Shop
Annie’s favorite gear
For years we sold these at School For The Dogs and StoreForTheDogs.com. The shop has closed, but these are still the treats, toys and tools I recommend, the same ones listed at the back of my book, How To Train Your Dog With Love + Science.
Treats
Small, smelly and easy to break up is the goal.
Freeze-dried lamb lung
Our go-to treat at School For The Dogs. It breaks up easily into very small pieces and isn’t slimy or greasy. It’s also made of just one thing: single-ingredient treats are a good idea for dogs with sensitivities.
Buy on Amazon →
Crumps’ Naturals Mini Trainers
Perfectly tiny cubes of freeze-dried beef liver.
Buy on Amazon →
Lickable treats in a tube
Treats that can be licked go a long way toward getting dogs used to new things, and you can deliver them without getting your hands dirty. Squeeze tubes filled with peanut butter, liverwurst or cream cheese work great too.
Buy on Amazon →
Food toys and enrichment
Let your dog work for their food. It’s good for their brain and great for your sanity.
West Paw Toppl
My favorite KONG-style toy. It’s shaped like a large thimble with a mouth wide enough to reach all the food, plus a hole in the side for a bully stick or a zip tie to attach it to a crate.
Buy on Amazon →
KONG Wobbler
A great kibble-dispensing toy.
Buy on Amazon →
Starmark Bob-A-Lot
Another favorite kibble toy, with an adjustable opening.
Buy on Amazon →
PetSafe Busy Buddy Twist ’n Treat
Twist it open, fill it up and adjust how hard it is to get the goodies out.
Buy on Amazon →
Orbee-Tuff treat ball
A bouncy, chewable kibble ball.
Buy on Amazon →
Gnawt-a-Rock
A rock-shaped food toy that’s great for stuffing.
Buy on Amazon →
Nina Ottosson puzzle toys
Nina Ottosson basically invented this category of toy. Most can be made easy for newbies or more challenging for pros.
Buy on Amazon →
Snuffle mats
Hide kibble in the fabric and let your dog sniff it out. The Wooly holds up well in the washing machine, and so does the Snuffle Bowl.
Buy on Amazon →
SodaPup lick mat
Licking is soothing for dogs. Spread wet food, peanut butter or yogurt into the grooves.
Buy on Amazon →
LickiMat
Silicone plates with grooves that make them extra slurpable.
Buy on Amazon →
Squishy Face Flirt Pole
My favorite flirt pole. It has a replaceable lure with a squeaker and comes in a couple of sizes.
Buy on Amazon →
Training tools
A few things that make training sessions smoother.
Silicone treat pouch
A good training pouch is essential. I like silicone ones that clip to my belt.
Buy on Amazon →
Box clickers
The classic: plastic, with a metal tab you press with your thumb. It’s what I use most.
Buy on Amazon →
Karen Pryor i-Click
Button clickers are easier for some people (kids tend to prefer them), and you can click them with a toe or your chin when your hands are busy.
Buy on Amazon →
Cricket clickers
Tin clickers slide into a pocket, and their gentle click-clack is better for sound-sensitive dogs.
Buy on Amazon →
KLIMB training platform
A nice raised platform, just high enough to be its own spot. Adjustable, stackable, easy to wipe off and light enough to toss in the car.
Buy on Amazon →
PetSafe Treat & Train
A remote treat dispenser (now called Teach & Treat). My preferred device: less expensive and easier to use out of the box than the alternatives.
Buy on Amazon →
Pet Tutor
A remote treat dispenser you can trigger with a clicker sound or your voice. It handles more kinds of treats than the Treat & Train.
Learn more →
Leashes, harnesses and crates
Simple, sturdy gear that helps instead of fights.
Mendota braided leash
A thin five- or six-foot leash works fine for most dogs. These braided ones with a sturdy snap clip are the ones we sold most at School For The Dogs.
Buy on Amazon →
Found My Animal rope leash
My go-to hands-free leash is a Found My Animal rope leash worn around my waist, which leaves two hands for treats.
Buy on Amazon →
2 Hounds Design Freedom No-Pull Harness
A front-clip harness can reduce pulling. This one also has a back clip, so you can attach the leash to one or both.
Buy on Amazon →
Martingale collar
A nylon loop gives it a little give, and it tightens just enough that it won’t slip over your dog’s head.
Buy on Amazon →
Diggs crate
The only crate we ever sold at School For The Dogs was Diggs’ Revol: it folds easily and quietly and opens on multiple sides. Diggs now makes the Evolv, shown here.
Buy on Amazon →
Books
Good places to start when you have a new puppy or a specific problem.
Puppy owners
- Perfect Puppy in 7 Days by Sophia Yin
- The Puppy Primer by Patricia McConnell
- Puppy Start Right by Debbie Martin and Kenneth Martin
Separation anxiety
- Treating Separation Anxiety in Dogs by Malena DeMartini
- Be Right Back! by Julie Naismith
Fearful and reactive dogs
- The New Click to Calm by Emma Parsons
- A Guide to Living With and Training a Fearful Dog by Debbie Jacobs
And of course: How To Train Your Dog With Love + Science
My book, with everything we taught at School For The Dogs. →
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are set by Amazon.
Free guide
How Not To Be A Dick To Your Dog
A beginner's guide to getting better behavior without force. Sign up for my free newsletter and I'll send it straight to your inbox. Inside you'll learn:
- How to read your dog's body language
- How to prevent behavior problems before they happen
- Why feelings come before behavior
- How to find the right rewards
- Why timing matters