% protein (in the form of chicken, turkey, eggs, and fish) along with 20% fruits and vegetables – with no grain of cheap fillers designed to bulk out the formula. Ultimately, this makes it an exceptional option that’s well suited to any puppy.
Next, we have the Taste of the Wild puppy formula, which is perhaps one of the most popular puppy formulas on the market right now.
It comes in two flavor versions – either High Prairie, with a focus on roasted meats or Pacific Stream, with a focus on fish-based protein. Of course, all of the ingredients are of excellent quality, with no use of grain or filler that has little to offer. There’s also a range of fruits and vegetables which provide all of those important natural antioxidants that aid the development of a healthy puppy.
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Another top option for a German Shepard puppy is this Wellness Complete formula. All of the ingredients are excellent in quality, with a strong focus on natural ingredients with no artificial additives, wheat, corn, or soy. Of course, it also contains the all-important DHA that helps with brain, bone, and eye development. What’s more, the formula is made entirely in the USA for added peace of mind.
Overall, this is another reliable and affordable formula that’s a decent choice for a German Shepard puppy, which the vast majority of positive reviews certainly attest to.
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Diamond Naturals have long been one of the top brands, and their puppy formula manages to tick all of the right boxes, making it a good choice for a German Shepard puppy. It contains the vital DHA that helps to grow healthy eyes and brain, along with added omega fatty acids which keep your dog’s skin and coat healthy.
While the formula isn’t grain-free, it manages to keep your puppy in good shape without gaining weight too quickly, and it’s generally considered to a solid, affordable option.
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Finally, we have this well-loved formula by Blue Buffalo, which features plenty of protein and no use of grain, making it good for the healthy development of a puppy as well as being useful for any sensitive puppy, too.
It uses real chicken, with no chicken ‘by-product’ ingredients, corn, wheat, or soy. However, it does contain the usual LifeSource Bits that all Blue Buffalo products tend to come with, which gives your puppy all of the important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that aid their development.
It’s worth noting that this particular formula tends to be best for more active dogs.
German Shepard Nutritional Advice
- Coat maintenance: German Shepards come with wonderful thick coats that need to be well-groomed and maintained if they are to remain in tip-top shape. One aspect of this maintenance comes in the form of their nutrition, so it’s important to make sure their food contains plenty of healthy fats and omega 3s which will keep that beautiful coat looking healthy and thick. Of course, grooming is important too!
- Quality protein: Perhaps one of the most crucial aspects of a German Shepard’s diet is the protein, which should ideally make up at least 22% of their diet. Because these dogs have a decent muscle mass, they’ll need the protein to maintain their strength – so it’s crucial to make sure your chosen food product gives them quality protein. Of course, you should make sure the protein is relatively unprocessed and doesn’t involve any ‘meat by-products’ if you can help it. Most quality brands will use whole meat sources like chicken, beef, or fish.
- Carbohydrates: There’s no denying the importance of carbs for a German Shepard, especially if they’re highly active. However, it’s best to use a food source that focuses on complex carbs like oatmeal and vegetables, as this will keep your dog feeling fuller and more energetic for longer. It can also help to keep their weight stable, too.
- Dysplasia: A common health condition suffered by German Shepards is something known as Dysplasia, which will usually affect the elbows or the hips. This condition will often be most common on highly active dogs, although it could affect any German Shepard – particularly if they gain excess weight. With this in mind, it’s important to keep their weight at reasonable levels. Furthermore, several brands of quality food contain additional chondroitin and glucosamine which can help to maintain healthy joints and cartilage. These additives are often used in large breed formulas as well.
- Calorie requirements: Most German Shepards will require anywhere between 1700 and 2200 calories each day, although this number can certainly vary based on the activity of your dog. It’s usually best to start somewhere in this range and adjust accordingly. Obviously, if your dog is gaining too much weight then it’s wise to lower the calories, but if they’re looking on the skinny side, it’s time to increase those calories.
