I wanted to do a review on the top five items, that I described in detail previously. Because, those are just the essential items! There are a few more I can throw on the list to keep your wallet aired out and your house dog-stocked. 🙂
Top Five:
1. Treat Dispenser - Get your dog active, investigative, entertained, and off your case for 10 minutes!
2. Leather Leash - A nice sturdy connection between you two will help keep the walk safe and communicative.
3. Treat Pouch - Always be ready to reinforce good behavior, and having treats will help get your dogs attention in any sticky moments.
4. Pet Gate - Keep your dog feeling secure and safe (and your house chew and pee-pee free) in an enclosed area.
5. Clicker - An essential part of development is mental. This stimulates your dog, helps cure boredom, and creates a solid bond between you.
Other items you should pretty much have by now or will get soon!
- A comfortable bed - Dogs need a space of their own. And you can teach your dog a “place” command (“go to bed”) for times when you need your dog to be away from something, like the dinner table, cooking in the kitchen, when glass falls and breaks on the floor, etc. It is an essential command of dog training - as it teaches impulse control (what dog doesn’t need that! - says the cat!) and provides another sense of safety and security. Sometimes it helps to have a bed that is slightly raised up on legs (like a cot) to help your dog identify the “place.” You can find basic to super fancy ones. Your dog will start taking himself to his place when you sit down for a meal, without you even asking.
- Chewies - Nice, long-lasting chewies, to give to your dog when you leave the house for a longer time, or need some down time in the evenings. Bully sticks, the dried and compressed “pizzle” of a boy cow (so yes, that is indeed what you think it is - I know, it’s gross for a while ;)) are really good for this. They come in small to large, and braided or straight. Find the right size to keep your dog chewing for about 20 minutes. Bully sticks can get fattening, so don’t use them every day. And remember, there is always a chance of a dog swallowing a chewie before it is small enough, so do pay attention to how your dog chews and be aware of this. Kongs stuffed with wet food or peanut butter and then frozen are another option.
- Biodegradable poop bags - Surprising one, huh! But I must do my part to lessen the environmental footprint dogs leave. The manufacturing of their food and toys, and the use of all types of factory farmed animals, leaves a deep print. Biodegradable bags are affordable and available. You can order them online for a big discount.
- Bowls - Stainless steel bowls are going to be the longest lasting and easiest to wash. You can get nice ones that have rubber on the bottom so your dog won’t slide it around the kitchen and leave it somewhere you will of course trip over it. If you have a tall dog, they may benefit from a feeder, which holds the bowls higher up so the dog doesn’t have to bend down too far with her neck.
- Tug toy and other toys - Dogs enjoy playing tug. And enjoy playing. They were bred to remain baby-like and never develop into that stoic, pensive, kind of freaky wolf. So always have toys around to play with your dog every day. Put your full attention on your game together and enjoy being with your dog!