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Best Dog Treats for German Shepherds: 7 Picks and How Many to Give
Seven treats for German Shepherds are listed below, from small training bites to long chews. What each treat is made of comes from its Amazon listing. The rules on how many treats to give, which foods to keep away from your dog, and which chews need watching come from VCA, the AAHA, the AKC, the ASPCA, and the FDA.
How Many Treats a German Shepherd Can Have
VCA Animal Hospitals says "Treats or snacks should comprise no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake." The AAHA guidelines give the same split from the other side: the main source of complete and balanced nutrition should be at least 90% of total intake, and treats and other food items 10% or less. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention has a page on caloric needs with a calorie calculator.
The AAHA's step for counting is to calculate current caloric intake from all food items, so training bites count too. Chews are harder to count. The AAHA notes that the AAFCO calorie rule on labels includes snacks and treats but does not include chews, bones, or toys, so a chew's package may show no calories.
Best Dog Treats for German Shepherds
Zuke's Mini Naturals Beef Recipe
These are soft, chewy training bites. The listing gives 2 calories per treat, says real beef is the first ingredient, and says they contain no corn, wheat, or soy. It calls them easy to tear and sells them in a resealable pouch, and says they suit small, medium, and large dogs. The AKC says "soft dog treats or dog cookies are good options for puppies," since you will likely be doing a lot of training with them. The listing sells these as training treats, so they fit simple obedience exercises.
Solimo Duck Jerky
The listing says duck is the number one ingredient and that there is no added corn, wheat, soy, or gluten. It also says whole muscle jerky is chewier like typical jerkies, so give plenty of fresh water and follow the treating instructions. You may break the strips into smaller pieces. For a dog's first time, the listing says to start with half of the suggested treating amount and build to the full amount.
The AKC says jerky for dogs shouldn't include any spices, and that dog-specific jerky should be given to dogs, not jerky made for people.
Pur Luv K9 Kabobs
The listing says these are made with real chicken, chicken liver, and duck, and that each one has a sweet potato skewer "for an easily digestible chew." It calls them a long lasting chew and describes a limited ingredient list. The bag is 12 ounces.
Chewing is normal for dogs. The ASPCA says it is a way for young dogs to relieve pain from incoming teeth, and that for older dogs it keeps jaws strong and teeth clean. A dog that chews through everything is a different case, and the ASPCA's page on destructive chewing starts with problems to rule out, such as separation anxiety.
Cloud Star Chewy Treats
The listing says each salmon treat has 3 calories and that a 14 ounce bag holds 360 of them. It says the treats are made with real salmon, are soft and chewy, will not dry out, crumble, or leave greasy residue on your hands, and contain no artificial flavors or colors and no wheat or corn.
Our guide to Training Treats for German Shepherds covers more soft options.
Nature Gnaws Turkey Treats
The listing calls these USA turkey tendons, grain-free and gluten-free, and "rawhide-free." It describes them as right for light chewers, teething puppies, or small dogs, and as a crunchy treat for medium and large dogs. The maker says the natural act of chewing helps reduce plaque and tartar. The bag is 8 ounces.
For a longer-lasting chew, our guide to the best chew toys for German Shepherd puppies covers toys.
Stella & Chewy's Wild Weenies
The listing calls these freeze-dried raw treats made with 97% cage-free chicken and organs, for dogs and puppies, in a 3.25 ounce bag. It says they are soft enough to break into smaller pieces without crumbling. The AKC says freeze-dried treats tend to be very digestible because freeze-drying removes all moisture.
The FDA says raw pet food is more likely than processed pet food to contain harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. The FDA guidance says to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and hot water before and after handling pet food and treats.
Redbarn Beef Cheek Rolls
This is a 4 pack of large beef cheek rolls. The listing says they are single ingredient, made from premium beef cheek sourced from cowhide, and a traditional rawhide alternative that is odor-free and stain-free. It says they are made for a large breed dog and are naturally rich in collagen to support joint health, which is the maker's claim. For background on collagen content, Homes Alive Pets, a pet supply retailer, says collagen is the most abundant protein in the body.
Our guide to bones for German Shepherds covers other long chews.
What to Look for in a Dog Treat
Puppies and Chews
The AKC says puppies usually need softer dog treats, especially when they are teething, and that soft treats suit dogs that can't chew hard ones. Hard and long chews need watching. The AKC says to supervise a dog whenever it chews bones. A JAVMA report on 31 dogs with an esophageal obstruction caused by a dental chew treat found it mostly in small dogs (26 of 31) and reported a mortality rate of 25.8%. That study covered one kind of dental chew treat, so it is a reason to stay close during any chew and says nothing about the treats on this list.
Dental Claims
Several listings mention teeth. The Veterinary Oral Health Council says the products on its list "have earned the VOHC Seal of Acceptance," so check the list for VOHC acceptance before you rely on a dental claim. In one AJVR study, 10 dogs ate a single dental treat, and the authors found it may help decrease oral bacterial growth for 12 hours and oral malodor for 24 hours. They also write that larger, longer-term studies are needed.
Ingredient Labels
The word "natural" has a meaning on pet food. A review of the natural diet in the Journal of Animal Science says the term, when used to market commercial pet foods in the United States, has been defined by AAFCO and requires, at minimum, that the pet food be preserved with natural preservatives. PetMD's column on artificial preservatives says that if you see ethoxyquin, BHT, or BHA in a dry dog food's ingredient list, the food is not naturally preserved.
The Bones and Co, a dog food maker, writes that starches and carbs are unnecessary fillers added to many pet foods to lower cost and increase shelf stability. That is one maker's view. For a dog with food sensitivities, the AKC says to consult a veterinarian, and our guide to the best dog food for German Shepherds with skin allergies covers food for itchy dogs. For dogs that turn down treats, our guide for picky eaters has more.
Joint Claims
Some treats advertise joint support. The Cornell overview from Cornell's Riney Canine Health Center says supplements are not regulated like medications and products may not contain what they state on the label. A review of glucosamine or chondroitin for canine osteoarthritis says that despite limited and conflicting evidence, both are commonly recommended by veterinarians.
German Shepherd Treats FAQs
What Treats Are Best for German Shepherd Puppies?
The AKC says puppies usually need softer dog treats, especially while teething. Zuke's and Cloud Star above are soft training treats, the Stella and Chewy's listing says it is for dogs and puppies, and the Nature Gnaws listing names teething puppies among the dogs it suits. Our guide to the best teething toys for German Shepherd puppies is here.
Which People Foods Should Never Be Treats?
The ASPCA's list of people foods to avoid includes chocolate, coffee, and caffeine; grapes and raisins, which can lead to kidney damage; xylitol, which can cause low blood sugar and potentially liver damage; macadamia nuts; onion, garlic, and chives; and alcohol and yeast dough. It also says raw bones can cause injury or obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract. If your dog may have eaten any of them, the ASPCA says to note the amount and call your veterinarian or poison control at (888) 426-4435.
For the dog's space and gear, see our guides to Outdoor Dog Kennels for German Shepherds and the best collars for German Shepherds.
Sources
- VCA Animal Hospitals, Obesity in Dogs
- AAHA, 2021 Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines, feeding plans (archived copy)
- American Kennel Club, Best Dog Treats (updated March 4, 2026)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control, People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
- ASPCA, Destructive Chewing
- FDA, Tips for Safe Handling of Pet Food and Treats
- Leib and Sartor, Esophageal foreign body obstruction caused by a dental chew treat in 31 dogs, JAVMA 2008 (PubMed abstract)
- 24-hour evaluation of dental plaque bacteria and halitosis after consumption of a single placebo or dental treat by dogs, AJVR 2016
- Buff and others, Natural pet food: a review of natural diets and their impact on canine and feline physiology, Journal of Animal Science 2014 (PubMed abstract)
- Veterinary Oral Health Council, Accepted Products
- Product details come from the Amazon listing for each treat, linked above.
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