Dog Training 101: Everything You Need to Know About the Essentials

Having the right dog training tools is important to make sure you get the results you want, whether you’ve never had a dog before, signed up for a web-based dog training programme, or are about to start puppy school with a new fluffball. Below, I’ll talk about the most crucial dog training tools you’ll need to get started, as well as some fun options and useful tips.

1. Training Dog Collars

A dog collar for training is an accessory that goes around a dog’s neck. Although you may not consider it as an absolute necessity, it’s the perfect tool if you want to nip bad behaviour and poor habits in the bud.

And, the best is you’ve got a whole range to choose from as the versatile training dog collars are available in designs based on shock, vibration as well as spray. Depending on what it is you want to train, and how, you’ve also got collars that work remotely so you don’t have to be around to teach your pup some manners.

Whether it’s preventing aggression, pee issues, or excessive barking, the right collar can be your ideal aide. Of course, there are other non-training reasons for wanting a collar, such as to keep your pup safely attached to a leash, for identification, fashion, and even exercise.

Why are collars so essential? Well, they can hold your dog’s ID tag so that if he or she gets lost, you can be contacted. They also make it easy to attach a leash for walks and give you a good place to hold your dog when you need to keep them away from danger or other dogs.

2. Sturdy Leash

If you want your dog to enjoy the outdoors, you need a strong leash. Dogs love going for walks, and a leash is what makes it safe for your four-legged friend to walk with you. There are a lot of different lengths, materials, and patterns you can shop from. The standard (and very cheap) choice is a 6-foot nylon leash with no frills, but you can also pick a leash with more colour and style that fits you and your dog’s needs.

Dog training experts claim that retractable dog leashes are not good for training. If you grab one of these tools in panic, you could get a rope burn bad enough to send you to the ER. Also, retractable leashes make your dog more likely to pull because it gets used to feeling a constant, low level of tension on the leash line. So, if your dog is pulling, ditch the retractable leash and get a no-pull harness instead. More importantly, work on teaching your dog not to pull on walks with some of the useful training dog collars for positive effect.

3. Long Leash

Long leashes are one of the most useful tools that owners and new trainers often forget to include in their toolboxes. Long leashes, which are sometimes called “long lines,” are lightweight leashes that come in lengths from 6 to 30 metres or more. Long lines are a great way to give your dog the feeling of being off leash while still keeping him under control. They’re also great for working on your dog’s recall or off-leash manners.

4. Plenty of High-Value Treats

Good dog exercise is all about giving your dog treats when it does what you want it to do. It’s simple, if you reward the behaviours you want, your dog will do them more often and do less of the ones you don’t like. Even though you can use things like scratches, praise, and toys as training rewards, high-value training treats are usually the easiest to use and give the best results for most dogs. What is the best treat for training a dog?

Well, it’s usually small, moist or semi-moist, so your dog can chew it up quickly and move on to the next training task. Crunchy treats take longer for your dog to eat and are usually less appealing and smelly because dogs know where the good stuff is—the stinkier the better. And no, your regular dog’s food is not good enough for most training tasks. You need special, flavoursome, and new treats to get your dog’s attention and make it worth his while to do what you want him to do.

5. A Treat Pouch

You could definitely put those treats in your pocket. But the best treats with the most value are smelly and wet. You probably don’t want them to make your pockets stink, and trust me, it gets even worse if you forget the treats are in there and toss your jeans in the wash. Treat pouches make it easy to store treats and give them to your dog quickly, which can be very helpful when you’re working on hard skills, giving precise training commands, or doing agility work.

6. Training Clicker

A clicker might be considered as an optional training equipment, but given how useful and cheap it is, I’d recommend getting one and trying it out for a while before deciding if you like it or not. Clickers let you tell your dog right away when he’s done something good. Every time you train your dog, you’ll want to start by charging the clicker. Do this until your dog really understands what it means.

7. Comfortable Walking Shoes for You

Just like your dogs need a comfortable dog bed to lie on after a long day of training, you also need a comfortable outfits since much of your exercise will involve walking, whether it’s in circles in the yard or long walks around the neighbourhood. Get a good pair of shoes and comfortable clothes so you can keep up with your dog day in and day out. Your back and feet will be grateful.

8. Lots of Love and Patience

It’s not always easy to train a dog. Your sweet puppy will probably do a lot of things you don’t like, like chewing your favourite shoes or barking frantically at your neighbours. The point is that your little best friend will probably drive you crazy at some point during the course of training but make sure you remain calm and understanding as animals are really good at picking up energy. This would give you a better chance at leading them the right way!