We are often asked by clients and social media followers what equipment we recommend. If you are a client, keep in mind that some of this is included in your training package, so please check with us if you aren’t sure!

Note: Some of the items linked on this page include affiliate links, which means we make a small commission anytime an item is purchased. Even so, please know that we ONLY recommend products that we actually use and love!

Training collars & bark collars

  • Prong collar: Herm Sprenger - We only use Herm Sprenger brand prong collars. We’re not a fan of other brands. We use only the 2.25mm or the 3.0mm size (unless your dog is too tiny for the 2.25mm, in which case look into “micro” collars from Leerburg or Kimberland Collars). You should add or remove links to custom fit the collar to your dog’s neck. You can buy prong collars from Bridgeport K9 Equipment, Chewy.com or even sometimes Amazon.com.

  • E-collars from E-collar Technologies - This is the ONLY brand of e-collar we use or recommend. Period. We customize each collar with E-collar Tech’s quick snap bungee collar and contact points of the appropriate size, material and type for your dog.

  • Bark collar: E-collar Technologies Barkless Pro Anti-Bark Collar - This is the ONLY bark collar we recommend. We never recommend the citronella spray bark collars—these are actually more confusing to dogs. We have experience with many brands of bark collars that use stim, and this specific one from E-collar Technologies is the best we’ve found.

Safety

  • Tractive - this is the GPS tracker we use for our trainees just as a safety precaution. (They make one for cats, too!)

  • Long lines - We prefer to use biothane long lines because they’re much easier to clean and debris doesn’t get stuck as easily.

  • Baskerville muzzle - This is the only brand of muzzle we recommend. It can be molded to fit most breeds. For help muzzle conditioning your dog, check out this video.

  • DO NOT PET vest - This is great for dogs with stranger danger. The vest won’t stop people from trying to interact (unfortunately) but it will slow them down!

  • Pet Convincer - This is a canister of compressed air. When pressed, it makes a loud hissing noise. This can deter loose dogs from charging you and your dog. Great for safety on walks!

  • Pet Corrector - Same thing as the Pet Convincer, just a different style canister. Again, great for safety on walks!

crates & crate-related equipment

  • Kong brand crates are our favorite. They are hard to find, but PetSmart or Petsmart.com are your best bet.

  • MidWest Brand crates - These are our second favorite, but we still recommend zip tying all of the joints for added safety. These are easier to find and can be shipped right to you from Amazon.

  • Crate covers - We use crate covers for most dogs. Some dogs even prefer crate covers, and for puppies, this can be essential for helping them quiet down and get the hint that it’s time to sleep.

  • Crate pads - We use Primo Pads in all of our crates and we highly recommend them, especially for dogs who can’t have bedding. Primo Pads fit snugly into the bottom of the crate in place of the crate pan, and dogs often don’t even notice there’s something there to chew on. They’re also very durable.

  • Water bucket - We put hanging water buckets in each dog’s crate. We recommend the IndiPets 1-qt size for small dogs, and the 2-qt size for all other dogs (both buckets linked from Chewy.com).

  • Travel crate - For dogs who can tolerate a lightweight travel crate without chewing it up, we recommend the EliteField 3-Door Collapsible Soft-Sided Dog Crate. It’s easy to set up and take down, but more substantial than the one linked immediately below.

  • Ultra-lightweight “pop up” travel crate - This one is super lightweight and literally “pops” up. This is only for dogs who are extremely good in the crate and who won’t be tempted to eat it.

  • Carabiner for safety - We use carabiners on each dog’s crate (usually just two, one at each corner of the door) for added safety. Just in case!

beds & cots

  • Place cot - Cots are very helpful for dogs because they have very clear boundaries—there’s no way for a dog to slowly inch off of a cot like they can with a bed. We prefer the K&H Pet Products cots (linked) because they’re easy to assemble and disassemble, easy to wash and easy to travel with.

  • Donut beds - We’ve yet to meet a dog who doesn’t love these “calming” donut beds! You can get either the Best Friends by Sheri brand or the Bedsure brand.

cameras

  • When you’re home - The best camera we’ve found is the Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor. There is no delay! The only drawback is it only works within range, which usually means within your home and yard.

  • When you’re not home - You’ll need a wifi cam to monitor your dog while you’re away from home. This is recommended for dogs who have issues in the crate. The only drawback is there is a slight delay, which depends partly on the camera and partly on the quality of your wifi connection. We’ve experimented with many brands (Ring, Nest, Yi) and we recommend:

Leashes

Food, treats, supplements & bones

  • Favorite food: Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach, salmon & rice. This ships quickly from Amazon and you can also put it on autoship if you want. We only recommend the Pro Plan lines of Purina.

  • Fromm’s - We’ve also had great success with the Fromm’s brand. This is a little harder to find but most specialty pet stores will have it.

  • Meal enhancers: Stella & Chews’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties - We are not in the habit of adding a whole lot to a dog’s meals; however, when we need to, we use Stella & Chewy’s dinner patties. We prefer the beef, venison or even duck. We steer clear of chicken in general (lots of dogs have reactions to chicken).

  • Goat’s Milk - We add goat’s milk to a dog’s food if they’re a dog who’s prone to acid reflux (throws up bile), or if they are underweight and need help eating. Dogs LOVE IT, so we sometimes give it as a treat on top of their meal, too.

  • Probiotics: Purina Pro Plan FortiFlora - This is an excellent probiotic overall. If your dog has any loose stools, definitely add this in!

  • Probiotics: Bennie’s Perfect Poop - You have to really be careful with the dosage on this one (read the instructions!) but it has worked wonders for dogs who don’t respond to any other treatment for loose stools!

  • Treats: Freeze-dried beef liver - We prefer to use a dog’s daily kibble for food rewards, but if they don’t eat kibble or they need a little something extra, this is our go-to! These are a healthy option.

  • Edible chews: The Honest Kitchen Ocean Chews Wolffish Skins are the only edible chews we give, usually on a rainy day to give the dogs some enrichment. In our opinion, these chews are healthy and safe.

  • Bones - We prefer Benebones! Amazon often has deals on them, too. Every dog always has a Benebone in their crate here.

  • Tug - We like this tug both as a tug toy and it can also double as a bonker.

Grooming supplies