Best treats for a German Shepherd
German Shepherds are a large, working breed with a strong drive to earn a reward, which is exactly why they take so well to treats used in training. The best treats for the breed hold up to a proper bite, don't add up to too many calories across a long session, and give a working brain something to do as well as something to eat. Size and chew strength matter here more than flavour.
Built for a big dog's appetite and drive
German Shepherds are a large breed with the jaw strength and appetite to match, and a treat sized for a much smaller dog can disappear in one bite without holding their attention at all. Something with a bit more substance to it, sized properly for a large breed, lasts longer and gives your dog more to actually chew on.
The breed's food motivation is well known, and it's a genuine advantage for training — a German Shepherd will work hard for a small reward. That also means treats get through quickly in a training session, so lower-calorie options that can be broken smaller and given in higher numbers work better here than treats meant to be a once-a-day extra.
Chews for a strong, steady jaw
A German Shepherd's bite is considerably stronger than a small or medium breed's, and a chew genuinely needs to be built for that rather than just big enough to look the part. Natural chews aimed specifically at larger dogs, rather than anything marketed loosely as suitable for all sizes, are the safer starting point.
Dental chews are worth keeping in the routine too. A working breed with a large mouth puts real use into carrying, tugging and chewing day to day, and a dental chew alongside regular brushing helps keep on top of that in a way a soft treat alone doesn't.
Keeping treats in line with a working diet
German Shepherds can put on weight once their working life slows down in later years, and treats are usually the easiest place to trim calories without changing the whole diet. Lower-calorie training treats let you keep the reward without it adding up, and richer or bigger chews are better kept for occasional use rather than a daily habit.
Whatever you choose, treats of any kind work best as part of your dog's daily food allowance rather than as something extra on top of a full meal — the same rule that applies to any breed applies here, just at a bigger scale.
What we stock for this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Pedigree Schmackos Dog Treats Meat Variety
Meat-variety dog treat sticks, 20 per pack, under 30 kcal each, banded by dog weight
£2.75
Whimzees Toothbrush Daily Dental Dog Chew
A vegetarian daily dental chew for dogs, shaped like a toothbrush
From£0.69
Pedigree DentaStix Daily Large Dog Dental Treats
Daily Pedigree DentaStix dental chews portioned for large dogs
£2.29
Pedigree Dentastix Light Daily Dental Chews Dog
Pedigree DentaStix Light daily dental chews for medium and large dogs
£2.35
Dentalife Dental Oral Care Dog Chicken Chews
DENTALIFE chicken dental chews with medium-dog and large-dog variants
£1.65
Pedigree Rodeo Dog Treats with Chicken
Pedigree Rodeo chicken twists with weekly limits for dogs over the stated weight
£2.75
Hatchwell Advent Calendar for Dogs
A carob advent calendar for dogs, breakable into 4 pieces, made in GB
£3.00
Forthglade Grain Free Soft Bites Fresh Breath Treats 90g
Chicken soft dog treats with parsley and peppermint oil for fresh breath
£2.45
Forthglade Soft Bite Grain Free Joints & Bones Treats
Grain-free salmon dog treats with salmon oil, glucosamine and chondroitin
£2.45
Forthglade Dental Calming Sticks
Dental chew sticks for dogs with added calming botanicals for evening routines
£2.99
Forthglade Soft Bite Grain Free Good Gut Health Treats
Grain-free chicken dog treats with ginger, chicory root and MOS
£2.45
Common questions
- What treats are best for training a German Shepherd puppy?
- Small, soft training treats that can be broken into pieces work best for a puppy, since you'll likely be rewarding often during early training. Look for something low in calories per piece so frequent rewards don't add up to too much on top of their regular puppy food.
- Are German Shepherds prone to putting on weight from treats?
- Like most large breeds, German Shepherds can gain weight more easily once they're less active than they were as working or younger dogs. Treats are usually the simplest place to cut calories if your dog is carrying extra weight, since they're easy to swap for a lower-calorie option.
- What size chew is right for a German Shepherd?
- Look for chews described as suitable for large or giant breeds rather than anything marketed generically for all dogs. A chew sized for a small breed is a poor match for a German Shepherd's jaw strength and more likely to be swallowed in pieces too large to be comfortable.
- Can I give a German Shepherd dental chews every day?
- Many dental chews are designed to be given daily alongside regular brushing, but check the packaging for how it fits into your dog's daily calories, particularly for a dog who is already overweight or less active than a working dog would be.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.