A Doberman simultaneously embodies an impression of grace and power. Although many of them are simply good-natured pets today, their work heritage is still evident in their physiques and demeanors.
If you own a Doberman, you will notice how athletic he appears even if he does not do much beyond a daily romp at the park. His lean muscular physique and large size pose feeding concerns that may not affect other dog breeds. If you worry about his special nutritional needs, do not stress any further. We did the work for you and based on specific criteria selected the best dog food for Dobermans.
Quick Picks: The 5 Top-Rated Doberman Food
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5 Dog Food for Doberman Pinscher Reviews
We selected dog foods based mostly on the quality of ingredients, a source of ingredients, and specific health problems and physical attributes of Dobermans they might help. We chose from premium diets where we know quality control is of paramount importance.
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Dry Dog Food
The High Prairie series has premium protein sources as the first ingredient. One of their best features is their emphasis on offering a collection of quality ingredients that best resembles how your canine pet would feed in nature. They specifically include species-appropriates meats and carbohydrates like berries.
Fruits and vegetables in this product are their most effective means of naturally delivering antioxidants and Vitamin C. They also utilize animal fats to deliver a healthy serving of Vitamin E. They round out the blend by adding canine-specific probiotics for enhanced gut health. By adding probiotic bacteria after heating processes are complete. Taste of the Wild ensures their viable biological activity.
This is a completely grain-free diet. Lack of dietary grains for some Dobermans improves issues with the skin, digestive intolerance, and food hypersensitivity.
The product has a high protein and moderate fat composition, ideal if you have a working Doberman. Top five ingredients are proteins from high-quality sources and the first three from animal origins.
Pros:
- Grain-free diet
- Contains probiotics explicitly formulated for dogs
- High quality proteins
- High protein and moderate fat composition
- Clients remarked excellent results on their dog’s skin and coat
Cons:
- Top named ingredient is canola oil
- Not for your Doberman if you try to avoid peas or potatoes
Hill’s Science Diet Large Breed Dry Dog Food
This premium diet is formulated for dogs over 55 pounds. It features glucosamine and chondroitin naturally occurring in the chicken along with a clinically-proven signature blend of antioxidants.
Science Diet dog foods have been backed by scientific studies, clinical trials, and veterinarians, and pet nutritional experts since 1939. The ingredients they use in their large breed formula come from extensive scientific studies that predict their nutritional value once added to dog food.
The primary ingredient is chicken, a good source of high- quality protein, glucosamine and chondroitin. It adds a small amount of what may be considered “superfoods” like broccoli, cranberries, and Beta-Carotene, but contains a large amount of grain like wheat and corn.
Lower protein and calorie levels make it a good diet for Dobermans who have problems with weight gain or who will benefit from less dietary protein.
Pros:
- Lower protein and calorie levels
- This food is highly palatable
- Primary ingredient is chicken
- Small amount of “superfoods”
Cons:
- Contains a large amount of grains
- It has soybean oil
Purina Pro Plan Sport Formula Dry Dog Food
Pro Plan is formulated with high protein for the additional needs of performance dogs. Its 30/20 recipe provides high-level 30 percent protein and moderately high-level 20 percent fat, optimal for dogs who work, play or compete hard. Most Doberman Pinschers will benefit from a high protein diet even if not extremely active because they have high muscle composition.
Sport Formula uses a performance blend that enables dogs to be at top capacity for long periods at a time. For example, Dobermans tasked with security duties overnight would benefit significantly from this food. Police and military dogs also put in long hours of work and need to have laser-sharp focus during some of this time.
It is also a good choice if you have a lactating dog. Females and their nursing puppies need additional protein for growth and extra metabolic requirements.
Pros:
- Chicken is the first ingredient
- Protein level is high for performance
- Exclusive performance formula for endurance-related activities
Cons:
- After chicken, grains make up a large proportion of the ingredients.
- The product does contain corn
- This food may be too rich for more sedentary dogs
Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Maxi
Royal Canin in their signature style customizes the kibble size. It is larger than usual in this food to accommodate the bite size of large-breed dogs. This food is recommended for adult dogs between 56 and 100 pounds. It sets an age suggestion at five years as the upper limit.
Although not grain-free, the major carbohydrate energy sources are brown rice and Brewer’s rice. Rice is easy to digest and is well-tolerated by many dogs that have sensitivities to other grains. Royal Canin adds Chondroitin sulfate to provide preventative joint support. Beet pulp provides both a good source of fiber and highly digestible energy, not empty calories.
Protein levels are high enough for moderately active dogs or dogs who compete on a semi-regular basis. If your Doberman is a show dog who does not have trouble maintaining weight, this would be a good choice.
Pros:
- Highly palatable for most dogs
- Moderate protein levels
- Ingredients are easy to digest
- Fiber levels are higher than other dog foods
Cons:
- A by-product is the first ingredient and top protein source
Merrick Grain Free Dog Food
Merrick illustrates how some human health concerns have leaked into the pet food industry and features gluten-free ingredients. The top ingredient in this food is deboned buffalo. The product has high levels of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
The first five ingredients are all whole food or meal and use protein from animal sources. This may offer a more holistic approach to feeding Dobermans.
This diet focuses on digestibility as well as joint and skin concerns. You will note it has no grains in it. Comprised of 70 percent proteins and fats and 30 percent other ingredients that include fruit, vegetables, and fiber, each recipe is formulated for performance dogs.
Glucosamine and chondroitin levels are very high. Their levels are high enough to make a significant impact on joint health.
Pros:
- It’s formulated for performance dogs
- Excellent for grain-sensitive dogs – there is no corn, wheat, rice, or soy
- The first five ingredients are all whole food or meal
- Contains protein from animal sources
- High glucosamine and chondroitin levels for joint health
Cons:
- Some reported a foul odor to the feces
- The high protein content is not appropriate for every dog
Athletic Considerations of Dobermans That Affect Feeding Choices
Dobies were developed both physically and mentally to work in guard-type capacities. They are named after their original developer Louis Doberman, who in the 1800s desired a guard dog who could accompany him on his tax collection rounds. The Doberman Pinscher originates from Germany.
Dobermans retain their sleek appearance and high stamina to this day. They are one of the most highly active breeds and not usually vulnerable to obesity except in specific medical situations. They require a large quantity of high-quality food relative to their size to accommodate their high metabolisms.
A video of a Doberman performing agility maneuvers illustrates typical physical traits of imposing size and well-developed lean muscling. You can readily see the fluid and rapid movement and extreme athleticism. Even at rest, the Doberman is poised on high alert and on brink of action. This contributes to his special dietary considerations.
Diet & Nutrition Guidelines
All dogs have the same basic nutritional requirements to live healthy and happy lives. They need appropriate amounts of food that will provide them with a life-sustaining blend of proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
Note that unlike humans, canids do not require carbohydrates. These macronutrients are an easy means to add calories and nutrients to commercial dog foods. Moreover, they are necessary to process useable ingredients into dry kibble.
Macronutrient Requirements
Proteins
Protein should make up at least 18 percent of a dog’s diet. If you think about the nature and evolution of dogs, ideally most of their protein should come from animal sources. Coyotes and stray city dogs illustrate how canines can adapt and subsist on a small amount of protein derived from non-meat alternatives. To perform optimally, however, dogs and mainly working dogs like Dobermans, need to obtain much of their protein from more species-appropriate substances than grains.
Essential amino acids in proteins build muscles and influence every function of a dog’s body. Some of them your Doberman can produce on his own but others he will need to get through his diet. Meats have an advantage over grains in that they supply all 22 of the amino acids.
Dogs can easily tolerate well over 30 percent protein in their diets. Think of performance athletes in the human world and how much they focus on increasing their protein intakes. My dog is fairly active, so I worry if his diet is less than 25 percent protein. If you have a Doberman that works or participates in athletic endeavors like flyball, his protein needs may be higher to support increased muscular activity.
Fats
Dogs obtain the majority of immediate fuels from fats rather than carbohydrates. Not only does the food you choose need to have a sufficient amount of fat for your Doberman, but it also must be comprised of high-quality sources. Animal fats, again, are best.
No matter what source of fat a particular food uses, it should be named. For example, fish oil or corn oil are named fats because you know the exact source.
Fats should make up eight percent of your dog’s diet as a bare minimum. Since they are naturally so active, Dobermans typically need more than that. Quality dog foods commonly supply over 10 percent fats.
Just a few important components of fats are the omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids and EPA. These compounds feature anti-inflammatory benefits to the skin and joints, and premium dog foods now name them in their labels. They also benefit heart disease and kidney functions.
Vitamin and Minerals
Like all animals, dogs require specific vitamins and trace minerals for normal and optimization of organ systems. Labels may not quantify either of these, but they should itemize them.
More companies recognize the benefits of chondroitin and glucosamine and add them, although not yet identified as nutritionally necessary. If you do not see them listed, they likely are not present in useful quantities.
Common Health Conditions & How Food Can Help Them
Hypothyroidism
This is not an uncommon issue among Dobermans. It is one of the few issues Dobermans have that may predispose them to gain excess weight. High-quality food that provides immune support helps regulate weight and supports a healthy metabolism. It’ll be the best compliment to any medication you must administer.
Osteoarthritis and Hip Dysplasia
Large-breed dogs like Dobermans can start to feel the effects of wear and tear on their joints over time. They specifically can exhibit problems in their backs, elbows, knees, necks, and hips. Glucosamine and chondroitin have been studied for a long time for their pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, and preventative effects on joints and cartilage.
Other compounds added to dog food that may benefit joint inflammation and also act as preventatives are omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids.
Skin Allergies and Hair Loss
Fats from quality sources, EPA, and Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, have been long known to benefit the skin. People who feed their Dobermans with dog food rich in these elements often see healthy skin with naturally shiny coats.
Food Allergies and Digestive Upset
Dog food companies focus more on the ingredients they put in their products, especially for premium recipes. The use of novelty protein or carbohydrate sources (an ingredient your dog does not often encounter like rabbit or venison) and limited ingredients benefits Dobermans with food allergies or food intolerance.
Sometimes bland or limited ingredients are indicated for Dobermans with sensitive systems.
Bloat
Doberman Pinschers are deep-chested and thus susceptible to a condition whereby their stomach fills with food and fluid and can even twist. It is essential that your dog well tolerate high-quality food, so he does not experience delayed emptying of the stomach or stress — a possible factor in bloat.
Final Thoughts
It was a rather difficult decision for us to choose the best dog food for Dobermans from the five that made the initial cut. They all prove to be high-quality diets that enhance health and vitality in Dobermans. Dogs thrive with shiny, healthy coats and stable digestive systems.
We concluded Merrick Grain Free Dry Dog Food and Taste of the Wild High Prairie Dry Dog Food were quite comparable in quality of ingredients, nutritional composition, and philosophy. Ultimately, we gave a slight nod to Merrick Grain Free Dog Food because of the higher concentration of glucosamine and chondroitin, and we were impressed by the animal sources of protein and fat.
Despite Merrick’s high protein composition, we are confident that most Dobermans will handle the dog food fine and benefit significantly from it.