How Much to Feed German Shepherd Puppy

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Big eyes, huge snout, bouncy, and fluffy; German Shepherd puppies are basically a ball of energy that has enormous capability to worm their way into your heart. These puppies may look cute and attached to you, but they will grow into dependable and intelligent guardians in the future. It’s a great responsibility and honor to take care of them and cuddle with them. Once a local dog breed in Germany (hence, the name), the German Shepherd breeds were intended to help to herd the sheep and deter predators like wolves or foxes. They will live close to their flock and maintain order with their strength, speed, and intelligence in great obedience. Now one question remains, how much to feed German Shepherd puppy?

Nowadays, German Shepherd dogs are not strictly workers such as the police with their K9s. They’ve become a popular breed among dog lovers since they are easy to train, loyal, and have a keen sense of protecting their family unit. However, German Shepherds are not suitable for beginners as they need arduous training and proper handling to allow them to grow properly. Here is the list of  best dog food for German shepherd.

how much to feed german shepherd puppy

Like any other puppies, German Shepherd puppies eat a little bit differently than other breeds due to their size and traits. A balance of nutrition and healthy digestive tracts are needed to ensure the valuable growth they need. German Shepherd puppies need more calories in their diet so they can play properly. Read on to find out the answer to “How much should I feed my German Shepherd puppy?”

Diet

German Shepherd is considered as a big breed that can grow up to 80lbs in their lifetime. These dogs have strong build with solid bones and muscular bodies. The growth rate is magnificent as it will surprise you to find that your ball of fluff is not a puppy anymore. This means they have a less puppy-specific diet because you can start adjusting adult diets right after the sixth month. German Shepherd puppies will need more food than the older ones. They need all the energy they can have to play and learn things in their environment.

Raw Dog Food vs. Ready-to-eat Commercial Dog Food

With the rise of raw food for dogs, many owners start questioning about the best diet for their German Shepherd puppies. Raw food enthusiasts believe that dogs—which are mainly carnivores—were built to digest meat and need it for their health and growth. It’s believed that raw food will promote healthier-looking coats and skin, better dental health, and higher-level energy. On the hindsight, raw food preparation takes more time as there are other microbial and bacterial threats, compared to ready-to-eat commercial dog food. It makes the difference when you realize just how much to feed German shepherd puppy. They eat a lot!

Ready-to-eat dog food (wet and dry food), however, has gone through stages of quality inspections before arriving at your pup’s bowl. They are cost and time efficient, that with a careful examination you can still have control over what your pup eats. There are concerns over additives and preservatives that need to be addressed, so a visit to a vet is advised.

Especially with kibbles or dry dog food. A lot of brands will add some grain into their kibble mixture to bind the materials together. Vets have warned owners to be careful to choose this type of food since they can cause bloated stomach and irritation. It’s not particularly bad, thanks to the omnivorous attribute in dogs, but it’s still something to consider.

The best way to consult what’s best for your puppy is to have a visit to your trusted vet. Vets will take a look at your puppy, measure its level activity, see if there’s any health problem, and interview you about its behavior before advising about their diet. While you wait for your visit, here’s what you can safely give to your puppy:

Royal Canin Maxi Starter Food

At the crucial weeks of weaning, it’s important to what and how much should a German shepherd puppy eat. To make sure the weaning goes smoothly, Royal Canin Maxi Starter Food is a great weaning food you can try. The kibbles of this dry food are designed to allow two-way serving: rehydrate the kibbles for weaning puppies (you can also mix in the milk replacement formula) or serve it as starter kibbles when they’re more comfortable eating solid food. This product promotes healthy digestion and immune system boost to ensure your pup’s growth.

Instinct Puppy Grain-Free Recipe Natural Dry Dog Food

What makes Instinct product amazing is a raw-boosted formula that helps to promote dental and bone health. This dry food is great for introducing live ingredients to your puppy with its dried raw chicken chunks. This addition is high in essential fatty acids and probiotics to complement its high protein kibbles. To top it off, this dry food is also grain-free, meaning it’s friendly to your pup’s digestive system. Such a treat to their palate and a benefit to their development!

Arden Grange Puppy Junior Large Breed

Just like us, German Shepherd puppies may have allergies and are sensitive to certain ingredients. The Arden Grange Puppy Junior Large Breed is from a renowned brand that produces hypoallergenic products. No allergy breakout means unhindered growth! Besides, your pup will love its chicken flavor while the additional glucosamine and chondroitin protect him from hip dysplasia—a condition when a dog’s hip joints don’t develop properly.

Orijen Puppy Large Breed

You will question less on “How much should I feed my German shepherd puppy?” with the calorie-limiting property from Orijen Puppy Large Breed. This dog food will make sure your little fur baby’s weight is on the right track. It’s doing in while also fulfilling a pup’s need of protein to go by the day, resulting in an active and lively puppy. You don’t need to worry if your pup’s a picky eater, the turkey liver will make any pup eager to devour it.

Taste of the Wild High Protein Real Meat Recipe Dry Dog Food

German Shepherds are built to be muscular. Though we wouldn’t want them to grow out of their puppy bod, it’s still paramount to keep the protein intake sufficient. The Taste of the Wild High Protein Real Meat Recipe Dry Dog Food will make sure your pup has everything he needs to achieve the lean and strong build like he’s intended too. One of its ingredients is real meat that’s rich in fatty acids and lean protein. This product is best for puppies with high energy levels. The best thing about it is it’s made from sustainably sourced ingredients without artificial flavoring and preservatives.

Blue Buffalo Blue Homestyle Recipe Puppy Chicken Dinner with Garden Vegetables

Weaning puppies, rejoice! Blue Buffalo Blue Homestyle Recipe Puppy Chicken Dinner with Garden Vegetables is going to be their new favorite. This paté- style wet food is perfect to introduce a puppy to more solid food. It’s also versatile that you can use it as a treat, mix it into their dry food, or serve it as it is. The ingredients are guaranteed to be free of by-products, grains, and artificial flavors.

Eukanuba Puppy Mixed Grill Chicken & Beef Dinner and Canned Dog Food

This brand is well-known for quality dog food at an affordable price. The Eukanuba Puppy Mixed Grill Chicken & Beef Dinner and Canned Dog Food are exceptional for its beneficial properties and fulfillment rate. It promotes the healthy development of the digestive tract that in turn boosting their immune system. Your pup is going to be active and happy just like he should.

What to Feed a German Shepherd Puppy

The first thing you need to see the ingredients. Look for how much real meat is included in the product. So, how much should I feed my German shepherd puppy? Your puppy must get its source of 22% protein and 8% fat (per meal), preferably from a good source. Feeding only animal by-products, such as from chicken, will not suffice to maintain the rather demanding needs. Other things to look for in a puppy’s diet are healthy omega 3 fatty acids, mainly from fish oil and vegetables. A small amount of grain is acceptable though it’s best avoided as much as possible to maintain a healthy digestive system. Happy tummy, happy pup!

how much to feed german shepherd puppy

Young puppies as young as 6-week old are still relying heavily on mom’s milk or milk replacement sustenance. Their digestive system is still developing, so they won’t be able to digest food well until about 10-week old. After 12 weeks, they should be able to start adjusting to soft foods even though their teeth are still developing. You can gradually give dry food if you’ve chosen to.

At about 4-month old, other types of food such as bones and fruits are perfect treats for your pups. As their digestive system gets stronger you can gradually introduce other types of live food like eggs and chewable bones. Eventually, your pup will grow up and capable of relying more on live ingredients at about 8-month old.

How Much to Feed German Shepherd Puppy

The amount of food is largely depending on your puppy’s weight and level of activities. As mentioned above, German Shepherd puppies need more calories than adult dogs. Calories are like fuel to your vehicle. They are meant to exhaust before being refilled again. An active pup will need about 55cal per kg of weight. Let’s say that you have a 15 kg puppy, which means he needs at least 825cal a day. That’s approximately 2 cups of kibbles a day or 2 cans of regular dog food. Canned food is easier to digest, so be prepared for a pup that gets hungry faster.

How Often to Feed a German Shepherd Puppy

Dogs, just like human infants, are creatures of habit. A house with a predictable routine provides a structure in a dog’s life. As adult dogs will get hungry about 8-10 hours after their last meal, puppies take only about half of the time to digest their food. That explains why puppies seem to be ferocious kibble monsters.

1 Month old german shepherd: Recommended weight is 2-4 kg, calorie needed 110 and 250 grams food. The 1-month-old German shepherd puppy will take food 3 times a day, Protein will 18% and Fat 22%.

2 Month old german shepherd: Recommended weight is 6-9 kg, Calories need 330 and the food amount is 285. The 2 month old german shepherd puppy will take food 3 times a day, Protein would be 18% and Fat would be 22%.

3 Month old german shepherd: The recommended weight is 10-14 kg, need calorie 550, Food amount is 365 grams. The 3 month old german shepherd puppy will eat 3 times a day and Protein 18%, Fat 22%.

4 Month old german shepherd: Weight would be 16-18 kg and calorie needed 880 and also approx food amount is 400 grams. The 4 month old german shepherd puppy will eat 3 times a day, Protein 18% and Fat 22%.

5 Month old german shepherd: Recommended weight is 18-22 kg, Calorie needed 990 and approx food amount is 450 grams. The 5 month old german shepherd puppy will eat maximum 3 times/day, Protein 18% and Fat 22%.

The ideal feeding frequency to feed your dog is 3 times a day at equal intervals. If your pup is 16-week old and under, give ½ cup of food for each meal and observe his eating behavior. That’s how much to feed German shepherd puppy. See how long it takes to finish his meal and adjust the amount accordingly. Over time, he will need more calorie intake as his weight goes up, so make sure to weigh your pup regularly to prevent overfeeding or underfeeding. It’s wise to keep a record on any weigh or behavior changes so you can adjust your meal plan accordingly.

Below is the comparison table for each month:

Age Recommended Weight  Calorie Needed Approx. Food Amount (grams)  Frequency  Protein % Fat %
1 month 2-4 kg 110  250 3 times/day  18% 22%
2 month  6-9 kg 330 285 3 times/day 18% 22%
3 month 10-14 kg 550 365 3 times/day  18% 22%
4 month 16-18 kg 880  400 3 times/day 18% 22%
5 month 18-22 kg 990 450 3 times/day 18% 22%
6 month 22-26 kg 1210 500 2-3 times/day 18% 22%
1 year 32-34 kg 1280  416 2 times/day 5% 18%
2 year 33-38 kg 1320 430 2 times/day  5% 18%
3 year 36-40 kg 1440 430 2 times/day 5% 18%

*) Data referred to Average Non-Working Male German Shepherds
**) Food amount varies depending on dog activity

What a Healthy German Shepherd Puppy Look Like

While the vets hold a more accountable opinion, there are visible signs you can observe as a telltale of a healthy puppy. The most obvious sign is how active the puppy is. A healthy puppy is curious and reactive to his environment. Their eyes are not sunken but round and lively, which is where the term “puppy eyes” came from. Next, observe the puppy’s fur. They should feel smooth with lots of fluff. This fluff will eventually grow out as the puppy age. If he’s losing the luster of his coat, there’s a chance that the puppy is unwell.

To know if your puppy overweight or underweight is quite easy. The rough guide to know it is by feeling the ribcage and the backbone. If you can feel a layer of fat on the ribcage without effort, that means he’s on the proper weight. But if it looks protruding or you can’t feel enough fat, great chance your pup is underweight. On the contrary, if it takes pressure to feel the ribcage through the layers of fat, you might want to adjust the feeding amount and frequency to avoid the risk of obesity. You need to consult the vet about how much should a German shepherd puppy eat according to his needs.

Conclusion

As one of the most popular dog breeds in the world, German shepherd puppies will grow to be loyal, intelligent, and strong companions. Started as working dogs, they are now more popular as pets to many households. It’s crucial to know how much to feed a German shepherd puppy, as a German Shepherd puppy eats more than the adult ones due to its growth and high level of energy. Maintain a record on its weight and behavior so you can adjust his meal plan accordingly. The happiness of an owner lies on a healthy pup that’s curious about everything while looking at you through his round and lively eyes.

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