Best dog food for German Shepherd at Walmart

German Shepherds are a breed synonymous with loyalty, protection, and intelligence. This magnificent breed of canine is often trained to assist the police, conduct search-and-rescues, and detect narcotics and explosives using their powerful sense of smell. A hard-working dog such as the German Shepherd needs to be fed a high-quality diet.

Dog owners always want the best dry food for their companion, but not all breeds can thrive on one just formula of food—and German Shepherds need a dry food suitable for their size and active lifestyle.

This article reviews the top dry food choices for your German Shepherd. Read on to find which food will be the best choice for your best friend.

A Glance at Our Top Picks (2022 Update)

The 10 Best Dry Food for German Shepherds

Royal Canin was one of the first manufacturers to produce breed-specific meals, and Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition German Shepherd won the top spot as the best overall dry food for German Shepherds. Shepherds sometimes have digestive issues, but Royal Canin uses highly digestible proteins and fiber to prevent discomfort and promote firm stools. Fish oil provides the essential amino acids DHA and EPA for healthy skin and fur, and glucosamine and chondroitin keep your large dog’s joints and bones healthy. Royal Canin is designed for adult German Shepherds at least 15 months old, but puppies can try Royal Canin’s Health Nutrition for German Shepherd puppies (our fourth pick).

A few other producers make breed-specific food, but we were impressed that Royal Canin went to great lengths to ensure its product was ideal for German Shepherds. They even designed the kibble to be large enough and crunchy enough for the dog’s long snout and powerful jaws. At 17% crude fat, Royal Canin is a bit higher in fat than some of its competitors, and you must be careful not to serve extra-large portions.

With real lamb as the first ingredient, Purina Pro Plan All Life Stages Small Bites is an affordable alternative to premium brands. It topped our list for the best dry food for the money. Although some customers noticed the “small bite” kibble has increased in size, the larger pieces are more suitable for a German Shepherd. The kibble is packed with high-quality protein, antioxidants to support healthy immune systems, and live probiotics to improve digestion.

It also includes essential minerals and vitamins like vitamins C, B12, B6, and D. Pro Plan is an ideal choice when you’re on a budget, and it’s higher in protein than many premium brands. Like our top pick, Pro Plan contains a high crude fat content. If your pet is not overfed, Pro Plan is a healthy option.

Veterinarians often recommend choosing dog food with animal or seafood proteins listed as the top three ingredients. ORIJEN exceeds the advice by featuring high-quality proteins in the first five ingredients. ORIJEN Original Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is our choice for premium brands. Some of the wholesome ingredients include chicken, turkey, flounder, whole mackerel, and chicken liver. It combines fresh and raw components and contains glucosamine and chondroitin to keep your Shepherd’s bones and joints healthy.

ORIJEN has one of the highest protein contents on the market, but it’s also a bit high in fat. Senior dogs and those on weight management diets would benefit from a brand that is not as rich as ORIJEN. However, German Shepherd owners are overwhelmingly happy with ORIJEN. The biggest complaint about the kibble is its strong, fishy smell, but the odor seems to bother humans more than dogs.

Like our top pick, Royal Canin’s Breed Health Nutrition is a breed-specific formula, but this formula is designed for active German Shepherd puppies under 15 months old. It contains a blend of vitamin E and antioxidants to support the puppy’s development and uses fibers and digestible proteins to promote healthy digestion and firm stools.

Royal Canin designed the kibble size and texture specifically for German Shepherd puppies, and the little beasts seem to love the flavor of the kibble. Compared to other puppy meals, Royal Canin is expensive, but it’s not the priciest brand on the market. The only drawback to the kibble is its grain content. Dogs with grain allergies will have to try another brand.

Zignature Turkey Limited Ingredient is ideal for dogs with grain allergies, and it’s loaded with wholesome ingredients. It’s made with farm-raised turkey from the American Midwest and includes chickpeas, peas, flaxseed, and sunflower oil to promote a healthy coat. It’s free of soy, corn, potatoes, wheat, and chicken to provide pups with sensitivities and allergies a nutritionally balanced meal.

With 32% protein and 15% fat, it’s ideal for growing German Shepherds that require high-energy meals to remain active. Although most customers like Zignature, several complained that kibble size is inconsistent. Others mentioned that the aroma is unpleasant to dogs and humans.

CANIDAE Grain-free PURE Ancestral Red Meat Formula contains more red meat proteins than any brand we reviewed. Some of the ingredients include goat, lamb, wild boar, pork, bison, and venison. The freeze-dried kibble is coated with a raw outer shell to appeal to picky canines, and its formula is suitable for dogs with allergies to fish, chicken, and grains.

It has the perfect crude protein and crude fat amounts for German Shepherds, and it’s enhanced with a blend of antioxidants, probiotics, and omega fatty acids to support digestion, healthy skin, and the immune system. Most dog owners were pleased with CANIDAE, but several consumers complained that the recipe was altered, and their dogs could not eat the new formula. Others mentioned that the kibble was too small for their pets.

The Honest Kitchen claims that its dry food is “too good to be called kibble,” and its Grain-Free Beef Whole Clusters is made with human-grade ingredients to set itself apart from other dry food producers. Unlike commercial pet food producers that use high-heat ovens to dry their ingredients, Honest Kitchen uses a unique process that involves cold pressing, roasting, and rehydrating. It’s made with high-quality beef meat, muscle, liver, live probiotics, and low glycemic carbs.

The Whole Food Clusters are nutritionally balanced and protein-dense, and many happy dogs enjoy the flavor and crunch. However, the dry pieces are much harder than most kibble, and some customers were worried that it could damage their pet’s teeth. Although it’s full of animal protein, it lists potatoes as the second ingredient followed by peas and beef liver.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula is made with deboned chicken, garden vegetables, fruit, and whole grains. Although it’s not designed for pups with grain sensitivities, it’s free of wheat, by-products, and soy. Blue Buffalo has a healthy ratio of protein and fat, and it’s enhanced with glucosamine for joint health and calcium for strong teeth and bones.

Many dog owners rely on Blue Buffalo for keeping their pets healthy, but several customers complained that dogs could not tolerate the flavor and refused to eat it. Another common complaint was the kibble’s quality was inconsistent; some batches were not as fresh as others.

If your German Shepherd has skin allergies or food sensitivities, you can try Hill’s Prescription Diet Derm Complete. It’s designed to improve skin conditions and prevent nighttime itching. It’s made with a single animal protein (egg product) and boosted with phytonutrients and omega fatty acids from fish oil to stabilize the immune response and support healthy skin.

Prescription Diet requires veterinary approval, and it’s only meant for dogs with medical issues. Healthy German Shepherds need food with more protein, and the only animal protein in Hill’s kibble is egg product. Some dogs did not like the food’s strong flavor, which is unfortunate because it’s very expensive.

American Journey’s Active Life Formula is formulated to help your dog return to a healthy weight. It contains fewer calories and half the crude fat of nearly every premium kibble. Deboned chicken is the first ingredient, and the natural fiber sources make dogs feel fuller after meals. It’s free of soy, corn, wheat, and poultry by-products but contains wholesome veggies like sweet potato and carrots. Although many pet parents noticed weight improvements in their dogs, others complained that the food did help with weight management.

The biggest drawback to American Journey is the kibble’s fragility. Several customers mentioned that the bags were full of powder, and some complained that their pups could not stomach the flavor.

Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Right Dry Food for Your German Shepherd

German Shepherds are active dogs that need high-quality meals to fuel their energy needs, but the nutritional value of dry food values varies even with premium brands. Before selecting a brand for your pup, examine these factors that may influence your decision.

Ingredients

Most dog owners look at the ingredients of dry brands to ensure their pets are eating balanced meals, but some terms seem vague or confusing.

By-products

The term “animal by-products” on a pet food label signifies that the manufacturer does not want to display the type of animal used. Although that does not mean the food is unhealthy, it shows that the company is less transparent about its recipes. By-products do not sound appetizing to humans, but they’re suitable for canines if they come from reputable sources. They’re made up of bones, blood, and organs and contain essential nutrients for dogs like iron. Pet food makers that specifically list the animals, like “chicken-by-products,” are more upfront about their ingredients.

Mixed Tocopherols

Long chemical names on pet food labels can scare off pet parents looking for all-natural food but seeing mixed tocopherols should not cause any concerns. Mixed tocopherols are vitamin E sources used to extend the product’s shelf life, and they’re all-natural, unlike synthetic preservatives with BHA. Vitamin E preservatives cost more than artificial ones, and most premium manufacturers use them to prevent any adverse reactions from chemical additives.

Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product

Although it looks intimidating and too much like a science experiment, dried lactobacillus acidophilus is a live probiotic that adds good bacteria to your dog’s gut and aids digestion.

Protein Sources

German Shepherds can eat animal protein and plant protein, but most of the protein in their diets should come from animals. Poultry, beef, lamb, and seafood contain amino acids and nutrients that plants lack, but you must be careful with the fat content when buying red meat food. Fish and poultry are leaner proteins than beef and may be more suitable for dogs vulnerable to obesity.

Kibble Consistency

Dry food is designed to be chewed up before it’s swallowed, and some brands produce kibble that is too small for dogs like German Shepherds. Another problem we noticed when we researched products for our reviews was how often customers complained about the kibble size changing. Some dogs have enjoyed the same food for years, and suddenly, the manufacturer changes it, and the dogs no longer like it. Some producers change their products when their suppliers discontinue vital ingredients, but most companies, unfortunately, change their food to cut costs. We suggest sticking with the brands that keep their kibble size and texture consistent.

Canine Preference

Choosing healthy food for your German Shepherd is easier when your dog will eat almost anything, but some dog owners must experiment with different brands before finding an acceptable one for finicky eaters. Experimentation can be expensive when purchasing premium brands, but you can buy smaller bags when introducing new foods to reduce waste and save money. Any unused kibble can be donated to an animal shelter or veterinary clinic.

Price

Premium dry brands are more expensive than discount products, but the price usually reflects the quality of the ingredients. Using more vegetables and fillers is cheaper than animal proteins, but you can add high-protein toppers to your dog’s food if you’re concerned your dog’s favorite kibble is not nutritionally balanced.

Conclusion

Our reviews detailed the best dry food for German Shepherds, but our overall favorite is Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition. Royal Canin designed the food specifically for Shepherds, and they even went to the trouble of making the kibble pieces the ideal size and texture for the powerful Shepherd jaws. Our best value pick was Purina Pro Plan All Life Stages Small Bites. The wholesome ingredients enhanced with probiotics and antioxidants are perfect for large active breeds, and Pro Plan is more affordable than most high-protein meals.

Featured Image Credit: annabelle l, Shutterstock