German Shepherd food chart: how much to feed a day
How many grams of fresh food an adult German Shepherd needs a day by weight, how to adjust it, how often to feed, and what it costs in Pakistan.
By Wagbowl · Fact-checked
The short answer
970–1,120 g
a day for a 30–40 kg adult German Shepherd
≈ 1–1.1 packsAn adult German Shepherd of 30 to 40 kg needs about 970 to 1,120 g of Wagbowl fresh food a day, split into two meals. A 32 kg dog eats one 1 kg pack a day. Very active dogs need about 15% more; neutered, older or heavy dogs about 10% less.
On this page7 sections
An adult German Shepherd is a big, active dog, and the most common feeding mistake with the breed is guessing. Below is the daily amount of Wagbowl fresh food by weight, how to adjust it for your dog, how to split it, and what it costs a day in Pakistan.
How much should a German Shepherd eat a day?
Weigh your dog first. In a study of over 12,000 German Shepherds in UK vet records, adult males had a median weight of 40 kg and females 35 kg, but healthy dogs range widely either side. Then find the weight below.
| Weight | Normal day | Very active |
|---|---|---|
| 25 kg | 880 g 0.9 of a pack |
1,010 g |
| 28 kg | 930 g 0.9 of a pack |
1,070 g |
| 30 kg | 970 g 1 pack |
1,110 g |
| 32 kg one 1 kg pack a day |
1,000 g 1 pack |
1,150 g |
| 35 kg median female |
1,050 g 1.1 packs |
1,210 g |
| 38 kg | 1,090 g 1.1 packs |
1,260 g |
| 40 kg median male |
1,120 g 1.1 packs |
1,290 g |
| 42 kg | 1,150 g 1.2 packs |
1,330 g |
| 45 kg | 1,200 g 1.2 packs |
1,370 g |
These are grams of our cooked fresh food, from the same rule as our feeding guide and the 60-second quiz. Fresh food keeps its water, so the bowl is much bigger than a kibble portion. If you feed kibble, use the chart on your bag instead: the two are not interchangeable gram for gram.
Your dog's exact grams and cost a day, in 60 seconds →
How many times a day should a German Shepherd eat?
- 500 g morning
- 500 g evening
For a 32 kg German Shepherd. Weigh the whole day's amount in the morning, so the second meal can't turn into a bonus one.
Twice a day, morning and evening. German Shepherds are a deep-chested breed, and deep-chested dogs are at higher risk of bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus), where the stomach fills with gas and can twist. Cornell's vet school advises two or more meals a day, limiting activity after meals, and avoiding raised food bowls.
Bloat is an emergency
- Retching, but nothing comes up
- Drooling
- Pacing, can't settle
- Swollen, painful belly
Any one of these: go to a vet now. Don't wait to see if it settles.
How do I adjust the amount for my dog?
Start from the chart, then adjust:
- +15% Very active
- −10% Neutered or spayed
- −10% Older dog
- −10% Carrying extra weight
- +8% Too lean
Then check the dog, not the bowl
- Ribs Easy to feel under a thin layer of fat
- Waist Clear from above, behind the ribs
- Tummy Tucks up from the side
- All three
- Keep the amount
- Ribs hard to feel, no waist
- About 10% less
- Ribs or hips show
- About 8% more
Weigh again after two weeks and move the amount by about 10% if needed. Overweight was one of the five most common problems recorded in German Shepherds in that UK study.
What is the best food for a German Shepherd in Pakistan?
A complete food your dog does well on, fed in the right amount, every day. Our dog food price guide compares kibble and fresh food side by side. If you cook at home, read what plain chicken and rice misses first.
Wagbowl is cooked in Lahore from chicken or beef, organ meats, whole eggs and vegetables, then frozen in daily packs. Switch over a week with our 7-day switching plan, not overnight.
- Prime Most chicken breast and eggs, for working and very active dogs Rs 800 a day, 35 kg
- Chicken & Veg Grain Free Chicken and vegetables, no grain, for dogs that avoid grains Rs 710 a day, 35 kg
- Value Bowl Beef and chicken with rice, our lowest price per kg Rs 550 a day, 35 kg
Diarrhoea was among the five most common problems in the UK study, so switch slowly. Not sure about something else in the bowl? Check it in Can my dog eat?
How much does it cost to feed a German Shepherd a day?
| Weight | Value | Prime |
|---|---|---|
| 30 kg 970 g a day |
Rs 500 | Rs 740 |
| 35 kg 1,050 g a day |
Rs 550 | Rs 800 |
| 40 kg 1,120 g a day |
Rs 580 | Rs 850 |
One pack at a time: Value Bowl Rs 650, Prime Rs 950 a kg. The Monthly Plan takes 20% off. To try it first, the 1 Week Trial is 7 packs at half price.
How much should a German Shepherd puppy eat?
Don't use this chart for a puppy. A growing German Shepherd needs a puppy food and an amount set by its age, not its weight alone. Our recipes are made for adult dogs, so message us with your puppy's age and weight before switching.
Sources
Daily amounts: the Wagbowl portion rule used by our feeding guide and quiz. German Shepherd weights and common problems: O'Neill et al., "Demography and disorders of German Shepherd Dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK", Canine Genetics and Epidemiology, 2017 (12,146 dogs). Bloat: Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Riney Canine Health Center; American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Body condition: WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee body condition score chart. Prices: wag-bowl.com, 4 November 2026.
Questions
How much should a German Shepherd eat per day?
On Wagbowl fresh food, an adult German Shepherd of 30 kg needs about 970 g a day, 35 kg about 1,050 g and 40 kg about 1,120 g, on a normal day. Very active dogs need about 15% more. On kibble, follow the chart on your bag.
How many times a day should I feed my German Shepherd?
Twice a day. German Shepherds are deep-chested, and splitting the food into two or more meals is advised to lower the risk of bloat. Keep them calm for a while after eating.
Can German Shepherds eat chicken and rice every day?
Not as the whole meal for long. Plain chicken and rice misses calcium, vitamins and fats a dog needs every day. Use a complete food, or a home recipe made by a vet nutritionist.
How much does it cost to feed a German Shepherd in Pakistan?
On Wagbowl's Monthly Plan, a 35 kg German Shepherd costs about Rs 550 a day on the Value Bowl or Rs 800 on Prime. Bought one-off, the Value Bowl is Rs 650 a kg.
How much should a German Shepherd puppy eat?
Don't use an adult chart for a puppy. Large-breed puppies need a puppy food and an amount set by age. Our recipes are for adult dogs, so message us with your puppy's age and weight first.
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