Training treats for a German Shepherd
German Shepherds are a food-motivated, high-drive working breed, which is exactly why treat-based training works so well with them, and exactly why the treats themselves need thinking about. A session that uses dozens of full-size biscuits adds up to a lot of extra calories fast, so the treats that work best for training are small, low-calorie and quick for the dog to eat before the next repetition.
Why treat size matters more than treat type
A German Shepherd in a training session might take twenty, thirty or more treats in a few minutes, which means the size of each one matters far more than what it is made from. Pea-sized pieces, or treats designed to be broken into smaller pieces, let you reward frequently without your dog filling up or gaining weight from training alone.
Soft, quick-to-swallow treats also keep a session moving. A dog that has to stop and chew a hard biscuit for several seconds loses momentum and focus compared with one that can take a soft treat and immediately refocus on the next cue.
Matching treat value to the difficulty of the task
Save the most exciting, highest-value treats, such as small pieces of meat or a strongly scented training treat, for genuinely difficult tasks or distracting environments, and use a lower-value everyday treat for easy repetition at home. This is a common and effective approach with working breeds, who are quick to notice when a task is worth more effort.
German Shepherds also tend to work well for a mix of food and praise or play, so treats do not need to carry the entire session on their own, particularly once a behaviour is well established.
Keeping the calories in check
Training treats count towards a German Shepherd's daily food intake just as much as anything from the bowl, so it is worth reducing the regular meal slightly on a heavy training day rather than treating on top of a full ration every time.
Choosing a treat with a shorter, simpler ingredient list and a genuinely small size per piece makes it easier to use plenty during a session without the calorie count creeping up unnoticed.
Beds and kit for this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Chicken-Wrapped Milk Stick Dog Treats
Chewy dog treats of soft milk sticks wrapped in real chicken for tasty, protein-rich rewarding.
From£12.99
Dried Catnip & Cat Grass Leaf Treats
A tub of dried catnip and cat grass leaves to sprinkle over toys, scratchers and bedding.
From£8.99
Whiskas 1+ Lamb Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete lamb dry food for adult cats in a practical 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Whiskas 1 Tuna Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete tuna dry food for adult cats, offered in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas Kitten Chicken Dry Cat Food
Complete chicken dry food for kittens, available in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas 7+ Senior Cat Complete Dry with Chicken
Complete chicken dry food for senior cats aged 7+ in a 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Catit Nibbly Jerky Chicken & Fish Treats
Soft chicken and fish jerky treats for cats, two named meats high on the list, grain free
£1.89
Catit Creamy Tuna Treats 4 Pk
Lickable 26% tuna purée tubes for cats, 4 x 10g, up to 3 a day in place of main meal
£1.89
Dreamies Meaty Sticks Adult Cat Treats with Scrumptious Salmon
Soft meaty stick treats for adult cats with salmon, individually wrapped, not for kittens
£1.59
Dreamies Creamy Adult Cat & Kitten Treats with Scrumptious Salmon
Creamy lickable salmon treats for cats and kittens, in a 40g pack with taurine
£1.59
Stop Bloody Scratching Treats Chicken Flavour 90 Tablets
Chicken-flavoured tablets from Pets Calm Down, made in the UK, ninety to a pack, given daily as a treat to support skin and coat condition in itchy dogs.
£22.99
Dreamies Shakeups Seafood Celebrations Cat Treats
Complementary Dreamies Shakeups tuna, salmon and shrimp treats, 55G
£2.05
Common questions
- How many training treats can I give my German Shepherd in a day?
- There is no fixed number, but treats should stay a modest share of daily calories overall. Using very small pieces and reducing the regular meal slightly on a big training day is a simple way to keep the balance sensible.
- What treats work best for German Shepherd puppies?
- Soft, very small treats that are easy for a young puppy to chew and swallow quickly work well, since puppies have shorter attention spans and benefit from a fast reward that does not interrupt the flow of a short training session.
- Should I use different treats for different commands?
- It can help. Saving higher-value treats for harder commands or distracting places, and using a lower-value everyday treat for easy, familiar behaviours at home, is a common approach that keeps the strongest reward meaningful when it matters most.
- Are food-based treats better than toys for training a German Shepherd?
- Neither is universally better; most German Shepherds respond well to food because the breed tends to be food-motivated, but toy or play rewards work well too, particularly once a behaviour is established and you want to reduce reliance on food.
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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.