Best Dog Food for Adult & Puppy Weirmaraner – Nutrition Guide
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The handsome Weimaraner makes a good family dog – if you have an active family. These energetic dogs were developed in 18th and 19th century Germany to hunt all day and they are still brimming with energy. You’ll need to feed the best Weimaraner food possible to provide the nutrition your dog needs.
Weimaraners are large dogs, weighing up to about 90 pounds as adults. Their short coat is low maintenance. Lots of exercise keeps them in good muscle. Their gray coat and light eyes have given the breed the nickname “the gray ghost.” Learn what foods to feed a Weimaraner below.
What is the Best Dog Food for a Weimaraner?
- American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- Ollie Healthy Turkey Feast Fresh Dog Food
- ACANA Heritage Free-Run Poultry
- Wellness CORE Grain Free Original Formula
- Taste of the Wild Wetlands Canine Formula with Roasted Fowl
- Fromm Heartland Gold Large Breed Puppy
- Canidae All Life Stages Large Breed Puppy Duck Meal, Brown Rice & Lentils Formula
- Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Puppy Health
- Precise Large & Giant Breed Puppy
Weimaraner Diet & Nutrition
Like other dogs, Weimaraners need basic nutrients in their diet such as protein, fat, and carbohydrates. You should look for dog foods that obtain these ingredients from good sources since your dog will be better able to use them than poor quality ingredients.
Weimaraners are a large (but not a giant) breed. You may wish to consider a large breed dog food for your Weim. A growing Weimaraner puppy can do well eating a large breed puppy food. Fast-growing Weimaraner puppies can be prone to HOD (Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy), so it’s a good idea to encourage slow growth. Hip dysplasia is not a great problem in the breed but most large breeds can have some joint and mobility issues as dogs get older. Large breed puppy and adult dog foods have slightly fewer calories to help keep large dogs slim. They encourage slow growth in puppies. And they have the correct nutrient balance for big dogs and puppies.
Per Weimeraner owners and breeders, some Weimaraners can have problems with food allergies and sensitivities. Some Weims have difficulty eating grains such as corn, wheat, and even barley. For these reasons, you may wish to choose a grain free dog food or your Weimaraner.
How Much Should You Feed Your Weimaraner?
How much you feed your Weimaraner depends on several factors:
- Your dog’s size
- Your dog’s age
- How much activity he is getting
- Is your dog spayed/neutered?
- Your dog’s overall health
- The food you are feeding
Different dogs have different metabolic rates. Large dogs such as Weimaraners generally need between 20 and 30 calories per pound of bodyweight per day even if they are just sleeping and running around the backyard. If your Weim is hunting or training for agility, he will need to eat more.
When you consider all of your dog’s personal factors, you still have to consider what kind of food you are feeding. In general, if you are feeding a better quality dog food, you can feed smaller amounts of the food than if you are feeding a lower quality dog food. Better quality dog foods usually have more calories and nutrients packed in each ounce of food so your dog doesn’t have to eat as much. They may have more protein and fat, with fewer carbohydrates (though some expensive dog foods do contain a lot of carbs).
You do need to be careful, however, if you change dog foods. Don’t assume that you can feed your dog the same amount of all foods, even if you are changing from one good food to another. You might need to give your dog four cups of one kind of food, for example. But, if you switch to a higher quality food, you may only need to feed 2 1/2 cups per day. If you continue to feed 4 cups, without checking the calories, your dog could quickly develop a weight problem.
How Many Calories Does My Weimaraner Need?
Adult male Weimaraners can weigh up to about 90 pounds. Adult female Weimaraners can weigh up to about 75 pounds. Based on recommendations from the National Research Council of the National Academies , the group that researches and make nutritional recommendations for dogs and cats, you would need to feed an adult Weimaraners, weighing 80 pounds, about 1866 calories per day. The amount you need to feed your dog would need to be increased if he is getting more exercise. If your dog is spayed/neutered, or very inactive, you usually need to decrease the calories to keep your dog from gaining too much weight.
These calories recommendations are generalized. You should observe your dog and notice if he’s gaining or losing weight. Adjust his portions accordingly. Pet food manufacturers are supposed to provide calorie information on the label but the information can be hard to find. You can usually find the information on the company’s web site with the feeding guidelines.
What To Look For In A Good Weimaraner Food
A good food for your Weimaraner should have the following characteristics:
Good Protein Sources: Good sources of protein are important for your Weimaraner’s health. We recommend several animal sources of protein in the first several ingredients, preferably as the first ingredient in the ingredient list. Your dog is better able to absorb nutrients from animal sources of protein than from plant sources but many foods today also use plant-based proteins such as peas and lentils. Some plant-based protein is fine but the food should not have an over-abundance of plant material. Good sources of animal protein include meat, poultry, fish, and eggs.
With animal proteins, be sure the ingredients are specific. For example, chicken meal is superior to “meat” meal. Some people prefer whole meat proteins such as whole chicken but whole meats are mostly water. When the moisture is removed during the cooking process, these ingredients provide relatively little protein. An ingredient such as chicken meal has already had most its moisture removed. It is mostly protein. For a good combination, you can look for a dog food that lists both whole chicken and chicken meal as the first two ingredients on the label. This is only an example. You can find foods that use other meat proteins (whole duck and duck meal; whole lamb and lamb meal, etc.) that take a similar approach.
Good Sources of Fat: Look for foods that have good named sources of fat. Fat is important to your dog’s diet as a source of essential fatty acids and as a way to distribute fat soluble vitamins. Your dog is better able to absorb animal sources of fat such as chicken fat or fish oil than plant sources.
Low to Moderate Carbohydrates: Most dog foods have lots of carbohydrates. This is true even for many good quality dog foods. You don’t have to try to avoid all carbs but you should look for foods that are low to moderate in carbohydrates. Some carbohydrates can be good for your dog. Prebiotics are usually carbs. Dietary fiber usually comes from carbohydrates. But your dog doesn’t need excessive carbs in his diet from filler ingredients. Keep in mind that even many grain free dog foods have lots of carbs. Grains are not the only source of carbohydrates.
Avoid Lower Quality Ingredients: These ingredients include things like unnamed meat by-products, meat and animal digest, and corn and wheat gluten.
Avoid Artificial Preservatives, Colors, and Sweeteners: Artificial preservatives have been linked to various health problems in humans and animals. The same is true with artificial colors/dyes. Your dog doesn’t need any kind of artificial sweetener.
AAFCO: AAFCO is the Association of American Feed Control Officials. They set voluntary standards for pet food labeling at the local, state, and federal level. Look for foods that have met these minimum standards. (Note that people criticize AAFCO for lots of reasons but these are really the bare minimum nutritional standards that any pet food should be able to meet.)
Finally, most dog food experts today recommend that dogs should eat a diet that is relatively high in protein and moderate in fat. A healthy adult Weimaraner should do well on this kind of diet.
Top 3 Best Foods To Feed An Adult Weimaraner
| Rank | Product | Price | Rating |
| Best Value |
 American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food |
$1.49/lb |
A+
|
| Human Grade |
 |
Varies |
A+
|
| #1 |
 |
$2.64/lb |
A+
|
| #2 |
 |
$2.31/lb |
A+
|
| #3 |
 |
$1.63/lb |
A
|
American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
First 5 Ingredients : Deboned Salmon, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Peas, Sweet Potatoes
American Journey is Chewy’s own brand of dog food, and is one of our favorites as far as value. Each American Journey recipe is unique, but they pay close attention to keeping out ingredients like wheat, soy, and corn, which can impact your dog’s stomach if they’re sensitive to them.
Also included in this recipe are blueberries, sweet potatoes, carrots, and dried kelp to help boost your dog’s immune system. Sweet potatoes and chickpeas help keep your dog’s energy levels high, while deboned salmon forms the core protein, and flaxseed and salmon oil both bring in Omega-3 and Omega-6 acids.
American Journey recipes provide plenty of consideration for dogs with strict dietary requirements and picky eaters.
Ollie Healthy Turkey Feast Fresh Dog Food
First 5 Ingredients : Turkey breast, turkey liver, kale, carrots, lentils
Ollie Fresh Dog Food is a great option for pet owners looking for a super premium meal for their dogs. Fresh food diets are gaining popularity with humans and they are becoming popular with pets. Ollie’s ingredients are all human-grade and are slow cooked to preserve the nutritional integrity. There are no artificial flavors or fillers in any of their recipes, so you can be sure that your dog is getting whole, fresh ingredients and nothing more. When you sign up for Ollie, you will fill out a profile about your dog to help them create a customized recipe and delivery schedule that will suit your needs. The food is delivered to your doorstep and stored in your fridge or freezer, ready to serve when your pet needs it. Although Ollie is more expensive than other dog foods, there are a lot of added benefits that make a fresh food diet something to consider!
ACANA Heritage Free-Run Poultry
First 5 Ingredients : Deboned Chicken, Chicken Giblets (Liver, Heart, Gizzard), Chicken Meal, Whole Green Peas, Red Lentils
Acana foods are made by Champion Pet Foods, the same company that makes Orijen. The Acana Heritage line of foods have fresh regional ingredients and it’s made in Kentucky. This Free-Run Poultry Formula has 60 percent animal protein from chicken, turkey, and eggs. The first five ingredients are: deboned chicken, chicken giblets (liver, heart, gizzard), chicken meal, whole green peas, and red lentils. The food has 29 percent crude protein and 17 percent crude fat, with 396 kcal/cup. If your Weimaraner can’t eat chicken, the Heritage formulas also come in freshwater fish and heritage meats formulas.
Wellness CORE Grain Free Original Formula
First 5 Ingredients : Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Peas, Potatoes
Wellness CORE Grain Free Original Formula has lots of protein and it’s moderate in fat. It has 421 calories per cup. The first five ingredients in the food are deboned turkey, turkey meal, chicken meal, peas, and potatoes. And it has no artificial flavors, preservatives, meat by-products, or fillers. This would be a good food for active Weimaraners who need more calories.
Taste of the Wild Wetlands Canine Formula with Roasted Fowl
First 5 Ingredients : Duck, Duck Meal, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas
Taste of the Wild is one of the most popular brands that we recommend. Taste of the Wild has some good grain free dog foods and the Wetlands formula is one of their best. It’s grain free, high in protein, and it has 375 calories per cup. The first five ingredients are: duck, duck meal, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, and peas. We think this is a good maintenance dog food for Weimaraners.
Top 4 Best Foods To Feed A Weimaraner Puppy
| Rank | Product | Price | Rating |
| #1 |
 |
$3.08/lb |
A+
|
| #2 |
 Canidae All Life Stages Large Breed Puppy Duck Meal, Brown Rice & Lentils Formula |
$2.25/13 oz can |
A
|
| #3 |
 |
$2.00/lb |
A
|
| #4 |
 |
$2.00/lb |
A
|
Fromm Heartland Gold Large Breed Puppy
First 5 Ingredients : Beef, Pork Meat Meal, Peas,Lentils, Chickpeas
Fromm’s Heartland Gold Large Breed Puppy formula is grain free and includes lots of meat such as beef, pork, and lamb.The first five ingredients in the food are: beef, pork meat meal, peas, lentils, and chickpeas. The food has 26 percent crude protein and 14 percent crude fat, with 389 kcal/cup. This would be a good food to encourage slow, steady growth for your Weimaraner puppy.
Canidae All Life Stages Large Breed Puppy Duck Meal, Brown Rice & Lentils Formula
First 5 Ingredients : Chicken, Duck Broth, Duck, Dried Egg Whites, Brown Rice
Canidae’s All Life Stages Large Breed Puppy formula features calcium and protein for the growth of your large breed puppy’s bones. It has no corn, wheat, or soy. It is lower in protein and fat than many puppy foods so it helps keep large breed puppies from getting fat which can help prevent problems like hip dysplasia and arthritis when they get older. The first five ingredients are: duck meal (source of L-carnitine), brown rice, oats, peas, and ocean fish meal.
Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Puppy Health
First 5 Ingredients : Lamb Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Ground White Rice, Chicken Meal, Dried Beet Pulp
Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Puppy Health comes in a lamb and oatmeal recipe but the formula also includes chicken and fish meals. DHA supports good brain and eye development. The first five ingredients in the food are: lamb meal, ground brown rice, ground white rice, chicken meal, and dried beet pulp. This formula has 23 percent crude protein and 12 percent crude fat with 375 kcal/cup. Holistic Select has a number of good kibble and canned foods including a grain free puppy food with higher protein and fat percentages, if you prefer.
Precise Large & Giant Breed Puppy
First 5 Ingredients : Chicken, Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Lamb Meal
Precise Large & Giant Breed Puppy has slightly fewer calories than most regular puppy foods, like some other large breed puppy foods. This is so large breed puppies, like Weimaraner puppies, don’t gain too much weight at a young age. Rapid growth and being overweight as a puppy can lead to hip dysplasia and arthritis as adults. It can also cause Weimaraner puppies to develop HOD. The first five ingredients in this food are: chicken, chicken meal, ground brown rice, oatmeal, and lamb meal. Precise Large & Giant Puppy has 23 percent crude protein and 12 percent crude fat with 400 kcal/cup.
We hope this information helps you choose the best food for your Weimaraner. Remember that the foods recommended here are only suggestions. There are many good foods that your dog might be able to eat. You can use these recommendations as a starting point. Your dog is an individual Check our dog food reviews here on Pawster for more ideas.
