Training Treats for German Shepherd & Malinois

Training a German Shepherd and a Malinois at the same time is a real workout — two high-drive breeds with different energy levels and maturity stages means your treats need to work hard for both of them. The best training treats are pea-sized, smelly, and high in protein — gone in one bite so neither dog loses focus, and exciting enough to beat whatever distraction is competing for their attention. Quick questions: are you training them together in the same session or separately, what are you working on with each dog, and any dietary sensitivities I should know about?

That combination makes sense. Training them side by side is actually good for the Malinois — she'll pick up cues faster watching the GSD work. The challenge is finding a treat that's high-value enough to hold the Shepherd's attention through scent work but gentle enough not to cause the Mal any grief. Grain-free, single-protein, and air-dried rather than heavily processed is what you want. How long are your sessions typically, and are you using the same treat for both or happy to use two different ones?

One treat for both is definitely doable here. Go with Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Dog Treats — the lamb or venison variety. They're made from a single animal protein, air-dried rather than baked, so they hold a very strong natural smell that works brilliantly for scent work with the GSD. They're soft enough to break into tiny pea-sized pieces, digest easily so they won't unsettle the Malinois's stomach even in volume, and because they're nutrient-dense you're not padding them with fillers. The moisture content is low enough that they won't go sticky in your pocket over a 30-minute session either. Both dogs will rate them highly — the Shepherd because the smell is genuinely interesting, the Mal because they're soft and rewarding without being overwhelming. Buy the 85g pouch first to trial it, then move to the larger bag once you know both dogs are happy.

Main thing is to keep the Malinois from rehearsing frustration — she'll see the GSD getting rewarded for complex behaviours she can't do yet, so make sure she's getting a high rate of reinforcement for her simpler tasks and isn't just standing around watching. Keep her working. Also, because Malinois mature quickly, don't be surprised if she starts offering behaviours she hasn't been explicitly taught — that's the breed. The treat you're using will stay effective for both dogs as long as you're not feeding it outside training sessions. Keep it rare and it stays high value.

Good luck with them — that's a genuinely impressive pair to be working. Ziwi Peak lamb or venison, broken small, and you'll have everything you need for both dogs in one bag.