If you’re a new owner of a German Shorthaired Pointer, you’re probably wondering how much and how often to feed your new family member.
You’re lucky because I’ve crafted a comprehensive feeding guide for your dog. Feeding a pet isn’t just filling a bowl with dog food, as every canine’s nutritional needs change as they age.
You can’t feed German Shorthaired Pointer puppies, adult dogs, and senior canines the same portions of dog food. So, you should constantly adjust your dog’s feeding plan.
Generally, German Shorthaired Pointer puppies should consume between 1/2 and 5 1/4 cups of food. On the other hand, adult German Shorthaired Pointers should eat about 2-5 cups of dog food daily, while senior dogs should have between 2 1/4 and 2 3/4 cups.
Your dog’s activity level, weight, and the food you buy can affect these feeding portions. Let’s learn more about feeding your German Shorthaired Pointers.
German Shorthair Pointer Feeding Chart
Learning about the feeding of German Shorthair Pointers can help keep your dog healthy and happy.
Diet plays a crucial role in your dog’s energy and weight maintenance, so you should know how much and how often to feed your new canine.
Too much or too little food can negatively impact a dog’s health. As I already said, dogs have different nutritional needs in various stages of their life.
Here’s a feeding guide you can use during different stages of your dog’s life.
Puppy German Shorthaired Pointer Feeding Guide (2-18 months)
German Shorthaired Pointer puppies drink milk from the mother dog during their first few weeks. At 5 weeks old, they’re fully weaned and ready for delicious puppy food.
Purchase high-quality puppy food for your German Shorthaired Pointer puppy for proper development. Choose a puppy food with enough proteins, calcium, fats, omega-rich fish oil, and probiotics.
After you buy the food, follow the next feeding chart for a German Shorthaired Pointer puppy:
| Age | Daily Cups | Daily Kilocalories | Protein | Fats |
| 2-3 months | 0.5-1.33 | 654-1.299 | 22-32% | 10-25% |
| 4-5 months | 1.5-2.33 | 1.299-1.458 | 22-32% | 10-25% |
| 6-8 months | 2-3.33 | 1.458-1.670 | 22-32% | 10-25% |
| 9-11 months | 2.5-2.75 | 1.566-1.670 | 22-32% | 10-25% |
| 12-18 months | 2.75-5.25 | 1.670-1.876 | 22-32% | 10-25% |
The feeding chart above can help German Shorthaired Pointer puppies grow and thrive until they reach 18 months.
Adult German Shorthaired Pointer Feeding Guide (1.5-7 years)
Usually, the growth spurt of these puppies ends when they become adults.
When German Shorthaired Pointer puppies reach 18 months, they already have a final adult size.
They’re no longer puppies, so you should replace their puppy food with foods for adults. The food should have specific nutrients for active dogs.
Here’s a feeding guide for your adult German Shorthaired Pointer:
| Age | Daily Cups | Daily Kilocalories | Protein | Fats |
| 1.5-7 years | 2-5 | 1.077-1.501 | 26% | 5.5% |
The food dog for your German Shorthaired Pointer should have enough protein and fats because they’re essential for the dog’s metabolism and development.
Moreover, the food should contain carbohydrates for energy, omega fatty acids, vitamin A for good skin, etc.
Lastly, your dog’s activity level and metabolism will determine the number of meals. You can also give your canine treats.
However, treats can make dogs gain weight, so provide treats carefully to maintain a healthy weight.
Senior German Shorthaired Pointer Feeding Guide (+8 years)
As canines age, owners should adjust their feeding plans.
Like puppies, senior dogs need a good feeding plan for weight maintenance. Otherwise, your dog might become obese and develop different health issues.
The feeding chart below can help keep your senior German Shorthaired Pointer in good shape throughout their senior life stage.
| Age | Daily Cups | Daily Kilocalories | Proteins | Fats |
| +8 years | 2.25-2.75 | 1.077-1.501 | 26-32% | 5.5% |
Some senior dogs gain extra weight during their senior years and even become obese. However, active German Shorthaired Pointers usually maintain good shape during their senior years because they’re energetic dogs.
Therefore, your dog should get enough protein, especially during the mature stages of life. Otherwise, they might experience fatigue, muscle loss, weak immune system, etc.
How Often to Feed My German Shorthair Pointer?
Generally, German Shorthaired Pointers should eat 2-4 times daily.
However, the dog’s age determines the number of daily portions. For instance, puppies should consume food about 4 times daily. On the other hand, adults and seniors should eat about 2 meals daily.
German Shorthaired Pointers should have a good feeding schedule because they need energy for their daily activities and enough time for food processing.
The American Kennel Club suggests that German Shorthaired Pointer puppies, and any puppies, for that matter, should consume food more frequently for proper growth.
Moreover, young puppies have smaller stomachs and can’t hold food long.
On the other hand, adult and senior German Shorthaired Pointers should consume one meal in the morning and one at night. Two meals will keep your adult or senior canine in good shape.
Here’s a summary of the feeding frequency for dogs of different ages.
| Age | Number of Daily Meals |
| 0-3 months | 4 |
| 4-6 months | 3 |
| 7 months and above | 2 |
Following a strict feeding schedule will help you establish a good routine for your canine and support the dog training process.
Older dogs also need a consistent feeding schedule because having a routine can help these dogs cope with different changes in the home.
Lastly, consistency in feeding habits also helps dog owners easily detect common signs of health issues in their canines.
Feeding Schedule for a German Shorthaired Pointer
Typically, German Shorthaired Pointer puppies should eat every 4 hours.
I suggest feeding your German Shorthaired Pointer puppy at 7 am, 11 am, 3 pm, and 7 pm. When your dog becomes 4-6 months old, you can provide meals every 6 hours. For instance, you can feed your older puppy at 6 am, 12 pm, and 6 pm.
Once your dog’s 7 months old, you can provide food every 12 hours.
A consistent feeding time and frequency help maintain stability for your canine’s energy levels and appetite. Also, strict feeding habits keep your dog’s digestion in good shape.
Here’s a chart of the optimal feeding times for German Shorthaired Pointers:
| Age | Daily Feeding Schedule |
| 0-3 months | 7 am, 11 am, 3 pm, 7 pm |
| 4-6 months | 6 am, 12 pm, 6 pm |
| +7 months | 7 am, 7 pm |
Once your German Shorthaired Pointer puppy reaches the 1-year mark, they should eat about 2 times daily and have a good appetite.
However, one of the common health issues in this breed is bloating.
So, you should ensure your dog isn’t eating too quickly and for at least 1 hour before and after physical activity or excessive exercise.
Like other dog breeds, the ideal night mealtime should give your German Shorthaired Pointer enough time to digest food before going to sleep.
Therefore, your dog should eat about 3 hours before sleep.
Extra tip: The feeding schedule above isn’t definitive. You can customize the mealtimes of your dog as you wish. Just stick to one plan, and your dog will thrive.
Also, ask your vet for food recommendations because some dogs prefer a raw diet. However, not every dog breed can follow a raw food diet.
Summary
The suggestions above can help you create a feeding plan and find the best diet for your pooch. You can also purchase high-quality adult food for your German Shorthaired Pointer and follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer.
Every bag of dog food has feeding recommendations to help owners feed their dogs the right amount of food daily.
Giving your canine too much or too little food can affect their health negatively. Also, some dog owners endorse raw feeding. However, giving your dog raw meat and raw meaty bones isn’t the best idea.
Therefore, if your dog gains weight, maybe you’re providing too much food. In contrast, if your dog looks malnourished, you should increase calories to keep your German Shorthaired Pointer healthy and happy.
