German Shepherd Homemade Food Guide: Recipes & Tips (Puppy & Adult)

Are you considering giving your German Shepherd homemade food?

There is a reason our furry friends beg for our food — they are meant to eat variety just like you and me. Could you imagine how tiring it would be to eat the same foods every day?

Whether you want to give your German Shepherd the occasional homemade meal or replace his entire diet with purely homemade, we’ve cooked up the ultimate guide on how to make homemade food for German Shepherds, breed-specific nutritional advice, guidelines to follow, favorite recipes, and every detail to make balanced meals your pups will love.

Before jumping into our guide, let’s discuss the benefits of homemade food for your GSD and other critical aspects overlooked when cooking for GSDs. Let’s dive right in!

Chapter 1

Ch 2

Benefits & nutritional guidelines

Benefits of German Shepherd Homemade Dog Food

Commercially produced dog food is highly processed, which results in low nutritional value, whereas cooking at home for your GSD will preserve most of the ingredients’ nutrients.

Board-certified veterinary nutritionists and diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition, Jennifer A. Larsen, DVM, MS, Ph.D., and Joe Bartges, DVM, Ph.D., state that homemade dog food helps with diet management, appeasing picky eaters, bond-building, combatting food intolerance, allergies issues, and avoid concern over food recalls.

Other benefits include:

• Human-grade food helps build strong immunity and increased vitality
• A fresh food diet helps maintain a healthy body weight, linked to a 20% longer lifespan.
• Healthier digestion
• Better skin and coats
• It’s cheaper
• Portion size control
• Fresh ingredients
• Dietary requirements can be met
• No dangerous additives or preservatives

Food & German Shepherd Health: Why Feed Homemade?

Despite being wonderful dogs, German Shepherds are notorious for developing food allergies and food hypersensitivities. A study published in BMC Veterinary Research Journal found that German Shepherds are at a high risk of developing cutaneous adverse food reactions (CAFR), or in simpler terms, dog food allergies.¹

CAFR can be responsible for many skin allergy issues like atopic dermatitis. Chronic allergic reactions are accompanied by excessive scratching, itching, and biting.² Eventually, this could lead to secondary bacterial or yeast infections in your GSD. Unfortunately, a lot of German Shepherd allergies arise from commercial dog food. Kibble ingredients like protein sources, high levels of animal fat, preservatives, meat by-products, food coloring, grains, and fillers contribute to more allergies in this breed.

GSDs are predisposed to degenerative myelopathy, elbow and hip dysplasia, and osteoarthritis.^3,4,5,6 Because German Shepherds are prone to these skeletal and bone problems, it’s vital for GSDs to maintain a healthy weight. An obese German Shepherd may have an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis and other joint disorders because the excess weight puts more strain on their joints, bone structure, and back (spinal cord). It could also potentially lead to degenerative myelopathy in GSDs.

Remember that even grain-free kibbles with high-quality ingredients can have high levels of starchy carbs and bad carbs that contribute to the pet obesity epidemic.

Furthermore, German Shepherd Dogs can experience bloating, says the AKC. If not treated promptly, bloating in a GSD can be fatal. 

Moreover, GSDs are commonly affected by Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI).⁷ EPI is the inability to make enough pancreatic enzymes to break down dietary fats, carbohydrates, and proteins leading to poor nutrient absorption, weight loss, and other chronic symptoms such as diarrhea.⁸ So, it’s essential to feed a low-fat diet and highly digestible food to prevent pancreas damage to minimize EPI risk in GSDs.

Lastly, conditions like Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Perianal Fistulas are also prominent in GSD. They may be treated with hypoallergenic food, a clean, fresh diet since many cases have been linked to an underlying allergy caused by a specific reaction to chronic intestinal tract irritation.

How Can A Homemade Diet Help German Shepherds With All of This?

Home-cooked food for German Shepherd ensures that your pup always eats fresh, wholesome, and allergen-free foods as no chemicals, additives, or fillers are used when cooking at home, preventing allergies.

More importantly, home cooking for your GSD allows you to pick only those ingredients you know won’t cause an allergic reaction to your German Shepherd. If you don’t know what foods can trigger allergies in your GSD, we strongly suggest doing an At-Home Food Dog Allergy Test before choosing ingredients for your German Shepherd’s next meal. Plus, it could save you a trip to the vet.

Homemade dog food is easier to digest than kibble; more easily digestible food means more efficient absorption of nutrients. Dogs with homemade diets absorb nutrients more efficiently; thus, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids act more quickly on the skin’s inflammatory response, preventing or relieving symptoms of skin allergies, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and a potential case of Perianal Fistulas.

Unlike kibble, homemade dog food enables your pet to maintain a healthy body weight by adjusting the amount of fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids your dog needs to meet his specific nutritional goals. This is important as obesity can aggravate common health problems in GSDs like hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis, and other skeletal issues. If you notice your German Shepherd is getting overweight, you can quickly reduce the carb and fat percentage and provide above-average protein (29%).

A condition like EPI in GSDs requires a low-fat diet and highly digestible food. Homemade cooking allows you to create the low-fat diet needed to feed your dog, plus research confirms that fresh diets are, in fact, more digestible than even a seemingly nutrient-rich kibble.¹⁰ 

Remember each dog is different, and always consult with your vet before making any changes to your GSD’s diet.

German Shepherd Homemade Food Risks

A poor diet is a significant threat to the health of your German Shepherd. Here are some things to avoid to provide a healthy diet to your pup.

• Not understanding the nutritional needs of your German Shepherd
• Using inadequate or dangerous recipes
• Not preparing a balanced meal
• Using unsafe or harmful ingredients
• Not understanding the impact of food and dietary changes
• Not understanding your dog’s life stages (puppies, adults & senior) nutritional needs
• Neglecting your dog’s health conditions

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary found that most homemade dog food recipes lack critical essential nutrients while others contain dangerously high nutrient quantities.

Further research published in The Journal of Nutritional Science found that 48% of homemade dog diets contained improbable amounts of ingredients and that 71.3 % of dog owners did not know how much food to serve per meal. What’s more alarming is that 30.4% of the pet parents admitted to purposely changing the recipe, 40% of owners didn’t measure the proportions of the ingredients well enough, and 28.3% didn’t use any of the recommended vitamins, minerals, or amino acid.

In fact, in a survey published in the journal Preventive Veterinary Medicine, vets reported 97% of obesity cases in dogs could be traced to how owners fed and played with their pets.

For these reasons, it’s advised that you speak with a veterinary nutritionist, who should also be able to provide you with trusted recipes, provide nutritional guidance, or recommend a dog food delivery service for your GSD.

Nutritional Guidelines to Follow

Not all German Shepherds are created equal. A proper homemade diet should consider your pup’s weight, health conditions, size, and activity level.

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AFFCO), the entity regulating dog food nutritional value in commercial dog food, states there are six indispensable nutrients that all dog meals require to support life and function in dogs and provide a balanced and healthy diet.

Your German Shepherd will grow strong and healthy if these six components are present. We break down each nutrient and its importance:

Nutrient	Food	Description
Protein	Chicken, lamb, turkey, beef, fish, yogurt and cooked eggs	Builds and repairs muscles and other body tissues. Needed to make new skin cells, grow hair, hormones, enzymes and more.
Carbohydrates	Oats, brown rice, potatoes, and whole wheat	Source of energy for dogs and supplies glucose needed by the brain, nervous system and other critical organs for normal function.
Fat	From meats and oils such as olive or sunflower oil, fish oil, canola oils among others	Responsible for providing quality energy. Necessary for the normal development and function of body cells, nerves, muscles, and body tissues
Minerals	Calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, etc.	Common functions include the formation of bone and cartilage, nerve and muscle function, fluid balance regulation, the transportation of oxygen in the bloodstream and hormone production.
Water	Water	Hydration is critical in dogs. A dog that loses too much water (10% to 15% of the water in his body) can get very sick and even die. Ensure they have water available throughout the day.
Vitamins	A, B, C, D, E, and K	Keeps skin and coat healthy, strengthens bones and teeth, and gives them the overall energy that they need to function.

You may also want to add a multivitamin like Zesty Paws Multivitamin Chews to ensure your GSD pup is getting the recommended balance of vitamins and minerals.

Recommended Supplements For German Shepherds

Here are the best breed-specific supplements GSDs may benefit from.

• Hip & Joint – German Shepherds are prone to bone and joint problems like osteoarthritis. To prevent or alleviate these problems, it’s wise to supplement their diet with Glucosamine and Chondroitin to help maintain an active lifestyle and support joint tissue. Finn Hip & Joint is an excellent choice.

• Digestive health – Giving dog probiotics can help with issues like Inflammatory Bowel Disease and EPI, both common in this breed. It can also help reduce your dog’s inflammatory responses to food allergens.

• Immune system – GSDs are more susceptible to cancers than most dogs, particularly as they get older. Adding dog immune system supplementation may help boost your dog’s defenses. Cannabidiol products like CBD for dogs have also shown to can anti-carcinogenic properties and promote immune health.

Because of the risk of bloating in GSDs, you should avoid raised dog bowls, give small frequent meals, invest in a slow-feeder, and avoid vigorous exercise after meals.

Always consult with your vet before making any changes to your dog’s diet. We suggest consulting a veterinary nutritionist to help create a diet plan for your GSD. Formulating a completely balanced diet without professional help can be tedious for some dog parents.

If you need more advice on German Shepherd nutrition, an excellent resource is Home-Prepared Dog & Cat Diets: the Healthful Alternative by Donald R. Strombeck, DVM, Ph.D., a long-time expert in veterinary medicine. This book it’s considered by many pet nutritionists the Bible of healthy homemade dog nutrition.

Health Dietary Changes In German Shepherds

If the following health conditions are present in your GSD, a fresh homemade food diet coupled with these recommendations can help remedy them.

Condition	Dietary Needs & Adjustments
Coat Color Changes	Increase amino acids which can be found in protein (>75 grams per 1000 calories)
Concurrent GI Signs	Avoid foods with tryptamine and histamine such as dairy or fermented vegetables and meats (yes, this includes bacon); try a simple ingredient food trial
Chronic Itching and Dermatitis	Fortify the diet with Vitamin E, B Vitamins, Zinc, omega-6 and the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil; add a dog probiotic; try a simple ingredient food trial
Dull Coat and Scaling	Adjust EPA and DHA levels in the diet (added fish oil being the most common way); try a food that has added zinc
Dandruff and Crustiness	Add Zinc and Vitamin A levels

Chart Source: NomNomNow.com

German Shepherds are a high-risk breed for skin allergies and coat problems. Adding a couple of fish oil squirts to their meals will provide relief and nourishment to keep skin and coats in tip-top condition.

German Shepherd Calorie Requirements

So, how much should I feed my German Shepherd?

The caloric needs of dogs are based on their weight. An adult German Shepherd usually weighs between 50 and 90 pounds, which means most GSDs need between 1165 and 1808 calories a day.

Make sure you follow the 10% rule when feeding treats to your dog. Food would equal 90% of the total calories and treats the remaining 10%.

For instance, if a GSD weighs 65 lbs. he would need 1480 calories per day. For those eating treats, that’s 1276 calories in food (90%) and 142 in treats (10%). Usually, most full-grown dogs eat two meals per day. However, since GSDs are prone to bloating, divide his daily meals into three meals. You need to split 1276 into three meals of 425 calories each.

You can use this calculator to find the exact caloric needs for your dog based on his weight.

Pregnant or lactating GSDs may need up to 2 to 4 times the amount of food they normally need as the mother’s energy requirements increase after delivery and during lactation. Be sure to talk to your vet.

Homemade Food For German Shepherd Puppy

A German Shepherd puppy’s diet is not the same as an adult GSD.

Compared to adult dogs, puppies need higher levels of protein, fat, calcium, and phosphorus. Too few (or too many) of these nutrients can cause deficiencies, stunted growth, or lifelong complications.

According to the American College of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN), puppies need about twice as many calories per pound of body weight as an adult dog of the same breed.

Most people worry that their puppy requires more food and calorie intake every day because they are rapidly growing. This isn’t necessarily the truth. Dr. Justin Shmalberg, DVM, a veterinary nutritionist at Nom Nom, advises that to promote normal growth, most puppies need about the same number of calories and the same type of food, from 4 months to 12 months of age.

German puppies should eat 3 to 4 times a day. When your puppy is a bit older (6 – 12 months), you can switch to 2 to 3 meals daily at scheduled intervals.

For proper growth and development, it is not advised to skip meals while your puppy is growing and developing. As our nutritional guidelines previously outlined, a puppy’s diet needs to include a balance of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, water, and vitamins.

When Can I Feed My German Shepherd Puppy Homemade Food?

The ACVN states that owners should start feeding puppies food approximately four weeks after birth because the mother’s milk is no longer sufficient.

Homemade Dog Food Delivery Service

Their food is developed with the input of a veterinary nutritionist and following the AAFCO nutritional guidelines. They do all the cooking for you, so you never have to worry about using the wrong ingredients, proper nutrition guidelines, portion sizes, and more.

All their meals are customizable to your dog’s unique dietary needs, age, nutritional goals, and other key factors. For instance, if your GSD has food-related health issues like allergies or an illness, they will create a recipe that caters to this.

In our experience, it’s a huge time-saver, and you can spend time on more important things like walks or training. Plus, you avoid all the hassle of planning, shopping, and cooking. We think it’s worth the cost after adding up the prices of all the ingredients you’ll need to cook a recipe.

Our readers have access to save 50% off your first order of Nom Nom. Just use this link to get your GSD’s first homemade meal.

Check out Canine Bible’s GSD Khaleesi trying out Nom Nom homemade dog food. She recommends it!

Read Our Full Nom Nom Review

Best Homemade Food For German Shepherd

The best homemade food for GSD is a balanced diet that provides the optimal amount of nutrients for proper function in your pet while considering your dog’s nutritional goals and health. We highly recommend Nom Nom as the best fresh home-cooked food for adult and puppy GSDs.

Don’t feel like cooking for your GSD? Here is the most comprehensive guide to help you find the best commercial kibble for your GSD.

Chapter 2

Ch 1

Recipes & how-to cook guide

German Shepherd Homemade Food Tips

Once you pick a recipe for your GSD or GSD puppy, it’s time to prepare it. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

1. Set a feeding schedule and stick to it
2. Feed your dog twice a day, puppies under 5 months, 3 times a day (always check with your veterinarian)
3. Set time aside weekly or monthly to prepare and portion the diet
4. keep meals frozen for 2 – 3 months or refrigerated for about 5 days
5. When the supply is getting low, it’s time to make a new batch
6. If you like to feed different recipes, you can make multiple batches and color code by ingredients, rotating out the different meals.
7. The food can be prepared in bulk and portioned into containers (one container per meal makes it extra-easy).
8. Increase portions appropriately as your puppy grows. Monitor weight to make sure you are feeding the proper amount of calories

Cooking German Shepherd Homemade Food

If you’ve never made food for your furry friend, this video will show how to make dog food for German Shepherds.

Best Homemade German Shepherd Dog Food Recipes

We’ve compiled our favorite German Shepherd homemade dog food recipes to share with you.

Additionally, we give you a special treat recipe for German Shepherds that are tasty and packed with impressive health benefits. This recipe can do a lot for your GSD’s health and wellness. It has our favorite secret ingredient, dog CBD oil.

For even more German Shepherd food recipes and cooking options, cookbooks can come in handy to have an array of dog food recipes at your disposal. We love Home Cooking for Your Dog: 75 Holistic Recipes for a Healthier Dog.

Note: Please consult with your pet’s veterinarian & use personal judgment when applying this information to your dog’s diet. The recipes below do not include serving size because portion sizes will vary depending on breed, weight, activity level, age, and your dog’s health. A common recommendation is to feed your dog a comparable amount of ounces/cups to what you would usually feed in kibble BUT check with your vet to be certain.

• CBD Dog Treat
• Turkey Veggie Mix
• Chicken Quinoa Mix
• Chicken Casserole
• Scooby’s Organic Stew

CBD-Infused Dog Treat

CBD oil for dogs can help with seizures, anxiety, arthritis, inflammation, pain, wellness, preventive care, and many other health issues in dogs. You can also purchase already made CBD dog treats.

Be sure to check with your veterinarian before giving your dog CBD to ensure it’s safe and feeding portions are appropriate.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups gluten-free flour
• 1/2 cup oats
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 Tbsp coconut sugar
• 1 apple, cored and grated
• 1/2 cup carrots, peeled and grated
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/3 cup olive or coconut oil
• 1/2 cup water
• dash of sea salt
• 120 mg CBD oil

Total: Makes 24 treats

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Grease a dog cookie baking tray with coconut oil.
2. Core and grate the apples, then peel and grate the carrots.
3. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the gluten-free flour, oats, and coconut sugar. In another medium-sized bowl, beat the egg. Then, add coconut oil, water, and grated apples and carrots.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients bowl; mix thoroughly. Finally, add CBD oil and mix once more.
5. Using a Tbsp measuring spoon, portion out the dog biscuits and press them into the dog treat baking pan. Bake for 32-37 minutes or until the biscuits are firm and golden-brown on the outside.
6. Store in an air-tight container.

Notes

The number of dog treats will vary depending on the size of the mold you use. Try to make each dog treat have 2-5 mg of CBD.

Recipe from: Truth Theory

Turkey, Rice And Veggie Mix

Ingredients

• 6 cups of water
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 2 cups brown rice
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1/2 (16 ounces) package frozen broccoli, carrots and cauliflower combination

Directions

1. Place the water, ground turkey, rice, and rosemary into a large Dutch oven.
2. Stir until the ground turkey is broken up and evenly distributed throughout the mixture
3. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Add the frozen vegetables and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
5. Remove from heat and cool. Refrigerate until use.

Recipe from: Allrecipes

Chicken, Quinoa, And Spinach Mix

Ingredients

• 3 cups organic quinoa
• 1 lb of chicken breast
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 cup frozen carrots and peas
• 1 cup spinach
• 1/2 diced apple (do NOT use the seeds)
• 1 teaspoon parsley (fresh or dry)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions

1. Cook quinoa in a rice cooker. I used 1.5 cups of water for every cup of dry quinoa.
2. Heat oil in a large pot. Cook chicken and garlic until brown on medium-high heat.
3. Added cooked quinoa to the pot and stirred completely into the mixture.
4. Reduce heat to medium. Add peas, apples, carrots, spinach, crushed tablets, and parsley to the mixture. Stir well for three minutes on reduced heat.
5. Store in air-tight containers. You can refrigerate or freeze into larger portions until needed.

Chicken Casserole

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup of green beans, chopped
• 1/2 cup of carrots, chopped
• 1/2 cup of broccoli, chopped
• 1/2 cup rolled oats.
• 4 cups of low-salt chicken broth

Directions

1. Remove excess fat from the chicken breasts and cut the breasts into small nickel-sized chunks.
2. Cook the chicken breasts in a non-stick skillet over medium heat until no longer pink.
3. Add the chicken, vegetables, rolled oats, and chicken broth to a large pot and cook over medium heat until the carrots are tender – about 15 minutes.
4. Allow cooling before serving.
5. Store leftover casserole portions in the fridge for up to five days.

Recipe from: Money Crashers

Scooby’s Organic Stew

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups brown rice
• 2 carrots, shredded
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 zucchini, shredded
• 3 pounds ground turkey
• 1/2 cup peas, canned or frozen
• 3 cups baby spinach, chopped

Directions

• Place ingredients in a slow cooker in the order listed, covering the chicken entirely with vegetables
• Cook 5 hours on high or 8 hours on low
• Remove from slow cooker, shred chicken and stir into rice and veggie mixture until evenly distributed.
• Store covered in the fridge for up to three days or freeze in single-serve portions.

Recipe from: Happy & Jummy

Best Homemade Cooking Practices

When making homemade food for a German Shepherd (or any dog), make sure you are diligent and adhere to your veterinarian’s recommendations.

Here are some general guidelines to follow when cooking homemade dog food for your German Shepherd:

• Never use unsafe or toxic ingredients for your dog
• Cook all animal products thoroughly to kill harmful bacteria
• Cook all grains, beans, and starchy vegetables to make them easier to digest
• Research every ingredient before using it for safety
• Follow the recipe as instructed
• Add supplements to their diet as needed
• Understand the impact of dietary changes
• Run any questions by a veterinary nutritionist

NOTE: When in doubt, ALWAYS research an ingredient. You don’t want to add food that is toxic to dogs.

We strongly advise discussing your dog’s nutritional needs and concerns with your vet before adding or changing your dog’s diet.

What Foods Should Your German Shepherd Never Eat?

The following is a list of foods you should never feed your German Shepherd or any dog breed. The principal toxic foods include:

• Chocolate
• Xylitol
• Onions and garlic
• Avocados
• Coffee, tea, and other caffeine
• Grapes and raisins
• Macadamia nuts
• Raw bread dough
• Alcohol

For a more extensive list, check out this handy list you should consider having on your refrigerator as a reminder.

German Shepherd Raw Diet (BARF)

Like homemade diets, formulating a raw diet (BARF or biologically appropriate raw food) for German Shepherds requires lots of effort and planning. There is more risk of contamination and nutritional imbalance due to its raw nature.

Raw dog food usually consists of uncooked and unprocessed animal-based products. These include raw meat, bones, vegetables, fruits, eggs with shells (not hard-boiled), and dairy products such as butter and cheese made from raw milk without pasteurization or homogenizing. A raw dog diet resembles the diet that dogs ate in the wild millions of years ago.

Raw dog food is a growing trend — These diets provide canines with more nutrients than cooked foods and help them protect their teeth, coat, digestive functions, among other health benefits. Read our German Shepherd Raw Diet Guide to learn about raw feeding GSDs and their benefits. We also recommend visiting our best raw dog food article to find the best brands to feed your dog.

Monitor Weight & Health

You must monitor your German Shepherd’s weight as you transition to a homemade food diet.

Follow your GSD’s weight and health closely for about a month to ensure that she is not adversely affected by this new diet.

An unbalanced diet can lead to excessive energy, skin or coat disorders, allergies, weight loss, malnutrition, or obesity. If you notice these symptoms, stop feeding your GSD this food immediately and consult a professional dog nutritionist.

Be sure to work alongside your vet to ensure the diet maintains nutritional adequacy.

Other Food Alternatives

Many dog owners think dog food is the same for all dogs, but that’s not the case. Every dog has different nutritional requirements based on several factors, and GSDs are no exception.

We hope you found the best homemade dog food recipes for German Shepherds and learned about proper nutrition and what to look for when cooking for German Shepherds.

If you are the owner of a GSD with meat food allergies, digestive issues, or any other food-related health issue, vegan dog food might be an excellent alternative for your dog.

---

Like It? Subscribe & Share!

* indicates required

First Name *

Email Address *

Dog Breed

Leave this field empty if you’re human: