What are the Best Dog Foods for German Shorthaired Pointers?
The German Shorthaired Pointer’s graceful athleticism makes him a popular pooch with families that enjoy the active lifestyle. A breed with a strong desire to please, this beloved dog type makes an excellent companion and is particularly good with children. Keeping the German Shorthaired Pointer in good body condition and health is a top priority of all owners. Whether you share your home with a puppy, a mature adult, or a senior, our list of top quality diets will help you select the right food to fuel your German Shorthaired Pointer’s health and lifestyle.
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Breed Info
Breed Group:Sporting | AKC German Shorthaired Pointer Profile
Ideal Weight:Female Adult: 46 to 59 pounds
Male Adult: 55 to 70 pounds
Exercise Need:45 to 75 minutes per day
Breed Summary
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a dog breed that is highly prized for its versatility. A sporting dog, the German Shorthaired Pointer is a valued hunter, accompanying its owner on hunts in the field in hot pursuit of birds and other game.
A highly active breed, the German Shorthaired Pointer needs regular daily exercise to remain physically and mentally content. This dog type is both playful and intelligent. An excellent family companion, the German Shorthaired Pointer is particularly fond of children but can play too rough with toddlers, making careful supervision a must during playtimes.
A dog that enjoys the company of its people, the German Shorthaired Pointer will not thrive if left alone for long periods of time. Though the breed is renowned for alert barking at the presence of strangers, the German Shorthaired Pointer is characterized by its exuberance and friendliness.
The German Shorthaired Pointer is naturally a people pleaser, eagerly working alongside its owner to learn new skills. They are easily motivated by both treats and praise and are rarely obstinate.
A hunting breed, the German Shorthaired Pointer is considered to be a gundog. This dog type can function as both a pointer and a retriever, making it an asset on a hunt.
Physical Traits
Athletic, muscular, strong, active, lean
Personality Traits
Playful, loving, eager to please, happy, friendly
Health Considerations
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To keep a German Shorthaired Pointer healthy and well, it is an excellent idea to select a diet that is designed to meet the dog’s activity level, age, and unique needs. A vital part of this strategy includes considering what health conditions can be common to this breed.
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Cancer
One of the most common health problems experienced by German Shorthaired Pointers is cancer. There are various different types of this disease that the breed can be predisposed to including mammary tumors, mast cell tumors, and lymphosarcoma. Cancer can't always be avoided, but the many benefits of a healthy diet and lifestyle does include being able to prevent some cancer.
Recommendations:
Antioxidants (EPA, DHA in fish oils)・ Keep at a healthy weight・ Medium-chain triglycerides -
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a genetic condition that can be passed down to German Shorthaired Pointers from their parents where the hip ball does not fit squarely within the socket, resulting in rubbing of bone against bone. Dogs with hip dysplasia experience pain to varying degrees and may become lame over time. A diet that provides support for joint health through supplements, such as glucosamine and chondroitin, can be a great help to the German Shorthaired Pointers. Joint health can be maintained with food or supplements that contain:
Recommendations:
Antioxidants・ Chondroitin・ Glucosamine・ Green Mussel・ Methylsulfonymethane・ Omega-3 from Fish Oil・ Taurine・ Turmeric・ Vitamin E -
Lymphedema
Another health problem that can plague the German Shorthaired Pointers is lymphedema. This condition is evidenced by a blockage or twisting of the lymphatic system, leading to inflammation and fluid retention. Nutrition doesn't directly cause lymphedema, but healthy bodies can help avoid some conditions that cause it.
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Von Willebrand's Disease
Von willebrand’s disease is a condition in which the dog’s blood will not clot properly. Dogs suffering from this disease require daily supplementation of the von willebrand factor to help their blood to function normally. It is incurable but can be managed.
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Are Fresh Food Diets Good for German Shorthaired Pointers?
Only if they’re properly balanced.
Many well-intentioned German Shorthaired Pointers parents spend a lot of time preparing meals at home, but health benefits are lost if meals aren’t properly portioned and balanced with all the nutrients dogs need. Recently, a few companies have done an excellent job ensuring accurate portions and nutrient balance by delivering pre-prepped fresh meals customized to the size and needs of your dog. Farmer’s Dog, Ollie and Nom Nom have each been approved by our nutrition team as delivering truly quality and well-balanced meals. They can be a little expensive (usually 3-4x more per day than kibble), but many find the added health benefits worth the cost. They do offer discounts to new customers, though, if you’d like to try one out.
Pros and Cons of Fresh Food Diets
✓ Diets balanced by Nutritionists・ ✓ Customized portions for weight control・ ✓ Superior digestive and immune health ・✕ More expensive than standard dog food
Foods We Recommend for German Shorthaired Pointers Puppies
How long do German Shorthaired Pointerss need puppy food?
Until they're 12 to 16 months old.
German Shorthaired Pointers are very focused on growing, and how we feed them should help them do just that. Since they have so much growing to do, they need higher amounts of nutrients than adult dogs, especially proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and — don’t forget — water. It’s still important to not overfeed puppies, so make sure to portion food and keep treats to no more than 10% of their caloric intake. Since balance is so important, we recommend that your young German Shorthaired Pointers is eating food that is made just for puppies from a reputable brand.
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Our recommendation tool evaluates your puppy’s breed, age, growth stage, lifestyle, and health needs to identify a scientifically appropriate diet from over 10,000 options. Obtain personalized guidance to help support healthy development and lifelong wellness.
Foods We Recommend for German Shorthaired Pointers Adults
When should German Shorthaired Pointers start transitioning to adult food?
When they're 12 to 16 months old
From a nutrition standpoint, German Shorthaired Pointers become adults once they reach about 90% of their expected weight. Once adults, our two key nutrition goals are balance and maintenance. We want balance because a dog’s body is responsible for a lot of things, like digestion, fighting infection, keeping muscles strong, and chasing squirrels. These are all important tasks, so we want to make sure each body function gets its share of nutrients. We also need to maintain a healthy weight. Underfed dogs are at risk for malnourishment, and overfed dogs can become obese — both of which lead to even worse problems for a German Shorthaired Pointer
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Our assessment analyzes your dog’s breed, age, lifestyle, and health considerations to recommend a scientifically selected diet from over 10,000 options. Personalized insights to help your dog thrive through adulthood.
Foods We Recommend for German Shorthaired Pointers Seniors
When should German Shorthaired Pointers start transitioning to senior food?
All dogs can age differently, but medium dogs like German Shorthaired Pointers can start to benefit from senior food around 7 to 8 years old
Ever watch kids running around the playground and wish you had that energy again? Yeah. Dogs get there, too. The metabolic processes in senior German Shorthaired Pointers slow down as they age, which often means they aren’t needing quite as many calories as they did in their prime. Smart dog food companies have formulated senior diets to ease up on calories but still help them feel full and give them adequate maintenance protein. Still, like humans, everybody is different. Sometimes older dogs need just as many calories, or more, depending on how their bodies progress. So keep a close eye on their body condition, and look for dog foods made for seniors.
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Our assessment analyzes your dog’s breed, age, and health considerations to recommend a science-based diet from over 10,000 options. Help maintain mobility, cognitive health, and quality of life.
Affiliate Disclosure:
We do not accept money to recommend pet foods. However, we do receive referral fees from online retailers (such as Chewy or Amazon) on qualifying purchases. Our recommendations are neutral, and diet recommendations are made without considering whether we will receive a referral fee.