They say one can’t buy loyalty with money; for all my German Shepherd dog owners out there, this is not the case. This one dog breed that stands as an epitome of loyalty. Research has shown that they are one of the most loyal dogs out there. An adult German Shepherd dog has an unequal devotion to its owner.
Its trainability and devotion to its owner are next to none. No wonder they are popular among families, military and law enforcement agencies. In the past, they were domesticated for cattle herding. With their perfectly – shaped body, long ears and sharp eyes, they’ve outdone their purpose and have now seamlessly joined the bigger league.
Quick comparison among top treats for German Shepherd Puppy
However, that’s not what we will be discussing today. Rather than the adult dogs, let’s take a closer look at dog treats that are great for a GSD puppy. It doesn’t matter whether or not you own a German shepherd, the fact is, as a dog owner, we all want the best for our dogs and I’m sure you want the same treats for your German shepherds too.
A healthy adult dog grew to be that way because of its knowledgeable owner. You’ve got to maintain and manage their strong and muscular bodies. They require protein-filled diets and of course, lots of nutritional ingredients.
At the end of it all, choosing the right treat for your pups should not be a problem. They are not dogs that should be left indoor; they aren’t the inactive type. On the other hand, they prefer the outdoor scenery due to their energy, and their physical fitness.
You can contribute to their health by giving them the right treat. As a German Shepherd owner, you’ve got to be devoted, disciplined as this will be a form of a mirror for the dog, an investment you will never regret.
The Best Dog Treats for your German Shepherd Puppies
When it comes to choosing the best treats for your GSD puppy, you’ve got to make sure that the treat is an appropriate one. Follow the basic rules of shopping for groceries. Exactly, the ingredients – if the ingredients on the list are ingredients that you find pretty difficult to pronounce, then it might be a bad treat your puppy. From liver bits to beef tendons.
This doesn’t mean that human treats are great for dogs. For instance, one might think that because dogs love beef tendon, then you might want to substitute it for chocolate bonbon; that’s the problem, some ingredients aren’t suitable for puppies and a great example is chocolate. Most of the things we eat aren’t suitable for pups, so, you’ve got to be careful.
7 Best Puppy Treats for German Shepherd Puppies
When we talk about dog treats, there are lots out there. There are two types of treats, they are the dried treats and soft treats. Knowing the best one for your dog shouldn’t be difficult as we’ve helped you surfed the internet and done our research based on not just the consumer reviews but practical usage. Here are some of the best dog biscuits and treats for your GSD puppy.
One of the best dogs treats out there is the pedigree Dentastix Dental Treats. It comes as a versatile tool as one can also view it as a dog toy. Dentastix Dental Treat is not just a treat, it is a dental chew. A dental treat for dogs with dental issues. When your dog’s breath stinks, this is one dental treat that should be given to your dog. It was specifically designed to reduce tartar buildup and plaques that are found in dog’s teeth. It has an x – shape design and can be fed to large breeds with bad breath.
If your dog weighs 30 lbs, then this is one dog treat you ought to try. To make it more effective, it should be given to your dog once in a day. To be safe, dogs that weigh below 5 pounds shouldn’t be fed with this dental treat. Lastly, it features an original chicken flavor.
Pros:
- It helps freshen your dog’s breath.
- Made in the United States (USA).
- Dentastix Dental Treat helps to reduce tartar build-up and plaques in your dog’s mouth.
- It is available in two different sizes which are mini and large.
- As we said earlier, it comes in different flavors (But mostly chicken). The flavors are Beef, Chicken, and Bacon.
- You can always go for the Grain-Free pack.
Cons:
- It is not suitable for dogs that weight below 5 pounds.
- If your puppy is not gluten intolerant, this is one treat you should avoid as it is not gluten-free.
2. Blue Buffalo Blue Wilderness Trail Dog Treats
Nest on the list is a dog treat from the staple of Blue Wilderness, a reputable company known for creating quality canine chews and treats. They make use of novel proteins. These novel proteins are considered to have less allergenic content compared to the regular lamb, beef and chicken. If you still have doubts, you can take a closer look at the ingredients used to make this particular treat. The Grain-free dog biscuit contains extra alligator, venison, duck, turkey, red meat and salmon.
When it comes to safe dog food that your German Shepherd should consume, you need to look out for allergens like chicken and beef. The Blue Buffalo makes use of great ingredients that are well suited to make your puppy happy. It doesn’t contain any artificial preservatives, flavouring and colouring. Instead, what your dog will get is a fine taste of naturally prepared recipe that is healthy. One of the few dogs treats that contain omega – 3 and 6 fatty acids.
Pros:
- A dog treat that comes packed with omega – 3 and omega-6.
- It contains no preservatives.
- No colouring and flavouring.
- It is less allergenic.
- It is grain-free.
Cons.
- They are not chicken and poultry – free.
3. Blue Buffalo BLUE Bits Natural Soft-Moist Training Dog Treats
From the staples of Blue Buffalo, the Natural Soft-Moist Training Dog treats come in different flavours. From Chicken, beef, turkey, down to salmon, your puppy will love the taste. They come at an affordable price. These are tiny morsels with a savoury taste. It will surely entice your German Shepherd puppy. The fact that it has no by-products, soy, wheat, and corn makes it one of the best dogs treats out there.
They are made with real salmon – this is one of the major ingredients and the most important reason why it should be on the top list of dog treats for your puppy. They don’t contain any dog treats and are free from artificial preservatives such as propylene glycol. The entire features are healthy.
Pros:
- Contains wholesome ingredients.
- The ingredients are real/natural.
- The Blue Buffalo Blue Bits Soft-Moist are free from preservatives.
Cons:
- Not great for very large breeds due to their size.
4. Wellness Core Pure Rewards Natural Grain-Free Dog Treats
Wellness Natural Grain Free Dog Treat is a dog treats perfect for all puppies. For dogs that love biscuits, this is one of the treats that shouldn’t be missing from your shelf. The Wellness Core Pure Rewards Natural Grain Free always fit the bill. It comes in two variants – They are the Salmon and Lamb variant. it contains a hypoallergenic protein source which makes it safe for your puppy. We all want the best for our puppies.
This particular dog treat is not only safe (thanks to the hypoallergenic protein), it also helps to improve the functionality of the nervous system and healthy eyes. So, you aren’t just rewarding your dog for training sessions well done, but you are also helping to improve the overall health of the puppy. Just like the Blue Buffalo Blue Wilderness Dog treat, the Wellness Core Grain Free Dog Treat contains omega-3 fatty acid thanks to the flaxseed present in the treat.
Some puppy – friendly ingredients are present in this treat, some of which are Apple, Carrots, Blueberries, and Sweet Potatoes. You need not break them as they come in small size which makes chewing for your puppy quite easy. For training sessions, you need a naturally grain-free jerky like this one in your treat bag.
Pros:
- The Wellness Core Dog treat contains puppy – friendly formulation.
- It improves the functionality of your puppy’s nervous system.
- It improves the overall health of their (puppies) eyes.
- Made in the USA.
- It is backed by wellness Guarantee and Quality assured.
- Grain-free
Cons:
- Some dog may not like the smell
5. Old Mother Hubbard Crunchy Classic Natural Dog Treats
Every puppy deserves dog treats, including German shepherd puppies. According to Old Mother Crunchy, all puppies and adult dogs deserve snakes that are prepared in an atmosphere filled with love and passion. Looking at some of the ingredient used to make this dog treat, it is easy to see why. For a company that has been in the industry for 90 years (which is almost a century), one will hardly fault everything that is been said.
Their formulation comes in different size and flavours. An example of a great crunchy biscuit, it has a classic P-Nuttier which is filled with premium – quality creamy peanut butter. Remember we talked about your puppy’s intake (For Peanut Butter), the quantity found in the Old Mother Hubbard is crunchy. One of the health benefits lies in the fact that it contains no artificial preservatives.
The Puppy Formula? The puppy formula includes Vitamin and Minerals that are specially designed for growing German Shepherd puppies and other puppies alike. Also, the Delicious Chicken Flavored puppy treat makes it one of the best out there.
Pros:
- Made by a company trusted for over 90 years.
- It contains added vitamins and minerals.
- Chicken flavor.
- Contains natural ingredients.
- Contains no preservatives.
Cons:
- Treat size is relatively small.
6. Wellness Natural Grain Free Puppy Training Treats
The Wellness Natural Puppy Training treat, or Wellness Puppy bit is all-natural – tasty, soft, wholesome and big-sized young dog treat that prides itself as one of the best dogs treats in the industry. Made in the United States, the formula used to create this treat makes it perfect for puppies that are a year old. It was made using a delicious lamb, wholesome grains, veggies, salmon flavour and fruits. These ingredients will make your puppy grow fast.
Dog biscuits, snacks and treats are a great addition to your pup’s diet. The Wellness Natural Grain Free Puppy is a great choice if you want your dog to grow fond of you.
Pros
- It is ideal for German Shepherd puppies.
- It contains natural ingredients.
- Wellness Grain-free Puppy Treat is soft and tastes great
Cons:
- If your GSD puppy has digestion problem, this isn’t the ideal treat for him.
7. Homemade liver treats (Bonus Tip!)
This might seem like a bonus point, but homemade liver treats are awesome. This is an example of DIY homemade treats for dogs. Your German Shepherd Puppies will benefit from this liver treats. They need a reliable source of protein and that’s what they will get with the homemade liver treats.
These liver treats are gotten from chicken, duck, beef and/or lamb. All you need to do is get raw livers, a dehydrator or an oven will help you dry the liver. Once it’s in a dry state, all you have to do is to cut it into tiny pieces. Normally, within 10 hours, you can dry the liver.
Pros:
- It is natural with no additives.
- A great source of protein.
Cons:
- The smell can be overpowering.
Answer to some FAQ’s about German Shepherd Puppy Treat
From when I can start giving treat to my GSD puppy?
It is no news that dogs love treats. The fact that they do doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be regulated. These biscuits need to be regulated. Your GSD puppy needs Omega 3, Proteins, Carbohydrates and Regulated level of Fat and oil. When it comes to giving your dog treat, it has to be about 5% of the puppy’s calorie intake.
Generally speaking, your puppy can start taking treats as soon as they are 2 months old. One of the best ways to bond with your dog is by giving them treats, and when used with dog toys, it can be an effective training tool. But one has to make sure that these are appropriate treats for your puppies.
When you go overboard with these treats, you instil some bad habits in the dog. Some of which include:
A begging habit
Going overboard with the treats will create a begging behaviour in your dog. For instance, giving your leftover – and you will have them coming back for more when next you sit for dinner. Always prevent that.
It disrupts their diets
When giving treats is left uncurbed, what you will have is a disrupted diet. Just like every other puppy, all German Shepherd puppies have unique nutritional needs. However, treats don’t have all the major nutrients required for puppies to grow healthy. So, when your dogs depend on treats, their diet will be disrupted. They don’t have enough energy when you fill your puppy’s stomach with lots of it will ultimately stunt or reduce the growth of your dog and later on lead to the dog having bone and joint problems.
Obesity
I’m sure you know what this is. When you fill your dog’s stomach with lots of calories; more calories than it really needs, your dog will become obese after weight gain. You might think that puppies have young bodies and would need energy; that is true, but when your puppy takes in more calories than usual, they grow up way too fast, ultimately putting more pressure on their leg bones and joints. This usually causes bone and joint problems when they become adult dogs.
These treats should be given between each meal. Decide the treat you’d want your dog to take. The treats we stated above are some of the best treats to give a dog. When you use treats as a training tool, you should not give right before and after every meal, like it was mentioned earlier. Need a great technique for giving your German shepherd puppy treats, engage the pup’s nose. Let it sniff first, then engage the eyes and the ears. The most important part of a dog’s brain is through the nose.
Once you can get her interest, gently lift the treat above her nose and hover it around her head and shoulders. The aim is to make her sit – which will be done when she moves her shoulders back and her butts are lowered.
Treats that are bad for Your German Shepherd puppy
According to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), some treats shouldn’t be given to your dogs. FDA warns that giving your puppies bone treats and pets bones to chew usually comes with dire consequences. They reported 68 cases of illness that were caused by bone treats.
This is different from the uncooked typed – the answer lies in the way they are processed and packaged. This was between November 10, 2010, to September 12, 2017. Out of the 90 dogs that were affected, about 15 of them died. Some of the bone treats include:
Rib bones
Pork femur bones
Ham’s bones
Smokey Knucklebones
If you don’t want to visit the vet more time than normal, then you should avoid feeding them bone treats. From the unusual visit to the vets down to emergency surgery, this is one mistake you’d want to avoid. Also, there are some human treats or food that are bad for your puppy’s health. They are:
Gravy
A human’s craving for gravy doesn’t mean you should do the same with your puppy. One of the main ingredients you’d find in Gravies is salt, and that is what you’d want to avoid. The side effect is not an instant one. Consuming lots of it over time causes high blood pressure in your German Shepherd puppy.
Aside from the spike in the dog’s blood pressure, it also wreaks havoc on their nervous system. However, this doesn’t mean that one should avoid salt entirely. A little bit of it in food scraps won’t hurt him or her.
Peanut Butter
One shouldn’t right off Peanut butter, but to be on a safe side, watch the quantity they are given. Peanut Butter is packed with lots of fat which when consumed can lead to weight gain and pancreatitis in your German Shepherd puppy. Also, watch out for Peanut Butters that are sugar – free; this is peanut butter that contains xylitol which is an artificial sweetener which is toxic (on a fatality level) for all dogs.
Ingredients to avoid in German Shepherd Puppy Treats
- Carrageenan
One of the ingredients that should be avoided in German Shepherd Puppy’s treat is Carrageenan. It is mostly found in Dairy foods, baby formula and meats and of course, puppy food. according to a study that was carried out in 2009, Carrageenan initiates inflammation in the intestines of animals. To protect your German shepherd puppy, always lookout for this ingredient.
- Ethoxyquin
Ethoxyquin is manufactured by Monsanto as a form of preservative. It is used to prevent the fat content present in dog treat and food from getting rancid. It causes live damage. Allergic reactions, Thyroid damage Leukemia, Reproductive issues and Kidney damage in dogs.
- BHT
Fully known as Butylated Hydroxytoluene was created to act as a safeguard against rancidification. Apart from the fact that it is an allergen, it causes reproductive issues and skin irritation. That is why you’ve got to make sure the dog food you are getting contains Vitamin E. Vitamin E is a better preservative compared to BHT.
- BHA
Next to BHT is Butylated Hydroxyanisole. Its major function is to help keep fats in dog treats from turning rancid. Remember, Vitamin E is the best form of preservative against rancidification.
Can I give raw bone to my shepherd puppy?
Yes. You can. But you need to know a few things on this. One question that many GSD owners would love to ask is if one can give the raw bone to a shepherd puppy. When bones are inappropriately fed to your puppy, it usually causes damage to the teeth. Raw bones are essential to the growth of your German Shepherd, but when it is fed wrongly, then there might be a problem. When your dog chews on bones, it helps keep their teeth clean by scraping off the tartar off the puppy’s teeth.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a German Shepherd puppy requires a healthy meal to grow. As their owner, you need to recognize the fact that these treats should not in any way act as a substitute for their regular meals. It should be given during training sessions. And always look out the calories per treat – this is to avoid the overall weight of your dog and a disruption in their growth.
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