THE DAYS ARE LONG GONE WHEN it was usual to feed puppies generic puppy food and adult dogs basic, one-flavor-satisfies-all dog food. Consumers have a myriad of choices for their shepherds, but the bottom line is that you need to choose a food that meets or exceeds your German shepherd's nutritional needs. When a shepherd thrives on a food, his skin is soft and supple (no flaking), his coat is thick and full, his ribs are covered (but not buried), and his energy is boundless.