German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Chart
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When such a strong, athletic, and active pet like a German Shepherd puppy comes home, it’s difficult to ignore them and not fall head over heels in love with them instantly. They are famous for being affectionate, so they will return your love in abundance. They love exercise and stay active throughout the day. Due to their extremely active nature, they need a highly nutritious and balanced diet.
If you want him to develop properly, make sure his dietary requirements are being fulfilled. Now, you might be deliberating, “how much to feed a German shepherd puppy?” Well, if your pup is 4 weeks old, feed him 1 to 1.5 cups a day. A 3 months old canine will need to consume 1.5 to 2 cups every day, while a 6 months old mutt will need to eat 2 to 3 cups every day.
While feeding a dog, many people make a mistake by serving too much or too little food or giving them low-quality food. Therefore, it is critical to have obvious standards, especially on how much food to serve them. Overeating can increase sugar levels, while under-eating can cause malnutrition. In today’s article, we are going to provide you a German shepherd puppy feeding chart that will help you determine how much to feed to your mutt based on his age and weight.
Important Factors To Consider While Deciding What To Feed A German Shepherd Puppy
All hounds deserve high-quality and nourishing food. All of them have different caloric requirements. Small puppies need a totally different diet than sporting, working mutts. For increased energy and health, remember these things while determining what to feed your pup.
Activity Level
Activity level has a huge impact on how much your puppy should eat. As working dogs, they are smart, energetic, and muscular. It means they have higher caloric requirements. Low-quality and processed foods produce a lazy body and mind. That’s why; you should provide them a high-quality diet that contains all nutrients they need to stay active and healthy.
Size
German Shepherds can be 26 inches tall. The bitches can weigh around 50 to 70 kilograms, while male hounds can weigh around 66 to 88 kilograms. It means these giant dogs can have a big appetite. We would recommend you to not feed him the cheapest thing you can get your hands on—opt for superior quality foods.
Health
They are susceptible to different types of health problems, so it is essential to understand each problem and try to prevent it through a healthy diet. It is always better to try to prevent issues right from the beginning than waiting until they become worse. The most common issue that can be prevented by diet is arthritis.
Different types of musculoskeletal disorders can attack your pet if you don’t feed him a healthy diet. Due to an excess amount of protein in their diet, they can develop kidney problems. On the other hand, foods that are loaded with fat could become a cause of pancreatitis. And if you give him an overabundance of fat and salt, cardiovascular problems can shorten his life.
Age
As they have a big body and extremely energetic nature thus, you must fulfill their nutritional needs at each life stage. They develop faster, so they will require certain nutrients offered at particular periods in their lives. Growing canines need different nutrients than adult or senior dogs. Be sure you are feeding him premium quality food that is suitable for his age.
German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Chart
Their feeding chart has three important aspects: frequency, amount, and length. As a GSD owner, you must find out the right feeding frequency, amount, and length for him without leaving out any aspect of them. That way, you can discover how much to feed him.
Feeding Amount
The feeding amount is reliant on your canine’s age. Overall, there are four arrays that you need to take into consideration.
- Less than 16 weeks: 1/5 cup of food per meal
- 16 weeks to 9 months: 1 to 1/5 cups of food in each meal
- 9 months to 12 months: 2 cups of food per meal
- One-year-old and above: 3 cups in each meal
Feeding Length
The feeding length depends on your observation. Therefore, you need to know how long does he take to finish his food, how long does he take to be full, and he is still hungry after consuming his food? They normally require 15 minutes to finish their portion. But, if he is not interested in eating his meal, take him to the vet as soon as possible.
Feeding Frequency
The feeding frequency also depends on the dog’s age. Here are three ranges that you need to remember.
- 9 months: 3 meals a day
- 9 months to 12 months: 2 meals a day
- 12 months and above: 2 meals a day
| Puppy Age | Number of Meals |
| 9 Months 9 to 12 Months 12 months and above | 3 meals a Day 2 Meals a Day 2 Meals per Day |
It is better to feed him 2 to 3 hours before bedtime otherwise;, it will become difficult for him to digest the food.
German Shepherd Feeding Chart Based On Weight
Almost all commercial formulas will have a feeding guide on the package’s back. However, these are just suggestions, so you don’t need to follow them strictly if your pup is not acting well. Puppies and adult GSDs’ should be fed according to this chart:
- If his weight is 0 to 30 pounds, feed him 1 ¼ to 2 ¼ cups per day.
- A 30 to 50 pounds dog will need to eat at least 2 ¼ to 3 ½ cups per day.
- A 50 to 80 pounds canine should be fed 3 ½ to 4 ½ cups per day.
- An 80 to 100 pounds mutt should be eating 4 ½ to 5 cups per day.
- However, if his weight is more than 100 pounds, give him 5 cups + ½ cup per extra 10 to 20 pounds of weight.
| Canine Weight | Cups Each Day |
| 0 to 30 Pounds | 1 ¼ to 2 ¼ cups |
| 30 to 50 Pounds | 2 ¼ to 3 ½ cups |
| 50 to 80 Pounds | 3 ½ to 4 ½ cups |
| 80 to 100 pounds | 4 ½ to 5 cups |
| More than 100 pounds | 5 cups + ½ cup per extra 10 to 20 pounds |
However, if his weight is more than 100 pounds, give him 5 cups + ½ cup per extra 10 to 20 kilograms of weight.
Conclusion
Many individuals feed their puppies without thinking about their nutritional needs. But since you have read our thorough guide, you now know your GSD’s dietary needs. After getting information about feeding amount, length, and frequency, you can effortlessly decide how much to feed your pooch.
Along with the German shepherd puppy feeding chart, you have also learned about how much to feed and how many times a day to feed your GSD puppy according to his age and weight. We hope now you are capable of preparing a solid feeding plan for your cutie pie on your own.
