It’s never the wrong time to load up on some new dog gear. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite dog toys, training materials, and safety gear to take the guesswork out of your shopping this year. Whether you want to spoil your pup with something fun, or you need an idea to start on your training journey, we have you covered!
Dog Booties
Let’s protect those paws this winter from the cold and ice that is inevitably coming our way! If you want to wrap those paws tight, we recommend 330 Denier Cordura® Booties. They are lightweight, comfortable, and easy to use. Purchase a bright color so they’re easy to find if your dog kicks them into a snow pile. For extra protection, purchase the Velcro strap to hold them in place. These are sold individually, so make sure you put 4 or more in your cart!
Musher’s Secret
If your dog won’t tolerate booties on her paws, Musher’s Secret is a great alternative to keep moisture in and protect her paws from cracking in the cold. The wax used for this product is all natural and plant-based, so you’ll be providing her with the best paw care possible! Find on Amazon here.
Long Line
This is an essential in our dog gear bag! Whether you want to work on your dog’s recall, need to keep her safely in your yard, or want to start exploring some parks and open spaces, we ALWAYS recommend using a long line. It keeps your dog attached to you and ensures that she will never get too far away (until we work on that off-leash recall!). Most pet stores will carry these, but go for a leash that’s at leash 15 feet long, up to about 30. Here’s a great starter leash that won’t break the bank!
Slip Leash
We love working with slip leashes! Not only are they great for working on your dog’s basic leash skills, but they also provide an extra layer of safety and protection. A slip leash is quick and easy to put on as it slides right over your dog’s head – no need to connect to a collar or harness that your dog may try to sneak out of. We use these from Mendota for all of our training dogs and carry spares everywhere we go!
Benebone
Have a heavy chewer in your house? Benebones are safe, durable, and last for hours of chewing fun. We love giving our dogs these nice treats during some downtime or while they practice their place command. It keeps the mind busy but the body calm, ensuring your dog will only be chewing on the things that we actually want them chewing on!
Kong Chew Toys
Kongs are not for strong chewers (we’ve seen too many dogs tear through these toys in seconds flat). However, if you have a less intense chewer, we love filling these toys with peanut butter or canned dog food, throwing them in the freezer, and letting our dogs enjoy this tasty treat. Freezing it is the key here, as it’ll slow your pup down and ensure she’s getting some of that mental energy out as she works her way through this treat.
Dog Vest
Plan on going out and exploring the fields or some trails? We highly recommend getting a bright orange vest to make sure that your dog is visible to those around you. This is especially important during hunting season when hunters are out and in their camo, but we throw an orange vest on our dogs anytime we’re out in an open space. There’s no point in risking safety when these vests are so affordable!
Dog cot
We love using dogs cots like these from 4Legs 4Pets. They are sturdy, easy to wash, and a great way to start teaching your dog the place command! If you have more than one dog, you can stack these when they’re not in use. But if your dog is anything like ours, she’ll end up loving this cot and using it as a bed ever day!
Whether you are looking for the perfect gift for the dog lover in your life, you want to expand your collection of dog gear, or you are bored and simply want to try something new, there’s an option here for everyone. Now the hardest part is waiting for that shipment to arrive so that you and your pup can get started on all sorts of fun new adventures!