The Doberman is a large, strong dog breed that makes great pets. To stay healthy and strong throughout all their life stages, they need quality food, just like most dogs.
In addition, Dobermans are prone to some health issues like most dog breeds. Providing your dog with the right nutrients can help prevent these health conditions.
Due to the playful and highly active nature of Doberman puppies, they require a diet that provides them with enough calories for energy and important nutrients to stay healthy.
When your Doberman is young, you should feed him healthy and high-quality dog food. You should choose dog food that will meet all of the nutritional needs of your Doberman.
The food you choose for your dog should provide him with the nutrients he needs, whether it is wet, dry, or freeze-dried. Additionally, the food must be free of chemicals and other harmful ingredients that may harm your dog.
You can find many different brands of dog foods on the market today. However, not all dog foods are created equal. Some contain unhealthy additives while others do not. Most importantly, you want to make sure that your dog receives the proper nutrition from his food.
Quick Summary
1. Purina Pro Plan Puppy – Editor’s Choice
2. ORIJEN Puppy Dry Dog Food – Best Overall
3. Iams Puppy Dry Dog Food – Best Budget
Also Read: 12 Best dog food for Doberman
When choosing a new dog food, consider the following:
Nutrition
Your dog’s age, weight, activity level, and overall health status will determine what type of diet he requires. Puppies usually have higher nutrient requirements than adult dogs because they grow so quickly and develop rapidly.
This means that you should start feeding your pup a variety of foods as early as eight weeks old. As your dog gets older, you can gradually reduce the number of meals per day.
Quality
Quality dog food is made up of fresh, natural ingredients. Look for products that are certified by organizations such as AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) and NRCP (National Research Council).
These certifications ensure that the food contains only safe and nutritious ingredients. Avoid any products that contain artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or sweeteners.
Healthy Ingredients
When looking at a list of ingredients, look for ones that are beneficial to your dog’s health. For example, avoid products that contain corn syrup, wheat flour, soy protein concentrates, and corn gluten meal. These ingredients can cause serious digestive problems in dogs.
Texture
If you notice that your dog has trouble chewing or swallowing his food, then try switching to a softer version. Your dog might also enjoy eating foods that are more moist or crunchy.
Make sure that you feed your dog small quantities of food several times each day. Dogs who eat too much at once tend to get full before they finish eating.
Don’t force your dog to eat if he doesn’t seem interested. Instead, offer him a few bites of food and let him decide how much he wants to eat. If he finishes his dinner, give him another portion later.
When you first introduce your dog to a new brand of food, mix it into his current food. Gradually increase the amount of this new product over time until you reach the recommended daily serving size.
Make sure that you keep track of the calories your dog consumes every day. Many pet owners struggle to measure their dogs’ calorie intake correctly. If you don’t know how many calories your dog eats, you won’t be able to accurately calculate his total energy expenditure.
To help you monitor your dog’s caloric intake, you can use a measuring cup, scale, or digital kitchen thermometer to weigh and measure portions of food.
Feeding Guidelines
Dogs require approximately 1/3 pounds of food per 100 pounds of body weight per day. The most important factor is to provide your dog with adequate nutrients. Remember that puppies need to consume more calories than adults since they grow so fast. Once your dog reaches adulthood, you can switch to a lower-calorie formula.
You can adjust the amount of food fed to your dog based on his age, breed, activity level, and general health. A healthy adult male Doberman Pinscher weighing 60 pounds would require about 2,000 calories per day.
The Best dog food for Doberman puppy
1. Open Farm Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Best Non-GMO dog food for Doberman puppy – The instinct to eat meat in dogs drives This recipe to make it the first ingredient. To achieve a balanced diet, Open farm cut out grains, corn, wheat, and soy and replace them with superfoods like non-GMO pumpkin, carrots, and coconut oil.
Open farm use only Certified Humane Chicken and Pork from audited family farms in the Open farm puppy blend, plus Wild-caught Salmon from Ocean Wise, so you can feel confident that your dog is eating great food.
With fresh meaty protein for muscle development, prebiotic fiber to aid digestion, and vitamins for energy, Open Farm’s science-based dry food formula for puppies has it all.
Make sure your puppy gets the health benefits nature has to offer by feeding it a pure blend of sweet potato, peas, chicory root, and raspberries from local farms that are free of artificial colors and preservatives.
- First 5 Ingredients: Humanely Raised Chicken Wild Pacific Salmon Ocean Whitefish Meal Sweet Potato
- Type: Non-GMO
- Breed Recommendation: Best For Doberman puppy
- Caloric Content: 440 kcal/Cup
- Our Rating: 8/10
What We Like
- Contains no added hormones or antibiotics.
- Made with real chicken, pork, salmon, and vegetables.
- Free of artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.
- Provides complete nutrition for healthy growth and development.
- Nutrient-dense, low-calorie food that won’t fill up your dog.
- Great for sensitive stomachs.
What We Don’t Like
- His preferred premium brand is more expensive per pound than other premium brands.
2. Purina Pro Plan Puppy Lamb & Rice Dry Dog Food
Best dry dog food for Doberman puppy – Purina offers this Pro Plan Puppy Lamb & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food, 34-lb bag & Nylabone Teething Pacifier Puppy Chew Toy bundle to help get your puppy off to a good start. Dogs love this dry dog food because it is so easy to digest and packed with all the protein they need.
In addition to providing DHA for developing brains, fish oil also ensures proper cognitive development. In addition to soothing teething pain and looking cute, this pacifier chew toy exercises his chompers for a life full of treats!
It is designed for puppies that are teething and are up to 25 pounds. It is not recommended for adults or puppies with permanent teeth.
- First 5 Ingredients: Humanely Raised Chicken Wild Pacific Salmon Ocean Whitefish Meal Sweet Potato
- Type: Non-GMO
- Breed Recommendation: Best For Doberman puppy
- Caloric Content: 440 kcal/Cup
- Our Rating: 8.5/10
What We Like
- Provides essential nutrients for healthy growth and development.
- Helps calm teething pains.
- Soothes sore gums.
- Makes him look adorable.
- Exercise his jaws for a lifetime of treats!
What We Don’t Like
- Some Dogs May Not Like The Taste
3. Purina Pro Plan High Protein Chicken and Rice Formula
Best protein dog food for Doberman Puppy – With Purina Pro Plan Brand Dog Food Puppy Large Breed Chicken & Rice Formula dry puppy food, you’ll provide him with the wholesome nutrition he needs.
This recipe is designed for puppies weighing over 50 pounds at maturity, and it contains chicken as its first ingredient, a high-quality protein that provides nutritional building blocks for your dog.
This super-premium puppy food is made up of high-quality ingredients carefully chosen for their nutritional or functional benefits. That way, you can rest assured that your puppy is getting high-quality nutrition for its growth.
He loves the crunch of his kibble when he eats, and antioxidants help boost his immune system. Show your puppy that you care about his overall health and happiness by including this dry puppy food in his complete and balanced diet.
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Whole Grain Corn, Poultry By-Product Meal
- Breed Recommendation: Best For Doberman puppy And Large Breeds
- Caloric Content: 419 kcal/cup
- Our Rating: 8.7/10
What We Like
- Formulated to help large breed puppies grow at an appropriate rate
- by supporting joint and cartilage development.
- Real chicken is the first ingredient in this high-protein formula.
- This formula is fortified with live probiotics to promote immune health and digestive function.
- The omega-rich fish oil in DHA nourishes the brain and vision.
What We Don’t Like
- It caused loose stool in some dogs.
Also Read: 7 Best dog food for sensitive teeth
4. Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Large Puppy Dry Dog Food
Best prebiotics dog food for Doberman Puppy – A diet rich in highly digestible proteins and prebiotics promotes healthy digestion and optimal stools for your dog.
This wholesome puppy food from Royal Canin is formulated to support your large dog’s healthy development and growth.
Besides helping your puppy build strong bones and joints, this complete and balanced food is packed with antioxidants and minerals to support immunity and keep their bodies healthy. The unique design of this dog food encourages your pup to chew his food thoroughly.
- First 5 Ingredients: Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, Wheat, Wheat Gluten, Chicken Fat
- Breed Recommendation: Best For Doberman puppy And Large Breeds
- Caloric Content: 352 kcal/cup
- Our Rating: 8/10
What We Like
- Supports healthy digestion and optimal stool formation.
- Rich in antioxidants and minerals to help maintain immune health.
- Made with real chicken meat, which provides your dog with essential nutrients.
- Contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
- Easy to administer, especially when mixed into wet food.
- Recommended by veterinarians worldwide.
What We Don’t Like
- Contains Chicken By-Product Meal
5. Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food
Best chicken meal dog food for Doberman Puppy – Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Large Breed Dry Dog Food provides your pup with the nutrients he needs to live a healthy life.
In addition to its wholesome ingredients, this nourishing recipe is balanced and designed to meet your pet’s nutritional needs as well as control bone growth.
Each ingredient exceeds industry standards for purity and nutrient content and is manufactured in the United States.
Hill’s Science Diet provides your pup with the nutrition he needs for a lifetime of health and happiness, as it is formulated for dogs up to 1 year of age. If your puppy will be over 55 lbs when he is an adult, then Hill’s Science Diet is for him.
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Whole Grain Wheat, Whole Grain Oats, Whole Grain Sorghum, Corn Gluten Meal
- Breed Recommendation: Best For Doberman puppy And Large Breeds
- Caloric Content: 394 kcal/cup
- Our Rating: 8.3/10
What We Like
- Provides essential vitamins and minerals for optimal health.
- Balanced and designed to meet your pup’s nutritional needs.
- Manufactured in the U.S.A.
- Made with only the highest quality ingredients.
- Hill’s Science Diet meets AAFCO guidelines for puppies and adults.
What We Don’t Like
- It is possible that your dog won’t like the taste
6. ORIJEN Puppy Dry Dog Food
Best animal ingredients dog food for Doberman Puppy – This recipe uses 85% quality animal ingredients, including organs and bones in its most nutrient-dense, succulent parts. The freeze-dried coating ensures that dogs love the raw flavor of this dry puppy food!
ORIJEN Puppy Large Grain-Free Dry Puppy Food provides optimal nourishment to your growing puppy. Puppies of large breeds often thrive on a diet high in protein and fat derived from a variety of animal sources. This tasty kibble contains chicken or turkey, wild-caught or sustainably farmed fish, and cage-free eggs.
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Turkey, Flounder, Whole Mackerel, Chicken Liver, Turkey Giblets
- Breed Recommendation: Best For Doberman puppy And Large Breeds
- Caloric Content: 449 kcal/cup
- Type: Grain-Free
- Our Rating: 8.6/10
What We Like
- 100% grain-free, made with real meat and vegetables.
- Rich in vitamins and minerals.
- Contains no wheat, corn, soy, or artificial colors or flavors.
What We Don’t Like
- Expensive
Also Read: The 9 Best dog food for Pitbulls
7. Iams Puppy Dry Dog Food
Best formulated dog food for Doberman Puppy – IAMS Puppy Dry Dog Food with Real Chicken will get your puppy off to a good start. The nutritional needs of your growing pup have been taken into consideration when formulating this puppy food.
The first ingredient is farm-raised chicken, a premium source of protein that will help your little one grow strong muscles.
In addition, it includes omega 3 DHA, which helps her become the smartest pup around nutrients she’d get from her mother’s milk. This is just what your pup needs to grow into the healthy, happy dog she deserves!
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Dried Plain Beet Pulp
- Breed Recommendation: Best For All Doberman Breeds
- Caloric Content: 399 kcal/cup
- Type: With Grain
- Our Rating: 8.8/10
What We Like
- Farm-raised chicken provides a premium source of protein.
- Omega 3 DHA helps develop brain function.
- Contains no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or added sugar.
- Easy to digest dry kibble.
What We Don’t Like
- Contains Chicken By-Product
8. Eukanuba Puppy Medium Breed Chicken Formula Dry Dog Food
Best dog food for Doberman medium puppy – You can tell your medium breed puppy is anything but ordinary with his endless energy, determination, and smarts.
Eukanuba Puppy Medium Breed Dry Dog Food will unleash his extraordinary potential. The complete and balanced puppy dog food will nourish your growing puppy’s mind, body, and energy.
In order to maintain muscle growth and bone health, a diet rich in animal protein is essential. For a smarter, more trainable puppy, DHA levels that are clinically proven promote brain development.
With optimal levels of fats and carbohydrates, your puppy will have concentrated energy to grow and play. Natural fiber and prebiotics aid in gentle digestion.
Your little champion’s immune system will be supported by guaranteed levels of antioxidant vitamin E. Additionally, high-quality chicken is the first ingredient to give your dog energy throughout the day. The future is bright for your puppy. Give him a lifetime of exceptional nutrition with Eukanuba.
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn, Chicken Fat, Wheat
- Breed Recommendation: Best For All Doberman Breeds
- Caloric Content: 431 kcal/cup
- Type: With Grain
- Our Rating: 8.5/10
What We Like
- High-quality ingredients ensure superior nutrition.
- Nutrient-rich formulas help support healthy skin and coats.
- Prebiotic fibers encourage digestive tract health.
- Antioxidant vitamin E promotes overall wellness.
- Chicken provides energy and nutrients throughout the day.
- Guaranteed analysis of nutritional content.
What We Don’t Like
- Contains Chicken By-Product.
Also Read: The 6 Best dog food for pitbull puppies to gain weight
How Much Should A Doberman Puppy Eat?
Doberman pups need different amounts of food based on their stage of development (age), gender (females are smaller and need less than males), and genetics.
A Dobie may be bigger or smaller based on purely genetic reasons, and the bigger the dog, the more support it needs.
It’s crucial that you optimize your pup’s nutrition if you want it to reach its full potential and grow into a healthy adult.
It is important to understand that free feeding a puppy, or letting him eat as much as he wants at any given time, can lead to obesity – so planning your meals and serving your puppy according to his needs becomes part of your duties.
Doberman puppies need how many calories?
It may be difficult to figure out how many calories your puppy needs, but there is a simple calculation you can do and compare it with the amount of food your puppy is eating.
RER, short for resting energy requirement, is the formula used to calculate the resting energy requirement. The weight in kilograms of an adult dog is multiplied by the third-fourth power of 70.
Puppies have a higher caloric requirement than adults. The RER amount will need to be tripled for a puppy younger than 4 months of age. The amount should be doubled for puppies between the ages of 4 and 12 months.
A 3-month-old Doberman puppy weighing 10 kilos (22 pounds) would have an RER of 400 calories, but you need to triple that amount, resulting in 1200 calories needed per day.
Doberman Puppy To Adult Food Switching
It’s time for your puppy to transition to an adult diet when he or she is 18 to 24 months old. The transition should not be abrupt. If you are switching brands, you can also refer to the following guideline.
Keep feeding your pup 75 percent of his original pet food along with 25 percent of the new food for the first three days.
After the third day, mix half and half and after the third day, add 25 percent of the original pet food to the blended food. Your pup may have loose stools if he has diarrhea.
What if my Doberman isn’t eating?
Most Dobermans eat well. It is possible that your pet is sick if you haven’t switched brands recently.
You should take your dog to the veterinarian if your dog becomes listless or still won’t eat on the second day. It may just be indigestion.
To start, you might want to consider changing the dog food. In a sealed container and in a cold, dry place, it needs to be stored properly. Absolutely! Dogs often won’t touch kibble if it’s off – and they’ll often refuse it when it is.
What is the daily exercise requirement for a Doberman puppy?
Puppies walk as part of a bonding and training process and to relieve some of their energy. Dobermans are energetic dogs. Dogs should be walked 5 minutes per month in age until they reach maturity as a rule of thumb.
Over-exercising puppies can result in serious health problems, so be careful during puppyhood.
Do not go for longer than 10 minutes a day on a walk with your 8-week-old Doberman puppy. When he is six months old, you can walk him for 30 minutes every day (you can do two walks of 15 minutes each).
You can walk your Doberman for one hour a day at one year, but he is still a puppy. You can start gradually building his fitness once he is fully grown and start taking longer walks and runs with him.
The Doberman Buyer’s Guide
Doberman pinschers are large and strong dogs that need a high-quality diet throughout their entire lives.
As with many dog breeds, Dobermans are prone to some health conditions, but by providing the proper nutrition many of these conditions can be prevented.
It is best to start feeding quality food as soon as possible, but it is never too late to start! Get to know what you need to look for, where to find it, and start browsing the internet for the best product for you and your dog!
Also Read: The 5 best dog food for aussiedoodles
The meat of high quality
You should be aware that not all meat ingredients in dog food are high-quality meat ingredients, regardless of what breed of dog you are purchasing it for.
Some of the ingredients listed on cheap pet food can be considered low-quality meat ingredients, such as “animal by-products,” “chicken by-products,” and “meat” (without mentioning what type of meat it is).
By-products are what are deemed unfit for humans to consume at slaughterhouses, and may or may not provide enough nutrients for your pet to thrive.
Additionally, unnamed meat sources make one wonder about the quality since a brand proud of its food content will typically state where the meat comes from. If someone chooses not to say where the meat comes from, that speaks volumes about the product.
To replace the above-mentioned meat ingredients, make sure to look for authentic meat; such as deboned chicken, salmon, beef, and pork; and make sure that these meats appear as high on the list of ingredients as possible.
Cardiovascular health with taurine
Recent studies suggest that it can be vital for a healthy and strong heart, so you should be happy to find this Easter egg in your Doberman’s diet.
Some products may contain naturally occurring taurine even when they do not list taurine as an ingredient.
You can always reach out to the manufacturer and ask if the product you are interested in contains the recommended amount of taurine, just to be sure.
Dobermans’ nutritional requirements
Due to their energy and ability to grow into very large dogs, Dobermans should consume fewer calories per day than a typical dog. You should feed your Doberman a calorie-dense diet, depending on his size, weight, and activity levels, but generally speaking, Dobermans should eat high-calorie diets.
In addition, Doberman’s health problems must be considered. The fact that they are prone to ailments such as bloating, allergies, kidney disease, Wobbler’s syndrome, low blood sugar, and hypothyroidism makes it even more important to ensure that they are fed only high-quality food that will enhance their immune systems and support their wellbeing. (1)
Protein
There is no such thing as too much protein for Dobermans. In addition to being energetic and active, they tend to thrive on high protein dog food – for adult dogs, that ranges from 15% – 30% of protein, and for puppies, that ranges from 22% to 32%. Your dog will need more protein as she becomes more active.
However, Dobermans are also prone to kidney disease, and this is a big problem. Meat and other protein-rich foods can worsen the condition, so it’s important not to eat too much of them. It’s best to speak with your vet about how much protein you should feed your Doberman.
Fat
Dobermans, like most dogs, need a lot of fat in their diet. Granted, their hair isn’t long, so you may not immediately notice how low fat content affects the look of their coat.
In spite of this, their coats are prone to drying out, so it’s important that they consume enough omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in their diets. (2)
Carbohydrates
Dobermans are prone to hypoglycemia and hypothyroidism, which is why it’s vital to feed them complex carbohydrates. In addition to whole grains, slow-burning fruits and vegetables can be substituted, if your pet is intolerant to grains.
Moreover, even if your dog eats dog food rich in healthy, whole grains, you should always look for ingredients like vegetables and fruits.
Can a Doberman puppy eat human foods?
It is safe for a Doberman puppy to eat some human foods. Moderation is preferred, but they can eat some human foods.
Coconut Coconuts are safe for them and are an immune system booster.
Dogs can eat eggs because they contain protein and are safe for them.
Omega fatty acids from fish are good for your dog’s health because they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. (3)
The best peanut butter for dogs is peanut butter, which is safe for them to eat. It has a high protein content and works well as a treat.
If your dog isn’t lactose intolerant (which is extremely rare), cheese is another great food to use as a treat.
Doberman puppies should be fed dry or wet food?
Seeing the kibble and wet food in the pet store might make you wonder which one is better for your puppy. Each has its pros and cons.
Dog food commonly recommended for Dobermans is kibble. The hard food helps break down plaque buildup in your dog’s teeth. It is also a lot cheaper than soft food.
Meanwhile, wet food is more expensive and does not benefit the teeth as much as dry food, but dogs really like the taste of it. Wet food should be avoided unless your veterinarian recommends it.
Also Read: The 7 Best dog food for morkies
Can You Free Feed A Doberman Puppy?
We will explain free feeding to you if you are unfamiliar with the concept. When your dog is hungry, you can just put food out for him, and he will come by and eat it.
However, most dogs don’t respond well to this method. There is a higher likelihood of Dobermans eating the whole bowl of food in a meal and then begging for more food throughout the day.
For your Doberman, you should stick to two to three balanced meals, measured out according to the amounts.
Dobermans grow how much each week?
After about eight months, the growth curve of the Doberman puppy begins to flatten as it slows down. By the time your pup is 12 months old, he or she will be as tall as an adult.
Following that, there is a slight gain in weight, but nothing drastic. During the pup’s rapid growth phase, pups gain on average 2.5 lbs per week; however, most pups will have growth spurts and periods when their growth is slower.
What is the recommended amount of water for my puppy?
This shouldn’t be an area where you have to be overly vigilant. Let your puppy’s natural thirst do the rest; make sure he always has access to clean drinking water.
He will drink more after exercise and during hot weather. One cup every two hours should be sufficient.
Do consult your veterinarian if you suspect your puppy is drinking too much water (or not enough). It might indicate a health problem.
Doberman puppies should be fed supplements?
The kinds of puppy food we’ve recommended in this article are high-quality, balanced, so you don’t need to add extra supplements.
Supplementation is not necessary as the puppy’s food contains everything it needs for healthy growth.
In some cases, supplements can be too much of a good thing, so if you want to give your pet a supplement, consult your veterinarian first.
Our recommendation is to save your money for one of the better puppy foods instead.
What should I feed my Doberman puppy?
Ideally, Doberman Pinschers should eat high-quality foods that are easy to digest and palatable. It is best to list chicken, beef, or lamb as the first ingredient on the list, followed by whole grains like brown rice or sweet potatoes.
Can Doberman eat fruits?
Generally, yes. Dogs can benefit from eating fruit like bananas, apples, strawberries, and blueberries, which provide them with a variety of nutrients and can also be treated that make them feel good. Fruits are healthier than processed treats.
How much should a 12 week old Doberman puppy eat?
Feeding frequency can also be reduced. It is not necessary to consume more than twice a day, but the portions will be larger each time. Approximately one to one and a half cups should be consumed twice a day.
Can I feed my Doberman once a day?
Perhaps you can feed once a day and see if that makes a difference. I never leave food down when I feed my dog at 7:00 AM and he hasn’t eaten yet. It gets picked up when the dogs and cats don’t eat, and they don’t get food until their next mealtime.
Final Words
To honor the Doberman’s loyalty, provide quality nutrition throughout all of his life stages. You should remember that your dog’s nutritional needs change with age and that different foods are required for various ages.
Before buying a larger quantity bag, see if there are any sampler bags first that you can test out before deciding which one works best for you.
Also Read: The 9 Best weight gaining dog food
