Equipment
Having the right equipment for your dog changes the way they work with you. If used correctly, equipment will never hurt, traumatize, or injure your dog. However, any equipment can be dangerous if used improperly.
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Barkley & Co. recommends and frequently uses the following equipment:
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The Martingale Training Collar is ideal for puppies, ultra sensitive dogs, or dogs who have minor struggles and need light fine-tuning with their commands.
Getting a martingale with a chain correction piece is essential. Your dog hears and feels the snap of the chain, redirecting their attention to you.
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We love Max and Neo - not only are the collars incredibly sturdy and hold up great in the wash, but they also donate a collar to a shelter for each purchase. Plus, there's great color variety!
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A Slip Leash does just that - it slips around your dog's neck with no collar needed. This tool is ideal for transporting your dog to and from the car, the vet, etc.
A slip leash can be used in place of a martingale for training with a sensitive dog or one that only needs light corrections as a reminder. It's always handy to have one of these around.
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The Leather Leash is a classic for dog training. The material is soft on your hands yet ultra sturdy for your dogs. 4 ft is the preferred length by dog trainers so you don't have too much slack when your dog is heeling next to you.
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A Long Line is something every dog owner should have on hand. This piece of equipment is the most underrated.
With a long line, you can practice recall (having your dog come when called) with a means of following through. One of the biggest struggles many dog owners face is their dog not coming when called or worse, making it a game of chase.
DO NOT chase your dog; it encourages them to continue running from you for fun. Instead, use a long line! We like 30 ft., but pick whatever makes the most sense for your yard and environment.
This is a great tool for camping, hiking, or playing at the park as well!
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Does your dog eat their food at lightning speed? Are they too smart for their own good? Do you own a breed that requires more mental stimulation than you feel you have the time to adequately provide?
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Below we've linked some of our favorite products to keep your dog mentally stimulated. These tools will build your dog's independence, test their intelligence, provide an enjoyable experience, and mentally wear them out. You can even use these devices for their meals, not just treats!
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Slow Feeder Treat Dispenser Ball
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People often ask what toys we prefer. We say, get all sorts of fun, different types for your pup! Let them explore and see what they like. However, if you want our specific recommendations:
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Rope Toys help with flossing and tug is a great game for strength, confidence building, and bonding with your dog (work on getting them to "leave it" when you ask).
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Soft Toys that crinkle and squeak are a favorite choice for almost every dog we meet. Toys with stuffing are a classic choice, but not if your dog likes to eat the stuffing!
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Natural Chews are our absolute preferred form of chew toy - but be sure you DO NOT get rawhide or pig ears as they can cause digestive blockages if swallowed in big chunks. We also don't recommend cow hooves considering they end up splintering into sharp shards. Trachea Tubes, Bully Sticks, and Collagen Sticks are all safe options that will break down in the digestive system even if swallowed in big pieces.
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Benebone and Nylabone make the best nylon chew toys - they are safe, last forever, and the dogs LOVE them.
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The classic exists for a reason. A Check Chain (not called a "choke chain" - you should not be choking your dog) is perfect for keeping your dog in check.
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When training with this equipment, use sharp, quick snaps. Test it out on your own wrist first so you understand what the correction feels like for your dog. Do not pull them around or let them pull you; this can choke them and damage their trachea.
See our video tutorial on how to properly use this equipment.
Do not leave your dog unattended with a check chain on for safety - it may get caught up and injure your pup. This is training equipment, not a style statement.
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Like the check chain, a Prong Collar should never be left on your dog unattended for safety reasons. It should not be used to pull your dog or let them pull you, but should be used to give quick snaps for corrections.
The prong collar pinches your dog's skin in the same way their mother would use her teeth to teach them. The prongs are flat on the end, not sharp.
Studies have proven that prong collars do significantly less damage to your dog's trachea than a check chain, martingale, or flat collar. So if you have a dog that heavily pulls, contrary to public belief, this is likely the most ethical piece of equipment for you (when used properly).
Check out our video tutorial on how to use a Prong Collar safely.
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We recommend the prong in the link provided due to the buckle in the front, making putting this collar on and taking it off a breeze.
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Dogtra IQ Plus/Mini
E-Collar
E-Collars are the pinnacle of off-leash training for your pup. Not only are they ideal for dogs who bark excessively, jump, dig, or chew things they shouldn't, but we can also teach your dog to perform their commands completely off-leash!
This tool is for advanced training once your dog has mastered their basics already on-leash.
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DO NOT simply buy this collar and start using it. It is ESSENTIAL you watch our video or another trainer's on using this equipment. If done incorrectly, you risk traumatizing your pup and ruining their experience so the equipment is never a viable tool again. When used without education or to overly punish your dog, this equipment can easily become unethical.
AN E-COLLAR IS NOT A TOY AND SHOULD NOT BE USED WITHOUT PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
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Dogtra IQ Plus and Dogtra IQ Mini are awesome. The correction doesn't hurt - it feels like a static shock - and is consistent every time you use it. The remote has a range of 5 football fields, the collar is waterproof, and the whole package has a two-year warranty.
Other cheap remote collars present many issues. They often break within a few months of purchase, so you have to get another and yet another. Sometimes they shock hard and sometimes hardly at all when on the same setting. The shock HURTS with cheap collars - we've tested them on ourselves!
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If you want to use the advanced equipment, this is the best choice. We don't use any other.
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Medication
There are a few essential emergency items to keep around when you're a dog owner:
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Benadryl is a life saver! If your dog gets stung by a bee or can't seem to get rid of a cough and cold, Benadryl will ease their inflammation. It can also be used to calm down your pup for flights. Benadryl works well for seasonal allergies in dogs, but we prefer Zyrtec to avoid drowsiness.
Be sure to read up on proper dosages for these medications from trusted veterinary sites before administering them to your dog.
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Zymox Otic Ear Wash cleans ears and clears out yeast build-up. If your dog has dirty or smelly ears, this is the good stuff. It's preemptively saved many from antibiotics for an ear infection.
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Pet MD Antimicrobial and Antifungal Spray is your all-around wound and skin cleaner. Did your dog get a sticker in their foot? A cut on their ear? Hotspot? Rashy skin? Clean it with this stuff. You'll be glad you did.
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Dog First Aid Kit - all the little things you need to take care of your pup at home. It might save you an unnecessary trip to the vet.
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Hard Plastic Crates give your dog the den-feel they'd seek in nature. They are the safest and most secure crate for your dog to be left alone in.
If you choose to go with a Wire Crate instead, be warned that your dog's teeth or nails could get caught on the wires and cause serious injury.
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A dog's crate should be big enough for them to stand up, turn around, and lay down in - this is about 1.5x the size of your dog. If it is much bigger, not only can it cause your dog anxiety that their den isn't cozy enough, but it greatly increases potty struggles when a dog can potty in one area of their crate and lay away from it.
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We love this Travel Crate! It folds down completely flat to take no storage space in your trunk and its material makes for a simple sanitizing hose spray to clean up after a car sick dog or potty-problematic puppy.
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Grooming Equipment
If your dog is prone to matting, get a standard Comb to brush their problematic areas out regularly - usually behind the ears, armpits, tail, belly, and butt. This is a must have for poodle, doodle, and golden owners.
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It's starting to get warm for the year and your dog (or cat) just won't stop shedding everywhere! There's many options for deshedding tools, but Furminator is one that actually works.
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Starting your dog's nails at a young age helps immensely in preventing future struggles, whether or not your dog goes to the groomer. Get the Package with the standard clippers, a file to help with sharp edges, and a Dremel to keep the quick from getting too long.
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We often get asked about shampoo and conditioner. We like John Paul Products! There's several wonderful scents, a whitening shampoo option, and conditioner for a shiny smooth coat.
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