by Walker Parks | on October 29th, 2009 | in Swag the Dog, Training Equipment
Mallard drake on the left. Hi-vis flasher on the right.
Can’t really have too many training dummies around when you’re always chucking them in the river. Inevitably one or two never return. The Avery models are hollow rubber, more like an artfully decorated version of the classic boating bumpers. $25
by Grayson Schaffer | on October 27th, 2009 | in Features, Swag the Dog, Training Equipment
I'm going to go make myself a sandwich. You guys better still be on that stand when I get back.
I’ve recommended having your dog sit on a chair for some of the basic training drills, but here’s a piece of equipment well known to retriever trainers that’s even better. This one is the Avery Ruff Stand and runs $180. Dog stands are typically used to give your pup a lift out of the fridged waters of duck marshes, but they’re also a great way to get him up to eye level for hold conditioning, eye contact, place training, and anything else you’d normally have to crouch down to accomplish. For a young pup, the stand also builds confidence for higher places (make sure there’s no hard landing around the stand if you’ve got a very young dog) and provides a stable surface to teach loading (jump on or into something) and under, which is great if you’re in a public place and you want to keep your dog out of the way.
by Grayson Schaffer | on March 30th, 2009 | in Swag the Dog, Training Equipment
Most dogs love chasing stuff: Sticks good; other animals, better! Dokken’s DeadFowl trainers are the go-to for retriever handlers everywhere. (Even if you’re not a hunter, chances are your dog is—unless he’s a vegetarian, like mine.) Dokken’s Fowl float better than a NERF football, and you can inject them with real scent oil, which will really trigger your dog’s retrieving instinct. Available in just about any game bird you can think of.