9 Best Dog Training Tools & Products Professional Trainers Swear By | Pupford

I’m gonna lay out 9 of the best dog training products and tools that professional trainers swear by. But first, I’ve got a quick story for you.

When my wife and I decided to remodel a 100-year-old house (yes, literally 100 years old), we were excited (and nervous), eager, and thought we knew exactly what we needed to do.

I mean, all you really need is a drill, hammer, and some nails, right?

Plus, we watched Fixer Upper all the time. How hard could it be?

Within a few hours of planning out each project, we painfully realized we were in WAY over our heads. I didn’t know how to lay floors, build a fence, or reinstall new baseboards. I had never done anything like it.

Add to the mix that I was quickly realizing my hammer and drill were only going to get me so far…

Spoiler alert.

We made it work.

BUT, it would not have been possible without the help of some knowledgeable (and handy) family members, and through purchasing the right tools for each job. Who knew baseboard remover tools were a thing?

The right people and the right tools made all the difference.

You’re not here for home improvement tips though. So let’s talk about dog training. You may be surprised, but home improvement has some striking similarities to training a new (or old) pup.

You’ve probably felt the same way about training your pup as I did remodeling our home. Excited (and nervous), eager, and probably feeling like you knew what you needed to do in order to train the perfect dog.

You’d watched some training videos online, bought a leash and collar and felt like you were ready to conquer dog training.

Then… reality hit. Your dog won’t stop barking, just peed on your brand new carpet for the 3rd time, and your hands and arms have more bite marks than you thought physically possible.

It’s okay! There is hope in this endeavor.

Similar to remodeling a home, you just need the right people around you and the right tools to properly train a dog.

THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN DOG TRAINING

Let me be blunt. If a dog trainer, friend, or family member wants to use force or physical pain to get your dog to learn, don’t listen to them.

Pain, force, and other similar methods of dog training have been 100% debunked and proven to be harmful to your dog. Simply put, they cause more issues than they help fix. You can read the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior’s position statement here for more information.

Here at Pupford, we’ve partnered with Positive-Reinforcement Dog Trainers to help you create a stronger bond with your pup and help train him or her!

Our free online class, 30 Day Perfect Pup, is a great resource for starting to train your pup. It is led by YouTube’s #1 dog trainer, Zak George. You can sign up for free (yes, 100% free) here.

In addition to the free class, we also offer Pupford Academy. It's a HUGE online library of courses covering topics like impulse control, separation anxiety, and even trick training. You can get started here!

THE 9 BEST DOG TRAINING PRODUCTS & TOOLS

As mentioned above, the right training tools really can make all the difference.

Raising a well-behaved puppy takes practice, patience, and of course, the supplies to be efficient and speed up learning. So, let's dive into 9 puppy training tools that will make your life easier as a pup parent!

1. LONG LEAD LEASH

Teaching your dog to come when called is vital for your pup’s safety, especially outside around distractions.

When you start teaching your pup outside, you can run into a dilemma. How do you practice come when called from a distance without letting your pup roam free?! (ps- you shouldn’t let them roam off leash when teaching recall, because they don’t always come back!)

Your average leash is only about 6-10 feet, which can be a great place to start! But realistically, the moments you most need your pup to come back to you promptly is when they are more than 10 feet away…

Well, that’s where a long lead comes into play.

Related Reading: Long Leash Dog Training

A standard 30-foot long lead is essential for teaching your pup to come when called. If your pup doesn’t come right away or runs the other direction, you’re still in control even from a distance.

Long leads are also perfect for teaching distance stays while outside.

Get a long lead here as part of our Training Starter Pack here.

2. BEST HARNESS FOR PUPPY TRAINING

A harness is a great tool for leash behavior training and so much more! When first teaching a puppy to walk nicely on a leash, it’s usually anything but nice!

They are reactive, want to pull every direction, sniff everywhere, and so on! Relying solely on a flat neck collar can cause some potential pain for your pup as they are pulling around.

Related Reading: Reactive Dog Training: 5 Games & Techniques

A harness helps to avoid any choking or neck problems in the early stages of leash behavior training. You can even snag harnesses with front clip options which can help deter your pup from pulling.

To be clear, a harness is not a solution for leash pulling. Rather, it’s a tool to help you more effectively train proper leash behavior!

Get the best harness for puppy training here.

PS- You should read our full harness vs collar article here.

3. CHEW TOYS

Just because it says toy, doesn’t mean it can’t be a training tool!

Chew toys are a great tool for redirecting your pup when problem behaviors like biting or unwanted chewing occur. Not only that, but chew toys are a powerful way to help mentally stimulate your pup.

You’ll want to get a variety of chew toys. Try out different materials, textures, and noisemaker types.

Get some chew toys here.

4. CRATE

Training your pup to love their crate will be vital for so many behaviors! It helps with potty training, avoiding problem behaviors, and so much more!

If you need extra help with teaching your pup to love their crate, be sure to check out our free 30 Day Perfect Pup online class here.

When picking a crate, choose one that will be big enough for your pup once they are full grown. I also recommend getting a crate with a divider so you can segment out the crate when your pup isn’t yet full grown.

Also, two doored crates are the easiest to train your pup to love!

Get a crate here.

5. BEST PUPPY TRAINING LEASH

This one is probably a no-brainer! You’ll want a 4-6 foot leash for general training and of course for walks.

You should have them leashed and attached to you inside the home at most times when working with a young puppy. Puppies typically get into trouble when they have too much free reign on your home and are out of your sight.

If they are clipped to you at all times (at least in the early stages), you’ll be able to cut down on those accidents and problem behaviors! Of course, this isn't a forever thing but it can be extremely beneficial in the beginning stages!

I also LOVE using a double-handle leash. It has one handle about 18 inches from your dog's collar/harness so you can have a bit more control during puppy leash training. A game changer!

Get my favorite double handle 6-foot leash here.

6. TREATS

Positive-reinforcement based training requires the use of treats consistently in the beginning stages. You can expect to use treats throughout your dog’s entire life! You’ll end up using treats more sparsely as your dog ages and matures in their trained skill and behaviors.

It’s important to use a treat that is both highly desirable for your pup and healthy! As you work on lengthy training sessions, your pup ends up taking in lots of treats. If you’re giving them an unhealthy treat over and over, your pup will probably put on some extra weight.

Also, keep in mind that when giving treats, it’s not about quantity, rather quality. You don’t need a big giant biscuit to reward your dog! About the size of a grain of rice or pea is completely adequate, so long as the flavor is enticing enough for your pup.

At Pupford, we carry the best training treats available.

Save up to 15% here!

7. TUG TOYS & FETCH TOYS

Again, toys can be very effective training tools! For tug of war and fetch, they can be a great way to redirect your pup from bad behaviors.

Teaching your dog a structured game of fetch and tug is a great way to reward your pup for positive behaviors as well. It allows you to mix up rewards between play and treats!

Not only that, but tug and fetch are fantastic ways to help your pup get rid of their energy. Be sure to test out different types of fetch and tug toys to see what your pup enjoys most.

PS- Many pups LOVE our new Fire Hose Tug Toy!

Get my favorite tug toy as part of our Training Starter Pack here.

8. FLIRT POLES FOR TRAINING

Flirt poles are one of the most underrated puppy training tools out there!

They offer a unique blend of exercise, training, and bonding with your dog. For how to use a flirt pole, watch this quick video 👇

With a flirt pole you can work on behaviors like:

• Leave it
• Wait
• Stay
• Release/go
• And general impulse control

Plus, most dogs LOVE the fun game it turns into. Combining play with training is one of the best ways to improve your puppy's behavior!

If you're looking to mix it up, snag a flirt pole to use as a fun training tool!

9. ENRICHMENT PRODUCTS

While chew toys can fall under "enrichment", there are some tools that are even more effective at giving your puppy some much-need brain work!

Training a dog is more than just what you do during training sessions. You need to make sure their physical and mental needs are met as well!

A well-exercised and thoroughly enriched dog will often be more attentive and focused during training sessions. Here are some fun products that can give your dog mental enrichment! ⤵️

• Lick mats - Great for frozen treats, calming down in a crate and even working on place training
• Snuffle mats - A fantastic way to feed your pup's kibble or treats while giving enrichment
• Foraging boxes - Take any old boxes and hide treats in them, pups love it

Those are just some ideas, but making sure you give enough mental exercise will help with training overall!

BEST DOG TRAINING PRODUCTS RECAP

No matter your pup’s age or behavior level, there is always room for growth with training new skills and behaviors. Just like with remodeling a home, the right training tools make all the difference.

Be sure to check out our Training Starter Pack to get started on your pup’s path to perfect behavior!

Any tools we missed? Tell us in the comments!

And before you go, check out even more training tool resources below

EXTRA DOG & PUPPY TRAINING TOOL RESOURCES

• Learn how to use a long lead to effectively teach recall!
• Watch Amber Aquart cover the best tools for hiking with your dog!
• Using a dog training clicker can help improve your training sessions!
• Learn all the basics of puppy training with the 100% free (no cc required) 30 Day Perfect Pup online dog training course!