The 9 Best Dog Foods for German Shepherds

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• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

Known for their intelligence and protective instincts, German Shepherds have long been popular with families. They’re confident, loyal, highly trainable, and typically great with children. But caring for a German Shepherd means maintaining a thick coat, meeting a fairly high exercise need, and finding the right food. So what exactly should you feed them?

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has determined the minimum requirements for key nutrients in dogs—which are pretty similar, regardless of a dog’s breed. That doesn’t mean, however, that breed-specific health and disposition tendencies won’t make some foods a better fit.

Key concerns for a German Shepherd will be high-quality animal protein and lots of it, especially for very active and working dogs. You’ll want plenty of healthy fats to support a thick coat, and strongly supplemented glucosamine or chondroitin to reduce the risk of joint problems in later life. Sensitive stomachs are almost breed standard, so fiber-filled formulas with probiotics and prebiotics are your friend.

Keeping breed needs and AAFCO standards in mind, we’ve reviewed the best dog foods for German Shepherds in a variety of styles, converting nutritional analysis to a dry-matter basis to make comparison easier. As always, we recommend talking with your vet to ensure your particular dog’s nutritional needs are met with any diet change.

Best for German Shepherd Puppies: Wellness Complete Health Large-Breed Puppy Recipe

This popular growth-stage recipe from Wellness comes in a larger kibble size for German Shepherd puppies. It includes deboned chicken as the main ingredient and wholesome brown rice for carbohydrate support. At 32% protein and 14% fat, it meets the AAFCO standards for puppy food, with even more protein to keep up with large-breed puppies. It also falls within the critical AAFCO recommendation for calcium to avoid dangerously fast growth, with about 1.4% minimum.

In addition to being a food source of protein, fats, and carbohydrates, this formula also includes a boost of antioxidants from blueberries and spinach to support your growing pup’s immune system and flaxseed, which is rich in omegas, to help their skin and coat health. It also contains glucosamine for joint health and probiotics for a healthy gut.

Key Nutrients:

• 367 kcal/cup
• Protein: 32%
• Fat: 14%
• Fiber: 5.5%
• Calcium: 1.4%

Best for Senior German Shepherds: Eukanuba Senior Large Breed Dry Dog Food

As dogs age, they may develop joint issues, especially larger breeds, and need additional support from their food. This senior adult dry dog food is fortified with ingredients that help support joints, including cartilage-supporting chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine (this recipe contains 50% more glucosamine than Eukanuba’s standard adult dry food), which help keep the joints and muscles mobile.

The recipe contains DHA and antioxidants to support your dog’s brain and immune health as they age. It also has Eukanuba 3D DentaDefense to help remove tartar buildup on teeth. You can serve this alone or mix it with wet food.

Key Nutrients:

• 308 kcal/cup
• Protein: 29%
• Fat: 13%
• Glucosamine: 368 mg/kg min
• Fiber: 4.3%

Best for Highly Active German Shepherds: VICTOR Purpose Performance Formula Dry Dog Food

Highly active or working German Shepherds need to consume more protein to keep up with their quick energy-burning lifestyle. VICTOR’s Purpose Performance Formula has 29% protein and 20% fat to help support energy and muscle recovery. It’s also fortified with additional glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health.

Other ingredients include selenium yeast, which supports your dog’s metabolic function and immune strength. The supplement also contains a mix of minerals for overall health and prebiotics and probiotics to help aid in healthy digestion.

Key Nutrients:

• 399 kcal/cup
• Protein: 29%
• Fat: 20%
• Fiber: 4.2%

Best for Weight Management: Purina Pro Plan Adult Large Breed Weight Management Chicken & Rice Formula

German Shepherds can be prone to obesity, especially as they slow down in their golden years. If your vet is on board, a fiber-rich food with lean protein can help your dog lose extra pounds. This particular formula from Purina is specifically for the weight management of large-breed dogs, with chicken as the first ingredient. It has 30% protein and 15% fat on a dry-matter basis, which the manufacturer notes is to help support and maintain muscle mass during weight loss.

Additional ingredients include probiotics for gut and immune health and glucosamine and EPA for joint health.

Key Nutrients:

• 361 kcal/cup
• Protein: 30%
• Fat: 15%
• Fiber: 6.25%

Best for Skin and Coat Health: Hill’s Science Diet Wet Dog Food, Sensitive Stomach

This wet food from Hill’s helps support dogs with sensitive skin or sensitive stomachs (the two often go hand in hand). It contains omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin E that help with skin and coat health and natural fibers for firmer stool. It’s formulated to be highly digestible, so it’s gentle on your dog’s stomach, and it’s made with beet pulp, which acts as a prebiotic fiber. With 78% moisture, this can also be a source of extra hydration for dogs who need it.

The formula is grain-free, which is beneficial for pups who have grain allergies. Dogs who don’t need to avoid grains can try a grain-inclusive recipe, like the Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin Large Breed Chicken & Barley Recipe Dry Dog Food. 

Key Nutrients:

• 379 kcal/12.8 oz can
• Protein: 18% min
• Fat: 14% min
• Moisture: 78%
• Fiber: 4.5%

Best for Food Allergies: Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Large Breed Adult Lamb & Brown Rice

If your German Shepherd suffers from food allergies, a limited-ingredient diet like this lamb meal and brown rice formula might be a good option. It contains only a single type of animal protein (lamb) along with brown rice, which provides carbohydrates and fiber. It has 22% protein and 12% fat, which falls within the AAFCO standards. This recipe is free of soy and gluten.

If your pup is allergic to lamb, other protein varieties are within the line, including Salmon & Brown Rice and Beef & Brown Rice recipes. There are also wet food varieties that may entice picky eaters or provide an extra source of hydration, with the Lamb & Rice recipe having a 78% moisture content.

Key Nutrients:

• 370 kcal/cup
• Protein: 24%
• Fat: 13%
• Fiber: 4.4%

Best Dry: Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition German Shepherd Adult Dry Dog Food

This Royal Canin formula is designed exclusively for purebred German Shepherds over 15 months old. This recipe is intended to help combat sensitive stomachs that are common in the breed with highly digestible proteins (protein content 22%), including chicken and a selection of specific fibers. It contains whole grains, including brewer rice and oat groats, to aid digestion and help prevent soft stools.

The kibble shape and size are specifically designed for German Shepherds’ strong muzzles and teeth, with an X-like shape. Additionally, EPA and DHA from fish oil help support a healthy coat and skin, while glucosamine and chondroitin provide joint and mobility support.

Key Nutrients:

• 321 kcal/cup
• Protein: 24%
• Fat: 19%
• Crude Fiber: 6.1%

Best Fresh Food: Ollie

Ollie’s subscription food service is personalized and convenient, making it a strong fresh option for German Shepherds and their personal health needs. There are a variety of available high-protein recipes, including ones with beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, or pork. In addition to having a single source of protein in each individual recipe, ingredients also include grains, rice and oats, and a mix of vegetables and fruits, like sweet potatoes, apples, cranberries, blueberries, and carrots.

When you create your dog’s profile, you enter their breed, size, and weight, so you can get personalized serving sizes, which is helpful if you’re trying to get your pup to shed a few pounds. This all-life-stages food can be served as a full meal, used as a topper, or mixed in with your dog’s kibble.

Key Nutrients (Beef Dish with Sweet Potatoes Recipe):

• 1540 kcal ME/kg
• Protein: 32%
• Fat: 25%
• Fiber: 7%

Best Raw: ORIJEN TUNDRA Freeze Dried Medallions

Whether you have an active or working German Shepherd who needs calorie and muscle support, or a dog who needs to put on some weight, feeding them a food with extra protein can help. While the use of raw food is still debated, some potential benefits include that it may retain nutrients that are lost through the heating process during cooking, and raw protein may be easier for some dogs to digest. On the flipside, dogs with a compromised immune system or under the age of one should not consume raw food.

ORIJEN’s freeze-dried medallions are made with 90% raw animal ingredients, including venison, duck, lamb, and flounder. It also contains probiotics and a mix of muscle meat, organs and bones. These medallions need warm water added to them and can be used as a topper or full meal.

Key Nutrients:

• 75 kcal/medallion
• Protein: 38% min
• Fat: 35% min
• Fiber: 5.2% max
• Calcium: 1.4% min

How We Chose

The products featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms, and adherence to AAFCO nutritional guidelines. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.

Further Reading

• Best Harnesses for German Shepherds
• 13 Best Dog Beds for Large & Giant Breeds
• How To Choose a Dog Crate, from Material to Size
• Is High Protein Good for Dogs? Protein in Dog Food Explained