Products Recommended by Muttamorphosis

Tue 16 Sep 2008 by Sue McCabe

I have been thinking a lot recently about promoting products which I, as a dog trainer and dog owner, could not manage without. These include training tools, toys and treats. Instead of an online shop, I have decided to add a link for each of these products, which clients and visitors to the site can access with a simple click.

I am currently limiting the recommended doggie stuff, but will update accordingly if/when new products catch my attention.

Gencon. This is a lightweight head halter and leash in one simple design. It is NOT suitable for dogs who have never worn a head halter before or for dogs with aggression issues. However for those owners who need the control of traditional head harness for dogs who pull but hate having to mess around with a separate head halter and leash, the Gencon is perfect. It is available in a variety of colours and looks less like a muzzle than some traditional head halters.

Kong Wubba. As some of you may know, I am a huge fan of the traditional Kong toy as a way of keeping dogs mentally stimulated and occupied during times when owners are busy. However, the Kong Wubba has become a favourite toy of all my dogs, and it’s surprisingly tough and durable, if a little slimy when wet & muddy. This toy flies well as a throw and fetch toy, withstands the most hardened jaws as a tug toy and in addition squeaks for added stimulation. The Kong Wubba also floats so for those dogs who enjoy swimming, but a standard dummy is too boring to fetch, this toy should increase motivation to retrieve from the water. A reminder however that my dogs NEVER play with toys alone so they never get the chance to destroy them. My rule is that a toy is for playing with me, a chew is for playing on your own.

Greenies.
These surprisingly small chews, while not lasting very long from an activity point of view, are enjoyed by all the dogs I’ve offered them to, and don’t seem to upset sensitive stomachs. They are quite expensive however, so for those of you with multiple dogs, perhaps purchasing Greenies when on special offer is a good idea. They freshen breath, help promote good oral hygiene and my dogs love them.

The Furminator.
While this product certainly does remove quite a bit of dog hair, a few words of caution.... the furminator needs to be used with caution. It managed to tear my German Shepherds coarser outer coat quite badly (think curling ribbons on parcels using a blade or scissors). Because the temptation is to brush on, until all the loose hair is gone, I managed to give one of my dogs brush burn, something I have never done with any other brush product. In addition, at a retail cost price of over £30 for the large size brush, it is more expensive than the average person would pay for a brush.

--