Here are some products I recommend for making life better with your dog!

Note that many of these are affiliate links, which means that I get a small credit for each purchase – but there’s no additional cost to you. Updated August 17, 2024.

Training Clickers

If you’re my client, I’ll gladly give you one of my custom-imprinted clickers! Here are some other options

Treat Bags


Treats

Generally I recommend soft, small, smelly treats; avoid hard crunchy treats that are less attractive or take more time for the dog to chew up. The exception to that rule is small freeze-dried animal products!

Image of BilJac LittleJacs treat bag


Harnesses – the dog end of the leash

I wish I could just recommend one brand, but there are too many variables between dog body-shapes, fur, and dog’s and human’s general preferences – it would be like definitively recommending a specific brand and style of shoes, assuming that they would work well for every person’s feet!

image of dog harness

  • BalanceThis is considered to be the most ergonomic yet effective “no-pull” harness, not restricting the dog’s movements
  • Freedom – The Freedom harness is considered  slightly less ergonomic than the Balance, but almost as effective for “no-pull”  
  • Front Range – another recommended “no-pull” harness
  • Sleepypod Clickit – car harness that has been crash-tested successfully 

Leash holders – the human end of the leash

Black waist belt with pockets and rings to attach to a leashWristband hands-free leash holderThis device could be a good solution for people who need a secure grip but might have issues with their hands (arthritis, shaking, etc.)

Dog walking belt with pockets

Canicross waist leash – super ergonomic solution to walk or run with your dog attached to your waist, developed for cross country running with dogs


Dog Toys

Chew toys

Food-stuffed chews

Don’t forget to get a toy-cleaning brush to scrub inside of Kongs and similar toys!

Tuffies

Sticky Bone or Groov – can be smeared with peanut butter or canned dog food and attached to the back or floor of a hard-sided crate to help keep the dog occupied

ChewStix, Dogwood, Gorilla Chew and Mumbies– good for dogs who are compelled to chew on wood (furniture, baseboards, sticks, tanbark)

Animal part chew projects:

Safe tug and chase toys

Braided fleece – this long toy puts distance between human skin and canine teeth for safer tug-of-war games

Dog-safe rope – another good tug-of-war toy, which dogs can also chew on safely if they are attracted to rope, carpet fringe, etc.

Flirt pole – Ultimate in safe-for-humans tug toy and chase-it toy; I love letting little kids play tug by “fishing” from the back of a couch to play with a mouthy puppy! 

Hollee Roller – indoor fetch toy that is soft and relatively safe on your decor

Motion-activated ball 

Other enrichment toys

Food-dispensing toys – your dog has to interact with these toys to release small amounts of food at a time. Look for toys that have adjustable difficulty levels, and are easy to clean out!

Snufflemats come in so many options now!

iDig – toy that simulates digging for dogs


Health supplements

Probiotics for anxiety issues and general health (for more information see FearFreePets)

Fish oil supplements


Grooming

Eye stain care – Angel Eyes, Eye Envy 

Mat cutter – actually a letter opener, but can be used to safely cut through mats under ears and other sensitive areas 


Car items

Seat cover/extender – I recommend getting a lighter color cover as it seems to be easier for dogs to see their way in.

Car barrier (baby gate for your back seat!)

No-spill bowl – can be put in a crate or car

Sleepypod Clickit – car harness that has been crash-tested successfully 

Seatbelt tether – this kind clicks into the child-seat LATCH system; others click into a regular seatbelt receptacle


Confinement options

Crates

Baby gates/pet gates and other solutions to keep dogs in large-confinement areas


Miscellaneous Hacks

Biothane longline – for sniffaris and hikes where your dog can’t be off-leash.

Pulley Carabiner for round-rope longline management (see Grisha Stewart’s “Leash belay” system)

“Smart” doorbells for dogs to ask to be let out: Pebble Smart Doggie Doorbell  or Mighty Paw Bell

Nature’s Miracle – classic enzymatic cleaner solution for pee, poop and vomit accidents (also good for spilled wine and other organic messes) 

Urine Off – another enzymatic cleaning solution, often used in kennels

My Pet Peed – yet another recommended cleaning solution

On-the-Go Waste Bag Attachment – put the knot of a filled poopy bag through the slits for hands-free carrying

Adaptil Pheromone Diffuser, Starter Kit

Through A Dog’s Ear/iCalm Pet music speaker

No-spill bowl – can be put in a crate or car

No-spill elevated water bowl

Lixit bottle – can be put in a crate or hung from an ex-pen

Bring water with you:

Counter net – keeps dogs from successfully “counter-surfing” (stealing items off of counters)

Woodrow Wear dog socks – prevent dogs from slipping on floors, protect paws from hot pavements, etc. From a local, San Jose company! 

Tag silencer – holds tags in a little neoprene bag to keep them from jangling, which might annoy you and alert other dogs on a walk 

P-Scoop Dog Urine Collector – when you need to get a pee sample