Healthy Snacks and Treats
A lot of the dog snacks and treats that are marketed today are made to fit a person's idea of a good snack. Copious amounts of food coloring and added salts and sugars often make these dog treats unhealthy and can cause gastrointestinal distress among more sensitive shepherds.
A better alternative is to provide wholesome snacks that are good supplements (or at least aren't detrimental) to the canine diet. Many quality pet food companies produce dog biscuits that are made with formulas similar to their premium pet foods. Also, if your shepherd enjoys fresh vegetables, he can be treated to something healthy like baby carrots without having to cut back his regular meals to compensate for any additional calories.
Because people often offer treats to each other as special rewards, it is natural for many people to reward their dogs with treats. Shepherds, however, are particularly responsive to physical interactions with their owners. In other words, a good scratch behind the ear and a pat on the back may be just as valuable to your shepherd as a treat — not to mention better for his health.
Of course, if you're looking for particularly delectable treats to use while you're training your dog, tiny bits of cheese or low-sodium hot dogs work well. An even more mouthwatering treat is tiny tidbits of baked chicken breast.
