The German Shorthaired Pointer is a large dog, between 20 kg and 32 kg, historically bred for hunting and endurance sports. The breed's high energy demand calls for high caloric density and fat in the food, and quality protein sustains the intense activity without compromising a healthy weight.
In the current My Pet Magazine analysis, the best food for the German Shorthaired Pointer is Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials (Purina Pro Plan), with a technical score of 91.7/100 (🌟 Superior Quality), calculated with the My Pet Magazine IDNM/IPFI methodology across 49 dog foods reviewed in July 2026. See the full ranking ↓
What to weigh in food for the German Shorthaired Pointer
Choosing the German Shorthaired Pointer's food revolves around one central breed trait: elevated energy expenditure.
High energy demand. The German Shorthaired Pointer (Braco Alemão) is a sporting and hunting breed, selected over generations for physical stamina. FEDIAF classifies active and working dogs as having a maintenance energy requirement (MER) higher than that of a sedentary dog of the same weight — which calls for a food with high caloric density and fat.
Protein to sustain the effort. Quality, highly digestible protein helps maintain muscle mass in a dog that moves a great deal, whether in training, hunting or dog sports. It is the natural complement to high energy: calories alone are not enough without protein to sustain muscle.
Adjusting by actual activity level. Not every German Shorthaired Pointer lives the same routine — an actively hunting dog spends more energy than one with a more homebound routine. The portion and the food's caloric density should follow the dog's actual expenditure, not a fixed standard based on breed alone, so that leftover calories do not turn into excess weight.
Criteria scored against the My Pet Magazine nutritional targets (protein, fat, calcium and caloric density ranges by size — see our methodology).
Breed profile and predispositions
The German Shorthaired Pointer carries high energy demand as the breed's central predisposition, being a high-energy sporting and hunting dog. According to the FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines 2024, working or very active dogs — a category the German Shorthaired Pointer fits by historical selection for hunting and stamina — have a maintenance energy requirement (MER) calculated on the basis of activity level, not weight alone, and usually need considerably more energy per day than a sedentary dog of the same size.
That translates into a food with higher caloric density and fat, complemented by the adult maintenance profiles from the AAFCO Dog and Cat Food Nutrient Profiles, which serve as the minimum nutritional floor (protein and fat) regardless of activity level. Since actual energy expenditure varies by individual — according to whether the dog trains, hunts or has a quieter routine — the ideal portion is calibrated by each German Shorthaired Pointer's activity level, and not by a fixed breed value. A change of routine, an injury or a sign of being overweight justify reassessing the portion with veterinary guidance, since the breed's energy predisposition does not replace individual follow-up of the dog.
Recommended foods for the German Shorthaired Pointer
Ranked by IDNM/IPFI technical score across 49 dog foods — no manual product curation.
- 1
Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials · Purina Pro Plan
91.7/100 - 2
Wellness Complete Health Small Breed · Wellness
91.1/100 - 3
Merrick Grain-Free Adult · Merrick
90.6/100 - 4
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed · Blue Buffalo
89.3/100 - 5
Diamond Naturals All Life Stages · Diamond Naturals
88.4/100
Frequently asked questions about German Shorthaired Pointer food
- Does the German Shorthaired Pointer need a special food?
- He needs a food with energy to match the breed's physical expenditure. The German Shorthaired Pointer is a sporting dog, bred for hunting and stamina, and FEDIAF classifies active and working dogs as having elevated energy requirements — the ideal food has caloric density and fat matched to that effort.
- Why does the German Shorthaired Pointer need more calories than other dogs of the same size?
- Because it is a sporting and hunting breed, created for long hours of intense activity. According to FEDIAF, working or very active dogs have a maintenance energy requirement (MER) considerably higher than a sedentary dog of the same weight — the German Shorthaired Pointer's body spends more energy even at relative rest.
- Does the German Shorthaired Pointer gain weight easily?
- He is less prone to being overweight than sedentary breeds, but that changes if daily activity drops — holidays, injury, a quieter routine — and the portion is not adjusted. The tip is to calibrate the food by the dog's actual activity level, not by a fixed breed standard.
- Does every German Shorthaired Pointer have that high energy expenditure?
- The predisposition belongs to the breed as a whole — it is a sporting and hunting line by historical selection. But actual expenditure varies by individual, according to how much the dog really exercises: a German Shorthaired Pointer with a more homebound routine needs fewer calories than one in training or active hunting.
- How does food help the German Shorthaired Pointer sustain physical performance?
- With high caloric density and fat to cover the energy expenditure of the effort, and quality protein to maintain muscle mass. FEDIAF recommends calculating the energy requirement from the dog's activity level, adjusting the portion according to whether he trains, hunts or has a quieter routine.
Methodology
The food list on this page is ordered by My Pet Magazine's IDNM/IPFI technical score, which evaluates the nutritional quality and ingredient purity of every product available for large-breed dogs with high energy demand. The order is calculated automatically and updated whenever the catalog changes — no brand pays to appear, and there is no manual product selection.
The ranking on this page is a projection of the My Pet Magazine IDNM/IPFI scoring engine over the dog dataset, with no manual product curation. See the full methodology →
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