{"id":10964,"date":"2022-05-18T06:42:11","date_gmt":"2022-05-18T06:42:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/?p=10964"},"modified":"2023-08-01T16:11:35","modified_gmt":"2023-08-01T16:11:35","slug":"german-shepherd-diet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/german-shepherd-diet\/","title":{"rendered":"What Do German Shepherds Eat? Diet &#038; Habits"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-14101bc2\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/What-Do-German-Shepherds-Eat-featured-image.jpg\" alt=\"German Shepherd looking away\" class=\"wp-image-10973\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/What-Do-German-Shepherds-Eat-featured-image.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/What-Do-German-Shepherds-Eat-featured-image-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/What-Do-German-Shepherds-Eat-featured-image-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/What-Do-German-Shepherds-Eat-featured-image-705x397.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<nav aria-label=\"breadcrumbs\" class=\"rank-math-breadcrumb\"><p><span class=\"last\">Home<\/span><\/p><\/nav>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading post_title_h1\" id=\"sc-post-title\">What Do German Shepherds Eat? Diet &#038; Habits<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post_info\"><strong><a   class=\"post-author-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/author\/alex\/\">Alex Vicente<\/a><\/strong> \u2022 Updated on August 1, 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"disclaimers\">\n<li><span class=\"av-icon-char\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-av_icon=\"\ue822\" data-av_iconfont=\"entypo-fontello\"><\/span> This review contains affiliate links. Read more <a href=\"\/affiliate-disclosure\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"6013\">here<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span class=\"av-icon-char\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-av_icon=\"\uf0fa\" data-av_iconfont=\"fontello\"><\/span> Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Having been around since the 1800s, German Shepherds are a favorite of many.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They\u2019re brilliant, have an amazing tracking ability, and are loyal to a fault.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you recently got your first Shepherd and are just settling in, it may be time to ask, what do German Shepherds eat?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Luckily, this article will have you covered, revealing what\u2019s better to feed your doggie and what to avoid to keep them happy and healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read on to find out more.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Table of Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li ><a href=\"#what-do-german-shepherds-eat\">What Do German Shepherds Eat?<\/a><\/li><li ><a href=\"#what-should-i-not-feed-my-german-shepherd\">What Should I Not Feed My German Shepherd?<\/a><\/li><li ><a href=\"#final-words\">Final Words<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-do-german-shepherds-eat\">What Do German Shepherds Eat?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/German-Shepherd-walking-and-smelling-the-floor.jpg\" alt=\"German Shepherd walking and smelling the floor\" class=\"wp-image-10970\" title=\"German Shepherd walking and smelling the floor\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/German-Shepherd-walking-and-smelling-the-floor.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/German-Shepherd-walking-and-smelling-the-floor-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/German-Shepherd-walking-and-smelling-the-floor-768x473.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/German-Shepherd-walking-and-smelling-the-floor-705x434.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Like humans and other dogs, German Shepherd dogs need a well-balanced diet to stay healthy, strong, and energetic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals are essential for your dog\u2019s health and are integral to his diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>GSDs can eat a wide variety of things, and since they can eat both animal and plant-based foods, this makes them omnivores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This opens the door to a buffet of options you can feed your dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are all the essential foods your Shepherd needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Proteins<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Considering how big GSDs can get and how full of energy they are, protein plays an essential role in their growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Puppies need a minimum of 22% protein in their diet, while adult dogs need about 18% to comply with their nutritional requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Foods with high-quality animal-based protein sources are essential, as they:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Regulate and provide energy for your GSD.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Helps heal wounds faster.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improves the health of your dog\u2019s hair, nails, and skin.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Builds healthier muscles and restores their growth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improves the GSD\u2019s immunity overall.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Protein can be found in several sources, including but limited to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Birds, such as chicken, duck, and turkey.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Eggs from those birds mentioned above.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Meat from cattle, including cows, lamb, and pork.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fish, which includes tuna, salmon, and so on.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Protein can also be plant-based, in case you don\u2019t want to feed your dog meet. There are many alternatives, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Tofu<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chickpeas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Peanuts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Green beans<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Some dry food alternatives have protein with other supplements, such as vitamins and minerals, to provide a balanced source of sustenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dogs famously love peanut butter, and yes, you can feed it to your GSD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, many dog owners offer it as a treat, and it\u2019s better not to feed it regularly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because peanut butter has a high sodium content, give it to your dog in moderation or use the unsalted version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/baskets-of-fruits-and-vegetables.jpg\" alt=\"baskets of fruits and vegetables\" class=\"wp-image-10975\" title=\"baskets of fruits and vegetables\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/baskets-of-fruits-and-vegetables.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/baskets-of-fruits-and-vegetables-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/baskets-of-fruits-and-vegetables-768x473.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/baskets-of-fruits-and-vegetables-705x434.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fruits and Vegetables<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>GSDs can eat many vegetables, like beets, asparagus, artichoke, bell peppers, carrots, lettuce, potatoes, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, these vegetables would be better off cooked before handing them over to your canine friend, as they will help with digestion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also feed fruits like apples, apricots, bananas, mango, watermelon, and strawberries to your GSD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, it\u2019s worth noting that fruits\u2019 pits or seeds are toxic to dogs, so remember to remove them before feeding one to your furry friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Avoid giving a full fruit at all costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though they provide doggies with vitamins, fruits and vegetables need to form only about 10% of their daily calorie intake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, make sure to feed them to your dog in moderation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dairy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can feed your doggo some&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.petmd.com\/dog\/nutrition\/can-dogs-drink-milk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"6014\">cheese and milk<\/a>&nbsp;if you want; however, it\u2019s better to do it in limited quantities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s because puppies have an enzyme called Lactase that breaks down milk because they consume a lot of it when they\u2019re young.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, as they grow older, the enzyme dissipates, causing them to become lactose intolerant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Monitor your GSDs after they drink milk or eat dairy products, and you\u2019ll be able to know how sensitive he\/she is toward dairy products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some dogs are okay with it, and some dogs can\u2019t handle lactose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bones<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Dogs stereotypically love gnawing on bones, and yes, you can give them one to sink their teeth into.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, that bone must be bigger than their muzzle to keep them from swallowing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a great source of fun. It also allows them to vent frustrations, and we can all agree that chewing on a bone is better than chewing on your furniture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plus, some dogs could use any distraction!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, don\u2019t offer chicken, pork, beef, or lamb bones if they\u2019ve been cooked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When these bones cook, they weaken and become soft, which leads to the possibility of them splintering or breaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This could be hazardous to the dog\u2019s stomach.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-bf01ede9\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-wrapper gb-grid-wrapper-8deeea5f\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-d9845efa\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-d9845efa\">\n\n<p class=\"p_nomargin_bottom\"><strong>You may also want to read:<br><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/best-dog-food-for-german-shepherds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"6015\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/best-harness-french-bulldog\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"6016\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/german-shepherd-breed-info\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"6017\">German Shepherd Dog Breed Information: All You Need To Know<\/a><\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-32f0d868\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-32f0d868\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-75 has-custom-font-size is-style-fill btn_read_more has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/german-shepherd-breed-info\/\" style=\"border-radius:5px;background-color:#eaa802;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"6018\"><strong>Read More<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-should-i-not-feed-my-german-shepherd\">What Should I Not Feed My German Shepherd?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/hand-full-of-small-pieces-of-chocolate.jpg\" alt=\"hand full of small pieces of chocolate\" class=\"wp-image-10971\" title=\"hand full of small pieces of chocolate\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/hand-full-of-small-pieces-of-chocolate.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/hand-full-of-small-pieces-of-chocolate-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/hand-full-of-small-pieces-of-chocolate-768x473.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/hand-full-of-small-pieces-of-chocolate-705x434.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While there\u2019s a big spectrum of foods GSDs can eat, there are still some items that need to be avoided at all costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These foods are considered toxic to GSD and dogs in general, and if your dog ingests any of them, it\u2019s recommended that you contact your vet as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.petmd.com\/dog\/chocolate-toxicity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"6019\">Chocolates<\/a>, avocado, grapes, onion, garlic, raisins, walnuts, and macadamia nuts are dangerous for your dog will cause health problems, and could be fatal in some cases.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.petmd.com\/dog\/emergency\/digestive\/e_dg_grape_raisin_toxicity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"6020\">Grapes and raisins<\/a>, in particular, are notoriously toxic as they can cause acute kidney failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have any of the previously mentioned items, we recommend that you keep them in places where your dog can\u2019t reach them, even if you\u2019re not around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s also recommended to avoid feeding your dog any raw meats, as that puts them in jeopardy and the risk of a bacterial infection like salmonella or E. Coli. You should consider cooking them to make sure they\u2019re safe for consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"final-words\">Final Words<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/German-Shepherd-laying-on-the-grass-chewing-something.jpg\" alt=\"German Shepherd laying on the grass chewing something\" class=\"wp-image-10969\" title=\"German Shepherd laying on the grass chewing something\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/German-Shepherd-laying-on-the-grass-chewing-something.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/German-Shepherd-laying-on-the-grass-chewing-something-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/German-Shepherd-laying-on-the-grass-chewing-something-768x473.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/German-Shepherd-laying-on-the-grass-chewing-something-705x434.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Apparently, there are so many things you can feed your doggo\u2014just remember to avoid the foods that will hurt him either right now or in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Create a meal plan for your German Shepherd, and make sure that it\u2019s a well-balanced one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No matter what you decide to feed your dog, make sure that you\u2019re providing them with what they need because dogs of varying ages have different nutritional requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re still unsure of what to feed them or worried that it might hurt them in any way, you can always talk to your vet and see what they recommend.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are you wondering what do german shepherds eat? Learn all about their diet, their eating habits, and how to keep them eating healthy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":10973,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[173],"tags":[26],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10964"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10964"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10964\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10973"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10964"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10964"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pawsinsider.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10964"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}