Last Updated: 05/06/2025

Vet Picks: Best Food for German Shepherds

Want to know what vets recommend as the best dog food for German Shepherds? Find out here.

Author: Dr Brittany Ward BVSc

Reading Time: 37 minutes - long read

The majestic German Shepherd is a popular breed known commonly for their strength, intelligence and loyalty. They need lots of exercise to keep their active minds occupied and satisfy their energy needs as a working dog. It also essential that t hey receive a premium quality, protein-rich diet to satisfy their energy needs, nourish their luxurious coat, maintain a healthy weight and support their bone and joint health.

Health Conditions: When choosing a diet, it is essential to ensure you have considered any health conditions your pet may have been diagnosed with. If your German Shepherd does have a health condition, then your veterinarian should be your first point of call for dietary recommendations. In some cases, there may be a prescription diet that is most suited to manage your dog's condition. For health support, there are a range of non-prescription, therapeutic options designed to prevent certain conditions or accommodate your German Shepherd's specific needs.
Complete and Balanced: After considering health conditions, the most important factor in deciding on the right diet is choosing an option that is nutritionally balanced and complete for your German Shepherd's age. Ensuring that it meets AAFCO or FEDIAF pet food control guidelines is crucial to ensure that your dog receives all the nutrients they require in the correct ratios.
Age: Dogs of different ages have very different nutritional requirements. German Shepherd puppies require a high protein and energy diet with a carefully balanced calcium: phosphorus ratio to allow controlled growth and prevent joint development abnormalities. Senior German Shepherds are often less active, have a slower metabolism and are prone to joint disease, which means that they require fewer calories and less fat, but an easily digestible diet, to help them maintain good body condition alongside a good joint supplement.
Quality: An essential factor to consider should be the quality of the ingredients and the digestibility of the nutrients provided by the diet. Premium diets are designed to be highly digestible (which means smaller, firmer stools) and do not change ingredients batch to batch like supermarket type brands, which means less tummy upsets. They also tend to contain higher levels of added beneficial nutrients, such as omega fatty acids for joint and coat health, and some are backed by testing to ensure they deliver the results they promise. Learning how to read pet food labels and knowing the ingredients in your dog's food is a crucial part of knowing what is the best food for them.

How we review our products

Our Vet team use their health and husbandry knowledge, along with their own personal and clinical experiences to evaluate each product and provide detailed, informative reviews, free of any commercial bias. We then collate this information into our 'best of' recommendations.

Top foods for German Shepherds in Australia [Vet Reviewed]

Best overall

Royal Canin Adult German Shepherd

Pros

Uniquely tailored breed specific diet with added omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat
Includes glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy bones and joints
Highly digestible ingredients and pre-biotics to support a sensitive digestion

Cons

Poultry based diet that may not be suitable for food allergies or intolerances
Designed for Pure-bred dogs and may not be the best option for crosses
More expensive than all breed or large breed options

Why we love it

Royal Canin are the experts in breed specific diets designed to meet your dog's individual needs. They back this unique diets with a lot of research and tailor them to the health needs of that breed. In the case of German Shepherds, that is their sensitive digestion, sensitive skin and luscious coat, and notable joint problems, wrapped up in a uniquely shaped kibble to suit their long, slender jaw. Many reputable breeders and German Shepherd owners use this food and report improved health and vitality into their dogs' senior years.

What our customers say

"We have always had German Shepherds and for the last ten years we have been feeding our Shepherds on Royal Canin. Our ten year old girl started on RC as a pup, and she is very healthy and her coat is stunning. Never any problems with her digestive system and every day loves her biscuits. It is the BEST!"

Best runner up

ADVANCE Adult Shepherds

Pros

Turkey based, novel protein diet with prebiotics and inulin for healthy digestion
Green Lipped Mussel included to help manage joint disease
Ziplock bag closure for easy storage and slightly more cost effective breed specific choice

Cons

Suitable for all Shepherd breeds, not just the German Shepherds
Contains chicken fat, which some dogs with food allergies may still be sensitive to

Why we love it

This is another highly digestible breed specific diet backed by science and designed to manage the health conditions typically seen in Shepherd breeds. It can be more diversely used in all Shepherd breeds and crosses. Alongside digestive health, joint support and skin nourishment, it also has a shape designed for dental care, and Colostrum to strengthen the immune system. Advance packs the quality of the big name brands and often at a reduced price.

What our customers say

"A biscuit my GSD actually eats! She is so fussy with everything but loves these. I have been feeding my dogs on Advance Turkey and Rice and I noticed a huge improvement in wellbeing and coat."

Best premium quality adult diet

Eukanuba Adult Large Breed

Pros

Utilises glucosamine and chondroitin to support healthy joints and mobility
Reduce fat levels to prevent excess weight gain and support an active lifestyle
Cheaper option than breed specific diets

Cons

Poultry based diet that may not be suitable for dogs with sensitive digestion or food intolerances
No Ziplock bag closure

Why we love it

Eukanuba invests research into every ingredient used in their diets, which are aimed at supporting dogs with a healthy lifestyle. They focus heavily on weight management, with obesity being a growing problem in pets and overall health with highly digestible ingredients, omega fatty acids and antioxidants. Another great feature of these diets is their 3D Dentadefence kibble design and the addition of sodium tripolyphosphate which binds salivary calcium and has earned this maintenance diet approval from the Veterinary Oral Health Council for tartar prevention.

What our customers say

"Terrific product for a happy healthy dog with a shiny coat. It keeps my dogs coat healthy and shiny and she has energy when she needs it. My dog always had problems with his tummy until we put him on Eukanuba. My German Shepherds are very happy with these biscuits. My dog is such a stunner on Eukanuba, no excess weight, sparkling eyes and beautiful coat!"

Best natural diet

Savourlife Adult Large Breed

Pros

Fish based diet utilising ocean fish and salmon as protein source
High in omega fatty acids which support skin, brain function, joint, kidney and heart health
Contains pre-biotics to support dogs with sensitive digestion
Contains glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support

Cons

Use of poultry oil means it may not be suitable for dogs with food allergies
Flat shape of kibble may mean it is easy to eat quickly

Why we love it

SavourLife is a family-owned, Australian made brand decidicated to providing high quality nutrition that is sourced locally. They also support 50% of their profits to pet rescue. This diet has a tailored nutritional profile to meet the needs of active large breed dogs and therapeutic ingredients to support their health like omega fatty acids, glucosamine/chondoitin and pre-biotics. The diet is gluten and grain free and contains no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, making it a wholesome, superfood packed option for your German Shepherd.

What our customers say

"We order food for our dogs always through PetCircle. Why? Because you can trust this company to deliver. We change food every time for our dogs, PetCircle always has the best price, great food quality and outstanding delivery service that you can count on. Like I wrote the dogs love Savourlife ocean fish, they are large size kibble both our GSD and Mini Dachshund love it."

Best puppy food

Royal Canin Puppy German Shepherd

Pros

Rich in antioxidants and prebiotics for a healthy immune system and digestion
Carefully adapted calcium and phosphorus content to support healthy joint growth
Designed for puppies up to 15 months of age

Cons

Designed for Pure-bred dogs and may not be the best option for crosses
More expensive than all breed or large breed options

Why we love it

This breed specific diet is formulated to meet the unique nutritional requirements of the German Shepherd breed and is suitable for extended feeding throughout the growth period. It also allows for easy transition on to the corresponding adult food. The kibble has a unique shape to suit German Shepherd puppies and it addresses the common health concerns in the breed with its ingredients. It's a trusted product by many reputable breeders and vets alike.

What our customers say

"My 11 week old puppy had an upset tummy - switched to Royal Canin not only does she look forward to eating it she no longer has tummy issue or smells! His stools are solid and he eats every morsel we give him with gusto. His coat is shiny and healthy as well. He loves it,so we love it. My GSD loves his tucker. He has been fed this product from the get go and absolutely loves it. Wouldn't change to any other product."

Best natural puppy food

Black Hawk Puppy Large Breed

Pros

Includes Green Lipped Mussel, Glucosamine and Chondroitin for joint support
Natural antioxidants, pre-biotics and Yucca Schidigera extract included for healthy digestion
100% Australian sourced and manufactured

Cons

Main ingredient is lamb, but also contains chicken and pork
Not a grain free natural option: contains rice and oats

Why we love it

This is an excellent Australian-made, natural diet targeting common large breed puppy health concerns such as digestive upset and joint support. It comes in a variety of sizes to suit your individual needs with an easily resealable bag for convenient storage. It uses fish oil and emu oil to supply omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat as well as brain development.

What our customers say

"My German Shepherd Puppies and their mother love the food. My puppy has been raised on Black Hawk since birth and she loves it plus it is Australian made!"

Best health support food

Royal Canin Maxi Joint Care

Pros

Uses a variety of ingredients for joint support include green tea polyphenols, collagen and chondroitin
Clinically proven improvement in mobility
Easy to use, re-sealable zip lock bag closure

Cons

Highly digestible ingredients, but no specific digestive support
Only available in 10kg bags
More expensive than maintenance diets

Why we love it

This well reviewed joint support diet is perfect for adult and senior dogs struggling with joint problems. It is designed to support mobility with multiple beneficial ingredients which may vary from other products and controlled energy levels to prevent excess weight gain. It is great for use on its own or alongside a joint supplement. This diet uses high quality, highly digestible ingredients to produce a healthy, nourishing, joint support diet that is balanced for everyday use as well.

What our customers say

"My rescue GSD has been diagnosed with spondylosis and he needed to lose weight. This food has assisted with his mobility and has helped him drop almost 5kg.My old dog was having difficulty walking with his back legs, some days couldn't walk at all. After 1 month of feeding this product to him daily he started to walk around more. After 2 months he now runs around and plays. Very grateful for this product."

In conclusion, choosing the right food for your German Shepherd is essential for their overall health and well-being. As highlighted by veterinarian Dr. Brittany Ward, a premium, protein-rich diet is crucial to support their energy levels, maintain a healthy coat, manage their weight, and ensure strong bones and joints. By carefully considering factors like age, specific health needs, and the quality of ingredients, you can find the best food to keep your German Shepherd thriving. The veterinarian-reviewed recommendations in this article offer a great starting point for making an informed decision about your dog's nutritional needs.

History

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Fri Mar 7 2025

Edited by Dr Teagan Lever BVSc (Hons)

View less history

About the Author

Dr Brittany Ward BVSc

Veterinarian

Dr. Brittany graduated from James Cook University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and started working in her home town in the Wide Bay-Burnett Region. She has always been excited about working in the veterinary industry, but over the last few years has grown especially fond of dog behaviour and training, surgery and orthopaedic disease.

What to look for

Factors to consider when choosing a diet for your German Shepherd:

Health Conditions: When choosing a diet, it is essential to ensure you have considered any health conditions your pet may have been diagnosed with. If your German Shepherd does have a health condition, then your veterinarian should be your first point of call for dietary recommendations. In some cases, there may be a prescription diet that is most suited to manage your dog's condition. For health support, there are a range of non-prescription, therapeutic options designed to prevent certain conditions or accommodate your German Shepherd's specific needs.
Complete and Balanced: After considering health conditions, the most important factor in deciding on the right diet is choosing an option that is nutritionally balanced and complete for your German Shepherd's age. Ensuring that it meets AAFCO or FEDIAF pet food control guidelines is crucial to ensure that your dog receives all the nutrients they require in the correct ratios.
Age: Dogs of different ages have very different nutritional requirements. German Shepherd puppies require a high protein and energy diet with a carefully balanced calcium: phosphorus ratio to allow controlled growth and prevent joint development abnormalities. Senior German Shepherds are often less active, have a slower metabolism and are prone to joint disease, which means that they require fewer calories and less fat, but an easily digestible diet, to help them maintain good body condition alongside a good joint supplement.
Quality: An essential factor to consider should be the quality of the ingredients and the digestibility of the nutrients provided by the diet. Premium diets are designed to be highly digestible (which means smaller, firmer stools) and do not change ingredients batch to batch like supermarket type brands, which means less tummy upsets. They also tend to contain higher levels of added beneficial nutrients, such as omega fatty acids for joint and coat health, and some are backed by testing to ensure they deliver the results they promise. Learning how to read pet food labels and knowing the ingredients in your dog's food is a crucial part of knowing what is the best food for them.

Vet Picks: Best Food for German Shepherds

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