[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Cool Gadgets & Gizmos” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|color:%23b60bb6″][vc_column_text]
for better dog training, behavior, and fun!
Gadgets and gizmos can improve the life of your dog (and you too!). We have curated a list of products for you to check out.
They can make your life easier. They can make your training more effective and your relationship more fun. Best of all, many can decrease stress and anxiety in your favorite companion.
Please be sure that your dog is supervised using many of these items including the wearables.
Disclaimer: we are not guaranteeing the success of any one product for your particular dog, nor do we receive any remuneration for our recommendations. But we are always interested in what you think of these and any other products you’ve used. Share some of your favorites with us![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Food Toys & Enrichment” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23b60bb6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”4714″ add_caption=”yes”][vc_single_image image=”4730″][vc_single_image image=”4737″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Food toys are an integral part of your training toolbox. The ubiquitous Kong is often overlooked and its potential value is enormous when it’s stuffed with high-value goodies, or even better, stuffed with semi-moist food and frozen for a treat that can last 40-50 minutes. Keep a few in your freezer. Don’t skimp on size. Pull it out when Fido needs to stay occupied such as when guests are expected, for a distraction for your noise-sensitive pooch, or for when you are leaving the house.
Other food toys are great for slowing down eating (such as the Slo Bowl, or a snuffle mat), or enrichment (food puzzles; PetGeek Interactive bone). Eating, sniffing, and licking are great for settling and calming your dog. Check out a LickiMat, and Groov. These are just a very few of the many food-related toys out there. Have fun researching and trying others.
Orignal Kong (Here are some recipes!) (See image of two chocolate labs with their red Kongs).
LickiMat (See image of pup licking green mat.)
Groov Training Aid This one is great in the crate to keep your dog occupied or to help crate train your dog. (See photo of dog licking pink Groov inside a crate.)
PetGeek Interactive Bone (There are hundreds of dog enrichment toys out there such as Buster Cube, Bob-a-Lot; Kong Wobbler, Outward Hound maze, or Zogoflex and many other interactive food puzzles. Try several and see which your dog loves. Start a Google search.)
Snuffle mat (Learn more about snuffle mats here.) There are so many iterations. Try searching Amazon.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”blue”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Help With Fear & Anxiety” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23b60bb6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”4716″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Music reduces stress and calm canines. It can also help block out the sounds that scare your dog. Great for thunderstorms, fireworks, and other sounds, when traveling, for trips to the vet, or when your pet is home alone. Check out these two great choices.
Zoundz Music for Pets. Get the app on Google Play or the Apple App Store.
Pet Acoustics Pet Tunes Bluetooth Speaker with preloaded music[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”blue”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”4781″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Pheromone products such as Zendidog and Adaptil, are drug-free options for managing your dog’s stress-related behavior. Pheromones are ‘comforting messages’ similar to those that a mother dog uses to provide security and comfort to her pups. Good for dogs of all ages. They come in different forms including a collar, spray, and diffuser. These products can help reduce stress and anxiety caused by loud noises, visitors, staying home alone, travel, and other situations.
Zenidog (pictured)
Adaptil for Dogs (also sold as ThunderEase)[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”blue”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”4720″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Rex Specs Ear Pro. If your dog runs the other way or hides when there are loud noises, this product will help dampen the sound. It is lightweight and breathable with sound-absorbing properties.
Rex Specs Ear Pro (Pictured, a dog wearing black Ear Pro.)[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”blue”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”4721″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Thundercap Calming Cap. The calming cap reduces the visual stimulus that can make a dog agitated by filtering his/her vision. Your dog will still be able to see, and can easily navigate their surroundings, however the sheer fabric reduces the amount of visual stimulation your dog receives, helping them to remain calmer in stressful situations.
Calming Cap (Pictured dog wearing one in a car.)[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”blue”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Cameras & Remote Dispensers” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23b60bb6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”4741″][vc_single_image image=”4742″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Want or need to check in on your dog during the day? Want to be alerted when your dog starts to bark so the neighbors don’t get annoyed with you? These cameras will allow you to see, talk to, listen to, and reward your dog’s good behavior.
If you are worried that your dog is anxious or stressed when you leave, a camera is critical to understanding your dog’s behavior and helping to fix it with the assistance of a qualified behaviorist.
We’ve also included something fun for your active lifestyle with your dog.
Furbo Dog Camera Furbo, with 2-way audio, allows you to check on your dog and dispense a treat for good behavior!
Petcube Bites 2 Smart HD pet camera with 2-way audio, treat dispenser, and 160° view.
Go Pro Fetch Harness Like to stay active with your dog? This is the official Go Pro harness for mounting your Go Pro camera. See the world from your dog’s point of view![/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”blue”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Safety” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23b60bb6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”4759″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Spray Shield: Worried about off-leash dogs coming after your dog on a walk? Spray Shield’s citronella surprises and deters threatening dogs without harming them.
Don’t leave home without it.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”blue”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”4755″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Kurgo Seatbelt: You would no more get in a car and not secure your child or yourself, so do the same for your best furry pal. This is the tether; either purchase a secure harness or use the one your dog is already familiar with. Do not use it with a collar. There are lots of others of this type on the market, and some come with a harness. Find the one that best suits you and keeps your dog safe in the case of an accident, and out of your lap during car rides.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”blue”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”4778″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Sleepypod Clickit Sport Crash-Tested Dog Car Harness: The Sleepypod Clickit Sport is a crash-tested car harness that is perfect for everyday use. In the event of a crash, the patented design works to limit and distribute the force that could affect your dog. It’s extensively tested and certified by the Center for Pet Safety for dogs between 18-90 lbs. The Clickit Sport has proven to be one of the safest harnesses your dog could wear in the car.
Sleepypod Clickit Sport Crash-Tested Dog Car Harness[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”blue”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Reinforcement Training (always positive of course!)” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23b60bb6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”4739″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]The Treat and Train treat dispenser provides your dog with reinforcement for good behaviors at a distance from you. It can be placed on top of a crate to help with crate training, next to a mat to teach a settle, away from the door to reinforce calm behavior with visitors…the possibilities are many. Either set the automatic timer for dispensing treats or use the handheld remote for dispensing treats up to 100′ away.
Treat and Train[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”blue”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”4771″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Pet Tutor® is an advanced smart wireless system for training, feeding, and enrichment using positive reinforcement. The Pet Tutor Blu Application (available on iOS and Android) uses the microphone to detect sound and reward the dog for good behavior and/or reduce barking, separation anxiety, and fear by quietly dispensing treats at the push of a button. You can reward your pet manually or automatically from the app on your smartphone or tablet. There are 3 ways to connect: Bluetooth app, mini clicker, or web app.
Pet Tutor[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”blue”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”4785″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]The Ready Treat V2 is a radio-controlled one-treat dispenser that will help you train a variety of behaviors. Using a hand-held remote, you control when the dog receives his reward from up to 100′ indoors and outdoors. It’s small, compact, affordable, easy to use and can handle wet treats like chicken or hotdogs. The Treat & Train or Pet Tutor is an excellent choice for rewarding behaviors like crate manners or for teaching stay. The Ready Treat was designed to be used for training specific agility or obedience skills. (Photo shows a birdseye view.)
Ready Treat V2[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”blue”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”4745″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]The clicker is a simple training device that has been used successfully for decades. It is a form of positive reinforcement dog training. The clicker communicates the exact moment your dog does what you want. It is immediately followed by a treat. Since it is a unique sound, it gives your dog information quickly about what he or she did correctly and that a treat is coming, it trains massively quickly.
There are lots of clickers. We recommend a button-type clicker.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”blue”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”4749″][vc_single_image image=”4747″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Your dog does not have to be large to hurt your arm by pulling; even small dogs can pull like freight trains. Collars don’t help to curtail this behavior. And if your dog is lunging after things on walks, you need good, safe, humane control. Try a front-clip control harness. This harness has a ring on the chest where your leash attaches. They change the leverage point, so if your dog pulls forward, the harness redirects the dog to the side. turning your dog toward you.
TIP: When trying on a control harness, be sure it does not cut across your dog’s chest in a way that impedes the forward motion of the shoulders. See the image at the bottom left illustrating a bad fit.
The Freedom and Balance harnesses are two we recommend and they also have a top ring. Some pet parents find it advantageous to attach a double-clip leash to both the front and back rings for extra control. We suggest that you experiment and see what works best for you. (As always, train with lots of reinforcement including high-value treats.)
Freedom harness (pictured)
Balance harness (not pictured)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]