Books to Read, DVDs, Online Specialty Training & Gear for Your Dog

There are numerous training books out there, many of which we have read.  The list below represents what we've found to be the best for the average owner.  We've also included some "must haves" for those interested in performance sports.
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In setting up your house for your new puppy, there are some items you will need and some you may just want.  We've provided a list of sources where you can buy crate pads, toys, interactive mind games (which we've tested), and PWD specific items. 

Books:  Basic Training for Pet Owners

These are some of the best and most succinct books for training your puppy to be a great pet.

1. Getting Started:  Clicker Training for Dogs - Karen Pryor
2. Doctor Dunbar's Good Little Dog Book - Ian Dunbar
3. Ruff Love - Susan Garrett
4. Dog Training Teaching:  Surviving a Puppy without Losing Your Mind - Jane Young
5. When Pigs Fly! Training Success With Impossible Dogs - Jane Killion
6. Perfect Puppy in 7 Days:  How to Start Your Puppy Off Right - Sophia Yin
7. Puppy Start Right:  Foundation Training for the Companion Dog - Kenneth Martin
8. Controlled Unleashed:  The Puppy Program - Leslie McDevitt
9. Controlled Unleashed:  Creating a Focused and Confident Dog - Leslie McDevitt
10. Any of Brenda Aloff's books!

Competition Level Books

These are some excellent books for a variety of performance sports venues.  Most can be purchased from Clean Run or Dogwise.

1. Dog Sports Skills, Book 1:  Developing Engagement & Relationship - Denise Fenzi & Deborah Jones
2. Dog Sports Skills, Book 2:  Motivation - Denise Fenzi & Deborah Jones
3. Dog Sports Skills, Book 3:  Play- Denise Fenzi & Deborah Jones
4. Dog Sports Skills, Book 4:  Focus and Engage!- Denise Fenzi & Deborah Jones
5. Building Blocks for Performance - Bobbie Anderson
6. Performance Puppy ABCs - Daisy Peel & Anna Hinze
7. Mastering Jumping Skills for Awesome Agility Dogs - Linda Mecklenburg
8. Developing Handling Skills for Awesome Agility Teams - Linda Mecklenburg
9. Jumping Grid Workbook - Susan Salo
10. Alphabet Drills - Nancy Gyes
11. Weaves that Wow:  Exercises to Improve Entries, Exits, Independence, Speed and Confidence - Amanda Shyne
12. Phenomenal Stopped Contacts in 30 Days - Amanda Shyne
13. Awesome Obedience: A Positive Training Plan for Competition Success - Hannah Branigan

DVDs, Online Performance Courses, Apps

These are some of our favorites, but there are plenty more DVDs out there that can help you train your dog. Most DVDs are available from Clean Run or Dogwise.  Apps can be purchased for your phone.

1. Crate Games - Susan Garrett (DVD)
2. Sizzling Seesaws - Jen Pinder (DVD)
3. Balancing Cues in Agility - Linda Mecklenburg (DVD)
4. 2x2 Weave Training - Susan Garrett (DVD)
5. One Mind Dog Agility Handling Techniques - DVD
6. Any of Silvia Trkman's Tricks or Agility DVDs
7. Naughty but Nice - Absolute Dogs (DVD)
8. Get on the Ball - Debbie Gross Saunders (2 DVDs)
9. Stretching the Performance Dog - Debbie Gross Saunders (DVD)
10. Building the Canine Athlete - Chris Zink & Laurie McCauley (DVD)
11. Pocket Rally - Phone App with Rally Signs and Videos
12. Dog Track - Phone App for Visualizing Track Performance
13. One Mind Dogs - Online Agility Training
14. Agility Nation - Susan Garrett's Online Agility Training
15. Daisy Peel - Online Agility Training
16. Bad Dog Agility - Online Agility Training
17. Data Driven Agility - Online Agility Training from Amanda Shyne
18. Jump Training - Online Training from Linda Mecklenburg

Useful Gear
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Crate Pads and Seat Covers:

1. Crazy H20 Dog Art - designer crate pads and car seat covers
2. Crosswinds PWD Crate pads - made to order

Harnesses

1. Ruffwear​
2. Clean Run

Leashes and Collars

1. Lupine - these are guaranteed even if chewed
2. Ruffwear
3. Gripper Leashes - do not slip through your hands

Interactive Games and Food Dispensing Toys

1. Nina Ottosson Dog Toys - most can be purchased on Amazon
2. Kongs - most can be purchased at various pet stores
3. Various - most can be purchase at Amazon

Water Gear

1. 4 My PWDs
2. Nutmeg PWD Club Store
3. WearWuf
4. Dog Life Vests from Ruffwear
5. Dog Life Vest from Kurgo

All Things PWD

1. 4 My PWDs
2. Canine Water Sports Equipment including instructions on how to make your own

Training Treats

1. Real Dog - a monthly delivered box of treats in a variety pack of muscle, organ, and seafood meats.  Use our affiliate link to get an extra bag!   https://real.dog/topsailpwds
2. Oma's Pride - great organ meat treats and freeze dried muscle meats
3. Clean Run - sells a variety of high quality training treats

Miscellanous

1. WearWuf
2. Warmth and Cooling Jackets
3. Post-Activity Wear - Back on Track
4. Tough Toys
5. Top-o-Matic Training Toys - from Leerburg
6. Training Toys - from Clean Run
7. Wide Variety of Useful Items - Leerburg
8. Wide Variety of Useful Items - J&J Dog
9. Clippers & Blades - Pet Edge

K9 Fitness

1. Toto Fit​ - purchase from Wizard of Paws
2. FitPaws - most can be purchased from Amazon or Bed, Bath & Beyond
3. Klimb tables - Blue 9 Pet Products​
4. Cato board - a great board to teach positions

​"Dogs are obsessed with being happy."
- James Thurber

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