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Food-driven behaviours reflect how animals balance costs and benefits of obtaining food, a process shaped by underlying motivation and previous learning experiences. In domestic dogs, centuries of artificial selection resulted in marked variations in motivational and cognitive profiles across breeds and individuals. Yet, how these differences jointly influence behaviours in food-related contexts remains poorly understood. Labrador Retrievers (n = 24) and German Shepherd Dogs (n = 24) completed (a) an object-choice task, assessing outcome-based behavioural strategies (win-stay/lose-shift), and (b) a hand-touch progressive-ratio (PR) task, measuring perseverance and willingness to work for food. Statistical models compared breeds and individuals while accounting for questionnair e-based measures of food motivation, impulsivity, frustration, and training history. Labrador Retrievers reached higher PR breakpoints than German Shepherd Dogs, showing greater willingness to work for food. Higher breakpoints were also observed in dogs with advanced training experiences. Furthermore, dogs were less likely to shift after wins than after losses , suggesting that they adjusted their behaviour based on the outcome of their most recent choice. However, frustration tolerance modulated this pattern from typical win-stay/lose-shift responding. Labrador Retrievers shifted more often than German Shepherd Dogs. However, Labradors’ shifting propensity was markedly modulated by their individual valuation of food, as dogs with higher food motivation scores favoured staying on previously rewarded choices. Furthermore, advanced training was associated with choice perseverance, reflected in higher win–stay, reduced lose–shift, and an increased likelihood of developing a side bias. Collectively, findings highlight both breed-specific and individual differences in food-driven behaviours of dogs.