You’ve brought home your newest member of the family, and you’re wondering where to
start! Whether you have a puppy or an older dog, finding the best gear that suits you and your
dog is important. Taking into consideration your living environment, your dog’s energy levels,
and the things you want to work on behavior wise; you want to be prepared for anything that
dog ownership brings you. All the items listed below can be found linked in our online Sit
Happens Member Store!
When going outside, safety is our number one priority. With the appropriately
sized buckle collar, any owner can ensure that their dog will stay secure at their
side. We discourage the use of retractable leashes without a solid recall in place,
because of how hard it is to regain control of your dog. A sturdy 6-8 foot leash
can allow your dog freedom to explore safely, while also being able to quickly
gain control in the presence of distractions.
Elevated dog beds are awesome tools to use for your dog in and out of training!
These elevated cots work great as a place board, something used to teach the
command ‘Place.’ But the mesh interior and elevation provide great airflow to
your dog on hot days. Especially those breeds with longer hair, like German
shepherds and golden retrievers!
We also want to reward our dog for good behavior, and treats help cement new
things into their minds! Using single-ingredient treats, such as beef liver or dried
minnows, can eliminate tummy troubles when fed in moderation.
Every dog can benefit from crate training, it doesn’t matter how old they are
when you start! Starting as puppies helps but getting your older rescue dog to be
comfortable in the crate just takes good, consistent training. Only get a size large
enough for them to be able to sit and turn around completely. With too big of a
crate, the dog will have space to pee. If your dog is still growing, get a divider to
gradually increase their space as they grow!
By providing your dog with chew toys and bones, you can ensure that they stick
to chewing their own stuff and not yours! For heavy chewers, you want to use
rubber Kong toys or Benebones made from bamboo. If your dog loves to herd
the kids around the yard, check out the various sizes of Jollyballs available to give
your dog something to drive all that energy into! Check out a ton more options
on our Sit Happens store.