Support & Equiptment

Long Line Options (Links are for examples. Feel free to source your own.)
There are pros and cons to the different long lines available for dog training. My preference is flat line (like a webbing or strap) as opposed to round like rope. Rope or cord that is round, rolled or braided doesn’t flow as smoothly in my hands and can be harder to grip if needed. In most cases a 15 foot to 20ft line is sufficiently long enough without creating too many entanglement issues. The beautiful thing about these lines is they can function as a safety line, a drag line, something you to can tie off on a tree, furniture or pole. Or something you can step on as the dog runs by after the squirrel. I prefer the brighter colors to make it easy to see were the line is in grass, weeds, the yard, at dusk or night, but again that is a personal preference.

Here are some different examples of materials that long line can be made from. Again, there are pros and on. I prefer biothane or similar materials to cotton/nylon or canvas webbing material. The reason is these lines will drag on the ground. That’s the point. Cotton\nylon or canvas webbing tangles and knots easier and “holds” on to ground materials or smells. The biothane\poly coated nylon doesn’t pick up burrs, weeds, foxtails, hold on to mud or water, or frankly stink after a day of work. Biothane as a trade mark product is the top end of materials but also costly. Here are some links for different options that have similar properties. Poly Coated option 1 and Poly Coated Option 2.

Flexi\Retractable leashes (Links are for examples. Feel free to source your own.)
There is wide-spread and massive debate in the training community about the use of flexi leads. I was originally not a fan but after listening to Jay Jack of Next Level Dogs make the case for flexis in training I began to see the value. My preferences are based on his recommendations and reasoning and this is what I use. If you are going to buy one, spend the money for “Flexi” brand. The case is screwed together and more durable than cheaper models that may come apart over time because of the “wear-n-tear” on plastic clips, especially if you have medium to larger dogs. Look for a “tape” leash instead of one that is a cord or rolled line. The reasons are the same as the long line reasons. I prefer brighter colors to make it easier to see where the tape is and hopefully reduce the risk I accidently catch myself.

Different collar options. (Links are for examples. Feel free to source your own.)
There is an array of collar options on the market, just as there is an array of reasons to use different collars. Most people will use a “flat buckle collar” or maybe a martingale collar. In some cases I may recommend using a different collar for training purposes. I’ve listed examples of each of them below. If we decide to switch to a different collar, I will help you select the right one, size of it, and help you fit it. We’ll then go over the training plan for the use of the selected collar.
Waterproof, poly-coated collar with clip buckle | Martingale with chain | Starmark Pro trainer | Pinch\Prong Collar | Buckle collar with Handle

Custom Collars
If you want to order a custom martingale or other type of clip-on collar consider this source. Clip-on collars.

First Aid
In addition to having a good vet, you need to know some basic canine first aid.

Dog Safe Human Foods
Dogs can’t eat everything we can, and in fact some of our preferred foods can make them sick. The AKC has a good article on that details a list of human foods that dogs can, or cannot, eat.  If you want to supplement your dog's diet (particularly kibble) with these items you do so using food item things you may already be buying for yourself.  Just make sure you avoid foods that have sauces or extra seasonings.  Those might be tasty for us, but could cause problems for some dogs.  As always, if you have a dog on a special diet or undergoing some sort of medical treatment double check with your vet in case there is a special diet or item that should be avoided for some reason. 

Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
Anyone working with dogs should know these signs and treatment options. It doesn’t have to be a “hot day” for a dog to suffer from this. Humidity, weight, health conditions, breed characteristics (i.e., brachycephalic, double-coated dogs in the south) can all play a role. The AKC also has excellent information on this topic.

No Flap Ear Wrap. Very useful for issues with ears when you need to prevent the dog from shaking and flapping them around, but still want access to monitor healing or administer medicine. Personally tested on my dog who split an ear flap and needed stitches. It will not replace a cone for a lot of different medical procedures elsewhere on the body. This is a specialty item that works really well for its designed purpose.

Kongs
I love Kongs for keeping dogs occupied and busy. This resource provides some ideas of different things you can add to your Kong. Kong Recipes.

Puppy Development
Understanding puppy development is important when raising a well-adjusted and confident dog. While a dog can learn to fear certain things at any point in its life, exposing puppies to different sights, smells, environments, people, etc. should be done with an understanding of where the dog may be developmentally speaking and when extra care should be taken to avoid creating a fearful dog. It also helps explain why Fido seems to have forgotten today what he knew and performed just fine the last 2 months.
Puppy Growth Timeline from AKC
Puppy developmental timeline.