Products & Services We Love
The dog products we use and recommend, and the service providers we trust
Below are some of the products that we use all the time in our journeys with our own dogs, as well as recommended to clients and friends with an excellent response. You don’t need any of this - but you may find it helpful to consider whether and how it might fit into your life! We’ve included some notes about why we like these products and what they are used for. All images link to a place you can buy either directly from the producer or Chewy.com. We highly recommend looking into options at your local pet store when possible.
None of these are sponsored products, and we do not receive anything for sharing them here; we have included them solely because we love them, and we think you and your dog might, too. Please be sure to check in with your veterinarian for recommendations about treats and food items as they may or may not be appropriate for your specific dog. Not every resource here will be a perfect fit for every family but may provide a jumping off point for considerations about what resources will improve your life with your dog.
Products we love
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Ex Pen
An exercise pen (“ex-pen”) can be a great option for containing a new puppy in a larger space, keeping them safe and nearby.
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LickiMat
Lickimats are a fun way for a dog to enjoy peanut butter, cream cheese, pumpkin, or other spreadable treats.
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West Paw Toppl
The toppl can hold canned or dry food, and can also be frozen for a good licking option. Use similar to a Kong, but easier to clean!
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HumanGear GoToob+
The gotoob+ is an excellent option for packing peanut butter, cream cheese, or other soft foods for treats during walks.
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Snuffle Mat & Snuffle Ball
A snuffle ball or mat can be sprinkled with kibble for a mealtime full of opportunities to sniff and forage.
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Holee Roller
The Holee Roller can be stuffed with treats wrapped in paper or strips of fabric - your dog can then enjoy pulling them out and shredding.
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Biothane Long Line
Biothane is a wonderful material that is lightweight, waterproof, and comes in a variety of colors and widths. It’s perfect for long lines to allow your dog more freedom on walks and hikes.
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Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball
The Tricky Treat Ball comes in different sizes and can be fun for dogs to push around to roll their kibble or treats out.
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Blue-9 Balance Harness
This harness was designed with a dog’s anatomy and comfort in mind, and comes with a neck-buckle option, which can be great for dogs who don’t like things going over the head.
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Outward Hound Slow Feeder
The slow feeder can be used with kibble, wet food, or a variety of food and treats; another way to offer meals beyond a bowl.
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Flirt Pole
The flirt pole is affordable and has been a hit with dogs and cats alike. It won’t stand up to heavy use but it’s a great starter toy.
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Hide a Squirrel
This style of hide-a-toy is a big hit in our households! Stuff the “trunk” full of squirrels or add some treats for fun foraging adventures.
Training Treats
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Stella & Chewy’s Morsels
Stella & Chewy’s has lots of different flavors, and these are easily breakable into sizes appropriate for any dog. When you’re close to the end, you can mix the remaining powder with water and smear it on a lickmat!
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Primal Toppers
Similar to the other freeze-dried foods mentioned, primal toppers are easy to handle and are a big hit with dogs, plus they’re available at many pet stores!
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Dr. Marty's Nature's Blend
Dr. Marty’s food comes is small, freeze-dried pieces that are easy to toss and don’t stick to your fingers! Even our picky client dogs seem to love them.
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Pupford Training Treats
The price tag on Pupford Training Treats always gives us pause, and then when we receive them, we remember they are worth it. They come in many flavors, are already tiny, and a big hit with everyone.
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Polkadog Chicken Littles
Polkadog Chicken Littles have limited ingredients, which are great for dogs with sensitive stomachs or food allergies. They’re crunchy but small and a great training option. Polkadog makes an effort to use environmentally friendly sources for all of their products, and they’re local to Boston!
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Dave’s Dog Food Bland Diet
We love Dave’s Bland Diet to keep on hand for any unhappy belly days, or to use as a periodic treat in a West Paw Toppl or on a lickimat. This also works well in the GoToobs for walks!
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Fig & Tyler Treats
Fig & Tyler has a ton of different flavors and types of treats, from training treats to chews. Click this link for 10% off your order or use our discount code RC4977 (we do receive store credit when people use our code).
Other Resources
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Doggie Language
Don’t be fooled by the size of this book and it’s cartoon drawings. Doggie Language by Lili Chin is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn more about dog body language!
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Canine Enrichment for the Real World
There is a lot that goes into meeting your dog’s needs on a daily basis. Canine Enrichment is a wonderful resource for learning how you can give your dog with the greatest quality of life possible.
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Puppy Socialization
If you have a new puppy, this is the book for you! Puppy Socialization: What it is and how to do it is a phenomenal guide to all things socialization and comes with access to an online video library so you can see the concepts in action!
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Kiki Yablon Dog Training Blog
Kiki Yablon’s blog is a wealth of excellent, evidence-based information about dog training and behavior!
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Eileen and Dogs Blog
Eileen and Dogs is another fantastic blog for science-backed information about all things dog and dog behavior.
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Drinking From the Toilet Podcast
If you enjoy podcasts and you are interested in dog behavior, Drinking from the Toilet is the podcast for you! With over 150 episodes on a range of topics, this is a great source or accessible, scientific discussions about dogs and dog behavior.
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Dog Training by Kikopup
Dog Training by Kikopup YouTube channel. While YouTube videos can never replace personalized advice from a qualified trainer, Emily has a ton of great information and fun videos about dog behavior, and it’s a blast to watch!