If you have an endearing pet like a German Shepherd, you must know about their diet, care, and grooming. Some people make mistakes when feeding a German Shepherd puppy or a large dog. Therefore, we will share how and what to feed your German Shepherd Puppy at every stage. In this article, you will understand which food is safe for them and which you should select among different dog food types in the market. This one is significant for every dog owner because if you give extra or less feeding to your German Shepherd, many health problems can occur.
What to Feed a German Shepherd?
German Shepherds require high-quality food to meet their nutritional needs. Most diets are labelled puppy, senior, and adult food. The Association of Americans recommends that most diets feed Control Officials, ensuring all ingredients meet established standards. Offering table food and animal bones should be avoided; otherwise, upset stomach, diarrhea, vomiting, and anorexia could be caused. Besides, the higher fat foods can cause other issues like pancreatitis.
How Much to Feed a German Shepherd?
Puppies demand 3-4 times daily, and adult dogs require 2-3 times daily. You can consult your vet, follow the dog food manufacturers, and give the AAFCO-approved diets. However, according to sources, German Shepherds are fed smaller and more frequent meals to reduce bloat problems.
German Shepherd Diet Plan
German Shepherd Puppy Diet for Newborn
For a German shepherd puppy, the first feed is the mother’s milk to receive the protein and antibody-rich milk type known as colostrum. It is important for a strong immune and central nervous system. After six to eight weeks, you can give solid food along with the mother’s milk because it provides them with almost 90 % natural defense. The initial feeding contributes to proper blood flow and oxygenation of the puppy’s organs. If you want to purchase a German shepherd puppy from somewhere, you can feed them some specific infant formula to fulfill their diet requirement.
German Shepherd Puppy Diet after One Month
After one month, you can introduce your German Shepherd puppy to new foods and flavors. At this stage, they demand special wet food, and then around six to eight weeks, you should given dry dog food with water. Moreover, from the eighth week onward, you can start to feed on solid food with a particular puppy feed. The milk must be removed from the diet at this stage because it can cause diarrhea.
German Shepherd Diet After 2 Months
At the age of 2 months, the pet owner should start to decrease the moistening of dry food. You should follow the German Shepherd puppy food chart from 2 to 4 months old. You should place a food bowl for 10 minutes before the dog, then take it away. Their diet should be higher in fats, protein, and calcium than adult German Shepherd dog food.
German Shepherd Diet After Six Months
After 6 months, meals should be reduced to 3 times a day. Commercial dog food depends on the age and weight of the dog. You can introduce fresh food like meat, fish, or vegetables into their diet, either cooked or raw food. Maintaining an adult’s lean body will help decrease the bone growth rate. Calcium supplements and adult dog foods rich in calcium should not be given to puppies.
German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Chart
| 0-2 month | New Born/Puppy | Breast Milk |
| 3-4 Months | Puppy | New Flavors/ Wet Food |
| 6-8 | Puppy | Moistened Dry Food |
| 8 Months to onward | Puppy | Solid Food |
What Should be Given to an Adult German Shepherd?
German Shepherd is considered a large dog, weighing between 60 and 90 pounds. They need between 1200 and 1540 calories per day, and if a shepherd is an active dog, then increase them from 1700 to 2100 calories per day. Sometimes, they are less active because of some health issues, and to prevent these, you can read our article regarding their health issues.
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