Recommendations for Dog Training Supplies
First off, you don’t really need much to start working on training simple skills. But, let’s face it, a lot of us need all the help we can get.
The first step is always contacting a dog behavior professional. So, if you haven’t done that, then head back to our services page to learn more. In the meantime, we’ve compiled a list of supplies that can help you get a jumpstart on your dog training experience. We’d like to believe this list is pretty exhaustive but the reality is that new and exciting training supplies are being created on a weekly basis. So check back in often for updates!
Many of the products listed are affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission if you purchase them. All of these recommendations have been tested and approved by Paws for Thought. We would not recommend them if we were not dependent on them ourselves!
Treats!
You’re going to need lots of ‘em! Remember that reinforcer value is in the eye of the learner. Every dog is different so don’t be afraid to try a few different options.
*Note: These are recommendations for brands and items not recommendations for protein type - adjust protein choice to suit your dogs’ needs.
Low-Value Treats
For use in minimally distracting environments. Your dog’s kibble works well as a low value treat. Other options are:
Cut up fruits/vegetables (carrots or apples are a go-to).
Medium-Value Treats
As the difficulty level of the training skill or the distractions in the environment increase, so should the value of the reinforcers we use. For medium-value treats, we like meaty, smelly options:
Orijen Freeze Dried - good for foraging/snuffling when crumbled
High-Value Treats
Whenever we are working in difficult environments or dealing with complex behaviors/emotions we bring out the big guns! Boiled hot dogs or boiled chicken is a go-to.
Train’N’Treat dispenser - for use with hot dogs or slivers of Redbarn Naturals Dog Food Roll.
Liquid Treat Dispenser AKA a silicone travel container. The suction cup on these is particularly useful when conducting grooming and husbandry activities. Keep them in the fridge filled with wet food or cream cheese
The Silicone Yummy Pouch or WeeSprout Reusable Pouch are better choices for dogs who are a little nervous about novel items approaching their face. These pouches require less force to push out the liquid treats.
Kalles Cod Roe or BarkPouch- squeezable treats useful for outdoor treat delivery and dogs who take treats hard from hands
Places to Stash Treats
We recommend investing in these small OXO Airtight Containers. You can stash them around your house or apartment so that you have easy access to reinforcers when you capture wanted behaviors throughout the day.
Treat Pouches
Now that you have your treats you are going to need a convenient place to keep them during training. Being able to access and deliver a reinforcer quickly is key to behavior change
For smaller, more discreet options:
Waggly Dog Treat Pocket Pouch - extremely small option
If you’re looking for something with more room:
If you want to make use of a fanny pack that you already have laying around the house, we recommend purchasing reusable snack bags to keep your treats organized inside:
Food-Based Enrichment
Increasing your dog’s ability to engage in species-specific behaviors through enrichment activities has been shown to increase the potential for learning and decrease stress. Enrichment activities are a vital part of any training and behavior plan. While enrichment activities take many forms, below are our recommendations for edible enrichment activities.
Chews
We like long-lasting options for our enrichment chews. Many of these also have the added benefit of cleaning your dogs’ teeth. As with most toys, these should be given to your dog under supervision to avoid any health issues such as swallowing a small portion of the chew. Listed in order of increasing chew duration:
To avoid any potential choking hazards we recommend investing in chew holders:
Bonehead holder and JugHead Classic for Himalayan Chews
Qwizl, Bow Wow Bully Holder, Bully Grip for Bully Sticks
Food-Dispensing Toys
Also known as WTE toys, these are a great way to slow down your dog during mealtime and engage their brain, or even help them decompress.
We split these into toys for use with wet food:
LickiMat Splash - for bathtime!
Diggs Groov - great for use in the crate
And toys for use with dry food:
Training Tools
As we said, you don’t need much to start building behaviors with your dog but there are some things that can give you an added boost.
Clickers provide an unchanging sound with which we can mark behavior. Some dogs take to it immediately, while for others it can be a bit abrasive. We do not recommend using a clicker during training unless you have learned how to from a certified trainer. If you know how to use one successfully and would like to implement the clicker during your training sessions, these are the ones we use:
Softest Sounding Bug Clickers - best for noise-sensitive pups
Teardrop Dog Training Clicker and Box Training Clicker - loudest clicker options
Whistle Clicker - good for building your whistle recall
Trixie Target Stick and Clik Stik are both clicker/target stick combos
Treat-Dispensing Machines are great for hands-free treat delivery and can be used in a variety of training scenarios.
Cameras are especially important when working on separation issues with your dog. We do not suggest using a Furbo or a similar pet-oriented camera because they struggle with recording longer-duration videos.
Bells can be useful communication tools for teaching your puppy or adult dog to tell you when they need to go to the bathroom.
Mighty Paw Smart Bell - great for larger homes
Training Toys are a great way to reinforce dogs who may be less motivated by treats. Some of these toys are also designed to meet specific breed needs.
Squishy Face Studio Flirt Pole - great for herding breed dogs who need an outlet for chasing
Treat Hugger Clean Run Tug or Biggies Bungee Bunny Pouch - can be stuffed with treats for scent work
Resources - you can never be too prepared!
Walking Equipment
Proper walking equipment is so important for safety and an ill-fitting harness can cause discomfort and even pain in dogs. We recommend using a combined collar and harness walking setup whenever possible.
In aggression and reactivity cases, we recommend using both a harness and a collar with a security attachment for added safety.
For Harnesses, we prefer H or Y harnesses that have two leash contact points and do not need to be pulled over the dog’s head:
Coastal X-Small Standard Adjustable Harness and Zee. Dog H- Harness - great for small dogs
Perfect Fit Custom Harness - for sensitive skin and handling issues
Ruffwear Front Range Harness - also for sensitive skin
For leashes, we like longer options that let our dogs explore their environment and give us the distance we need to practice recall:
Mighty Paws Check Cord 30 Ft - made out of weather-resistant climber’s rope
Petsafe Nylon Dog Leash 6 ft - for potty walks or getting from point A to point B
Max and Neo Double Handle Traffic Leash - for added leash walking security
EzyDog Bungee Leash Extension - for guardians with wrist/arm/shoulder issues
Management Tools
Management tools are important for keeping your dog safe and comfortable. They are often used in training protocols to avoid the rehearsal of undesirable behaviors.
Crates - if utilizing a crate, make sure that your dog has plenty of room to move around in it, beyond the typical recommendation that they should be able to stand up, turn around, and lay back down
Elitefield Folding Soft Dog Crate - for travel and not recommended for puppies
Gates
Pens
Tether - sometimes we need to have a leash trailing on our puppy indoors so that we can use it to redirect them from unwanted tasks and avoid grabbing their collars or harnesses
Noise and Visual Stimulus Reducers
Happy Hoodie (Auditory stimulus blocker)
Thundercap (Visual stimulus blocker)
Human Management Tools - For when we need our messages hear loud and clear!
