Gear Recommendations
Having the appropriate gear makes training so much easier. Here are our standard recommendations for gear. If you need more specialized gear, your trainer will speak to you about that.
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Walking
Harnesses​
- Favorite all around harness. Best harness for dogs that are sensitive about things going over their head. Girth strap sits far behind the legs to provide maximum freedom of movement. It can be a little complicated to get on, but it's easy once you get used to it.
- Best head-in harness. It's pretty simple to put on and has extra padding (although this doesn't necessarily make it more comfortable for most dogs).
- Best for dogs with non-standard body shapes or sensitive skin. The harness comes in three pieces for a perfectly custom fit, but this does make it more complicated to set up. The fleece lining is easier on sensitive skin and reduces hair loss. This harness is also a good option for dogs who struggle to put their head in a harness.
Ruffwear Flagline Harness or Webmaster Harness
- Best harness for escape artists or extreme adventuring. A second girth strap sits behind the rib cage to prevent escape (if properly fitted). It also has a handle that helps with lifting the dog. The extra girth strap helps evenly distribute weight so it's safer to lift a dog by their harness if needed. This harness can be tough for dogs to get used to because of the strap across their sensitive belly.
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Collars
Please don't leave collars on dogs unsupervised, during dog-dog play, or in heavy brush. Collars are a strangulation risk, especially when poorly fitted. Our training team can help you fit any gear. See this article from petMD for more info.
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Leash Boss Martingale Collar - We don't have a favorite brand for collars, but we do have a favorite style. This Leah Boss collar is a good example. A martingale collar is one that tightens when the leash has tension on it, but it can only tighten so much. We also want to use ones with a quick-release buckle in case it does get tangled in something. Properly fitted martingale collars are more secure than traditional collars and can give greater comfort because they can be a little bit looser than traditional collars. However, they should not dangle off of your dog's neck. Martingale collars are great to combine with front clip harnesses. If attached together, they can add an extra layer of escape prevention.
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Leashes
We recommend having a 6 foot leash and a 15 foot leash. An even longer leash, such as a 30 foot leash, can also be useful for giving a dog more freedom of movement and working on off-leash reliability. We do not recommend retractable leashes unless your dog has excellent recall and you're not training.
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A note on materials:
Nylon: Most common and our least favorite material. They can work okay, but thin ones can actually cut your hand if they're pulled fast and hard enough. They're harder to grip than cotton and risk friction burns.
Cotton: I love my 6 foot, 1 inch wide cotton leash (named below). It's soft and easy to grip, even for a long time. However, it will get very wet and dirty if it drags on wet ground and then will grow mildew if left.
BioThane (R): Real BioThane is "basically a polyester webbing with a TPU or PVC coating". It can withstand 1,000 pounds of pressure per 1 inch width, it's light and doesn't get waterlogged, it can be wiped clean, it doesn't develop mildew or a smell, it's less likely to get tangled, it's much less likely to cause a friction burn, and it stands up extremely well to abuse. I've had mine get dragged through brambles and come out with no more damage than a light scratch. There are many knock-off products out there that are easy to find on Amazon or in large pet store chains. Genuine BioThane is more expensive harder to find but vastly superior in quality to the knock offs. 2 draw backs: it's somewhat slippery when wet and won't hold up long to concentrated chewing. I still use mine in wet conditions, but I modify how I hold it to get a better grip.
Leather: I've never owned a leather leash, so I can't speak too much to keeping one. They are easy to grip and come in many different sizes. They're generally strong and appropriate for large dogs. The downside is that they require more upkeep, don't hold up well in wet conditions, and are more attractive objects for chewing.
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Dogs My Love Cotton 1 in. Wide European Style Leash - This is the 6 foot leash I've been using for 4-5 years. The hardware has tarnished and the tag is falling off, but it's still as functional and strong as the day I bought it. Since it's cotton, you can see the benefits and drawbacks listed above. However, this is not right for small dogs and many people don't like all the metal rings or how complicated the leash can be. If you want an unfussy leash, I would get something else. If you want a versatile leash that looks and feels well made, this is it.
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High Tail Hikes BioThane leashes - I recommend getting your 15 foot leash here, although you could also get your 6 foot leash here. For a 15 foot leash, I prefer one with a handle at the end and a standard clip. Nothing else. Do not add a bunch of extra bells and whistles (except custom colors). This leash should be able to drag on the ground behind your dog through varied terrain. Although the handle at the end could get caught, it makes it easier to hold when wet and I don't find it gets caught terribly often. All the other bells and whistles do.