German Shorthaired Pointers (GSPs) are adept swimmers, great athletes, and possess a high prey drive, making them incredible hunters. A good diet is a foundation for an athletic, healthy dog, and it has a significant influence on the effectiveness of a German shorthaired pointer on the hunt.
The amount of food to feed your German shorthaired pointer depends on their age, activeness, and relative body mass. You can feed your GSP puppy at least twice a day, while adults thrive on 2-5 cups (403 – 1008 g) of food per day. The diet should be 2 – 3% of your GSPs weight.
If you need to know how much food your German shorthaired pointer needs to stay healthy and sustain its active lifestyle, I’ve prepared a comprehensive guide to help you. Stick around to find out the healthy amounts for your GSP and the best food types.
Feeding a GSP Puppy
The amount of food your German shorthaired pointer pup needs varies based on the type of food you’re serving them. If you’re feeding a meal suitable for all ages, your puppy will require more calories than an adult dog.
You should feed your puppy at least twice or ideally three times a day until they reach the age of six months. After six months, feeding your puppy twice is enough to help them get by healthily.
Here’s a feeding schedule for your German shorthaired pointer pup at different stages:
Age | Weight | Type of Food | Recommended Serving (Each Meal) |
| 2 Weeks | Under 1 lb | Nursing – Suckling mother’s milk | At least once per day |
| 4 Weeks | About 6 lbs (2.72 kg) | Nursing and gradual weaning with soft/moist puppy food | 10% of their daily caloric intake 1/3 cup (60 g) 1-2 times a day |
| 6 Weeks | About 10 lbs (4.54 kg) | Solid foods – meat or kibble and wet moist foods | 1/4 – 1/2 cup (50.4 – 100.8 g) 2-3 times a day |
| 8 Weeks | About 15 lbs (6.8 kg) | Growth diets and puppy food | 1/2 cup (100.8 g) 3 times a day |
| 10 Weeks | About 20lbs – 50lbs (9.07 – 22.68 kg) | GSP puppy food | 1/2 – 3/4 (100.8 – 151.2 g) cups |
Always feed your puppy the right food amounts according to their needs and activeness. Your veterinarian can help you choose the proper nutrition plan for your GSP puppy.
You should never underfeed/overfeed your GSP pup. You can introduce a risk of obesity or malnutrition if you don’t stick to the recommended servings, which can depend on the type of food. However, most food processors will print the appropriate feeding quantities for dogs on the package.
The Best Diet for a GSP Puppy
GSPs require high-quality food that promotes their growth and development and keeps up with their puppy antics. Always make sure your pup’s food is free of fillers and sugars. Check the ingredients to ensure they include all the fats, proteins, and vitamins that a GSP puppy needs.
Fresh foods such as chicken, fish, turkey, eggs, and sweet potato are best for your GSP. Cooked brown or white rice is an excellent source of fiber and hydration.
The Cesar Gourmet Wet Dog Food (available on Amazon.com) is an excellent option for GSP puppies. It comes in a variety of flavors, making it easy to provide your pup with exciting and fresh meals.
Transitioning a GSP Puppy to Adult Food
Once your GSP reaches 90% of the total expected adult weight (or at 9 – 12 months years of age), you can introduce adult dog food.
To facilitate your GSP’s shift from puppy to adult dog food, you can expect to take about a week to 10 days for the transition period. Feed 3/4 of your puppy’s average amount of food plus 1/4 of senior dog food during each meal on the first and second day.
Gradually serve half pup meal and half adult dog food on days three and four. Feed 1/4 puppy food and 3/4 adult dog food on days 5–7. Only serve adult dog food on the eighth to tenth day, depending on how your GSP pup responds.
Feeding a GSP Adult
Adult GSPs are prone to bloating, a severe medical condition that can even cause death in some cases. With this in mind, you should feed your GSP two smaller meals rather than one large one in a day.
Ideally, 2 – 5 cups (403 – 1008 g) work best for your fully grown GSP. For high-quality feeds, just two cups are enough, while for feeds with more fillers than nutrient content, you should serve about 4 cups (500.62 g).
Incorporating Fresh Foods Into Your Dog’s Diet
Serve fresh foods at about 2 or 3% of your dog’s body weight. It’s also worth mentioning that raw meaty bones should account for about 40% of their fresh food intake. They should eat both the meat and the bone. However, portion quantities for your GSP should be determined by their specific needs – more active dogs may need more food.
Maintain your dog’s body weight at a healthy level—but don’t underfeed it either—to guarantee the longest and healthy life for your canine friend – up to 13 years! Fully grown males weigh about 55 – 70 lbs (22.68 – 31.75 kg) and females 40 – 60 lbs (18.14 – 27.22 kg).
I would recommend Taste of the Wild (available on Amazon.com) because it has a vast variety of nutrients and offers the energy required by an active dog such as a GSP.
Feeding Your GSP the Right Amount of Food
GSPs don’t eat a lot, but they do need to have access to enough food for their high-energy requirements. Active GSPs typically require more fat and protein than most breeds. Adult dogs will consume between 2 and 4 cups (473.18 – 946.35 g) of food each day, depending on their metabolism and level of activity.
As a rule of thumb, never free-feed your GSPs because they may overfeed and bloat, which is hazardous to their health. Always clear food remains once they’re done eating and stick to small servings rather than one large meal throughout the day.
Conclusion
Veterinarians recommend that you stick to healthy and balanced diets for your GSP. If you have any nutritional questions or concerns, talk to your vet. In summary, here are the key points to remember when feeding your GSP:
- Feed your GSP puppies 2-3 times a day and adults twice a day.
- For puppies, 1/3 – 1/2 cups (78.07 – 118.29 g) serving are recommended.
- For adult GSPs, 2-5 cups (403 – 1008 g) serving per day are best.
- Avoid underfeeding or overfeeding.