Can German Shepherds Eat Cheese?

Can German Shepherds eat cheese? Last weekend, I was at a picnic where I brought the essentials: my German Shepherd, Bobbie, and the greatest snack of all. Cheese! I’m not the only one who thinks so- Bobbie could probably devour a block of cheese in under a minute. Sometimes I sprinkle a small amount of cheese in with his GSD dog food or hide his medicine in it. But now I’m wondering… is cheese actually good for German Shepherds?

So, can German Shepherds eat cheese safely? Yes. In moderation. If your German Shepherd is lactose tolerant, cheese can be a great, nutritious snack used during training and for special days.

There are, however, lots of times when the answer can be no (or, at least: probably not). Depending on your German Shepherd’s fitness level, lactose tolerance, and the type of cheese used, feeding your dog even a bit of cheese can do more harm than good. That’s why it’s an excellent idea to do more research and decide if your German Shepherd can eat cheese, in what amounts, how often, and what types are best. 

The Benefits of Cheese for Your GSD

Cheese is a favorite food of humans and dogs alike because…what’s not to love?!

It’s delicious, packed with vitamins and nutrients, and comes in dozens of varieties for relatively cheap. Indeed, ask a random dog-owner if they’ve fed their dog cheese and the answer will most likely be yes.

There’s plenty of reasons for that.

And there’s plenty of reasons why a bit of cheese – in moderation – is a good thing for your German Shepherd.

What’s In Cheese That Makes it Gouda?

So, cheese is a dairy product that contains calcium, protein, essential fatty acids, vitamin A, and B-complex vitamins.

These are all nutrients that humans require to lead healthy, balanced lives- and surprise, surprise, the German Shepherd is no different.

The German Shepherd puppy especially requires large amounts of calcium for a healthy immune system and strong bone growth and lots of specially made puppy food provides that.

In small amounts, cheese has terrific nutritional benefits for your grown German Shepherd too.

Sneaky Cheese

Many trainers and long-time dog owners swear by this little trick: if you’re having a problem getting a dog to eat its medicine, stick in a piece of cheddar or wrap a swiss slice around the pill. The dog wolfs it down none the wiser.

Training and Treats

Speaking of trainers:

Cheese is often used as a “high-value reward” by professionals and amateurs alike looking to train their dogs.

A cube of cheese goes a long way in this regard.

When I say ‘high-value reward’, it means this is a trick or behavior you want your dog to be very, very keen to attain- that way, the reward is special and equal to the sometimes long and tedious task of training and getting things just right.

When cheese is used like this, it becomes a truly special treat, associated with truly astounding behavior.

High Energy

In addition to the listed nutrients above, cheese is also quite fatty. This isn’t a problem if you’re given moderate portions to your dog, and your dog is active itself.

Cheese is an especially good reward if you’ve taken your dog swimming, out for a long walk, a run or perhaps camping or hiking.

When activities require loads of energy, eating a bit of cheese is just the thing to perk your German Shepherd up! Just make sure to save some for yourself.

The Harmful Impact of Cheese for Dogs

I know, I know- I just went on about the benefits of cheese!

Moreover, you either have a dog or know someone who does, and that dog’s been given cheese without a moment’s thought or any issues.

I myself fed Bobbie cheese when I was training him. If any dog- especially a German Shepherd- looks up at you with those baleful, big eyes pleading for some cheese, it’s hard for many owners to resist. Especially because in our daily lives we don’t hear about the negative impacts of cheese on dogs.

But remember when I said that it depends?

That’s because- it does.

Dogs that are lactose intolerant, while probably as cheese-crazed as ones that aren’t, can develop digestive issues from eating too much cheese, least of all being diarrhea.

Then there’s the high-fat content to keep in mind…

Can Lactose Intolerant German Shepherds Eat Cheese?

German Shepherds- and other dogs-don’t drink milk past infancy, unlike humans. Therefore it’s safe to assume that some are lactose intolerant. Even though cheese has far less lactose than whole-milk, it’s still a dairy-based product and can still cause some unpleasant side effects. 

If your dog is lactose intolerant and eats some cheese, these are some of the symptoms you can expect:

Lactose Intolerance Symptoms:

• Abdominal pain
• Gas
• Bloating
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea

There are also no safe medicines developed for dogs to take that are lactose intolerant. So, they just have to ride out these unpleasant experiences, which is no fun for anyone.

The Fat Comes Back

Recall how I said high-fat cheese is good for high-energy dogs?

Well, what if your German Shepherd isn’t so high energy?

What if you’ve been working overtime and there’s no one who can walk it more than twice a day?

Eating cheese would be a bad call, as it can contribute to pancreatitis and obesity in dogs, the latter of which is on the rise.

Luckily, German Shepherds are naturally very active and will let you know in lots of different ways that they’re feeling cooped up and restless.

But even still, an elderly German Shepherd may not have the same boundless energy, or you yourself may be too tired (and it happens!)

In these short-term scenarios, feeding your dog cheese is probably not a good idea.

Cheeses to Avoid

• Fatty Cheeses, such as brie, feta, and goat’s cheese are a no-go. Goat’s cheese also has more lactose in it that regular cheese, and the more lactose cheese has, the more likely it’ll cause problems.
• Cheeses with herbs or garlic– garlic and onion are toxic to dogs, and plenty of cheese have them, whether in small or large amounts! Stay away from any kind of flavoured cheese altogether.
• French cheeses like Roquefort and blue cheese are not only super fatty but when over-ripe, can produce a toxin known as roquefortine which is harmful to dogs.

Less Harmful Cheese 

If you still want to treat your German Shepherd with some cheese, and it’s not lactose intolerant, consider lower-fat cheeses such as mozzarella, cottage cheese, and Swiss cheese.

What Foods Should You Not Feed Your German Shepherd?

It’s important to remember that even though German Shepherds are omnivores, they cannot consume everything we do. Below are some other fruits and vegetables that you should not only avoid; you should never feed them to your dog.

Human Foods and Drinks to Avoid:

• Grapes
• Raisins
• Milk
• Onion
• Garlic
• Avocado
• Swiss Chard
• Potatoes
• Chives
• Tomatoes
• Pear Pits
• Plum Kernels
• Apple Cores

What Foods Can Your German Shepherd Eat?

And, lastly, some human foods your German Shepherd can happily eat!

Fruit

• Strawberries
• Apples
• Bananas
• Apricot
• Pear
• Blueberries
• Pineapple
• Watermelon
• Mango
• Cantaloupe

Vegetables

• Asparagus
• Celery (limited amounts)
• Cauliflower (limited amounts)
• Carrots
• Pumpkin
• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Sweet Potato
• Cucumber
• Broccoli (limited amount)
• Kale (limited amount)

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