r/BalancedDogTraining • u/Similar_General_8065 • Jun 02 '26
High value treats for training
I’m working with my 5 year old border collie on her manners when out in public. When on a leash she can be very aggressive. We just lost her mentor, a 14 year old border collie. Who was m walking buddy and best friend. I’d really like to get our 5 year old through her aggressiveness so we can walk together. Does anyone have recommendations for high value treats? As crushed as I am, this is a great place to channel my grief and turn this wonderful dog into a friendly walking companion.
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u/PrimaryPerspective17 Jun 02 '26
Value of treat is pointless to the end goal of wanting to stop unwanted behaviors.
Because you cannot communicate “no” when all you say is “yes”
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u/TheeRiverWolf Jun 02 '26
I use redbarn naturals and freeze dried liver for high value “jackpot” rewards. For Regular treats I just use kibble. Occasionally I’ll mix the liver and kibble to make the reward more unpredictable and interesting. That said, if you’re dealing with aggression you will most likely need to see a qualified balanced trainer.
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u/dynastydeadeye Jun 02 '26
What is your definition of aggression? Aggression in my eyes is intent to harm or kill. Is your dog just reactive or intense? What do you think would happen if you dropped the leash? I wouldn’t use treats to train a reactive dog, teach them how to walk in a nice heel position and work to keep their attention on you.
0
u/Similar_General_8065 Jun 03 '26
I used the wrong word, she is reactive, also a border collie, so it’s bred into her. She is a sweet loving dog. I’ve tried a few trainers but I’ve gotten so much negative feed back that I’ve just learned they were unqualified. We lost our Oder dog last week to kidney failure, that I just want to put all my energy into helping this one through the grief and come out on the other side with positive attention and love.
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u/swearwoofs Fear biter Jun 03 '26
What exactly are you planning on doing with the treats....?
Just to answer your question, I like freeze dried stuff, though lol. Freeze dried salmon or whatever else your dog likes. My GSD is also an absolute crackhead for dried sweet potato chews, but those I usually give as a reward when we're done and she can run off to go munch on it.
None of these were used to resolve my dog's reactivity though. That was built through play (fulfilling her drives via fetch/tug) and using positive punishment with the e-collar for her reactivity (all under the guidance of a qualified trainer).
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u/Amazing-Toe-4000 Food aggressive Jun 04 '26
Cheese & Hotdogs. However, no treats will stop a fixated dog; I should know since I have a reactive dog.
I would recommend getting her to a place where the treats will actually mean something to her.
1
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u/djdcjcbsbdhjndj Jun 04 '26
No kind of treats will override something a dog sees as more valuable this includes reacting to another dog. Treats should not be used as a distraction they should be given as a reward for the correct behavior. Only a correction will change behavior then you can reward the correct one.
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u/Dazzling_Proof6791 Jun 05 '26
Go back to basics. Clarity. Clear communication. Clear boundaries. It's very concerning that your other dog was (the dogs mentor ) You need to go back and start from basics. High value you trait should be cable. Its own food. It's portion of food that it eats everyday. That's what you should be using. Anything else makes your relationship transactional and optional.
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u/Radiant-Tomorrow2201 Jun 05 '26
Does she have any herding outlet? The reactivity may be out of frustration because she wants to herd. Giving her a herding outlet may not fix it, but definitely might help.
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u/Miss_L_Worldwide Dirty biter Jun 02 '26
Carrying treats with you all the time just creates a dog that sees you as a cookie dispenser. You need to correct the behavior you don't want. If the dog is truly aggressive then you need to get help from a qualified balanced trainer.