A Few of Our Favorite Things
Sometimes it is a matter of what you use and how you use it. These are the products we find ourselves referring to our training clients over and over. I like to be able to get out on the right foot with each piece of equipment by instructing clients on how to use it before they begin. While each will be helpful on its own, we recommend doing a session with us to get tips on how to get the most out of each training tool.
everyone's favorite leash
The 3/8" x 4’ Mendota slip-lead is our favorite leash - and all of our clients agree! Instead of being dependent on a harness or head device, we use this leash to help to teach a dog to walk in partnership with you. We love that we can slip it over a dog’s head and we don’t waste time having to connect it to a collar. We like the 4' length, but for taller humans or shorter dogs, the 6' length is a good option. We highly recommend that this leash be positioned properly and used in the context of a training program because if you hold steady pressure on this lead or let your dog pull you could easily damage their neck. Be sure you add a synthetic tab to the purchase of each leash as the leather stopper the leash comes with tends to loosen and slip.
BUILDING A SOLID ‘COME’ COMMAND
Here at The Naked Dog, we refer to off leash work as the graduate school of dog training. Off leash recall is built over time on a foundation of focus, boundaries, a cooperative attitude, and a calm, willing mindset that can be influenced in any situation, even with the most attractive distractions. We use a 30' long line as we build a dog’s off leash skills. The long line gives a dog the feeling of being free, while giving us the control we need to reel them in when we say come or keep them safe in unfenced environments. The long line helps us set a dog up for success on the trails or at the park and we love this training tool.
The Brahma Longline is easy to clean and great for hiking adventures
This man-made leather alternative is constructed with webbing on the inside and a durable, non-tacky PVC coating on the outside. Brahma is great for any extreme weather condition, resilient in cold weather, and is resistant to abrasions and stink. It won’t absorb dirt & moisture like rope, nylon or fabric. Brahma material is so reliable that it comes with a Lifetime Warranty! Plus it is easy to clean: Just wipe clean with soap and water.
I like the Medium width and 33’ length
What working dogs wear
All dogs need a job! Put your pup to work on the trails with this Outward Hound pack. It's great for carrying your dog's water, bowl and even packing out waste. We love teaching our most energetic pack members to wear the pack because it helps them focus and burn extra energy. Just be sure to build the weight slowly and distribute weight to both sides evenly with cans or water bottles, especially as you offer water on your outing. If you decide to go with another model, make sure it has padded straps that go under your dog’s body, not just around the barrel of their chest.
a collar made for adventure
If your dog hikes, swims, and rolls in nature, your fabric collar is going to get stinky and dirty. Not only that, but it isn’t nice for your dog to have wet fabric against their neck. Enter Dublin Dog! This ‘No Stink’ collar comes in several fun colors and withstands the test of wear and time. We recommend it for dogs who rule the trails and look (and smell!) good doing it. If you prefer a collar with a name plate stamped in, we love Gun Dog Supply’s Biothane collars.
the bed your dog wants to curl up in
When I used to board dogs, this was the most stolen bed of any a visiting dog brought. Over the years, I bought three for Harley because when a friend would watch her, their dog would love it so much I’d leave it for them. It’s soft, comfortable, easy to lay flat over and cozy to curl up in. This isn’t the original brand but the price is right and it’s always held up well for me! Buy one for the bedroom and living room and your dog will be happy to stay off the furniture.
Reduce shedding by petting
I love these grooming gloves for short to medium hair length dogs. If your dog hates the brush, throw it away ASAP! Metal combs are often too sharp for dogs’ skin. Furminators take forever. Grooming gloves are the best because it feels like being pet! You will be amazed how much hair comes off during your grooming/pet sessions. I love being able to use them in backwards or circular motions so all the dead hair gets loose and the dirt and dander comes off the surface of the skin. Use just a finger on small hard to reach spots, like on legs and around the face. Because your hand is right inside them you can easily control the pressure. Because it feels like petting your dog will have no problem hanging out while you de-shed them to your (and your vacuum’s) delight. They are also great to use during the bath and it’s super easy to shake the hair off of between rounds. Can you tell how much I love this grooming tool?
High quality dog food from open farm
When my cousin complained about his dog taking too many poo’s I told him it wasn’t surprising given the low quality food he was feeding - let’s call it Yellow Hippalo. I have always fed raw, but I took a trip to the pet store where I LITERALLY read the ingredients on every brand of food they carried. Open Farm had multiple whole meat ingredients high up on the ingredient list (the higher it is, the more of it the food contains) and less fillers than other food. His dog loved the food and her poo looked great, which is how I tell how much filler a food has. After a few months her owners reported less and better poo, a shinier coat and more energy for their senior girl! A high quality food is an investment, but if you don’t pay out for the right kibble, you will end up paying the same amount at the vet. When your dog’s coat, skin, eyes, ears and other non-essential organs start to improve you know they have excess nutrition and you picked a good brand.
The tastiest treats all dogs love
I want treats to be stinky, extremely delicious, good for my dog, and not too gross to touch for me. Small Batch meets and exceeds all my requirements! Every dog I have tried these with loves them and you can pick multiple proteins depending on what your dog is into. I love that they are freeze dried, making them good for raw or kibble fed dogs. They don’t have a ton of salt or preservatives like the crappola they sell at the grocery store. Dogs are pumped to listen if Small Batch is involved. I use these to drill my off leash recall, so that is saying something! Small Batch also makes food if you really want to treat your dog. Use as a diet or a topper and watch your dog take a little trip to tastebud heaven.
A great teaching tool
The Mini Educator collar is a great way to help a dog understand how to be safe off-leash. Designed for pets, not hunting dogs, the Mini Educator can be targeted to the lowest sensation level each dog will respond to. Some levels are too low for humans to even feel! Be sure to schedule a training session to learn how to properly teach your dog about the collar.