How Much Does It Cost to Feed a German Shepherd Puppy in the First Year?

With the highest inflation in decades, are you concerned about how you will afford to feed your German Shepherd puppy? Or are you perhaps overwhelmed by the different brands and choices of dog food? Feeding GSD puppies high-quality dog food is essential to fuel their rapid growth, especially during the first year of their lives. Have you ever wondered how much will it cost to feed your German Shepherd puppy dog food in the first year?

In general, the average cost of feeding your German Shepherd puppy is $433 in the first year. The cost of feeding your GSD puppy a raw diet and a homemade diet will be around $800 per year.

In this article, we will look at the cost of the best-selling dog food (dry kibbles) in some of the most popular retailers, including Amazon, Chewy, Walmart, and Costco. And most importantly, we will give you a handful of money-saving tips when it comes to feeding your German Shepherd puppy for the first year. Let’s get started!

Also read: How Much Is A German Shepherd Puppy? (Plus Annual Expenses)

The average cost of feeding a German Shepherd puppy in the first year is $433

After looking at the best-selling puppy dog food (suitable for German Shepherds) from the most popular retailers (i.e. Amazon, Chewy, Walmart, and Costco), we have found the average cost for feeding a German Shepherd puppy is around $433 for the first year.

Of course, the actual cost will depend on where you live, your dog’s health, and the activity level.

This cost is calculated based on a GSD puppy needing 200 pounds of food in its first year. 

The price of the top 5 puppy food on Amazon

As of the time of writing, the unit cost per pound for the top 5 puppy food for German Shepherds ranges from $1.90 to $4.73. This translates to around $580 to $950 per year.

Brand	Weight of bag	# of bags per year	Unit cost	Cost per pound	Yearly cost
Nutro Ultra Puppy	4 lb.	50	$18.99	$4.73	$949.50
Acana Wholesome	11.5 lb.	18	$40.99	$3.56	$737.82
Victor Super Premium	30 lb.	7	$56.99	$1.90	$398.93
Blue Buffalo Wilderness	24 lb.	9	$64.98	$2.71	$584.82
Royal Canin	30 lb.	7	$104.49	$3.48	$731.43

The price of the top 5 puppy food in Walmart

At Walmart, expect to pay an average of $2.00 per pound for your puppy. Here, you can spot the lowest price at $1.14 per pound. This means you can spend anywhere from $240 to $660 per year on dry kibble designed for your puppy’s growth.

Brand	Weight of bag	# of bags per year	Unit cost	Cost per pound	Yearly cost
Pedigree Puppy	14 lb.	15	$15.98	$1.14	$239.70
Instinct Be Natural	24 lb.	9	$67.99	$2.83	$611.91
Pure Balance Pro	16 lb.	13	$29.48	$1.84	$383.24
Purina One	16.5 lb.	13	$24.58	$1.49	$319.54
Wellness Core	24 lb.	9	$72.98	$3.04	$656.82

The price of the top 5 puppy food in Costco

Similarly, the average price for puppy food in Costco is $2.00 per pound. And the yearly cost of feeding your puppy runs from $280 to $660 or anywhere in between.

Brand	Weight of bag	# of bags per year	Unit cost	Cost per pound	Yearly cost
Kirkland Organic	19.8 lb.	11	$38.99	$1.96	$428.89
Hound & Gatos Grain-free	30 lb.	7	$39.97	$1.33	$279.79
Kirkland Signature	19.8 lb	11	$38.99	$1.97	$428.89
Hound & Gatos	19.5 lb.	11	$59.97	$3.08	$659.67
Kirkland Puppy	20 lb.	10	$34.99	$1.75	$349.90

The cost of adding wet food to your GSD puppy

In essence, a diet only consisting of wet food would be significantly more expensive than sticking with dry food only.

However, it does make a nice addition to dry food. If you wanted to add wet food to your pup’s diet, such as Blue Buffalo Homestyle, twice a week, the cost for a whole year will be $264 extra.

Adding wet food can help change up your dog’s meals while staying within a manageable budget.

The cost of feeding your GSD puppy with a raw diet

Feeding a raw food diet is increasing in popularity due to the many health benefits.

On average they will need to be fed 1 lb. per day of a variety of mostly meat, some produce, and dairy. The average yearly cost to feed a puppy would be around $800. (Source: Canine Bible)

Here’s how to calculate how much your GSD needs to be fed to support its growth:

Puppy age	Daily feeding amount ( of body weight)
2 to 3 months	8% to 10%
4 to 5 months	6% to 8%
6 to 8 months	4% to 6%
9 to 12 months	3% to 4%

The cost of homemade food for a German Shepherd puppy

The cost of homemade food is similar to the cost of raw food for the year. The difference isn’t necessarily the ingredients but the preparation. The cost is about $800 a year. There are many essential ingredients and minerals that need to be included in a homemade diet. The cost will include proteins such as meat.

A high-quality diet is worth the money 

Whatever diet you decide on, the most important factor to consider is the quality of the food.

Providing your German Shepherd puppies with a nutritious diet will help avoid many health problems. Spending more on a quality diet can help to prevent pricey veterinarian bills later on. A good diet is essential for giving your dog the best chance of living a healthy and happy life.

How to save money on feeding a puppy?

A high-quality diet can be provided without spending a fortune. You can buy food in large quantities for cheaper. Keep in mind just because a certain food is more expensive than the rest, it does not guarantee it is the best. You can supplement with homemade or wet food, giving the best of both while also keeping costs down.

Tip #1: Buying in bulk to save money 

Purchasing larger quantities usually results in lower costs per pound. For example, an 18 lb. bag of Blue Buffalo is $2.77 per pound. The same brand and type of a 47 lb. bag is $1.78 per pound. Wholesale stores that sell large quantities are also usually cheaper for the same product.

Tip #2: Don’t overspend on expensive brands without reason 

Price does not always equal quality. Understanding your dog’s specific needs will help you to determine which food to choose. If your dog does have a grain allergy then grain-free is an option, but if they tolerate grains then you do not have to spend extra on grain free. Checking the label and ingredient list should help you decide what is best.

Tip #3: Check for buying perks 

Depending on where and what brand you buy there may be some buying perks. Websites like Chewy and Amazon have autoship and subscribe and save options. Checking around for coupons may help save some money on dog food. Blue Buffalo and Purina are some brands that offer loyalty and points rewards programs. 

Tip #4: Save money by supplementing with homemade food

You can give your dog a diverse diet by supplementing homemade food. If you find a good deal on chicken while grocery shopping you can add that alongside the dry food. This helps to break up the cost while also giving your dog variety. Prices can fluctuate frequently, so bringing in different items can help you save money.

Tip #5: Make sure food isn’t being wasted

Wasting food can happen either by expiration or not getting eaten by your dog. To avoid this make sure you are properly measuring food portions. This will help to not overfeed or underfeed your dog too. Depending on the diet chosen make sure to check expiration dates. Dry food usually lasts a long time but some wet food may not.

Proper food storage is also important to make sure nothing goes bad. Dry food should have an air-tight container. Check wet food containers to see the proper storage methods, especially when they are opened.

The Bottom Line

There is an overwhelming amount of choices when deciding what to feed your new GSD puppy. We get that. The bottom line is: regardless of the cost, your dogs deserve the best dog food for their exponential growth in the very first year of their lives. And the good news is, there are many ways to save money, and hopefully feeding a puppy for its first year isn’t as concerning now.