Best Dog Training & Enrichment Favorites from a Professional Trainer

Cyndi's Favorite Things - 2026

As a dedicated dog trainer, I’ve tried and tested all of these essentials with my own dog, Jackson, my clients, and the dogs that stay with me. These aren’t sponsored picks; they’re my actual favorites. I chose them because they work, they’re safe, and because they truly enhance the lives of dogs and their families.

I used to keep all my favorites here, but now I’ve moved the full list to Benable. It’s easier to update, and you’ll always find my most current favorites there.

Explore My Favorites

Best For Puppies & Adult Dogs (All-Time Favorites)

These are my all-time favorites I use with every dog.

1

Best Pet Stain & Odor Remover

ECO-88 Pet Stain & Odor Remover

This is the best pet stain remover on the planet. I will not use anything else. It gets out urine, feces, vomit and blood. You spray it on and walk away. No scrubbing! It got out 5 year old urine stains that I had previously treated with other urine stain removers.

2

MidWest Homes for Pets Single & Double Door Dog Crate

This crate has 2 doors, tray, ground protection roller feet and a divider panel. Get the size that will fit your puppy when they are an adult and use the divider panel to allow them to grow into it.

3

3-in-1 Petsafe Harness

This harness has 3 functions. 1) Clip in the back for safe, no harm walking. 2) Clip in the front to help train puppy not to pull. 3) Seat belt attachment. There are 3 colors: Black, Teal, and Plum. This harness runs big. Make sure to measure your puppy and use the size chart. Most puppies under 25lbs will wear an x-small.

4

Best Seatbelt for Harness

Slowton Dog Seatbelt around Headrest

This is a package of 2 Seat belts that go around the headrest of your car. It has an adjustable length with a bungee connection. It is used to connect to a harness that clips on the back of your puppy (see 3-in-1 Petsafe Harness). It can also be used as a short leash if you need to take your dog out of the car and you forgot to bring a leash.

5

Chuck-It Ultra Squeaker Ball Dog Toy

The Chuck-It Squeaker dog ball is designed with a built-in squeaker that creates fun sounds during play, making fetch more exciting for dogs. Some dogs just love to carry it around in their mouth and squeak it. It comes in two sizes (small and medium). It has a high bounce and is durable for heavy chewers. I’ve never had a dog chew one up or stop the squeak.

6

Best Plush Dog Bed/Mat

Amazon Basic Plush Dog Bed/Mat

This is one of the basic soft dog beds that I use as a mat in training. When I teach dogs to “Go To Your Mat” this is the bed I use. I have several of them in my house for my own dog. It’s inexpensive, soft and comes in several sizes. You can also use it as a bed in your dog’s crate.

7

Best Dirty Dog Door Mat

Dog Gone Smart Dirty Dog Doormat

This doormat is ultra water absorbent, fast drying, microfiber, non-skid/slip, machine washable. Comes in several colors and sizes. Great for dirty paws and shoes.

8

Best Plush Dog Bed

Plush, Round, Calming Dog Bed

The Calming Dog Bed comes in several sizes and colors. It’s washable and comes with a removable blanket. I’ve used this bed for puppies and senior dogs. They all love it!

9

Best Long Leash for Sniffari's

Four Paws Cotton Web Dog Lead/Leash 10-20 ft Black

This is the long leash I use for sniffari’s (sniff walks). I prefer the light cotton feel over nylon. It’s also thinner than most leashes. It comes in 10, 15, 20 or 30 feet long. I prefer the 10 foot for loose leash walking around the neighborhood. I like the 15 foot for walking in parks. I like the 20 foot for practicing for CGC or hiking. The 30 foot is too long to handle and usually don’t need anything that long.

Best Booster Seat

Kurgo Dog Booster Seat for Small Dogs Under 20lbs

The Kurgo Dog Booster Seat is the top ranked booster seat on all lists. It fits around the headrest so your small dog or puppy can see out the window. Kurgo is known for it’s safety. Keeping a small dog in the booster seat is safer than being in your lap which can lead to distracted driving and cause an accident. Only thing I don’t like is the bulky seat belt attachment. I prefer to use the Slowton headrest seatbelt with the Kurgo booster seat. It comes in several color combinations.

Best Dog Training Treats

I’ll be moving these to Benable soon… for now, here are my top picks.

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Treat Brand Name

Features

Available in These Stores

Wellness Soft Puppy Bites, Grain Free, Lamb & Salmon Puppy Training Treats

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Type: Training Treats

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Value: Low

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Good for Puppies

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Can be cut smaller for small puppies

Ziwi Peak Air Dried Dog Food

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Type: Dog Food

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Value: Medium

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Good for Puppies

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Good for Adult Dogs

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Protein Options: Beef, Chicken, Lamb

Crazy Dog MINI Train-Me! Training Reward Dog Treats 3 Flavor Variety Bundle

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Type: Training Treats

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Value: Low

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Good for Puppies

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Good for Adult Dogs

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Low Calorie

Bare Bites 100% All Natural Dried Beef Liver Dog Treats

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Type: Bark

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Value: High

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Good for Adult Dogs

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Needs to be cut in small pieces

Dog Bark Naturals – Jerky Dog Treats

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Type: Bark (Jerky)

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Value: High

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Good for Adult Dogs

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Needs to be cut in small pieces

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Protein Options: Beef, Chicken, Pork, Bison, Venison, Kangaroo

All Natural Chicken Chips – Dog Treats

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Type: Chip

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Value: High

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Good for Adult Dogs

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Good for Puppies

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Can be broken into smaller pieces

PureBites Mini-Trainers Freeze Dried Liver Treats

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Type: Freeze Dried Liver

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Value: High

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Good for Puppies

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Good for Adult Dogs

Best Bones & Chew Sticks

I’ll be updating and expanding this list on Benable. For now, here are my top chew options.

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Bone/Chew Stick Name

Features

Available in These Stores

Bully Sticks

There are a lot of options for bully sticks. They come in several sizes and thicknesses. They smell really bad so look for the low/no odor options. These are Chew-e & Tasty 6 inch, Free-Range, Grass-Fed and Odor Free.

Good for teething puppies and bored teenage dogs. I’ve never seen a dog turn down a bully stick.

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Type: Natural

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Value: High

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Hardness: Soft after being chewed

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Digestibility: High

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Chew time: 30min-2hrs

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Good for Puppies

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Good for Adult Dogs

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High Calorie

Beef Kneecaps

This chew is mainly beef cartilage so it doesn’t splinter. However, they are super messy at first so give them to your dog outside or on a towel. They are considered long-lasting. It can take slow chewers days or weeks to completely chew this all the way down.

Good for dogs with hip and joint problems. Pick up and throw away when it’s small enough to be swallowed.

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Type: Natural

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Value: High

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Hardness: Medium

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Digestibility: Medium

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Chew time: 1hr-2wks

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Good for Adult Dogs

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Good for Hip & Joints

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High Calorie

Himalayan (Yak Cheese) Chew

This chew stick is very hard and not recommended for puppies. It’s non-staining, odor free, low-fat, all natural and even more digestible than a bully stick. They don’t smell or taste as good as a real bone, so some dogs don’t like them as much. I find the bacon flavor most popular. This pack has 4 flavors to sample.

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Type: Natural

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Value: Medium

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Hardness: Extremely Hard

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Digestibility: High

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Chew time: 30min-4hrs

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Good for Adult Dogs

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High Calorie

Ziwi Deer Shank – Dog Bone Chew – Wrapped in Beef Esophagus

This is a 2 for 1 bone and chew. The shank bone is wrapped in a beef esophagus over the top for added flavor and nutrition. Your dog will love chewing the esophagus off the bone and then the bone is left over for casual gnawing enjoyment. The ½ shank is good for small and medium sized dogs. The full shank is really a favorite for all size dogs. No bones are too big for small dogs.

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Type: Natural

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Value: High

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Hardness: Extremely Hard

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Digestibility: Esophagus only

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Chew time: 30min-Forever

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Good for Adult Dogs

Missing Link Smartmouth 7-in1 Chews

This daily chew stick provides nutrients and fiber that benefit adult dog’s teeth, gums, breath, joints, skin, digestion, heart & immune system. I give these to my dog daily.

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Type: Dental+

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Value: Medium

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Hardness: Medium

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Digestibility: High

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Chew time: 2-10min

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Good for Adult Dogs

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Good for Hip & Joints

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High Calorie

Benebone Maple Stick Real Wood Durable Chew

These are good for vigorous chewers. Casual chewers will probably not like this one. It is hard enough to satisfy the need to chew and soft enough to not break your dog’s teeth.

Comes in maple or bacon flavor. I like it because it’s made from maple wood and not plastic so it’s safe even if they manage to swallow tiny pieces.

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Type: Wood

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Value: Low

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Hardness: Hard as Maple

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Digestibility: Not digested

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Chew time: as long as interested

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Good for Adult Dogs

Whimzee Daily Puppy Dental Chew

This is great as a daily chew stick for teething puppies. It’s the only dental chew stick that is made with extra calcium for puppies. These really help when puppies are mouthy and want to chew everything. They are less expensive than bully sticks and can be given daily. They come in two sizes that are good for puppies of every breed.

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Type: Dental

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Value: Medium

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Hardness: Medium

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Digestibility: High

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Chew time: 1-2min

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Good for Puppies

Dehydrated Sweet Potato Chews

Dehydrated Sweet Potato Chews are a nutrient rich snack that you can give your dog everyday.

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Type: Natural

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Value: Medium

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Hardness: Medium

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Digestibility: High

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Chew time: 5-60sec

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Good for Adult Dogs

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Good for Puppies

Best Enrichment Toys & Mental Stimulation

See my full list of Enrichment Favorites on Benable.

Snuffle Mat: is a unique dog sniffing training mat that allows your dog to find treats or dry foods hidden in the snuffle mat. Research shows 10 minutes sniffing activity≈1 hour walking/exercising. This dog feeding mat drains the dog’s energy and relieves their stress. How to use: just spread your dog’s snack around in the mat.

Licki Mat: is a flat mat designed for your dog to lick, over and over. They are coated with ridges and brittles that encourage licking. The licking action is a very pleasurable (calming) experience for your dog. It secretes endorphins, the happiness hormone, helping calm and soothe your pet, and redirects bad licking habits. The lickimat becomes a great distraction when given in a moderately stressful situation like bathing and nail trims. How to use: just smear something yummy (like peanut butter or Kong spray) on it and stick it on the bathroom wall, the dog’s attention will be on the mat and they will not fight to bathe.

Slow Feeder: is a bowl designed to help your dog eat more slowly and deliberately. This can help them to digest their food better and prevent them from overeating. It also serves as an easy way to add some mental enrichment into your dog’s day. They simulate foraging behavior to be both challenging and engaging.

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Enrichment Product Name

Features

Available in These Stores

Snuffle Mat

There are a lot of options for snuffle mats. This one is the one I take with me to train in homes. It’s simple and inexpensive.

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Type: Sniffing

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Level of Difficulty: Easy

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Good for Puppies

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Good for Adult Dogs

Premium Licki Mat with Suction Cups (2 pack)

There are a lot of different Licki Mats. This is a 2 pack with suction cups on the bottom so it can be stuck to something like bathtub and used as a distraction during bathing.

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Type: Licking

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Level of Difficulty: Easy

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Good for Puppies

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Good for Adult Dogs

Outward Hound Slow Feeder Dog Bowl

Outward Hound was the original designer of the slow bowl feeder. There are multiple sizes and ridge patterns to choose from. Get the right size for your dog. If you only plan to use it for enrichment snacks, get a smaller size. These bowls are BPA, PVC, and phthalate free as well as dishwasher safe.

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Type: Slow Feeder

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Level of Difficulty: Easy-Intermediate

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Good for Puppies

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Good for Adult Dogs

JW Pet Hol-ee Roller Wobbler Puzzle Toy

The Hol‑ee Roller is a versatile enrichment toy designed for tugging, tossing, and treat‑stuffing. Made from durable, natural rubber with an open lattice design, it’s easy to fill with snacks, chews, or even pieces of cloth to create a fun challenge. Dogs love rolling, chewing, and problem‑solving with this ball, making it a great way to keep them busy and mentally stimulated. I use it daily with my dog Jackson—stuffing it with food or high‑value treats turns it into a puzzle that keeps him engaged long after I leave the house.

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Type: Puzzle

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Level of Difficulty: Easy-Hard

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Good for Puppies

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Good for Adult Dogs

Where To Find My Most Current Favorites

These are the products I trust and recommend all the time. That’s why I call them my favorites. They’re not sponsored. But the links do go to Amazon where I’m an associate. That means I earn a very small commission (like a little treat) at no extra cost to you.

I use Benable to organize my favorites in one place. Think of it like a living shopping list where I add new finds and update old ones, so you’ll always see my most current favorite picks.

Explore My Current Favorites on Benable

My Benable list is always up to date with dog essentials. It’s free to view, no account needed.