Dog Training Equipment
I walk into any pet store and am amazed at the range of aids available for training a puppy or for any older dog. You are really spoilt for choice but you need to make a few basic purchases which will be used on a daily basis.
These come in varying lengths and styles. The best for a young puppy is a light lead 6 feet in length. It allows you to use if for normal leash walking as well as starting training with the come exercises. For an older dog a six foot lead will be essential for all heel work. A long line lead/leash will be needed if you are going to on fetch, more distant recalls and other similar exercises. Retractable lead are not really suitable for training work. Imagine, if for some reason you dog got away from you and ran with the retractable lead bouncing along behind him, could be a frightening experience.
A simple piece of kit that will help your dog walk on the lead without all the pulling. Two loops one around the nose and the second around the neck give the owner the control they need to start to enjoy their walk without being pulled around by their dog. Click here for more details.
Giving your dog food in a toy that requires some effort to get the food will keep you dog occupied while you are out. Kongs are a well known, where the toy is stuffed with food and left for the dog to work out how it will get breakfast. Hollow plastic balls, made in varying sizes, and pyramids with a hole through which you can fill the toy with dry dog food. The hole is just big enough for you to get the food in, and just big enough to allow the dog to get them out one at a time. It is facinating watching the dog work out how it can get the food out. Once it knows how to do it … breakfast is on its way.
Dog Treats
Treats, usually dry can be few to the dog quickly after it has achive a training success. These treat need to be small and quickly devoured by the dog so as not to interupt the training session.
A small plastic box shape usually with a metal strip which when pressed makes the click noise.
Many types of training collars are to be found, the Cintronella Bark control collar is one that is useful and does it’s job well. This is used when the owner is present and at the instant the dog barks the owner triggers a short spay of harmless citronella spray. The dog is taken by surprise and stops barking.
Exercise for the puppy teeth or just something to keep the puppy happy for a few minutes. Something like a Puppy Kong stuffed with the puppy’s meal, or a strong chew toy.
