How Much To Feed A German Shorthaired Pointer Puppy

If you have just adopted or are looking to adopt a German Shorthaired Pointer, you might be wondering how much your puppy should be eating. It is a common concern with new dog owners, whether they are experienced or not since they are still growing animals.

It is normal to be concerned with how much to feed a German Shorthaired Pointer puppy, but we have the answers you need.

We have broken it down by weeks to help guide you toward feeding your puppy a healthy amount and we will even recommend which types of food that you should feed your puppy. Here’s what you need to know.

How Much Should A German Shorthaired Pointer Puppy Eat?

The amount that your German Shorthaired Pointer puppy should eat will vary depending on the kind of food that you are feeding your puppy. If you are using a food that will work for all ages, your puppy will need more than what an adult dog would eat, in order to get the needed calories.

Before the age of 6 months, you should be feeding your puppy three times a day. After 6 months, just a morning and evening meal should do the job well enough.

German Shorthaired Pointer Puppy Feeding Chart

We have put together a reference chart for you to help you determine how much food that your puppy should be eating, how often, things that you should be careful about, and what you should really expect when you feed your pup.

Remember that some of this will vary depending on the food that you are giving your puppy since puppies do need a high caloric intake for their growing bodies. It is important to remember that these are working dogs that will burn a lot of calories throughout the day and will need to make up for the calories with their food.

2 Week Old German Shorthaired Pointer Puppy

When your German Shorthaired Pointer puppy is 2 weeks old, he should not be eating anything other than his mother’s milk. At this age, the puppies will be very close to their mother and she will be supplying all of their nutritional needs.

If there is a feeding issue with a pup and a mother dog, it would be better to call your veterinarian to find out what kind of food a puppy that young would need. Otherwise, just keep the puppies with their mother and do not try to feed them food at this point.

4 Week Old German Shorthaired Pointer Puppy

By the time that your puppy is 4 weeks old, your puppy will still be living with and relying on his mother. The puppies will start to mill about at this point and put a little bit of distance between themselves and their mother, but they are not likely to be weaned at this point.

If the mother is distancing herself from the puppies, you can try to introduce a very small amount of puppy food to your dog, but it is a little bit early to assume that the dog will be able to eat anything routinely.

6 Week Old German Shorthaired Pointer Puppy

At 6 weeks of age, your puppy should be busy and begin to move away from his mother. The mother is likely moving from the puppies as well as they all make the transition to being weaned.

They might still rely some on their mother’s milk, but this is a good time to really introduce the puppy food to them. They will not need much at this point, so only try to offer a quarter of a cup once a day. If the puppy gobbles it up, you can increase the amount every day.

8 Week Old German Shorthaired Pointer Puppy

When puppies are 8 weeks of age, they should be fully weaned from their mothers as this is the point that they will be rehomed to new families. Since your puppy will not be relying on milk any longer, you will need to feed your puppy three times a day.

The amount can vary somewhat, but you can expect to feed your puppy ¼ to ½ a cup at each meal. Some of this will depend on the food and some of it will depend on the appetite of your puppy.

10 Week Old German Shorthaired Pointer Puppy

When your puppy has reached 10 weeks of age, he is gearing up for a big growth spurt. You will still want to feed your puppy three times a day, aiming for about ½ cup at each meal.

If it looks like your puppy is too thin, you can increase that slightly, or if your puppy seems to be gaining too much weight, you can pull that back a little was well. Make sure that you are sticking with the same food for your puppy and you will want to make sure it is puppy food that you are using.

12 Week Old German Shorthaired Pointer Puppy

There is a huge growth spurt that happens at 12 weeks of age with German Shorthaired Pointer. Don’t be surprised if your puppy’s weight really starts taking off. Along with the rapid growth, your puppy will need food to make up for the lost calories.

You will need to stick with the three meals a day, but increase the amount slightly to make sure that your puppy is getting all of the calories that he needs. Your puppy’s body shape will also be more evident at this point, making it easier to watch his weight.

Best Dog Food For GSP Puppies

Editor’s Choice

#1. Purina Pro Plan Sport

Our top choice for the best dog food for German Shorthaired Pointer puppies is the Purina Pro Plan Sport food. This is a food that has been designed to promote strength and endurance, since it is made with 30% protein and 20% fat. The balance is good for building muscle and helping to keep them running.

The food has also been enhanced with glucosamine, which is good for joints, and minerals and antioxidants. It is really made for working dogs or athletic dogs that really need a lot of exercise.

Pros:

Glucosamine
30% protein
Amino acids
Vitamins and minerals
Great for working breeds

Cons:

Does have grain

Runner-Up

#2. American Journey All Life Stages

The runner-up food that we have found as one of the best dog foods for German Shorthaired Pointers is the American Journey All Life Stages dog food. This is not a puppy food, but it is a food that should work for dogs at any time in their life.

What we really liked about the food is that it is grain feed and rich in amino acids to help your dog’s health.

Pros:

Grain-free
Great flavour
Omega fatty acids
Works for all ages
Works will all breeds

Cons:

You will have to feed your puppy more of this to compensate for the calories normally found in puppy food

#3. Nature’s Balance Limited Ingredient Diet

Another great choice for German Shorthaired Pointer is Nature’s Balance Limited Ingredient Diet. This is a nice food for a lot of reasons, but perhaps the best one is that it is made with few ingredients, so that it is a good choice for dogs that are prone to allergies.

The first ingredient in the dog food is salmon, so you know that it has a fish-base. This might not work if you have a dog that does not like fish, but if your dog isn’t picky, it’s a great choice.

Pros:

Easily digestible
Allergen free
Salmon is the first ingredient
High quality
Good taste

Cons:

Might not work for picky eaters

#4. Purina Pro Puppy Large Breed

The Purina Pro Plan Puppy Large Breed is another good choice for German Shorthaired Pointer puppies. It is a rich formula that has probiotics built into it, making it easy to digest.

The probiotics mean that you need to be a little bit cautious with it as far as storage goes, so you don’t kill the live probiotics. The food is also full of omega-rich fish oil and DHA.

Pros:

Full of probiotics
Great for large breeds
High-protein recipe
DHA- rich
Good brain support

Cons:

Must be stored in a cool, dry place because of the live probiotics

#5. Purina ONE SmartBlend Large Breed Puppy

Our last recommendation for the best puppy food for German Shorthaired Pointers is the Purina ONE SmartBlend Large Breed Puppy. This is a great tasting food that should please even the pickiest eaters, especially since it has protein-rich, tender morsels.

This is a large breed formula and it is full of protein that will help your pup’s growing muscles. It is also rich in antioxidants and easy to digest.

Pros:

Full of vitamins
100% balanced nutrition
Easily digestible
High protein
Made for large breeds

Cons:

Not a good choice if your pup has allergies

2-Month-Old German Shorthaired Pointer Puppy Weight

When your puppy is 2 months old, you can expect your German Shorthaired Pointer to weigh somewhere between 7 to 10 pounds, depending on whether your puppy is a male or a female. Male dogs are generally larger and weigh more.

If your puppy is looking too thin, it might be time to increase his food to help him put on a little bit more weight.

3-Month-Old German Shorthaired Pointer Puppy Weight

At 3 months of age, your German Shorthaired Pointer puppy should weigh between 8 and 11 pounds. There is not a huge growth between the second and third months, but you will still want to watch out to make sure that your puppy is gaining weight properly.

You should be able to feel your puppy’s ribs easily, but you should not see his ribs with your eyes. Make sure he’s still being fed 3 times a day.

4-Month-Old German Shorthaired Pointer Puppy Weight

When your puppy has reached 4 months of age, you can expect him to weigh somewhere between 11 and 15 pounds.

While German Shorthaired Pointers are large dogs, they are not stout dogs and might seem a little bit lighter that you might expect. If your puppy isn’t within this range, but is still on his own growth curve, there is nothing to worry about.

How Much Does A German Shorthaired Pointer Grow Each Week?

As puppies all grow up so quickly, you might want to know how much a German Shorthaired Pointer puppy can grow every week. The amount that your puppy will gain depends a lot on how large your puppy is to start with and whether the puppy is a male or female.

Generally, puppies can grow anywhere from a half a pound to a full pound within a week, depending on where they are in the growth cycle.

Switching From Puppy Food To Adult Food

Your puppy will not be able to stay on puppy food forever. Adult dogs should not eat foods that are as high in calories as puppy food is, so you will need to plan on switching your dog over.

Most dogs will start the switch right around the one-year mark. Even if your dog hasn’t finished growing, there isn’t a real need to continue with the puppy food.

Do the change of food gradually, adding the new food gradually while reducing the amount of the puppy food. Over the course of a week, you should be able to wean out the old food.

What If My German Shorthaired Pointer Won’t Eat

If your puppy is not eating as much as you think he should, you might be concerned. The first thing to note is whether the puppy isn’t eating outright or if he is simply not eating as much. The reason behind that might be that he has passed a growth spurt and needs less.

Your pup might also be picky about his food or you might have changed it recently. If it seems like your pup won’t eat at all, however, then it is time to give your vet a call and make sure everything is ok.

What Nutrients Does A German Shorthaired Pointer Puppy Need?

It is important to remember that German Shorthaired Pointer are working dogs. While they also make great family pets, they are working dogs by nature.

Therefore, your pup’s diet will need to be full of protein and fat. At the bare minimum, your puppy should get getting 20% protein and 8% fat with his meals to make up for all of the calories that he will be burning.

Should You Feed A GSP Puppy Supplements?

While supplements are incredibly accessible for humans and dogs alike, you might be wondering whether they are a good choice for you. The truth is that you should not give your dog any supplement if you have not consulted with your vet.

The diet that you are feeding your puppy should make up all of the puppy’s needed nutrition. If you feel like there is something wrong, it is better to talk to your vet and explain the situation before you try something.

How Much Water Should My Puppy Drink?

Your puppy should have full access to water, so he can have a drink whenever he is thirsty. In general, puppies need about a half of a cup of water every two hours. You will need to monitor your puppy to make sure he’s getting enough.

The amount needed for older puppies is really based on your puppy’s weight. It is ok to take the water dish away at night time when you are trying to housebreak your puppy.

How Much Exercise Does A German Shorthaired Pointer Need A Day?

German Shorthaired Pointers are busy dogs and really need a lot of exercise every day. You can expect to need to exercise your German Shorthaired Pointer for a whole hour a day, because he will have a lot energy to burn.

When the dogs are not properly exercised, that is when you can really start to see the naughty behaviours come out in their restlessness. You need to be prepared to do that before you adopt.