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If you’ve recently decided to purchase an adorable German Shepherd, then it’s very important that you are taking the time to learn how much you should be feeding them.
Generally speaking, German Shepherds are bred to be very athletic and active dogs that require plenty of exercise and stimulation to ensure that they are harnessing their bounds of energy.
For that reason, it means that your German Shepherd is going to need plenty of delicious, nutritious food to support their naturally active and energetic temperament, so it’s important to make sure that you’re getting the quantity correct.
So, with that being said, if you happen to have recently welcomed a sweet German Shepherd puppy into your home, you are going to need to make sure that you are feeding them little and often.
As a general rule of thumb, you will need to make sure that you’re feeding your puppy around 3-4 times a day, providing them with smaller yet fortifying portions of food that will help to keep them going throughout the day, while also supporting healthy development as they grow.
On the other hand, if you happen to have a German Shepherd that has fully matured into an adult, then you are going to need to make sure that you are feeding them around 2.5 to 3.5 cups (standard size) of premium, high-quality kibble alongside plenty of meat – twice a day.
Preferably, you should aim to get your German Shepherd into a food routine and make sure that you are feeding them, in the same way, each day to prevent any confusion or distress.
As a general rule of thumb, we recommend that you aim to feed your German Shepherd at the same time each day so that your German Shepherd begins to naturally feel when it is time to eat.
For the best results doing this, we recommend that you feed your dog right before heading out on your morning walk to fortify, and then once again in the evening to settle them down for the night and get them ready for bedtime.
Of course, you can feed your German Shepherds snacks throughout the day (especially if your German Shepherd is particularly energetic/active) although if you’re noticing that your dog is overly hungry, then we recommend scheduling an appointment with the vet so that they can assess the situation further.
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What Should A German Shepherd Eat?
Alongside the quantity of food that you should be feeding your German Shepherd, it’s also important to consider the type of food that you are feeding your dog.
To give you an understanding of what you should be feeding your German Shepherd, it’s important to note that German Shepherds are strictly meat-eaters (aka, carnivores!) which means that they will require a diet that consists mostly of meat, as well as delicious kibble.
Besides being totally delicious to your German Shepherd, a meat-centric diet will be able to meet their dietary requirements and provide them with all of the protein and nutrients they need to stay as healthy and strong as they can be.
Protein is extremely important to your German Shepherd’s diet because it will ensure that they are getting all of the nutrients and amino acids required for a shiny coat, healthy skin, proper muscle development, and more.
As a side note, if you are ever unsure of what type of food that you should be feeding your German Shepherd, then it’s important to keep in mind that you should absolutely contact your dog’s veterinarian.
By taking the time to contact them, they will be able to provide you with their professional opinion on how much you should be feeding your German Shepherd by taking into consideration their medical history, age, and more.
How Much Should A German Shepherd Puppy Eat?
Even though a German Shepherd adult will typically only require two large meals a day (give or take a few snacks) a German Shepherd puppy will usually need to be fed on a far more frequent basis of 3-4 times a day.
You should make sure that you are feeding your little German Shepherd little and often, as this will be able to fortify and nourish your puppy as they grow.
In addition to this, you should also make sure that you are feeding your German Shepherd puppy kibble designed specifically for puppies.
How Many Times A Day Should A German Shepherd Eat?
If you’ve recently got yourself a loving German Shepherd adult, you’re going to need to make sure that you’re feeding your dog anywhere from around 2.5 to 3.5 cups of high-quality kibble two times a day – once in the morning and once in the evening.
Why Won’t My German Shepherd Eat?
We’re sure that you’ll agree with us when we say that German Shepherds have an appetite!
So, it can naturally be very concerning if you happen to discover that your German Shepherd no longer comes running to the food bowl at dinner time, or doesn’t twirl and bark with excitement when you shake the kibble box.
What might the reason be that your German Shepherd has suddenly lost their appetite?
If you’re noticing that your dog has lost their appetite, then the most important thing that you should do is to take your dog to the vet so that your vet can assess what the problem might be and work to find a solution.
Nevertheless, to give you an idea of what the problem might be, here are some of the most common reasons why a German Shepherd might lose their appetite:
- Food boredom: If your dog is given the same food, they might simply lose their appetite due to boredom.
- Aging: If you have an older dog, then they might be losing their appetite due to their metabolisms beginning to slow down.
- Anxiety: Your German Shepherd might be losing their appetite due to anxiety.
- Illness: Another common reason for a loss of appetite could be illness-related.
- Dental issues: Dental problems might be causing discomfort when your dog tries to eat.