10 Best Dog Foods for German Shorthaired Pointers
German Shorthaired Pointers, or GSPs, are an active, friendly breed of hunting dog whose good temperaments and boundless energy levels make them an excellent family pet. All of these factors don’t have to complicate your purchasing process though, as we’re here to present you with our top picks for German Shorthaired Pointer food; all of which you can conveniently order through online retailers like Amazon!
10 Best Dog Foods for German Shorthaired Pointers – Overview
Here are the top 4 picks (keep scrolling for more details and picks 5-10).
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall  | Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet with Healthy Grains, Real Salmon & Brown Rice
| 10 | Check Price on Amazon |
Best for Puppies  | Orijen Puppy Free-Run Chicken, Turkey, Wild Caught Fish
| 9.9 | Check Price on Amazon |
Best Raw Food  | Stella & Chewy's Freeze-Dried Raw Duck Duck Goose Dinner Patties
| 9.8 | Check Price on Amazon |
Best Grain-Free  | ORIJEN Dog Six Fish Recipe Grain-Free
| 9.7 | Check Price on Amazon |
Best Overall
1. Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet with Healthy Grains, Real Salmon & Brown Rice
Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Salmon & Brown Rice formula offers complete, balanced nutrition in a fish-based formula suitable for dogs allergic to traditional meats like beef and chicken.
- Made with protein-rich salmon and brown rice
- Suggested for dogs with sensitive stomachs and allergies
- High in fiber for good digestion
Pups with sensitive stomachs and digestive tracts will also benefit from whole grain inclusions like brown rice, oatmeal, and barley, and all GSPs will benefit from the energy-promoting, healthy carbohydrates in ingredients like sweet potatoes. Additionally, this product excels in supporting skin and coat health, with plenty of omega-3 fatty acids from salmon, sunflower oil, and flaxseed.
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned salmon, salmon meal, brown rice, oatmeal, barley
- Type: Grain-inclusive (Barley, oats, rice)
- Best for: Adult German Shorthaired Pointers
- Sample buyer review: “I have a 10-year-old Labrador, and my boyfriend has a 10-year-old Beagle. Since switching our dogs to this food they’ve both had a noticeable improvement in energy and overall health. My Labrador has always had tear stains underneath his eyes from allergies, with this food he doesn’t. The Beagle is much more energetic than she was in the past and her coat is shiny and soft.”
Best Overall for Puppies
2. Orijen Grain Free Puppy Formula
Orijen Puppy Formula dry food is designed to supply your puppy with high levels of animal protein from responsibly-sourced free-run chicken and turkey, wild-caught fish, and cage-free eggs so that they can develop strong, lean muscles.
- Recipe full of fresh and raw animal ingredients
- Formulated for all breed sizes
- Contains 38% protein
This kibble is also fortified with calcium for bone growth, as well as glucosamine and chondroitin to encourage healthy joints. This potato-free dog food is perfect for puppies that struggle with stomach sensitives or digestive troubles.
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, deboned turkey, flounder, eggs, whole Atlantic mackerel
- Type: Grain-free
- Best for: German Shorthaired Pointer Puppies
- Sample buyer review: “9-week-old Dachshund was having abnormal stools when we got her. Switched her immediately from the Pedigree food the breeder had been feeding her, onto this and her bowel movements started to look normal right away. She loves this stuff. It is really small and much easier for her tiny little mouth to eat too. I can’t imagine switching to another brand and imagine we will use the adult food for her once she’s old enough.”
Best Value
3. Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties, Duck Duck Goose
Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties provide a simple way to serve your dog a grain-free, gluten-free raw meal, as they can either be fed as they are or rehydrated with a small amount of water.
- Delicious, grain-free and freeze-dried duck patties
- Raw formulation helps with digestion and strong teeth and gums
- Made from 95% poultry
Many dog owners prefer all-natural, raw diets and claim that feeding raw can lead to improvements in skin and coat health, dental hygiene, energy levels, and digestive functions. These patties are also packed with added nutrients for complete health support, such as heart-healthy taurine.
- First 5 ingredients: Duck with ground bone, turkey, turkey liver, goose, turkey gizzard
- Type: Grain-free
- Best for: Adult German Shorthaired Pointers
- Sample buyer review: “Recently I went to visit my mom and shared some of our Stella and Chewy’s with her small dog. Her dog is not a huge eater and is very picky BUT he was immediately interested in the Stella and Chewy’s I was feeding my dog while visiting. Now my mom actually purchased 2 packages of Stella and Chewy’s flavors herself for her dog and he absolutely LOVES it too! He and my dogs both gobble it up and are super happy and healthy too.”
Best Value
4. Orijen Grain Free Adult Dog, Six Fish Recipe
Orijen Six Fish Recipe dog food mixes sustainably caught wild fish with vitamin-rich fruits and veggies to create an allergen-free, potato-free recipe that your dog will crave.
- For dogs who prefer light and tasty fish protein
- Grain-free formulation for easier digestion
- Suggested for dogs in all life stages
Your dog’s vision and immune system will benefit from the vitamin A and beta-carotene found in this recipe’s whole pumpkin and whole carrot inclusions. This grain-free recipe also features a blend of naturally probiotic fermentation products to soothe digestion.
- First 5 ingredients: Whole Atlantic mackerel, whole Atlantic herring, monkfish, Acadian redfish, flounder
- Type: Grain-free
- Best for: Adult German Shorthaired Pointers
- Sample buyer review: “Our two Siberian Huskies have been on Orijen Six Fish for their whole lives (7 and 8 years). The super high protein kibble keeps our Sibes full of energy with 5-mile daily walks and 8 hours per day outside with free reign on a 1-acre hillside wooded lot. Additionally, the manufacturer, Champion Pet Foods, has never had a recall, so we are confident in the continuous quality.”
5. The Honest Kitchen Whole Food Clusters, Puppy Blend
The Honest Kitchen Whole Food Clusters puppy food is a human-grade recipe notable for its high-quality ingredients and bite-sized pieces that have a softer texture for teething dogs.
This formula boasts boosted DHA to support cognitive development, as well as higher protein levels to fuel your pup’s growing muscles. While this option may be pricier than other dog food brands, this nutritious, quality food makes for an excellent investment in your puppy’s future health.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, oats, barley, chicken liver, carrots
- Type: Grain-inclusive (barley, oats)
- Best for: German Shorthaired Pointer Puppies
- Sample buyer review: “I foster dogs including puppies for the local humane society. Good nutrition makes a world of difference and I try to feed them the best. This food is made of quality ingredients, recognizable and clean. It seems like a good formulation. The puppies loved it and ate it eagerly. I observed no negative side effects or digestive issues related to consumption. I also gave it to a senior whose appetite has waned. He pepped up and it seemed to give him an energy boost.”
6. Wellness Core Wholesome Grains, Ocean Recipe
Wellness Core Wholesome Grains Ocean Recipe combines high-protein, omega-rich fish with wholesome grains like oatmeal and barley to produce a food suitable for allergy-prone dogs.
This food is also rich in antioxidants from blueberries, beta-carotene from carrots, and inulin from chicory root extract. Additionally, this kibble features taurine for heart health and chelated minerals to support absorption, which can be major health boosters for your pooch.
- First 5 ingredients: Whitefish, herring meal (source of glucosamine), menhaden fish meal (source of chondroitin sulfate), oatmeal, barley
- Type: Grain-inclusive (barley, oats)
- Best for: Adult German Shorthaired Pointers
- Sample buyer review: “All the dogs love it (in all honesty they would eat anything though haha) but the reason for this food is because of some food sensitivities in some of my dogs but they all handle this great (no excessive bowel movements and/or gas and all nice stools)! They also have super soft and shiny coats! I also prefer the shape and size of the kibble-my dogs actually have to chew it versus all the traditional small round pieces they just swallow. So overall a great choice of kibble for my pack!”
7. The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Limited Ingredient, Fish Recipe
The Honest Kitchen Limited Ingredient Fish Recipe is a gluten-free dehydrated dog food that can be prepared in minutes for use as a homemade meal or dry food topper.
With a limited-ingredient recipe made with only six main ingredients and fortified with essential vitamins and chelated minerals, this product is an excellent choice for owners who want to avoid preservatives, by-products, fillers, or GMO ingredients.
The best part is that this product provides four pounds of food for every pound of dog food mix, greatly extending the life of this purchase.
- First 5 ingredients: Dehydrated white fish, dried organic coconut, dried chickpeas, dehydrated pumpkin, dehydrated celery
- Type: Grain-free
- Best for: Adult German Shorthaired Pointers
- Sample buyer review: “If you’re thinking of making the switch to The Honest Kitchen… do it! I was feeding my dog raw with the hope that it would help his never-ending battle with allergies and skin issues. It was such a pain and even after a year of feeding raw, nothing changed. So, I thought I’d give THK a try and I’m so glad I did! My dog LOVES the food, his coat is softer, and he has a bunch more energy.”
8. Only Natural Pet MaxMeat Grain-Free Dog Food, Lamb & Cod with Pumpkin
Only Natural Pet MaxMeat Lamb & Cod recipe is a jerky-style, grain-free dog food that works great as both a completely balanced meal and as a high-protein training treat.
This product is made in New Zealand using local, high-quality lamb and cod protein sources and is shipped according to high quality and safety standards. Although it might look different than your usual dog food, customers claim that your dog won’t be able to get enough of these tasty, chewy bites.
- First 5 ingredients: Lamb, cod, lamb liver, lamb heart, lamb kidney
- Type: Grain-free
- Best for: Adult German Shorthaired Pointers
- Sample buyer review: “My picky fur-babies actually like this food; thank goodness. I have tried everything. Canned food, fresh, frozen, raw, kibble, but consistently they will eat this. The best part for me, is it’s so easy. I don’t get that horrible smell like other foods and it travels well.”
9. Fromm Gold Nutritionals Reduced Activity & Senior Formula
Fromm Gold Nutritionals Reduced Activity & Senior food is formulated to support your aging pup with a high-protein mix of real chicken ingredients.
Healthy grains like brown rice and pearled barley combine with prebiotics and probiotics to soothe older digestive systems, while omega-rich fish oil and flaxseed act as good sources for skin and coat support. Overall, this is a good, grain-inclusive option for owners of older dogs.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, chicken broth, oat groats, pearled barley
- Type: Grain-inclusive (barley, oats, rice, millet)
- Best for: Senior German Shorthaired Pointers
- Sample buyer review: “Our dogs are senior citizens and we are extremely picky about their food. We look for products made in the USA, (prefer that it is all sourced in the USA as well) and it must be a high-quality product. This food is made here in Wisconsin which I like and we’ve had nothing but great experiences with this food. Many foods we’ve tried will sit in the bowl to be ignored and our dogs would only eat the cooked portion of their meal. They will go back and eat the Fromm’s Gold later when they want a snack or realize they aren’t going to negotiate for more beef/chicken.”
10. Orijen Grain-Free Senior Formula
Orijen Senior Formula dry dog food is a grain-free option suitable for seniors with sensitive stomachs.
This recipe includes plenty of quality protein from responsibly-raised chicken, turkey, and fish to maintain healthy muscles, notably including those animals’ organs, cartilage, and bones for full nutritional benefits. Senior dog owners will also appreciate fiber-rich additions like whole chickpeas and pumpkin, which can keep older digestive tracts healthy and regular.
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, deboned turkey, flounder, eggs, whole Atlantic mackerel
- Type: Grain-free
- Best for: Senior German Shorthaired Pointers
- Sample buyer review: “My sweet, almost 10-year-old beagle was really starting to slow down. He would be cranky after long walks and was showing less interest in his food. He also has arthritic flare ups now. My friend suggested I try this food, and WOW what a difference it has made. We are nearly done with the month-long phasing process. He’s acting like a puppy, begging for his food, asking for longer walks! I can’t say enough how much I love this product!”
Final Thoughts
German Shorthaired Pointers are energetic, active pups, but they are far from the most active breeds around. Check out our article on the most and least active dog breeds to learn which dog breeds have the GSP’s high activity level beat!
