Class Prep

Preparing for class is easy! This page will give you a few tips to help everything go smooth.

Simplified Checklist:

First, check out this free episode from one of my favorite mentors Susan Garrett covering everything you need to know about a "training den".

Checklist:

Flat collar- I highly recommend a 2" tactical collar (for small dogs follow store recommendations). Visit the page on collars as to why. Here are my favorite two shops to order from:

6ft Flat Leash- A simple 6ft flat leash is the best for every day leash handling. Some tug leashes are a great option as well. I don't fancy padded handles, or poop bag attachments. Simple right? Check out the recommended page for more information on them. Here is a link to my favorite two:

Elevated climb OR a bed with 4 walls- We want to have either a raised platform, or a bed with walls so the dog has a clear boundary to learn the "hotzone" foundation skill. Later this can be generalized to anything you want, but we want to make it easy for the dog to succeed at the start. Here is a link to two simple options:

(Please note I purchased mine on amazon, but the price went up, so I linked Walmart's. I have not ordered it from Walmart yet)

Spare, oversized flat collar not meant for wearing- A dollar store collar will be fine.

Bowl large enough to hold the clipped spare collar- Stainless steel preferred but anything will do for the training exercise.

High value, and medium value food rewards- We want BOTH high and medium values. For example high value chopped, cooked rabbit with medium value chopped baby carrots. There is alot to this one we can't cover on this page, but we can link you a printable "food value chart" and a reference page for ideas. I highly recommend organic, nutritious treats not store made with loads of who knows what in it. Everything you put in the gut matters! There is loads of home cooked recipes as well. ALWAYS CLEAR ANYTHING NEW with your vet before testing, and try a small amount first to check for allergies or food sensitivities!

Here is a link to AKC food information list to help get you started:

Here is a link to a second helpful resource "Humane Society" navigating foods:

Here is our own printable food value chart to help you get started. Extra helpful for multi human/dog households:

Favorite tug toy- NOT a plain fetch ball, something your dog loves to tug with you with. If you have trouble getting started with tug, we are here to help! You can first try exploring "puppy tugs". A puppy tug is just a long, soft, thin tug rope. Length is good for hand shy dogs, soft and thin is easy to bite. Some dogs like crackle sounds, some dogs like cloth, some like rubber texture. Journal what textures your dog likes in their mouth, and what they find exciting. Here is a link to a soft, long basic rope, bonus points for it being organic so no harmful chemicals are getting put in your dogs system! There are many tugs to explore. We will have a list on our "Krystals Cart" page we can grow over time for you to explore for inspiration.

Krystal's Journal