The market is overflowing with dog training equipment. There are thousands of options on collars and leads alone and then we’ve got halties and harnesses and muzzles and clickers and treat bags and kongs and remote trainers and LOADS of other products that can be hard to make sense of. So here we present the 10 most important items I keep in my bag, as well as a few non-essential but useful training aids you might want to consider.

1. A flat leather collar. These are durable, perfect for holding your dog’s ID tags, and for many dogs it is the only collar you will ever need.

 

2. A 4′ leather leash. The is my favorite length for training although I occasionally use a 6′. I like a 3/8″ width for working with smaller dogs, a 5/8″ width for larger dogs, and a 1″ width for particularly strong dogs.

 

3. A 30′ nylon long line. This is an absolute essential for training the recall or really any off-leash skill. Be sure to get one with reinforced stitching that is machine washable, and I actually prefer to use a red long line because it is a lot easier to see when it’s being dragged through tall grass.

 

4. A clicker. Any type will do though it’s nice to have one with a big click button so it’s easy to use when you’ve got your gloves on.

 

5. A tennis ball. If you’re working with a toy breed you can get miniature tennis balls too. I consider tennis balls an essential because many dogs are more motivated by games than treats or praise so it’s important to have a ball on hand to give these dogs what they need.

 

6. Training treats. I like to use these tiny pieces of freeze dried liver in my clicker training but in a pinch they work well to reinforce the recall too.

 

7. Herm Sprenger toggle chains. Quite simply this is the finest training chain on the market, and the toggle closure allows for the perfect fit.

 

8. Neck Tech training collars. This is the evolution of the prong collar. For particularly strong dogs or dogs with sensitive trachea who cannot be worked on a toggle chain I use the Neck Tech.

 

9. Tri-Tronics pro 500 remote trainer. There is a time and a place for the remote collar. Once I’ve got a dog who is 100% perfect on the lead and 100% perfect on the long line, then I put the finishing touches on his training by letting him completely off leash and using my remote trainer to make any necessary corrections. This allows me to communicate with my dog when he is off leash and/or at a considerable distance. To be clear, I do not advise the use of remote collars for behavioural training, and they should absolutely NOT be used on aggressive dogs, fearful or anxious dogs, or on any dog with serious issues of behavior or temperament.

 

10. A smile. Dog training takes time and patience and a smile, a pat, and a bit of understanding will go a long way. Never train your dog while you are annoyed or frustrated, just stop the session, have some fun together, and try again tomorrow.

 

With these 10 basic tools you can train just about any dog in the vast majority of commands. That said, there are also a handfull of behavioural tools that can make life a little easier.

 

 

1. A pet corrector spray. This can of compressed gas emits a hissing sound and a harmless blast of air that dogs find really unpleasant. It is useful for discouraging a variety of behaviours but just like a remote collar, you should learn from a professional how to use this properly.

 

2. A Halti. This is a head collar which helps to stop dogs from pulling. I much prefer to use a flat or training collar and simply teach a dog to heel properly, but for some dogs the Halti is actually a better approach.

 

3. Throwing chains. These make a loud noise when thrown at the ground and are used to discourage bad behavior. If you live in a multi-dog household a throwing chain can be useful for breaking up minor scuffles.

 

4. A Baskerville muzzle. This really belongs in my essentials above as there are some dogs who we simply cannot work with safely until they are muzzled. What I like about the baskerville muzzle is its excellent fit and the comfort it provides for the dog who has to wear it. It is also super useful to be able to give treats to a dog while he is wearing it.

 

5. A kong toy. These are just fantastic – practically indestructible, these provide any dog who is crated or otherwise left alone with good fun entertainment.

 

6. Pawz away spray deterrent. Got a dog who steals food from the dining table or kitchen counter when your back is turned? Set up one of these on the counter and it will spray your dog with a harmless burst of air that will keep him away.