5 Best Dog Foods for German Shepherds (2024)

Acana Wild Prairie is a premium performance food that has been specifically designed with the needs of active breeds like the German Shepherd in mind. This exceptional quality food formulation is often ranked among the best dog foods for German Shepherds available for purchase today. Its main ingredients are all lean meat proteins including whole chicken and turkey and both chicken and turkey meal. Eggs and fish also play supporting roles in this top shelf recipe, ensuring ample amounts of essential fatty acids to support coat and skin health.

Acana Wild Prairie’s recipe includes not only meat, fruits, and vegetables but also organs, bone, and cartilage to ensure a well-rounded approach to nutrition. A grain-free food, this diet is the ideal choice for German Shepherds with skin and stomach sensitivities.

Pros:

• Glucosamine and chondroitin have been added to this diet to promote excellent joint health.
• Acana Wild Prairie’s high emphasis on lean proteins supports good digestion and strong muscle development in the German Shepherd.
• A grain-free diet, Acana Wild Prairie makes an excellent selection for German Shepherds with allergies to grains.

Cons:

• The high protein content found in this diet may be too rich for some dogs.
• The lack of grains can be problematic for the digestive system of some dogs who may do better on an Acana formulation that utilizes whole grains in its carbohydrate content.
• This diet does not contain a probiotic to assist with optimal digestive health.

Pooch & Mutt Health and Digestion offers excellent quality nutrition to meet the German Shepherd’s every dietary need. This premium shelf diet is often recommended as one of the best dog foods for German Shepherds available for purchase today.

A diet that has been carefully prepared to assist dogs struggling with poor digestion, Pooch & Mutt Health Digestion is completely grain-free, placing a high emphasis on fruits and vegetables rich in dietary fibre to assist with optimal gut flora. Its main ingredient is salmon, a lean meat that is full of flavour and that contains an abundance of the essential fatty acids needed for coat and skin health.

Two powerful probiotics have been included in this diet to provide support for fluid digestive processing in the German Shepherd. Glucosamine and chondroitin are also found in ample quantities to boost overall joint health.

Pros:

• Parsley has been added to this food formulation to assist with fluid digestion.
• Yucca is present in sufficient quantities to reduce unpleasant fecal smells.
• Urinary health is supported through the addition of kidney-friendly cranberries.

Cons:

• Some dogs may achieve better digestion through a diet that contains whole grains.
• Pooch & Mutt Complete Health and Digestion is an expensive food formulation.
• Potatoes and peas are not ideal carbohydrate sources, elevating the blood sugar and potentially causing lowered fertility rates in some breeding dogs.

For a diet that offers excellent nutrition at a reasonable price point, it’s worth giving Wellness CORE Ocean Grain-Free a try. A high performance food that is consistently ranked among the best dog foods for German Shepherds, Wellness CORE Ocean Grain-Free makes the use of antioxidant and fibre-rich fruits and vegetables the priority of its carbohydrate content. These vital nutrients assist with the achievement of ideal digestion and a thriving immune system.

The main ingredient in this high quality dog food is salmon, a lean and flavourful meat that is reinforced through the addition of tuna meal.

Pros:

• Wellness CORE Ocean Grain-Free is a protein-rich recipe that utilizes nutrient-dense salmon and tuna meal as its basis.
• Glucosamine and chondroitin have been included in this food to boost joint health in the German Shepherd.
• The addition of both rapeseed and salmon oils ensures ample servings of the omega 3 and 6 fatty acids required for optimal coat and skin health.

Cons:

• The heavy emphasis on peas and potatoes is less than ideal, particularly for breeding dogs whose fertility rates may be impacted by these ingredients.
• The high protein content and absence of grains may make this food too rich for some dogs.
• This food could be improved through the addition of taurine to support heart health in the German Shepherd.

AATU 80/20 is a top quality diet that owners can feel good about feeding their German Shepherd. Consistently recommended as one of the best dog foods for German Shepherds available for purchase today, AATU 80/20 proudly prioritizes a protein-rich recipe to fuel the nutritional needs of active dogs. Chicken is the foundation of this top shelf food formulation, a lean meat that is flavourful and easy for dogs to digest.

A designer food produced in the UK in small batches, this diet is free from artificial colours, preservatives, flavours, and GM ingredients, making it an excellent selection for German Shepherds with allergies. Each protein source included in this diet is cooked at a low temperature for a lengthy period of time to ensure the meat is easy for dogs to process and utilize effectively.

Pros:

• The chicken utilized in AATU 80/20 contains no preservatives and is hormone-free, ensuring its nutritional quality.
• Superfoods are included in this recipe to boost the German Shepherd’s immune system.
• Grains, white potatoes, and whole grains, all common allergens for many dogs, are not found in this formula.

Cons:

• The upfront cost for AATU 80/20 is pricey; however, since smaller quantities of the food need to be fed to achieve eating satisfaction, the bag will last for longer, increasing its value.
• The protein content in this diet may be too high for older German Shepherds who are no longer as active as they once were.
• The lack of grains contained in this diet may disturb the digestive system of some dogs.

Lily’s Kitchen Natural Grain-Free Adult is a top shelf food formulation designed to support active breed dogs like the German Shepherd. A diet that places a high emphasis on a protein-rich recipe, duck, salmon, and venison are the trifecta of nutrient perfection that form the basis of this diet. One of the best dog foods for German Shepherds on the market today, Lily’s Kitchen Natural Grain-Free bases its carbohydrate content on antioxidant and fibre-dense fruits and vegetables.

Glucosamine and chondroitin are prominently featured in this powerhouse food formulation to assist with optimal joint functionality.

Pros:

• Three lean and flavourful meats, duck, venison, and salmon, are the foundation of this diet.
• Glucosamine and chondroitin encourage healthy joint function.
• Prebiotics have been included to assist with the development of healthy gut flora.

Cons:

• There is a heavy emphasis on lentils, peas, and potatoes, foods that can be common allergens for many dogs and that have also been linked to lowered fertility rates in breeding dogs.
• Lily’s Kitchen Natural Grain-Free Adult is a costly food formulation, particularly for a large breed dog like the German Shepherd.
• The addition of taurine would help to boost overall cardiac health, and it, unfortunately, is not present in this food formulation.