Undoubtedly one of the most versatile hunting breeds in the world, the German Shorthaired Pointer excels at just about every task you put in front of them. These dogs are known for their energy, stamina, and ability to tackle challenges, especially in the hunting world.

As an owner or even potential owner of the German Shorthaired Pointer, you’re bound to be aware of their high energy levels and need for an abundance of activity. It is no secret that dogs need a high-quality diet that is appropriate to their age, size, and activity level so that leaves us with the task of finding the best food out of the seemingly endless number of choices.

We’ve decided to step in and take some stress off your shoulders. We have done the research, checked the reviews, and come up with a list of the 10 best dog foods for German Shorthaired Pointers available on the market.

A Quick Overview of Our Favorite Picks in 2024

The 10 Best Dog Foods for German Shorthaired Pointers

1. The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food Subscription – Best Overall

The Farmer’s Dog secures our pick for best overall dog food for German Shorthaired Pointers. Their chicken recipe is packed full of protein from fresh chicken and chicken liver, making it perfect for this high-energy breed. This fresh food is also full of nutrient-rich vegetables like Brussels sprouts, bok choy, and broccoli. Each of their recipes contains fish oil to help maintain that shiny, healthy coat.

The Farmer’s Dog offers a convenient subscription service that is customized to your needs and easy to cancel at any time. You simply fill out a questionnaire about your individual dog(s), and The Farmer’s Dog’s team of veterinary nutritionists will get to work crafting an individualized meal plan for your dog. The food comes prepackaged and labeled with easy-to-follow instructions to transition over.

Fresh food options can be a bit pricey, especially for larger dogs. You will need to make some room in the refrigerator and freezer for storage and of course, there’s a shorter shelf life than your traditional kibbles. The Farmer’s Dog comes in at our top spot for a reason; you really can’t beat the top-of-the-line quality that they offer.

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2. Taste of the Wild Ancient Grains Dog Food – Budget Buy

If you are on the hunt for dog food that will give you the best  dog food for German Shorthaired Pointers for the money, then consider our pick, Taste of the Wild Ancient Grains. Taste of the Wild is a family-owned brand that is made right here in the United States. They offer a variety of recipes from both the Ancient Grains line and the Grain Free line.

Their Ancient Stream variety is packed with protein and has real salmon as the number one ingredient, an ideal recipe for allergy sufferers. This recipe is great for lean muscle and helps support the bones and joints. The included vitamins and minerals come from real fruit, ancient grains, and superfoods. This formula is free from artificial colors or flavors and is full of omega fatty acids for skin and coat health as well as a proprietary blend of probiotics and antioxidants for optimum digestion.

Taste of the Wild offers a well-balanced dog food that is ideal for the sustainable energy needed by the German Shorthaired Pointer. Loose stools and/or gas may be experienced when switching foods, so if you make the swap, be sure to transition properly.

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3. Just Food For Dogs PantryFresh Dog Food – Premium Choice

If you are looking for fresh food that looks like it should be served up for your family dinner, look no further than the Just Food For Dogs PantryFresh. This food is formulated by veterinarians and crafted to meet AAFCO guidelines and is recommended for all life stages.

The beef recipe has a high-calorie content, to keep that German Shorthaired Pointer energy properly sustained. This food is seldom turned down by even the pickiest of eaters and can be used as a full meal or as a topper. As with any fresh food, it can be costly, especially for large dog breeds.

Just Food For Dogs PantryFresh is made without preservatives, artificial coloring, growth hormones, BHA, and BHT. The food can be stored in the freezer for up to one year but will need to be consumed within 4 days once thawed.

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4. Nulo Frontrunner Ancient Grains Puppy Food – Best for Puppies

Nulo Frontrunner Ancient Grains Puppy is a great option for developing pups. German Shorthaired Pointers are full of energy, especially as puppies and they need food that meets their nutritional requirements so they can grow into the avid hunters they are bred to be.

The formulation is composed of 77% animal-based protein and deboned chicken is the number one ingredient. This food is rich in amino acids that help support lean muscle mass and heart health. The added probiotics are in place to support healthy immunity and promote optimal digestion. The included Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids in this formula will help maintain a shiny coat and nourish healthy skin.

Nulo is formulated to meet the AAFCO guidelines to provide a well-rounded and well-balanced meal for your little one. As with a lot of dry kibbles, some picky pups have turned their noses to the food.

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5. ACANA Singles + Wholesome Grains Limited Ingredient Dog Food

ACANA Singles + Wholesome Grains Limited Ingredient comes highly recommended by veterinarians and is formulated with limited ingredients and only one protein source. This food is rich in protein, for your active and lively German Shorthaired Pointer. It’s also nutrient-dense and offers a blend of grains, butternut squash, and pumpkin for a healthy dose of fiber.

This formula does not contain any peas, plant protein isolates, artificial colors, or flavors preservatives. Being limited ingredients, it’s a great choice of food for dogs that suffer from any allergies or digestive issues. Owners have raved about how easy the transition to this food was.

As far as dry kibbles go, ACANA is a bit on the pricey side, which is typical with high-quality food options. Of course, some picky eaters have been known to refuse the food, which can be disappointing considering the cost.

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6. Merrick Healthy Grains Real Salmon & Brown Rice Dog Food

Merrick Healthy Grains features deboned salmon as the number one ingredient and is balanced with protein, whole grains, and healthy fruits and vegetables for a well-rounded source of vitamins and nutrients. A plus for this food choice? It is formulated with glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health and extra support for hips, which is great for German Shorthaired Pointers that live very active lives.

Salmon makes for an ideal choice of protein for allergy sufferers and offers up those essential fatty acids that help support healthy skin and coat. It also packs a punch of protein for healthy, lean muscle mass. This food is free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives as well as any peas, lentils, or potatoes.

Merrick Healthy Grains comes at a reasonable price and is well-reviewed among dog owners. The biggest downside of the reviews was that some dogs just didn’t take to the food and refused to even try it.

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7. Wellness Complete Health Adult Dog Food

Wellness Complete Health Adult is a high-quality food geared toward adult dogs. This food features real lamb as the number one ingredient and is formulated without GMOs, meat by-products, fillers, or any artificial preservatives.

Meant to provide whole-body nutrition like your dog needs, this formula is crafted with high-quality protein and grains. It also includes omega fatty acids to support skin and coat health, glucosamine for extra join support, probiotics for digestive health, and is rich in antioxidants for immune support.

Overall, this dog food is rated high among owners, though some have reported their picky eaters refusing to even try the food. Some were able to remedy the pickiness by adding a little warm water to the food.

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8. Purina Pro Plan 30/20 Dog Food

Purina Pro Plan 30/20 is specifically formulated for active dogs like the German Shorthaired Pointer. This recipe is high in protein to meet those intense energy needs and features chicken as the first ingredient on the list. It’s called 30/20 because it is formulated with 30 percent protein and 20 percent fat ratio, which is ideal for those active sporting or working dogs.

Purina Pro Plan 30/20 also features live probiotics to support a healthy digestive system and overall immune health. The included amino acids are in place for the nourishment of lean, healthy muscle mass. Even owners of a dog with digestive issues reported this food worked great in comparison to others they’ve tried.

This food is reasonably priced and comes in a wider variety of bag sizes compared to most other foods. When diving into the lower reviews, it seems some dogs just didn’t take well to the taste and some owners did report some issues with the food clumping together.

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9. Nutro Ultra Adult Dry Dog Food

Nutro is known for testing its formulas for both quality and safety. Their ingredients are high-quality and sourced directly from reputable farmers. The Nutro Ultra Adult Dry Dog Food is a protein-rich formula that features real chicken as the number one ingredient and is free of GMOs, by-product meals, and any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

In addition to chicken, this formula also sources protein from lamb and salmon. It contains a blend of 15 superfoods and whole grains to meet your dog’s need for a well-balanced diet full of essential vitamins and minerals.

Nutro Ultra is priced very reasonably, considering the high quality and testing it goes through. The biggest complaint among owners was that some dogs didn’t take well to the texture of the food and would not bother eating it.

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10. Castor & Pollux ORGANIX

Castor & Pollux ORGANIX is made from USDA-certified organic chicken and oatmeal. This recipe offers a blend of nutrient-dense organic superfoods, including blueberries, flaxseed, and sweet potatoes. The oatmeal, along with barley, adds fiber and promotes healthy digestion. This recipe contains no corn, wheat, soy, chickpeas, or lentils and is free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

Though generally well tolerated, some dog owners did advise that their dogs experienced some digestive upset when making the switch. There were also some dogs that just flat out refused to try the food.

Overall, Castor and Pollux offer up organic food options that not many food brands do. It is a bit pricier than some other dry kibble varieties, but that can be expected with organic food sources.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Select the Best Dog Food for German Shorthaired Pointers

Choosing the Right Food

Trying to choose the best food for your German Shorthaired Pointer can be a bit overwhelming. We want to make sure we are making the best choice possible to ensure we have happy, healthy dogs on our hands.  The best way to come to a final decision is by weighing in on some key factors and personal preferences.

Research the Different Brands

Do some quick research on the brands of interest to help you narrow down your choices. Does the brand have a checkered history of recalls and a questionable reputation? If so, maybe reconsider. You can also check to see if a certain brand strives to meet the AAFCO guidelines for pet foods; this will help you determine whether the food meets the appropriate nutrient profile for a well-balanced diet.

Check the Label

Learning how to read the dog food label is important. Take a look at the full ingredient list as well as the caloric content and the guaranteed analysis to see how the food stands up to competitors. The label can teach you a lot about the food you are about to feed your dog, and learning how to read it will help you out in the long run.

Food Quantity and Storage

German Shorthaired Pointers are medium to large-sized dogs that remain very active. They will require a higher quantity of food compared to smaller, less active dog breeds. You will want to ensure you get good value for your money in terms of quality versus quantity. Make sure to check the size of the bag or package to ensure you not only are getting enough food but have proper storage space. Keep in mind that with fresh food varieties, you will need to make some space in your refrigerator or freezer.

Keep Your Budget in Mind

Your budget is going to play a role in any purchasing decision. The financial aspect of dog ownership must be weighed heavily before even bringing a dog home. High-quality food is necessary for every dog’s overall health and well-being and tends to come at a higher price. Food is a life-long necessity and will be a constant and ongoing expense.

You never want to skimp out on quality for the sake of cost. Once you figure out what you can fit into your budget, you can narrow down your choices. If money is tight, there are some great options out there. Of course, fresh food is much more expensive than dry kibble but can also be used as a topper for dry kibble to get that fresh food in while saving a bit of money.

Talk to Your Veterinarian

Talking to your veterinarian about your dog’s meal plan is highly recommended. Veterinarians are educated professionals that will be able to assist you in making the best health decisions for your dog.

Final Verdict

The Farmer’s Dog was chosen as the best overall food because the quality, convenience, and freshness simply can’t be beaten.

Taste of the Wild Ancient Grains will give you great value for your money by providing your German Shorthaired Pointer with a quality, well-balanced diet at a fair price.

Just Food For Dogs PantryFresh is another fresh food option that is top-of-the-line and expertly crafted.

Nulo Frontrunner Ancient Grains Puppy is a great choice for the little ones, providing a well-rounded diet for their unique growth and development needs.

ACANA Singles + Wholesome Grains Limited Ingredient comes veterinary recommended and has a limited ingredient list for those that suffer from allergies or sensitivities.

Now that you know what the reviews have to say and are aware of which foods stand out among the rest, hopefully, you feel more comfortable in making the right decision for your and your German Shorthaired Pointer. Happy hunting! (Pun intended.)

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Featured Image Credit: WilleeCole Photography, Shutterstock