5 Dog Training Products that Are Must-Haves for Dog Parents
By Jenny Perkins @ HerePup.com
As you become a pet-parent and welcome a dog in your life, you suddenly have various new responsibilities on your shoulders. Among many of these is the job of training your pooch, especially if you are adopting a puppy. The task of teaching your pup desirable behaviors and commands is difficult. It requires consistency, persistence, and patience. However, there are a few handy products that may help you save time and effort. Here is a list of five of these items that are must-haves for pet-parents.
Pavlovian Dog Potty Trainer
Having issues potty training your new puppy? Don’t you know how to potty train a puppy? Well, it turns out the famous Russian physiologist Ivan Petrovich Pavlov’s research has the answer to your troubles. A Pavlovian trainer is a training tool that has been created using his analysis as a basis. The device has a sensor hidden inside a paper cloth which detects when the puppy does his business on the target and dispenses a treat to encourage your dog to do it at the same place. It is an excellent tool to potty train your pup and can help save time and effort.
Clicker Stick
A popular method employed for training dogs is clicker training that uses a clicking device to mark your pup’s good behavior. It is an effective way of training that focuses on the strategy of positive reinforcement. A basic tool employed for this particular method is the clicker stick. It is an excellent tool to teach your dog to follow instructions without having to pull on the leash or continuously repeat commands. You can select any object as the target, for instance, your pup’s bed if you want him to settle down, use the stick to guide your dog. When your dog follows the commands you can click the stick to notify your pooch about desired behaviors. The design is comfortable for pet-parents, and the product offers a consistent training approach.
Dog Training Crate
Crate training your dog is crucial as it has multiple benefits. It can make the process of potty training your pooch simpler and is quite useful for those who wish to travel with their pooch. The crate acts as your pup’s personal space to relax when he wants to distance himself from chaos. So if you are looking to train your puppy, you will have to invest in an excellent quality crate. The selection of a crate depends upon factors such as your dog’s size. Ensure that the one you choose is large enough for your dog to turn around and stand up comfortably – not too large though as your puppy may then use half of it as a bathroom. This can be a dilemma if you have a young puppy as a small crate won’t be of use as your pup grows, so you can invest in the kind that comes with removable dividers.
Body Harnesses
Another problem for dog-parents is the constant battle they have to fight while walking their dogs. No parent likes having to pull on the leash continually. If you wish to make the experience pleasant, then a body harness is just the tool you need. It is a beneficial training tool that is particularly useful for puppies. They provide better control than ordinary leashes because they discourage pulling and jumping and distribute stress over the dog’s back or front. A training harness can make the training process efficient and enjoyable.
Puppy Pee Pads
For those who live in an apartment, house training the pup may be a hassle. Not only the puppies, but our adult dogs can also develop the habit of house soiling. Of course, you need to identify the reason behind the unwanted practice and get it treated. It can either happen as a consequence of separation anxiety or due to kidney problems (in which case you need to consult the veterinarian and feed your dog food for better kidney health). However, you will need a solution till the problem is solved. In some situations, you may also have to train your pooch all over again, and that is when the puppy pee pads can be of use. These highly absorbent mats contain a substance that can attract your pups when nature calls thereby preventing your home from becoming a mess. Just bring your pooch to the pee pad every few hours, depending on his bladder strength and use commands such as “go pee” or “go potty” to train him to relieve himself.
About the author: Jenny Perkins is an Animal Behavior Specialist and a passionate writer. She loves to write about the nutrition, health, and care of dogs. She aims at providing tips to dog owners that can help them become better pet-parents. She writes for the blog HerePup.