below you will find our recommended products for training & entertaining

bait bags & treats

My favorite bait bag is linked here — but anything other than your pockets/hands will do for training. Fanny packs with multiple pockets are a favorite of mine, too!

When it comes to treats, you can always use healthy human food options cut into small pieces. My favorite’s are boiled chicken or, for puppies, peas! For high priority treats, hot dogs and cheese will work too, but due to their sodium content I try to use those sparingly.

As for actual dog treats, my most tried and true are pure bites beef liver for even the most picky of pups. These keep well but get a bit crumbly in a bait bag..

For moderate motivation, zukes are great too and can be broken in half, but need to be emptied from a bait bag after using because they dry out.

And for full on food monsters (like my dog haven), charlie bear dry treats are great and keep in a bait bag well. You can’t break these apart, but because they are low calorie you don’t need to!

harness, collar & leads

Harnesses are not ideal for most dogs when walking, but I do use them frequently for safety in the car and on a long line, or for dogs who’ve mastered leash pressure and walk nicely on one. My forever favorite harness is the freedom harness. You do not need the leash that comes with it— despite how it’s advertised, I do not use this to stop pulling.

Slip leads are my #1 favorite tool in dog training, and I’ve yet to find a better or more reliable one than mountain dog products. I recommend the one linked there, but any of their slip leads will do! They are lifetime guaranteed and responsibly made, which is just a bonus!

If you aren’t planning on using a slip lead and would rather go leash + collar, it’s safest to use a martingale collar like this one, though there are many out there that work! Just be sure its sized correctly.

tools for the busy brains

Everyone knows I love a busy brain activity for days when you can’t work your dog in a way that is fulfilling to them. Here are my top activities and the products I use. Keep in mind when using these that you’ll want to monitor your dog a bit to ensure their safety.

Toss kibble or treats into a snuffle mat for passive nose work! I use the first link, but like this style too!

Stuff a classic kong toy with an emulsifier like peanut butter or cream cheese and treats or kibble. For highly food motivated dogs, freeze it for extra engagement time.

Other stuffable toys I like are these extra large ones,  this carrot (for hard treats only), and this one for small pups.

For working towards growing desensitization, or if you just prefer them to a kong, I really like Lickimats — I put smashed banana and cream cheese on these and attach them to a sturdy surface like a thick paned sliding glass door or the tiled wall of the bathroom during bath time. These are easier to clean than a kong, but your window will be dirty too!

If you’re looking for dog safe chews, I always use yak chews or bully sticks. I never use rawhide or random hard style bones as they can damage your pups teeth or insides.

These products are not official endorsements, as we do not control the quality or safety of any of these items. As always, I advise you use caution and truly look into products before using them, as the dog food/treat/toy industry is poorly regulated. Also— It is never a good idea to leave dogs unattended with bones, chews, or other passive food games.