Here are some of our favorite tools, gear, and treats*
If you're a one-stop shopper, you can see of these items on our Amazon list here
And of course you can grab most of our treat recos from our fab friends over at Sprocket & Stone in Hyde Park
TRAINING TOOLS
CLICKERS, TREAT BAGS, TARGETS
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All programs require a treat pouch and treats. Clickers are highly recommended. For virtual sessions, I also recommend using a Bluetooth headset/headphones/airpods for hands free work and better sound, as you are likely to be working away from your video device (phone, tablet, computer).
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Treat pouch/training bag
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Terry Ryan treat pouch <-- always our favorite!
Clickers
There are a variety of clickers you can use. Box clickers are great for both indoors and outdoors, not so great for noise phobic dogs. iClicks are perfect for everyday and indoor use. They make a softer sound and can be used under your foot. Clicker rings work well because it means there’s one less thing to juggle in your hands and your clicker is always at the ready! A Clik Stick works wonders for targeting, trick training and for fearful dogs. Amazon also offers a wide range of clickers.
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Targets
You can teach your dog to target practically anything. I’ve trained all our dogs to target the vacuum to put an end to their barking at it! You can use your hands, post-it notes, cork drink coasters. Some easy-to-use tools are lollipop targets and rubber or silicone discs.
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TRAINING GEAR
HARNESSES, COLLARS, LEASHES
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Your dog should be on a harness that doesn't come across their shoulders and interfere with front leg movement. We’re huge fans of the Blue-9 Balance Harness. Two others we feel comfortable recommending are the Front Range and PerfectFit modular. We’ve used the Belka Comfort Harness and like both back attachments. Ruffwear harnesses are also great. They’ve finally come up with one that’s a harness and a jacket all in one! Perfect for our Chicago winters!
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Leashes should be a minimum of 6 feet, an extra traffic loop handle is a bonus. 8-10' is ideal for every day, especially if you have a dog that pulls. Depending on your dog’s needs and your comfort level, we may also recommend longer, biothane lines in the 15-30' range. Entire systems and customizable biothane gear can be found here. We love the offerings from our friends at High Tail Hikes (support small business and get 10% off by using the link provided OR entering RADICAL10 at checkout). If you've got a puller or want to work hands free, we especially love the convertible leashes. Add a handle for security if you wish and you're all set.
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We recently picked up this bungee-style leash from Ruffwear. I don't want to jinx myself, but the extra length and give have made a difference in the amount of time Blaze spends pulling. There's also less strain on her body when she actually does hit the end of the leash.
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Quick-release collars are great. High Tail Hikes, mentioned above, offers them in easy-to-clean biothane. We love all the designs over at Paw Paws if you're looking for something more traditional. We do not recommend prong, choke, or electronic/shock collars, nor are they allowed in any of our classes or programs. Ruffwear makes collars that have two rings, one for tags and one for the leash or line clip. Cycle Dogs is a woman-owned small company that makes some fun gear with an emphasis on utilizing post-consumer recycled materials.
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Muzzles are slowly becoming de-stigmatized. They keep you, your dog, other animals, vets and groomers safe. They also prevent your dog from scavenging behaviors out on walks or in parks. Muzzles, like those from Baskerville, come in generic sizes and you can get a somewhat decent fit. We recommend custom muzzles. And also recommend muzzle training to desensitize.
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TRAINING TREATS
NOM NOM NOM
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Humans associate treats with something earned and left for special occasions. In dog training, treats or cookies are another word for food. If you feed kibble, you can use that for training if your dog is motivated by kibble. When training new behaviors you should opt for food that has a higher value. Food pieces should be roughly pea-sized or smaller and ideally not crumble. You should also have a variety of treats and can use not just food manufactured for dogs but also cheese, cat food, bits of chicken, beef, turkey, tuna, liverwurst, whatever your dog likes. Be mindful of calories and fat, especially if you have an older or a small breed dog.
Did you know a hot dog can be cut up into about 100 pieces? Some of our favorite brands to use during training are Real Meat Food (food not treats), Ziwi Peak air dried, Pupford, Vital Essentials, and Plato. Bocce’s Bakery sells several varieties of “training bites” with minimal ingredients and their larger soft baked treats are divine! Don't tell the dogs, but we also use Bocce cat treats. They're the perfect size.
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Dogs also seem to go nuts for Happy Howie's meat rolls. They can sliced and diced into a variety of sizes.
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OTHER FUN STUFF FOR ENRICHMENT
BECAUSE WHO DOESN'T LIKE FUN AND ENRICHMENT?
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Nothing beats a good ole stuffed Kong. We love all the Lickimat products, esp the wobble bowl, and our dogs love Toppls. Stuff them or schmear them and then freeze them so they’ll last longer! Get creative and layer a variety of foods. Snuffle mats are also a great form of enrichment that encourages calm sniffing and foraging.
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All the tug toys at Clean Run are fantastic. Our pups are particularly fond of the Udder Tugs made from recycled cow milkers.
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Flirt poles are fun too! We love the one from Squishy Face and this one.
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Nina Ottoson puzzles are always a blast and can also be filled and frozen.
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Lastly, don't send those Amazon and Sephora boxes to the recycling bin just yet. Turn them into shredding and food puzzles for your dog and satisfy some of their most basic needs. Ask us how!
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