There is no end to the inventiveness of trainers and those who provide them with additional tools. For the casual trainer or novice, there seems to be a dizzying array of devices. Although many are very helpful, they should never be viewed as alternatives to the basic training experience.

Before using any of the devices mentioned below, make sure your dog is in good health. Even the mildest of training regimens or collars are capable of doing damage if the dog has a crooked nail or a skin sore.

Clickers – Ideal for getting your pet’s attention, the clicker is a plastic and metal handheld unit that emits a loud clicking effect when squeezed and released. It can save the trainer the need to yell frequently and is extremely audible, even with loud background noise.

Leashes and Collars: These are a variety of leashes, ranging in scale from a two-foot control collar, usually nylon or leather, to the 35-foot retractable nylon cord style.

For close work, such as indicating ‘sit’ or ‘stay’ (eg ‘don’t chase the cat’), the two to five foot collar is an ideal accessory. The extendable leash is useful for those trainers who want to obey their pet. The human (whether male or female) must always be the ‘alpha male’ of the group, and the alpha will always lead.

Straps are available in various combinations of buckle, nylon, snap, and leather. As long as the nylon and snaps are of sufficient quality, they can be totally suitable for even the largest breeds. However, they must be carefully adjusted to ensure that they do not slip easily.

Spiked collars are generally opposed by many trainers as they could easily injure a smaller dog and seem to instill fear in even larger ones. Similarly, choke collars are not recommended. Although dogs have strong neck muscles, a sharp tug on the front of the throat has the potential to bruise or even collapse the trachea.

Vests: Similar to leashes, a full vest or chest halter strap can help strengthen the dog handlers lead while also preventing undue pressure on pets throat. One potential downside to these leashes is that the dog won’t experience any discomfort from being pulled, so this may limit training to positive reinforcement entirely. Originally designed as an aid for guide dogs and other support dogs, the chest halter can promote pulling, the opposite of the usual goal.

However, for those who require extra control over an unruly dog ​​or when standard leashes and collars don’t cut it, they are priceless.

Muzzles – For temporary control of biting and barking, muzzles can often be helpful or even essential. The flip side of using one is that the dog will not learn by other means to stop barking. The muzzle can become a replacement for the more complex and long-term response of obeying “don’t bark” instructions.

There are a variety of other dog-related items: chemical sprays, electric fences, anti-bark collars, head collars, etc. But these are essentially control devices rather than training tools.

Lastly, of course, there are the training devices that continue to be perennial and extremely effective favourites: love and respect. Treat your dog with a lot of respect and it will surely be much easier to achieve the desired behavioral results.