These are Cyndi’s personal favorites based on actual use in the real world. These products are not sponsored, but we may receive a small commission on purchases made from these links.
Best For Puppies & Adult Dogs
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.
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-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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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
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Treat Brand Name
Features
Available in These Stores
Wellness Soft Puppy Bites, Grain Free, Lamb & Salmon Puppy Training Treats
Type: Training Treats
Value: Low
Good for Puppies
Can be cut smaller for small puppies
Ziwi Peak Air Dried Dog Food
Type: Dog Food
Value: Medium
Good for Puppies
Good for Adult Dogs
Protein Options: Beef, Chicken, Lamb
Crazy Dog MINI Train-Me! Training Reward Dog Treats 3 Flavor Variety Bundle
Type: Training Treats
Value: Low
Good for Puppies
Good for Adult Dogs
Low Calorie
Bare Bites 100% All Natural Dried Beef Liver Dog Treats
Type: Bark
Value: High
Good for Adult Dogs
Needs to be cut in small pieces
Dog Bark Naturals – Jerky Dog Treats
Type: Bark (Jerky)
Value: High
Good for Adult Dogs
Needs to be cut in small pieces
Protein Options: Beef, Chicken, Pork, Bison, Venison, Kangaroo
All Natural Chicken Chips – Dog Treats
Type: Chip
Value: High
Good for Adult Dogs
Good for Puppies
Can be broken into smaller pieces
PureBites Mini-Trainers Freeze Dried Liver Treats
Type: Freeze Dried Liver
Value: High
Good for Puppies
Good for Adult Dogs
Best Bones & Chew Sticks
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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.
Type: Natural
Value: High
Hardness: Soft after being chewed
Digestibility: High
Chew time: 30min-2hrs
Good for Puppies
Good for Adult Dogs
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.
Type: Natural
Value: High
Hardness: Medium
Digestibility: Medium
Chew time: 1hr-2wks
Good for Adult Dogs
Good for Hip & Joints
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.
Type: Natural
Value: Medium
Hardness: Extremely Hard
Digestibility: High
Chew time: 30min-4hrs
Good for Adult Dogs
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.
Type: Natural
Value: High
Hardness: Extremely Hard
Digestibility: Esophagus only
Chew time: 30min-Forever
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.
Type: Dental+
Value: Medium
Hardness: Medium
Digestibility: High
Chew time: 2-10min
Good for Adult Dogs
Good for Hip & Joints
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.
Type: Wood
Value: Low
Hardness: Hard as Maple
Digestibility: Not digested
Chew time: as long as interested
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.
Type: Dental
Value: Medium
Hardness: Medium
Digestibility: High
Chew time: 1-2min
Good for Puppies
Dehydrated Sweet Potato Chews
Dehydrated Sweet Potato Chews are a nutrient rich snack that you can give your dog everyday.
Type: Natural
Value: Medium
Hardness: Medium
Digestibility: High
Chew time: 5-60sec
Good for Adult Dogs
Good for Puppies
Best Enrichment
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.
Type: Sniffing
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Good for Puppies
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.
Type: Licking
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Good for Puppies
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.
Type: Slow Feeder
Level of Difficulty: Easy-Intermediate
Good for Puppies
Good for Adult Dogs
JW Pet Hol-ee Roller Wobbler Puzzle Toy
This version of the Hol-ee Roller is called a Wobbler because the top half has holes to get the treats while the weighted solid bottom half creates a fun wobble and stays upright, even when swatted by puppy paws. This makes it easy to put treats or food in it and harder for your dog to get them out. I give this to my dog Jackson everyday when I leave the house. I either fill it with a food snack and a few treats or a couple high value treats. To make it more difficult to get the treats out, I add in a few pieces of cloth that he has to pull out to get to the treats.