What to Feed a German Shepherd
📝 Summary
A German Shepherd's staple diet is balanced dry kibble, supplemented with canned food for appetite and vegetables for vitamins. You can also add meat jerky, semi-moist food in moderation, and rawhide chews for dental health — but go easy on the high-protein and high-carb extras.
1 Dry Kibble
This is the everyday staple. Quality commercial foods are formulated by experts so their nutrient mix matches a German Shepherd’s growth needs. The right kibble also scrapes the teeth as the dog chews, helping clean and firm the gums — and most Shepherds love it.
2 Canned Food
Juicy, tender canned food comes in different flavors and textures that boost appetite, and most Shepherds enjoy it. But it is high in protein, so don’t overfeed it alongside kibble, cooked food, and carbs. Use it promptly after opening, since canned food loses its fresh appeal quickly once exposed to air.
3 Vegetables
Vegetables are rich in vitamins and great for a Shepherd’s development. Most everyday household vegetables are fine — carrots, cabbage, broccoli, blueberries, peas, green beans, mustard greens, celery, pumpkin, and sweet potato, among others.
4 Dried Meat and Jerky
Adding crisp dried meat to canned food boosts fiber and fat and encourages healthy chewing and jaw work.
5 Semi-Moist Food
Semi-moist food resembles cheese and packs about three times the calories of canned food, but it is also high in carbohydrates — so a diabetic Shepherd should not have it. Older, less active dogs can get a little as an occasional treat.
6 Chew Treats
A chew stick is not glue — it is a bone-gel product pressed from beef-bone meal. It is useful while the dog teeth, giving both dental wear and a bit of bone nutrition.
7 Learn More
For training methods, see our guide on how to train a German Shepherd.
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