This month’s series topic is all about training equipment for puppies. Training equipment is essential. The tools you use with your puppy can significantly impact what your puppy learns about learning. Equipment that hurts is uncomfortable and can not only damage your puppy physically, but it can damage your puppy emotionally as well. As a result, it is important to get the right equipment for your puppy. This month, I will discuss some equipment you should use with your puppy other than clickers and treat bags. So, let’s dive in!
The Three Criterion
When figuring out what to get for your puppy, you will need to make sure the equipment meets at least three criteria: It needs to fit correctly. You need to know how to use it correctly. And it needs to have a clear, helpful purpose. So, let’s take a look at these criteria and the three training equipment categories I will discuss this month.
Criterion #1: It Needs to Fit Correctly
This one is simple; any equipment that requires you to put it on your puppy needs to fit correctly. If it doesn’t fit, it can be dangerous and painful. For example, collars must be tight enough to stay on your puppy but loose enough to give your puppy room to move in all positions without added pressure on its trachea.
Criterion #2: Know How to Use It
As the puppy’s handler, it is vital for you to know how to use the equipment you use with your puppy. This criterion means two things. First, you must know how to use equipment like a collar (specifically the difference between collar cues and collar corrections), a crate, a target, and more. Second, if you don’t know how to use it, consult a trainer first to ensure it is something you need and to help you learn to use it effectively. Equipment used incorrectly can cause damage to your puppy’s trachea, growth plates, and psychological health, just to name a few.
Criterion #3: It Needs to Have a Clearly Useful Purpose
This one is not a common criterion, but it is one that I am adding because it addresses a problem that I see way too often. Puppies should not require a lot of tack or heavy collars. There are some exceptions to this rule, such as service and working dogs or puppies being trained to wear jackets for winter weather or medical reasons. But in short, it is best to keep your training gear limited to things that are needed rather than adding something like outfits and decorations or excessive training equipment. I will discuss this more in next week’s post. Okay, now that you know about these three criteria, let’s look at the three equipment categories I will be discussing this month.
Training Gear
Gear, in general, refers to collars, leashes, harnesses, and the like. There is a small collection of gear that you will need to get for your puppy. Some circumstances may require extra equipment, such as muzzles and medical equipment. Thus I would recommend doing muzzle training and medical cone training. However, you will mainly need a collar, a leash, and a harness.
Management Aids
Management aids are primarily things like puppy gates, fences, crates, and long lines. Again, these things need to meet the same criteria as listed above. For this group of training equipment, that last criterion is less of a concern as most management aids are straightforward. However, many people don’t realize that management aids often require training and thus use too many management aids when a few of them will do. I will discuss this more in a couple of weeks.
Training Aids
Training Aids are also a must. Some of the previously mentioned management aids can be used as both management and training aids, such as gates and crates. Again, the three criteria apply to this group. However, the last criterion is especially important in this group. I do not recommend using things like prong collars and other aversive management or “training” tools. These tools are often seen as “necessary,” but they are not necessary for puppies or adult dogs. There is no need to electrocute, choke, or pinch your puppy. You will, however, need things like treat bags, toys, food treats, clickers, and other tools, and the equipment I will mention in the next few weeks.
Getting the right equipment is essential. It means that you and your puppy are set up for success in using those tools and getting the best results. In the next three weeks, I will take a closer look at these three categories of training equipment, focusing on two types of equipment in each category per week and how to ensure they meet the three criteria. Until then, please like, comment, and share this post with your puppy-loving friends!
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