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Our #1 choice for German Shepherd-specific dog food is Taste of the Wild!
It’s a grain-free dog food that’s perfect for many active adult German Shepherds with no specific health needs. Other reasons why we like it so much are covered below, but you can find a more in-depth review here!
When you’ve brought home a new breed of dog, the breed may not seem to matter much at first.
They’re adorable and your new best friend, and that’s all that really matters.
Depending on what kind of dog you get, this may be true. However, some breeds require a different level of care than others.
German Shepherds are one of these breeds.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about what the best foods are for German Shepherds, so you can be confident that your pup is the happiest they can be.
Have another type of dog? We have you covered with that, too! Check out this article to help you figure out which food is best for your dog.
Common German Shepherd Health Problems
"No need to read the whole thing hooman, just bring me a live chicken!"
Every dog owner should be prepared for the health problems their dog may face later on in life.
It’s easy to get lost in puppy love, but your dog will eventually reach adult and seniority.
German Shepherds in particular are more likely to develop certain health problems than others.
Make sure you learn about what these might be so you know which symptoms to look out for.
Larger dogs often have hip problems as they grow older, but German Shepherds can actually be born with food insensitivities
Dogs may develop food allergies as they grow, so it’s important to monitor your dog for symptoms such as constant itching or disruption of their daily bowel movements.
Skin Problems
Their thick coat may protect German Shepherds from sunburns, but it doesn’t prevent them from having skin problems.
They may show signs of constant itching and rashes, which can be caused by genetic conditions.
Your vet will be able to best determine the cause of your dog’s skin problems with closer observation.
Pancreatitis
The pancreas has an important role in aiding digestion and nutrition absorption, but German Shepherds often struggle with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. This illness causes the pancreas to reduce its secretion of digestive enzymes.
Symptoms include the afflicted dog losing weight while eating frequently and in large quantities.
While they may act normal, they can be in immense amount of pain in later stages of the disease.
What Foods Are Bad for German Shepherds?
Most foods that are bad for German Shepherds are bad for all dogs, so that will make it easier to remember the list.
Make sure your German Shepherd is never allowed to eat:
It’s a safe bet to stick with regular dog food and do research before giving them anything not made specifically for dogs.
How Much Should You Feed Your German Shepherd?
While there are general guidelines for each breed depending on their size, always take your dog’s specific lifestyle and case before making a judgement call about food.
You may need to reduce the amount of food if they’re not very active or if they’re done growing.
Generally, you can follow these guidelines to figure out how much to feed your German Shepherd:
Three months old: ¼ cup at a time, multiple servings
Six months old: ½ cup at a time, multiple servings
One year old: 1-2 cups at a time, multiple servings
Adult lifestyle: 2-4 cups in one day, multiple servings
Senior lifestyle: 1-3 cups in one day, multiple servings
Talk with your vet and let them know what food you plan on feeding your dog, as the nutritional content will change how often and how much they should eat.
How Many Times a Day Do You Feed a German Shepherd?
German Shepherds are an energetic breed, and they grow quickly during their first few years of life.
A general rule for how often to feed your dog follows by age:
Three months old: three to four times each day
Six months old: three times each day
One year old: twice a day
Adult lifestyle: twice a day
Senior lifestyle: twice a day
Watch your dog as you learn their eating schedule.
Too much eating will result in food grazing, lethargy and weight gain. Too little will stunt their growth.
Talk about your concerns with your vet if you’re ever questioning your dog’s food schedule.
Ideal German Shepherd Diet
Or, according to one German Shepherd I know, the ideal food is a live chicken
Because German Shepherd are so active, have a thick coat, and are meant to run, they need a specific nutritional diet.
Aim for an adult diet that contains these nutrients so your dog can be their happiest, healthiest self:
Get Our List of 11 Awesome Indoor Activities to Keep Your Dog Busy and Out of Trouble!
Best Dog Foods for German Shepherd Puppies
Not all puppy foods are meant for all puppies to eat.
You’ll want to look specifically for a puppy food that will encourage growth in large breed dogs, such as German Shepherds. Any puppy food labeled for large breeds will be a good place to start.
To get you on the right track, check out some of these puppy foods that are popular for German Shepherd families.
Not sure when to switch your puppy to adult dog food? Don’t worry, we wrote a whole article to help you decide!
This is an excellent food to start your puppy out on.
It has all the right ingredients, in tiny kibble bits that will win over any pup.
What I Liked
Protein comes first with this food, which is so important for growing puppies. It also has natural glucosamine, an ingredient that protects joints and cartilage.
Another worthy note is that it has the omega-rich fish oil every German Shepherd pup should eat.
This helps their coat and skin to develop in the right ways.
What I Didn't Like
The cost can be a bit high, depending on where you buy it from.
It’s also not for sensitive stomachs, which may cause problems if you switch to this food from whatever food your dog was used to eating.
You’ll be putting your money into quality food with this brand, as long as you keep an eye on your dog for sensitive stomach reactions such as vomiting or diarrhea.
The German Shepherd puppy on the front of this bag is as irresistible as the food inside if your puppy is having stool problems.
It’s definitely worth a try with your own dog.
What I Liked
When puppies come home, they get a natural shock to their system with the major change in scenery. This food will help them get back on their regular stool schedule, since it has intestinal flora.
The antioxidants are also great!
Puppies are vulnerable to so many diseases until they finish their first year of shots, so anything that helps them develop their immune system is a plus.
This brand also comes in an adult version.
One less reason to cause your dog an upset stomach in the future!
They won’t need to change up what they eat.
What I Didn’t Like
I wasn’t a fan of the relatively sharp texture of the kibble bits.
It’s advertised to be easier for puppies to pick up, but I was worried that if our dog didn’t chew her food enough, it would hurt when she swallowed.
I’m also never a fan of a food when it contains any “by-product” meats, and this contains chicken by-product.
Why not just use real chicken?
Summary
While I’d prefer for dog food to contain actual meat, it may be a lifesaver for puppies during their first few weeks at home.
Dog owners have had mixed reactions to this food, so keep an eye on your dog if you decide to let them try it out.
What I Liked
The live microorganisms in this food is a unique addition that can be great for some dogs.
Sensitive stomachs may be caused by a lack of digestive organisms in the gut, which this food can help restore.
What I Didn’t Like
It seems as though this food may cause vomiting and diarrhea for some dogs.
The reasons vary, so be aware of this issue when purchasing this brand. If your dog shows any symptoms, this may not be the brand for them.
Summary
This can be a great food for adult German Shepherds who are very active, need high amounts of protein, and also need help with their digestive enzymes.
This brand is perfect for dogs who need help with their coat and skin, and it also won’t upset any sensitive stomachs.
What I Liked
Anything grain-free is always a bonus.
I know when it comes to the dogs in my life, I always prefer to start them on grain free food, so they don’t have to come across any food that’s an irritant.
What’s also great about this food is that it targets both the coat and the skin.
A dry coat and itchy skin can be naturally taken care of through fatty acids, preventing trips to the vet.
What I Didn’t Like
Some dog owners have reported their dogs reacting differently to different bags of line of Blue Buffalo's food.
The formula may change slightly with each shipment, even though the core ingredients are the same.
Summary
Grain free and high in protein, this is a solid everyday dog food for your German Shepherd to help improve their coat daily.
Eukanuba’s German Shepherd dog food blend stands out from the crowd.
It has the essential nutrients German Shepherds need, along with very important dental aids.
What I Liked
Not enough can be said about a dog food brand that doubles as a tartar fighter.
Many dog owners forget about their dog’s dental health, since they don’t brush their teeth every night
This food could prevent many dogs from facing dental health issues.
What I Didn’t Like
It takes at least 28 days for the Dentadefense System to kick in, so it’s not a quick fix for dogs who need dental relief. It also costs a bit more than the average dog food, so it’ll strain a tight budget.
Summary
German Shepherds who have dental issues should try this food out, even if buying the first bag is a surprise for a budgeting dog owner.
Iams worked magic to create a sensitive stomach blend for German Shepherds that still has healthy whole grain corn.
What I Liked
This kibble does not shy away from the size of their kibble pieces.
They’re large enough for adults to easily sweep up with their tongues, while other brands typically have smaller kibble bits.
It’s great that this food helps fur and skin issues while also feeding dogs whole grain corn.
It’s still able to be fed to dogs with sensitive stomachs, so it has the right balance of grains for dogs who need a little digestive help.
What I Didn’t Like
Even if you get this food shipped regularly, the price isn’t locked in.
This bag of food is known for adjusting its price every so often, so that may affect families who need to watch their budget carefully.
Summary
Changing prices can be aggravating, but this is a dependable food for your dog to try, especially if they’re a bigger dog who needs bigger pieces of food.
It’s an easy way to make sure your dog stays hydrated. It’s also much more potent for older dogs who don’t smell as easily, so they’ll get a better taste and scent from it and have more fun with their meals.
Here are some of the best wet and canned dog foods for German Shepherds.
Give your dog a taste of these and you’re bound to quickly find their new favorite food.
Every shipment of food is handmade by a team who cares about dogs, so your pet will get a blend made with love.
What I Liked
It’s fantastic that so much care is put into the making of this food.
Added to the fact that they use all-natural ingredients and I can recognize every ingredient in each blend, I’d say this brand has won me over.
They also advertise that 1% of their sales go towards learning more about pet nutrition.
They’ll always be improving their food and making it even better for the dogs that enjoy it.
What I Didn’t Like
Unless you know what foods your dog specifically can’t digest, it’s hard to figure out which blends are for sensitive stomachs. (PS—it’s the one with the rice and sweet potatoes.)
You also need to reach out to customer support in order to personalize the ingredients and portion sizes, which can take up some time.
Summary
You can trust that this brand will provide your dog with the best fresh food, even it takes a few tries to find the blend that’s right for your German Shepherd.
Any of these foods would be great for German Shepherds.
As long as you choose a food that has the right amount of protein for their activity levels, fatty acids and vitamins, your dog will be just fine.
Test out the dry, wet, or a mix of both foods to see which one your dog likes best.
You can also always talk to your vet about the brands you’re trying so they can more closely analyze which features are helping your dog and what they could use more of from their food.
