50% off your first order. Redeem Now

Dog Food Chevron
Cat Food Chevron
More Chevron
See Plans & Pricing Account

FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a German Shepherd

The German Shepherd is a powerful, deep-chested working dog with a non-stop engine and a famously sensitive gut — a combination that makes how, and how much, you feed one just as important as what goes in the bowl.

Here is exactly how to feed a German Shepherd on freeze-dried raw: by weight and life stage, with the lean protein, joint support, and easy-to-digest nutrition that protect their hips, coat, and stomach.

  • Adult weight50–90 lb
  • SizeLarge
  • EnergyHigh
  • Lifespan7–10 years
  • CoatDouble, medium-length — heavy shedder

One of America's most popular dog breeds

Build my dog's plan → Shop recipes
A healthy German Shepherd
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a German Shepherd's body needs

Every German Shepherd trait comes back to one thing: how you feed them. Here's what matters most.

  • Deep-chested, bloat-prone build

    Needs: Smaller, calmer meals — no rushed gorging

    Freeze-dried raw rehydrates into a moisture-rich meal that is easy to portion across two or more feedings, so a Shepherd is far less tempted to bolt one huge dry meal.

  • Hip & elbow dysplasia risk

    Needs: Joint support + a lean frame

    Real meat, organ and ground bone supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin, omega-3s calm joint inflammation, and staying lean keeps load off vulnerable hips and elbows.

  • High drive, athletic working dog

    Needs: High-quality animal protein

    83% meat, organs and bone fuels lean muscle and steady, all-day energy for a tireless herding breed — without the carb fillers that spike and crash.

  • Sensitive stomach & allergy tendency

    Needs: Simple, low-filler ingredients

    Minimally processed single-protein raw skips the starchy fillers and additives that often trigger the itchy skin, ear flare-ups and digestive upset Shepherds are known for.

  • Heavy double coat that blows twice a year

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, supporting coat condition through the breed's notoriously heavy seasonal shedding.

How much to feed a German Shepherd

Quick answer: a healthy adult German Shepherd (50–90 lb) needs about 7.5–13.5 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split across two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry — so it's much less by volume than kibble. Feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.

Ideal adult weightFreeze-dried per dayPer meal (×2)
50 lb 7.5 oz 3.8 oz
60 lb 9.0 oz 4.5 oz
70 lb typical German Shepherd 10.5 oz 5.3 oz
80 lb 12.0 oz 6.0 oz
90 lb 13.5 oz 6.8 oz

Starting points for a moderately active adult (~0.15 oz of freeze-dried per lb of ideal weight). Active dogs need a little more, couch companions a little less — always adjust to body condition, not the bag.

Get exact portion →

What to feed a German Shepherd

For a German Shepherd we recommend complete freeze-dried raw as the daily base — real meat, organs and ground bone with no heat-processed filler — or as a topper while you transition. Just add water, which also adds gut-friendly moisture to each meal.

Lean single-protein recipes like Chicken suit sensitive stomachs and weight-watchers; novel proteins like Lamb help dogs with food sensitivities, while richer Grass-Fed Beef suits hard-working or underweight Shepherds. Rotate proteins to keep a picky, sensitive eater interested.

Recipes for German Shepherds

Shop all →

Daily support for German Shepherds

Shop all →

Treats German Shepherds love

Shop all →

Feeding a German Shepherd by life stage

  • Puppy: German Shepherds are a large breed, so puppies should grow slowly to protect developing hips and elbows. Feed roughly 5–8% of current body weight across 3–4 meals and resist overfeeding — fast growth and excess weight raise dysplasia risk. A measured raw or large-breed-appropriate diet keeps growth steady.
  • Adult: Feed to a lean, visible waist, split across two (or more) calm meals to lower bloat risk. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to body condition and workload, not the bag.
  • Senior: Activity tapers but appetite often does not. Trim portions to prevent weight gain, keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, and lean into joint-supporting nutrition as hips and elbows age.

Common German Shepherd concerns — and the diet connection

  • Hip & elbow dysplasiaCommon in the breed and partly genetic, but lean weight plus joint nutrients (glucosamine from real bone and cartilage, plus omega-3) help support comfort and day-to-day mobility.
  • Bloat & GDV (deep-chested risk)A management-first concern: smaller, calmer, moisture-rich meals and no gorging help. Rehydrated freeze-dried raw makes it easy to split feeding and slow things down.
  • Sensitive stomach & food sensitivitiesA simple, single-protein whole-food diet with no starchy fillers or additives is gentle on the gut and makes it easier to pinpoint and avoid trigger ingredients.
  • Skin & coat / allergiesAn omega-rich, low-filler diet supports the skin barrier and helps dial down the itch and shedding tied to the breed's allergy tendency and heavy double coat.
  • Energy & lean muscleWorking Shepherds run on clean animal protein and fat for sustained energy and muscle maintenance — not on carbohydrate fillers.

Diet supports health but doesn't replace veterinary care — ask your vet about any specific condition.

Feeding a German Shepherd: what to know

German Shepherds are deep-chested and at real risk of bloat and GDV, so feeding routine matters as much as the food itself. Split the daily amount across two or more meals, keep mealtimes calm, and avoid hard exercise in the half hour before and after eating.

Feed to body condition, not to the bowl: you should feel the ribs easily and see a waist from above. Weigh portions rather than eyeballing them, and re-check the amount every few weeks — especially after a growth spurt, a change in workload, or recovery from injury.

German Shepherd feeding questions

How much should I feed my German Shepherd?
A healthy adult German Shepherd (50–90 lb) needs roughly 8–13 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split between two or more meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it is far less by volume than kibble — feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.
What is the best food for a German Shepherd with a sensitive stomach?
A simple, complete freeze-dried raw diet built on a single protein (Chicken or a novel protein like Lamb) with no starchy fillers is gentle on a Shepherd's gut. Rehydrate it for extra moisture, feed smaller meals, and rotate proteins to find what settles best.
How do I lower my German Shepherd's risk of bloat at mealtimes?
Split the daily amount into two or more calm meals, avoid hard exercise 30 minutes before and after eating, and don't let your dog gorge a single huge meal. Rehydrated freeze-dried raw is easy to portion this way and adds gut-friendly moisture.
Does a German Shepherd need joint support?
Most do, given the breed's hip and elbow dysplasia risk. Freeze-dried raw with real bone and organ provides natural glucosamine and omega-3, and keeping your Shepherd lean is the most effective joint protection there is — a dedicated hip & joint supplement can add more.
How do I switch my German Shepherd to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. Go slowly for sensitive-stomach Shepherds, start at the lower end of the range, and watch stools and waistline as you adjust.
How much exercise and what diet does a German Shepherd need?
Shepherds are high-drive athletes that need plenty of daily activity, and that workload runs best on high-quality animal protein and fat rather than carb fillers. Feed clean, lean freeze-dried raw to fuel muscle and energy, and scale portions up or down with how hard they're working.

THE CLEAN BOWL GUARANTEE

If your dog won't eat it, it's on us

Try German Shepherd's first plan risk-free. If they turn up their nose, we'll make it right — money-back, and skip, pause or cancel anytime.

  • Vet-formulated
  • AAFCO complete & balanced
  • Pathogen-tested every batch

  • "Knowing exactly how much to feed took all the guesswork out. He's leaner, with more energy on our walks."

    — Jenna & Cooper

  • "My picky rescue finally runs to the bowl — and cleanup in the yard is a fraction of what it was."

    — Priya & Luna
Build my dog's meal plan →

Portions are starting points for freeze-dried raw and AAFCO complete-and-balanced recipes. Always feed to your individual dog's body condition and ask your vet about specific health needs.