Looking for the best dog treats for your German Shepherd Dog or Puppy is like looking for the best dog food – there’s many options and types to consider and it’s easy to get confused.
Do you get the most popular selling treats, or do you try to make sense of the labels to make sure your are getting quality and safe treats for your GSD?
We’ve saved you a whole heap of time researching and spending time trawling through labels (you should check with your vet though to make sure you’re not giving your dog something they shouldn’t have).
To do this, we’ve put together a top rated list, best german shepherd snacks/treats reviews, and a buyer’s guide for both the healthiest, and most popular dog and puppy treats.
We’ve also identified the best dog treats for training German Shepherds.
Let’s check out the options!
(NOTE: this is a general information guide only, and is not professional advice, or a substitute for professional advice. A qualified vet or animal expert is the only person qualified to give you expert advice in regards to your pet/s)
(*Friendly Disclosure – links to retailers or brands on this page may include affiliate links, and we may receive a commission when you purchase through these links)
Best Dog Treats For German Shepherd Dogs & Puppies: Healthy Treats, Training Treats, Puppy Treats + More
Our top picks for the best healthy and also popular dog and puppy treats are:
Healthy Dog Treats
- American Journey Peanut Butter Recipe Grain-Free Oven Baked Crunchy Biscuit Dog Treats (on Chewy) (contains peanut butter)
- Wellness Soft Puppy Bites Grain-Free Lamb & Salmon Recipe Dog Treats (on Chewy)
- Wellness Puppy Bites Natural Grain Free Puppy Training Treats (on Amazon) (Puppy, and training treats)
- Zuke’s Mini Naturals Chicken Recipe Training Dog Treats (on Chewy)
- zuke’s Mini Naturals Dog Treats (on Amazon) – Dog Training Treats
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail Treats Duck Biscuits Grain-Free Dog Treats (on Chewy)
- Wilderness Mini Naturals Dog Treats (on Amazon) – Dog Biscuit Treats
- Best Bully Sticks Odor Free 12″ Bully Stick Dog Treats (on Chewy)
- Supreme Bully Sticks All Natural Dog Treats (on Amazon) – Dog Stick Treats, alternative to rawhide
- Triumph Dog Turkey, Pea, & Berry Grain Free Jerky (on Amazon) – Dog Jerky Treats
- Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Dry Dog Food (on Amazon) – Dry Dog Food & Dog Training Treat Option
Other Popular Dog Treats
- Milk-Bone Soft & Chewy Beef & Filet Mignon Recipe Dog Treats (on Chewy)
- Milk-Bone Soft & Chewy Dog Treats/Snacks (on Amazon) – Soft Dog Treats
- Milk-Bone Small MaroSnacks Dog Treats (on Chewy)
- Milk-Bone Marosnacks (on Amazon) – Crunchy Dog Treats
- Greenies Teenie Dental Dog Treats, Original (on Chewy)
- GREENIES Original Dental Dog Treats (on Amazon) – Popular Dental Treats/Chews
- Greenies Pill Pockets Canine Chicken Flavor Dog Treats (on Chewy)
- Greenies Pill Pockets Treats, Capsule 60 count, Chicken Flavor (on Amazon) – Capsule/Tablet Concealing Treats
- Pedigree Dentastix Large Original Dog Treats (on Chewy)
- Pedigree DENTASTIX Large Dog Original Chew Treats (on Amazon) – Popular Dental Chews
Best Dog Treats For German Shepherd Dogs & Puppies: Reviews
Wellness Puppy Bites Natural Grain Free – Puppy Treats, & Puppy Training Treats
What’s Good
Good for puppies, and puppy training
Comes in soft lamb and salmon, or crunchy chicken and carrots flavors
Comes in 3 ounce or 6 ounce packets
Very healthy – premium, all natural ingredients with no meat by-products, corn, wheat-gluten, grain, soy dairy or any artificial colors and flavors
Because there’s no wheat-gluten, corn, soy, grain or dairy – these treats can be better for puppies with allergies
Made with DHA to promote healthy brain development
Contains superfoods like blueberries, veggies, and omega-rich flaxseed
Meats are listed as the first ingredients – this is great
Excellent range of ingredients – good for nutrition
Only 4 calories in each treat
What Could Be Improved
30% moisture content is a little high
Where To Check Them Out
View Wellness Puppy Bites Natural Grain Free Puppy Training Treats (on Amazon)
zuke’s Mini Naturals Dog Treats – Dog Mini Treats, & Dog Training Treats
What’s Good
Comes in 7 different flavors!
Comes in 1, 2 & 3 pack (1lb per pack) options
Less than 3.5 calories per treat
Treats are small – which is good for dog training
Real chicken is the first listed ingredient – good
Made in the USA
Wheat, corn and soy free
Healthy cross section of ingredients including ingredients like wholefood cherries and savory rosemary & turmeric
What Could Be Improved
Slightly high moisture content at 30%
Slightly low crude protein at 10%
Wilderness Blue Buffalo Dog Treats – Biscuit Treats
What’s Good
Very affordable
Crunchy treat biscuits
Meat is listed as the first ingredient
Come in a range of flavors like duck, salmon, chicken, turkey and more
Grain free natural ingredients + soy and corn free
No preservatives
At least 30% crude protein
Low moisture content at 11%
Only 16 calories per biscuit
Very healthy range of ingredients
What Could Be Improved
The biscuits can come a bit crumbly/not fully together
Supreme Bully Sticks All Natural Dog Treats – Dog Stick Treats
What’s Good
100% natural ingredients
Comes in 6 inch and 12 inch long options
Comes with 25 treats – can feed your dog 1 a day
Good digestibility, fights plaque and tartar on the teeth
100% grass fed beef
Free of any additives, hormones or unhealthy chemicals
Alternative to rawhide
What Could Be Improved
High in protein – 73% crude protein – be careful not to overload your dog’s diet with protein
Slightly smelly
Triumph Dog Turkey, Pea, & Berry Grain Free Jerky – Dog Jerky Treats
What’s Good
Comes in 24 and 28 ounce options
You get roughly 25 to 30 pieces in one container – feeding one a day should last you around a month
Turkey is the first listed ingredient
Turkey is pure meat – not meat by product
Grain free
Contains healthy ingredients like cranberries and blueberries
Good overall list of ingredients
40 calories per treat
What Could Be Improved
26% moisture content is slightly higher than average
Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Dry Dog Food – Dry Dog Food & Dog Training Treat option
What’s Good
Through August 2016, Rachael’s Rescue has donated more than $14 million dollars to pet charities and other organizations that do good for animals.
Extremely healthy and good cross section of ingredients – lots of vegetables
U.S. farm-raised chicken is the first listed ingredient
No poultry by-product meal, fillers, wheat or wheat gluten
Natural prebiotics help support healthy digestion
No artificial flavors or artificial preservatives
Comes in a range of sizes from 3 to 40 lbs
Comes in a range of meat flavors like chicken, beef and turkey
26% crude protein is good
Instructions for dog food transitioning are provided
What Could Be Improved
Does contain whole grain corn and soybean meal – some dogs might be allergic to these ingredients
Milk-Bone Soft & Chewy Dog Treats/Snacks – Soft Dog Treats
What’s Good
Comes in both beef, and chicken options
5, and 25 ounce options available
Contains good range of vitamins
Real Meats are the first listed ingredients
Good balance of vitamins – 12 in total
95 calories in each Large treat – you would only be wanting to give your dog one of these per day
What Could Be Improved
Contains soy
Contains preservatives
22% moisture content is not bad, but not ideal
Milk-Bone Marosnacks – Crunchy Dog Treats
What’s Good
Comes in a range of sizes from 10 ounce to over 50 ounces
Comes with with options for both large and small dogs
12% moisture is not bad
Comes with bone marrow in the treats
What Could Be Improved
Wheat Flour, Meat and Bone Meal, Sugar are the first listed ingredients – not the most wholesome or nutritious ingredients
Contains corn starch and preservatives – not ideal
GREENIES Original Dental Dog Treats – Dental Chews
What’s Good
Comes in 4 sizes for dogs of all sizes – Teenie (5-15lbs dogs), Petite (12-25lbs dogs), Regular (25-50lbs dogs) & Large (50-100lbs dogs)
The large size packet is best for most adults GSDs – comes with 24 treats
Good digestibility,fights plaque and tartar on the teeth, freshens breath
Veterinarian recommended and accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC)
Grain free
15% moisture is not bad
Contains 30% crude protein
Good balance of vitamins
95 calories in each Large treat – you would only be wanting to give your dog one of these per day
What Could Be Improved
First listed ingredients are wheat flour and wheat protein isolate – not bad, but not ideal for dogs. Flour is a carbohydrate, and meat is a preference for dogs over carbs.
If your dog has any issues with wheat flour – you’ll need to steer clear of these dental chews
GREENIES PILL POCKETS Treats for Dogs – Tablet & Capsule Treats
What’s Good
Made to help you give medicine – capsules and tablets/pills to your dog
Comes in three flavors – Chicken, Hickory and Peanut Butter
Come as treats for concealing either tablets, or capsules
Come in different sized packs – comes as either 30 count or 60 count packs
To use – you simply insert the capsule or tablet, pinch over the treat and give it to your dog
Only 9 calories per treat
Rehydrated chicken is listed as the first ingredient in the chicken flavor
What Could Be Improved
Contains wheat flour and wheat gluten – check if your dog has any issues with these ingredients
31% moisture content is getting high
Not the most nutritionally balanced treats – limited ingredients
PEDIGREE DENTASTIX Large Dog Fresh & Original Chew Treats – Dental Chews
What’s Good
Popular and dog’s find them tasty
Comes in sizes for small, medium and large dogs
Come in an original (no minty fresh), and fresh treats (mint added for fresh breath)
The large size packet is best for most adults GSDs – comes with 28 treats
Fights plaque and tartar on the teeth, freshens breath
Good balance of vitamins
18% moisture is not bad
Only 65 calories in each Large treat – you would only be wanting to give your dog one of these per day
What Could Be Improved
Not Veterinarian recommended and accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC)
Don’t carry a grain free guarantee on the label
Contains only 8% crude protein
First listed ingredients are rice flour and wheat starch – not bad, but not ideal for dogs. Flour is a carbohydrate, and meat is a preference for dogs over carbs.
If your dog has any issues with grains and wheat starch – you’ll need to steer clear of these dental chews
Best Dog Treats For German Shepherd Dogs & Puppies: Buyer’s Guide
What Are Dog Treats – Types Of Dog Treats?
Firstly, there are puppy treats which are just for puppies (specially, and adult or all ages treats which are for all dogs.
The actual types of treats are:
Hard treats
Provides a crunchy texture for your dog
Soft treats
Little chewing involved for your dog
Freeze dried and jerky treats
Come in many meat flavors. Slightly chewy
Dental Chews
Chewable treats that are supposed deal with bad breath, clean teeth and clean plaque and tartar buildup
Stick Treats
Dog treats that are similar to a bone but stick shaped and usually composed heavily of protein
Tablet & Capsule Treats
Pocket type treats that are made so you can conceal tablets and medicine capsules inside the treats and give them to your dog > makes giving medicine to your dog easier
Animal Bones & Chews
Generally, feeding your GSD raw uncooked meaty bones is safe, but check that your particular dog will be safe. Can entertain your GSD for hours and be great for chewers. Be careful of contamination and bacteria
Pig Ears
Can be a chewy and last a few minutes or a few hours
Rawhide
Made rom cow or horse hides. Good for chewers. Be careful of contamination and bacteria
Human Food Treats
Generally not encouraged, as most people don’t know what foods are good or harmful for dogs. You also want to discourage your dog from expecting human food when it’s around.
Homemade Treats
Can be a super healthy alternative if you get them approved by your vet, but sometimes expensive.
Special Diet Treats
Usually made in conjunction with your vet – for dog’s with special diet requirements as a result of physical conditions
When Should You Give Your Dog Treats?
It’s generally acceptable to give your dog treats in the following scenarios:
During dog training
To encourage good behavior around the house, or in situations like travelling, going to the vet etc.
To supplement some of your dog’s existing diet
It is generally not recommended to give dogs treats just because you love them or they are begging.
Sticking to normal feeding routines is the best way to make sure your dog doesn’t get picky with food or start to misbehave because you aren’t being disciplined in your leadership approach.
How Many Treats Should You Feed Your Dog?
It is best to read the feeding guidelines on the packaging of the dog treats you buy, and determine how many treats to feed your dog + when, taking into consideration your vet’s advice and your dog’s existing diet.
But, a good rule of thumb to stick by can be to look at the size of the portions you are giving your dog as a part of their normal meals, and only give them 10% of that in treats.
So for example, if you are feeding a full grown 90 or 100lbs adult German Shepherd dog 5 cups of food a day, you would only want to give them half a cup of treats a day, and the treats replace the portion of the usual feeding routine you have for your dog.
Something else to note is to be aware of how many calories are in each treat, and factor that into how many treats you feed your GSD.
If you are replacing 10% of your GSD’s normal food intake on a particular day with treats, it would make sense that those treats only make up the calories that the food would have provided.
If you buy a dry dog food which you plan to use as treats, make sure you read instructions about how to wean/transition your dog from their current food to the new one.
Are There Any Types Of Treats That Are Good For Your Dog?
We provided some great informational guidelines on feeding your German Shepherd in our guide of dog food…
The ideal dog diet might include meats, vegetables, fruits and other whole foods.
Meats should be the primary ingredients followed by carbohydrates and healthy fats.
Treats that are might be better for your GSD might:
Be balanced in proteins, omega fats/oils, minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates and water
Have meat listed as the first ingredient + contain real mean and not just meat by product
Be high quality/nutrition and highly digestible
Have natural preservatives like Vitamin A, Vitamin C and plant based preservatives
Have mostly organic and natural ingredients, and include bonus ingredients such as superfoods like fruits, vegetables and other natural ingredients that promote the health of the dog
Be approved by vets, and vet food regulation bodies
Are There Any Types Of Treats That Are Bad For Your Dog?
We provided some great informational guidelines on feeding your German Shepherd in our guide of dog food…
Treats that are might be worse for your GSD might:
Have processed and inorganic ingredients
Have bad meats that don’t pass human inspection, are meat substitutes, or are more prone to bacterial disease
Have a higher concentration of greasy fats
Have a higher concentration of soy and/or dairy
Have a higher concentration of grain and gluten
Have artificial preservatives and food coloring
Dog Treats & Dog Toys
Some people put dog treats in a toy like a rubber KONG.
However, we’ve found that they can fall out of KONGs pretty easily.
The treat dispenser dog toys tend to be better, or the interactive puzzle toys where your dog can slide the panels to reveal the treats underneath.
You can read more about dog toys in this guide.
Friendly Disclaimers
TheDailyShep.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates.
Additionally, TheDailyShep.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes get a commission through purchases made through our links.
TheDailyShep.com are not veterinarians, or animal professionals/experts. Information provided is for informational purposes only – it is not a substitute for professional or qualified advice.
The information is based on either our own thorough research, and/or own experiences, as a means of free speech.
By consuming this information, you accept that TheDailyShep.com do not have client or patient relationship with you, and TheDailyShep.com are not advising you to act on anything you read.
You should always consult your own veterinarian, animal expert, or health care professional and follow their advice before making decisions on all matters.
You can find our full set of disclaimers and T & C’s in the footer of this site.
Enjoy your reading, and thank you for being here
','' ); } ?>