WOOF UNIVERSITY, LLC
Course Materials
List of supplies needed for the course and which tools aren't allowed in the course. Spoiler alert - no flexi leads!
Properly fitted training collar
For your dog's safety and comfort
Collar or harness designed for training
Every tool has its place. Some that work well in other scenarios are not right for training classes.
ALLOWED
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Gentle Leader or other headcollar
Required if your dog is a strong puller who is difficult to control on leash around other dogs, has ever shown aggression towards another dog, or loves to jump on people. -
Martingale Collar
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Harness with leash ring between shoulders
Small dogs, dogs who don't pull hard, and dogs who have collapsing trachea or spinal injury ONLY.
Fit the collar or harness correctly.
Proper fit is necessary for the equipment to work as designed.
NOT ALLOWED
Choke chains, prong collars, electronic collars, back-clip harnesses with the leash ring farther back than the shoulder blades like this one (these are great for hiking but not for training)
Comfortable Leash
For your safety and comfort
Select a comfortable training leash
Where the collar/harness is about the dog's comfort, the leash is all about yours!
ALLOWED
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Leather, Cotton, Hemp, or rope-style
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Length: 6' - 8' is required
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Width: less than 1" wide is recommended
Options for Leash Chewers: Attach a short chain between the leash and collar using a carabiner, or try a chew-proof leash such as BAAPET, Black Rhino, or Paw Lifestyles.
Do not attach poop bags or other items to the leash.
NOT ALLOWED
chain or retractable leashes
Nylon or plastic are not recommended because they don't fold easily in your hand which makes it harder to control your dog.
Smelly treats in pea-sized pieces
The reward for getting it right!
Test how well your dog likes the treats before class.
Test somewhere other than home to be sure they are better than distractions.
RECOMMENDED
Ziwi Peak, Red Barn Naturals dog food roll, Stella & Chewy's meal mixers, Pure Bites freeze-dried liver, beef hot dog, string cheese
The more your dog loves the treats, the more excited they will be about training. They will learn faster and work harder for you, which means you'll have more fun. If they'd rather sniff the ground or stare at a leaf blowing in the breeze, that's not the one.
NOT ALLOWED
Nothing crumbly or that takes time to chew
Cut them into small pieces before class.
We will give lots of treats but not lots of calories.
Wearable Treat Bag
Hands-free and easy to grab treats from
It doesn't have to be fancy.
Anything that keeps your hands free will work.
RECOMMENDED
Nail aprons from the hardware store are cheap and work great. Kitchen aprons, scrub tops, fanny packs, and cargo pants are other good options. Or, you can be fancy and get a nice treat bag from the pet store.
Zip-lock bags or the bag the treats came in will NOT work.
Non-Slip Mat
Home base for your dog
"Home Base" for your dog between exercises
and used for some of the course exercises
A cheap bathroom rug with rubber backing works well or a yoga mat folded in half. Rubber floor tile or carpet remnants are other options.
Towels and blankets don't work because they slide.
Frozen or non-spillable Water
So it doesn't spill everywhere
Water in a bowl will become water on the floor.
It happens every time!
Your dog may get thirsty from working or need to wash the treats down. Water in a dish is almost guaranteed to spill. Frozen water in a plastic container will melt slowly and last an entire class.
Another option is a no-spill water bowl.
Dogs crunching on ice disturbs the class, so please don't.
Poop Bags and Paper Towels
For clean-up
Accidents Happen!
It's no big deal and nothing to get embarrassed about. Dogs poop! ;)
Please clean up after your pet. Give them a good walk before class if possible. It's best to make sure they are empty before they come into the classroom.
Things attached to the leash get in the way.
Remove poop bags from the leash.
CORRECT FIT OF EQUIPMENT
Proper fit is necessary for the equipment to work as designed.
Think of your dog's collar or harness as their parachute. How would you want your parachute to fit if you were jumping out of a plane? Well-fitted and SNUG, no big gaps and not sliding around.
Gentle Leader Headcollar
The collar piece should clasp right behind the back of your dog's head - the highest part of their neck - and only 2 fingers will fit between the collar and your dog's neck.
The nose piece should slide down to the start of your dog's nose and no farther. It should not be so tight that your dog can't open their mouth and eat treats or drink water.
The leash connects to the ring under the dog's chin so there is nothing pressing on their trachea.
Martingale Collar
It should take a little bit of effort to slide it over your dog's head so that it is not too loose. It's one of the safest options because your dog can't slip out of it. They come in lots of fun colors and designs. Collars for a Cause has hundreds to choose from, and proceeds benefit rescue dogs.
Harness with leash ring between the shoulders
Only 2 flat fingers should fit between the harness and your dog. The harness should stay in place and not slide from side to side or rub under the dog's armpits. If the leash gets tight, there should not be a large gap between the harness and your dog.
The leash must clip between the shoulder blades ONLY. Examples: sporn, freedom, balance
CORRECT USE OF THE LEASH
A good leash and leash handling skills will keep you safe from being pulled off your feet or dragged and help you control an excited and untrained dog.
Keep your leash arm close to your body, like the kid in the cartoon, to maintain your center of gravity. If your leash arm comes out in front of you, it's easier for your dog to drag you and even pull you to the ground.
Hold the leash close to your dog when walking in close quarters with other dogs or people. Fold the extra accordion style in the palm of your hand. Do NOT wrap the leash around your wrist. You have less control and the leash becomes too rigid, making it easier for your dog to drag you down and even break bones!
The goal is to keep some slack in the leash as shown in the cartoon. If there is no slack in the leash, don't take another step forward. Walk in a wide circle until the leash is slack before proceeding forward.
SUMMARY / TL;DR
COURSE MATERIALS
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Properly fitted training collar or harness from the allowed list (headcollar required for dogs who pull hard, lunge, or jump excessively)
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Comfortable leash, 6' - 8' length and less than 1" wide
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Small smelly treats your dog loves even when away from home
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Wearable, hands-free treat bag
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Frozen water or water in a non-spill bowl
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Non-slip mat
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Poop bags (not attached to the leash) and paper towels
PROPER FIT AND USE
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Only 2 fingers will fit between your dog and their collar or leash
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Collars are high on the neck and not down around the shoulders or sitting on the trachea
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Harnesses clip between the shoulder blades and do not slide around or rub the dog under the armpits
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Leash can be easily folded into the palm of your hand, not wrapped around the wrist, leash arm close to your body