Jen's dog gear recommendations!
- Jenny Barker
- May 20
- 3 min read
What works for you and your dog will be always been an individual thing; but seeing as I'm often asked for recommendations I thought I'd put together a little list for you!
Harnesses
CosyDogs range
Jen's Doggy Bits (Houdini harnesses also available!)
Nonstop dog wear (Standard, houdini and sports harnesses available)
Perfect Fit range
RuffWear, Kumfi and Haqihana also make good harnesses but I haven't used them personally.
collars
Any standard flat collar will be suitable for a dogs tag along side their harness.
If you are walking your dog in a collar alone it it needs to be flat fitting; and the wider the better for comfort.
If your dog is an escape artist you can buy 'Martingale' collars. These shouldn't tighten any narrower than the neck or they become a choke collar and can cause discomfort and long term harm. Fitted and used appropriately then can provide safety and security for you and your dog.
Leads
My personal favorite lead is the halti training lead which are stocked in most pet shops. They come in standard size or small dog size. You can also get a version with control handles which is great for larger stronger dogs.
Key thing to look for:
Easy to grip
6ft minimum
Easy to handle (shorten / lengthen) as you walk
Secure clip that supports the weight/strength of your dog
Longlines
For training as you walk purposes you want 5 metres, definitely no longer than 7 metres. Anything more is impossible to handle on the go. I love the 5 metre Julius K9 Longline and I use the 10 metre for mantrailing.
Be aware you need to know how to handle the longlines or else you are at risk of tripping, burns from the rubber or other injuries to you and your dog. Take the time to practice the line handling skills though and a long line will be your, and your dogs best friend!
For recall practice once you've got the basics any lightweight line suitable for your size of dog will do, it should only be used as 'back up' and you can use the 10 - 20 metre lines by carrying them to a safe space; attaching them when you're there to give the dog some freedom, and then going back to the normal walking lead once you're done.
If you're going to let the line drag, make sure it doesn't have a handle that can catch on objects on the ground.
Treat pouches and storage
I love the silicone treat pouches for storing higher value meaty treats! I have a lovely one from Amazon that's no longer available, but also have a few from Temu which do the job perfectly well too! I'll add this random link so you can see the type of thing i'm talking about!
I'll also add, the clips on the pouches are useless! I store them in my pocket, or a bumbag! (This is my current bag!)
Training vests can also be fantastic; you can get lots of fancy ones online - Mine is an oversized men's fishing vest from decathlon that was in a sale for £20.
Muctjac trading stock some nice ones.
Toys
Tug-E-Nuff for tug and chaser toys ideal for training (the only company I have an affiliation with on this page so far, so use the code FERALHEARTS at the checkout to save 10% )
ChuckIt! have some great quality balls
Coachi have some fab general toys for training too - tug, chasers, ball, and training dummies!
Keep the toys you use for training out of reach when you're not using them. They shouldn't be played with unsupervised as it will reduce how exciting and novel they are for your dog as well as shorten their lifespan.
MISC
Muzzle Movement for muzzles - FERALHEARTS for 10% off orders
Baskerville Ultra muzzles for shorter term / situational use
Pet Remedy spray - I find this can help some dogs - Use code FERALHEARTSBEHAVIOUR for 25% off your order
Dog Walking belts my belt from MM Dog Gear was a lifesaver when I first got Kai and he couldn't walk on lead! Best £16 I ever spent!
Neon Dog for lead slips, training vests and all things awareness
I hope this helps!
Any further questions let me know!
Jen
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