Equipment

You need to know…

Below you will find items that I may have recommended for you during our training sessions. Clicking on any of these affiliate links will take you directly to the ordering page for that item. I\’m told I need to let you know that if you order through these links I will receive an affiliate commission on the sale. You have been warned, my legal obligation has been fulfilled, read on!

Training Rewards

I\’ll start with the good stuff…My all time favorite for training is Dick VanPatton\’s Natural Balance Food Roll. Unfortunately, they\’ve changed the formula so it\’s a bit more crumbly, but it\’s still the best stuff around IMHO. Why? Because it is food. By that, I mean it\’s meant to be fed as a dog\’s regular meal just like canned or kibble. So it\’s not like you\’re giving your dog candy during training. It\’s also soft, which means no crumbs to distract your dog from the task at hand. The way I use it is to slice off a few 1/4\” slices. Then I stack them and slice them into 1/4\” pieces, turn it 90 degrees and slice it again into 1/4\” pieces. Now I\’ve got a whole bunch of treats all diced up…somewhere in the neighborhood of 80 per original slice, and that\’s a lot of treats!!! And if you think the treat isn\’t the right size when you\’re giving it, just pinch it to make it smaller! This stuff is awesome and I\’ve rarely met a dog that doesn\’t like it. Good Stuff!

And of course something to put them in

There are so many treat pouches out there it\’s hard to decide. For me, I go for a simple, single function pouch…no bells, no whistles, and reasonably priced. It\’s available in 2 sizes, too, so if you have to have a multifunctional pouch get the large and you can carry an extra Chuck-It Ball under your treats.

Beds

I highly recommend raised beds when teaching a place command. The best beds anywhere are made by Kuranda and their raised beds are guaranteed chew proof!

https://kuranda.com/?rfsn=2275595.fad785

Collars

If we\’ve already met then you have an idea that I\’m not a fan of any sort of harness for walks. Regular harness encourage pulling and even the ones that clip in front offer no way to communicate effectively. These collars, used correctly, will make your walks together much more enjoyable.

The Gentle Leader is a great option for a training collar. Used to control the head of your pup, it can help control in a way different from any other collar.

And if you like fancy…

Herm Springer is the best training collar on the market. This top quality collar is the only one I recommend. It\’s made in Germany and is available in Chrome and Black Stainless Steel.

And if you need a collar that\’s easier to get on, check out this collar from Pawmark. It\’s a Herm-Springer that has been fitted with a metal snap buckle, making it super easy to get on and off.

Toys

There is little doubt that every dog needs a Kong. Not only is it great to gnaw on, it\’s even more useful when it\’s stuffed. That\’s right, put treats, their food, peanut butter, and/or special rewards inside and it will keep them busy for a while. Great for when you\’re crate training them!

For the tough chewers

When it comes to the game of Fetch, there\’s really only one ball for my pups, and only one delivery system…the Chuckit!. Tennis balls are easily found, and cheap. The problem with them is they can grind down your dog\’s teeth. Really. Think about the covering on a tennis ball and what it\’s meant to come in contact with…the court! Not many tennis balls lose their fluff, but when a dog chews on it, guess what? It is so abrasive it can grind down their teeth. So what do I recommend? These rubber balls by Chuckit. They\’re tough and gentle on the teeth.

If you\’re already ordering $25 from Amazon why pay more for these balls? Save by ordering these as an add-on:

And don\’t forget the delivery system. This is guaranteed to tire them out and save your arm…not to mention, no slobbery hands!