Thankfully, German Shepherds have low-maintenance ears. It isn’t difficult to keep your GSD’s ears clean on…
7 Best Treats For German Shepherds
Treats are an important part of your German Shepherd’s diet. As humans, we snack in between meals. Treats are the snacks your dog will eat between meals. Making sure your dog has healthy and delicious treats to eat for snacks is important for their overall health. This article will narrow down the best treats for German Shepherds.
*This article may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of the links I get a small commission at no additional cost to you 🙂 .
Things to consider when buying dog treats?
How healthy are they?
We all want our dogs to be healthy and happy right? Of course, so make sure you are selecting a healthy dog treat for your GSD.
Healthy dog treats for German Shepherds are typically made of natural ingredients and contain a good amount of protein. Just like you want to avoid dog food with a bunch of ingredients that are artificial, the same goes for dog treats.
Purpose for treating
Are these treats for training or just for an occasional snack around the house between meals? Think about the when and why you give treats to your dog, and then buy treats to fit that purpose.
For example, training treats are usually smaller in size so they can be gobbled down quickly, whereas larger sized treats that wouldn’t suit training time but would be perfect for when you’re at home relaxing and want to give your dog a treat.
Flavors options
Although dogs don’t have as many flavor options as humans do, they still have some variety in their treat flavor choices. Consider what type of foods your dog loves when selecting their treat.
For example, my girl really loves peanut butter, so I know any treat with peanut butter will be a hit!
Best Training Treats for German Shepherds
Zukes Natural Training Dog Treats
Zukes Natural Training dog treats checks all the boxes for an excellent training treat for German Shepherds. These treats are soft and small in size which is exactly what you want for training your new puppy, or even an older dog.
Zukes treats are healthy and natural with real meat being the first and main ingredient. In addition, there are only 3 calories per treat so you don’t have to worry too much about giving your dog a few extra treats during training. There are no artificial flavors and these treats are made in the USA.
As an added bonus there are six different flavors to choose from: Chicken, duck, peanut butter, pork, rabbit and salmon.
What I Love:
- Perfect for training
- Natural treat
- 6 different flavor options
- Made in the US
- Low in calories
Possible downsides:
- Only recommended for a training session treat due to their small size.
- Can become dry easily if the container is not sealed after use.
Blue Buffalo Blue Bites
Blue Buffalo Blue Bites are another great option for German Shepherd training treats. These treats are soft, natural and meaty. If your dog likes meat flavors these are a no-brainer.
There are four flavors: beef, chicken, salmon, and turkey, and you can get variety packs of two or four flavors. These flavors don’t take any meat by-products or artificial ingredients. These treats are wonderful for puppies as they support cognitive development.
What I Love:
- Perfect for German Shepherd puppies
- Great for training
- 4 flavors
- Healthy
- Great for meat lovers
Possible downsides:
- Better for puppies than older dogs
Best Grain-Free Treats for German Shepherds
Wellness Natural Wellbites
If you have a German Shepherd with a sensitive stomach or on a grain-free diet then these treats should be in your house. These Wellness Natural treats are soft, all-natural and contain fresh meat ingredients.
There are eight different flavors and a three-flavor variety pack if you have trouble choosing from all the options. The flavors include: Beef & turkey, chicken & lamb, chicken & venison, lamb & salmon, and turkey & duck among other flavors. These treats are USA made and are great for an everyday treat!
What I Love:
- Grain-free for GSD’s with diet restrictions
- Everyday treat option
- 8 different flavors
- USA made
- Natural
- Soft dog treat
Possible downsides:
- Can be more crumbly than soft as advertised
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail Treats
If your dog likes crunchy treats these will be a hit. Another option from Blue Buffalo, the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail Treats are grain-free, gluten-free and natural with real meat ingredients. These are great treats for dogs with food sensitives or allergies.
There are six flavors: bison, duck, turkey, salmon, red meat and salmon & venison. There is also a three-flavor variety pack if you want to purchase more than one flavor. Additionally, they have omegas for a healthy coat and skin.
What I Love:
- Crunchy treats
- Grain-free
- Natural
- 6 flavors
- Promotes a healthy coat
- Great for dogs with food sensitives
Possible downsides:
- Because they are crunchy treats they more easily get smashed to crumbs.
Best Healthy Treats for German Shepherds
Plato Pet Treats
Plato Pet Treats are made by a family-owned and operated company in the United States. These are one of the best healthy treats for German Shepherds because they are made with organic meat ingredients.
These treats are air-dried which helps to preserve all the nutrients. There are six flavors: chicken, duck, salmon, turkey & pumpkin, turkey & sweet potato, and turkey & cranberry. Your dog is sure to love this high protein treat any time of the day.
What I Love:
- Organic meat ingredients
- Air-dried
- Natural
- 6 flavors
- High protein
- Family-owned USA company
Possible downsides:
- Treats can easily dry out making them hard not soft
Rocco & Roxie Gourmet Jerky Treats
These Rocco & Roxie jerky treats are a dog favorite. They come in three flavors: chicken, beef and turkey. These premium treats use high-quality meat as the main ingredient in their secret family treat recipe. The treats are naturally smoked for 10 hours until they have the perfect jerky texture.
These are good as an everyday treat or a training treat. As an added bonus, Rocco & Roxie stand by their product and offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
What I Love:
- Jerky treat
- Naturally smoked
- Uses high-quality meat
- Family recipe
- 3 flavors
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
Possible downsides:
- Jerky may be more soft than chewy inconsistency as advertised
Best Dental Treats For German Shepherds
Greenies Large Natural Dental
If you are looking for a doggie dental treatment, you can’t go wrong with Greenies! They are a very well-known and trusted name in the dental dog treat arena.
Dental dog treats are a great way to prevent tartar buildup, keep a fresh doggie mouth and help your dog have better oral health overall.
Both veterinarians and the Veterinary Oral Health Council recommend incorporating these treats into your dog’s treat pantry. Greenies treats are all-natural and contain lots of minerals, vitamins, and additional nutrients.
What I Love:
- Promotes better oral health
- Freshens doggie breath
- Well known the trusted name
- Vet recommended
- Natural treat
- Cleans teeth
Possible downsides:
- Not an everyday treat option because it is a dental treat
Final Thoughts
There you have it, the 7 best treats for German Shepherds! Hopefully, this article helped you to find one or two options your pup will love. Luckily, my dog isn’t too picky and loves all the treats on this list.
Any other treats that your German Shepherd loves? Let me know in the comments.
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