Class Supplies

Before we get too far, make sure you’ve got the necessary supplies for this class and we’ll walk you through how to pick those supplies. If you don’t have enough brain cells right now to shop for gear, click the “teacher take the wheel” button at the bottom of the list to be taken to an Amazon Wishlist with everything you need.

1) Crate and/or Exercise Pen
We recommend both! If you do opt for an exercise pen, you’ll want some form of flooring to protect your puppy’s developing joints if your floors are slippery (and protect your floor!).

2) Mat
Bath mats or crate pads work great.

3) Standard 5-6ft Leash
We recommend biothane leashes because they’re easy to clean.

4) Back Clip Harness
This is personal preference. Our personal favorites are the Red Dingo Classic harness for deeper-chested puppies (think sighthounds) and the Gooby Easy Fit harness works great for most other puppies. For adult dogs, we like Ruffwear and Hurtta brand harnesses.

5) Vehicle Restraint or Crate
As far as vehicle safety goes, a crate is the best choice for young puppies. This is because most puppies will attempt to chew a seatbelt or tether and it isn’t safe for you to be worried about distracting them and saving your seatbelts while driving.
There are several impact-tested crates available on the market, our personal favorite is RuffLand Kennels. Impact-tested kennels work best in an SUV. If you’re in a sedan, or if it’s your preference, you might opt for a different kennel or wire crate. These are perfectly acceptable options, however, know that they are not all impact-tested.
If a kennel isn’t an option for you, a seatbelt system will work. You might opt for a seatbelt tether or car safety harness. When using a seatbelt tether, never clip the seatbelt to a collar - always use a back-clip harness. For seatbelt tethers, we like the Kurgo. For car safety harnesses, we recommend the SleepyPod crash-tested harness.
No matter which vehicle containment system you decide to use, any of the above would be safer than allowing your puppy to free-roam in the car. It is extremely unsafe to have puppies free-roaming in vehicles. They could distract the driver, become severely injured in an accident, or unexpectedly exit the vehicle.

6) Assortment of Treats of Different Values
Think outside the training treats bag! Training treats are great, but we like to get creative (and not blow the bank on treats). While the value of a treat is up to your dog, here are some ideas to get you started:
Low Value Treats: kibble, novel kibble (a kibble that’s a different brand and flavor from what you normally feed), cheerios, small dry/crunchy treats
Medium Value Treats: moist/soft training treats, dry cat food, broken up moist treats
High Value Treats: dehydrated raw nibs, cheese, hot dogs, cooked meat, deli meat

7) Bait Bag/Treat Tote
Yeah, we’re asking you to get one of those fanny packs. Its that or treats in your pockets. Your choice, but we’ll warn you, finding a wad of what was once dog treats held together by drier lint caked into the seam of your pocket is not fun. Taking one for the team. You’re welcome.

8) Clicker
While we won’t exclusively be using clicker training, we will introduce you to the mechanics of and science behind clicker training so you can decide if you’d like to use one in the future. We recommend having at least 3 clickers, they have a habit of disappearing. Although we often lose entire buckets of clickers, so, dogspeed friends.

Additional Recommended Items
These aren’t necessary for class, but we highly recommend having them to raise your SuperPup like a pro.

1) Phone Tripod
Recording videos for class is a lot easier when you have something to put your phone on.

2) 20-50ft Long Line
Length of your long line is a personal preference. We like to have 20ft lines for leisurely walks and training and 50ft lines for hiking and recall training.

3) Extra Bait Bag(s)
As human beings, we simply cannot remember everything. Keeping an extra treat bag in your car and/or by your door for potty outings and walks will help to ensure you always have treats on you.

4) Additional 5-6ft Leashes
Having extra leashes around is critical for moments of exhaustion when tethering an over-tired puppy. Save yourself from trying to remember where you left it by having a few more waiting for you. We also like to keep an extra leash in the car, and another by the door for last-second potty outings.

5) 2-3 Additional Mats
An extra mat in the car saves packing a mat before heading out for training outings and having a few extra means you won’t have to move the same mat around your home.

6) Doorway or Free-Standing Gate
If you have a larger home or share your living space with housemates, a gate to keep your puppy in or out of a room/area can be a game-changer.

7) Treat Jars
Training a puppy is so much easier (and more fun) when you don’t have to dig around to find your treat bags. Plus, having treats ready-to-go in convenient locations makes for faster treat delivery during real-life scenarios.

8) Stuffable Food Toys
These will keep your puppy busy, help with teething pains, and provide some enrichment. In other words, they’ll help make your puppy tired and help them settle down.

9) Natural Chews
Puppies really like to chew stuff, give them things they’re allowed to chew on that actually taste good.

10) Food Puzzle Toys
Puppies who like their kibble may enjoy eating out of a slow bowl or sniffing for their kibble in a snuffle mat rather than just eating from a bowl. Again, these will keep your puppy busy and provide some enrichment.

11) Enzymatic Cleaner
There is no substitute for an enzymatic cleaner when it comes to potty accidents. Regular cleaners that aren’t designed for dog urine won’t break down the enzymes, therefore leaving behind some odor that your puppy will be ab;e to smell and may mistake for an appropriate place to potty in the future. If it smells like a bathroom, it must be a bathroom … right?

12) Travel wipes
For cleaning your puppy, your car, travel crate, the bus floor, you, or your puppy while you’re out on the go. Just in case.

13) Travel Water Bowl
It’s good practice to bring water for your puppy if you’re planning to be out for more than 20 minutes.

14) Spray Shield
*This is not for your puppy. Spray Shield is a citronella spray only to be used if you find yourself in a situation where your puppy is in physical danger due to an oncoming off-leash and aggressive dog. Spray Shield is banned in some areas - check with your local pet retail supplier to see if it is available.

15) Puppy Shampoo
Selecting a puppy shampoo is all about preference. We like the Crazy Dog Baby Dog shampoo.

16) 2-3 Towels
Towels are always good to have around. Keeping one for bathtimes, by the door for muddy paws, and in your car or travel bag makes life easy when you have a muddy puppy that needs a wipe-down.

17) Brush
The type of brush you use will depend on your dog’s coat. The Zoom Groom is an option that works well for puppies of all coat types.

18) Nail Trimmers
Not all nail trimmers are created equally. Bulk handles make for difficult trimming and dull blades make trimming uncomfortable for puppies.