Guide: The Best Thing I Ever Bought My Dog
A couple of months ago we were blown away by your responses to our post on Instagram entitled “The Best Thing I Ever Bought My Dog Is _.” We thought it would be helpful to turn the post into any easy to reference guide. We will keep adding to this list as we get more great recommendations from YOU, the amazing pet parents and pro-trainers in our TOC Fam! [Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning TOC may get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you.]
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Enrichment
1. The Kong Wobbler
From @vhgollatz: “The kong wobbler. We use dry food, nibbles of beef liver, and sometimes beef chunks dusted in liver dust so they don't stick. The wobbler comes out when he needs to be occupied for rainy days.”
2. The Snoop
3. The Benebone Puppy Wishbone
@nickiiolivares: “@mybenebone puppy wishbone chew toy. It helped us succeed in redirecting her chewing to the right things. 6 month old and rarely chews the furniture anymore.”
4. The Paw 5 Snuffle Matt
From @dotcomgrams: “...My favorite snuffle mat is by far the Paw 5. I shopped around for something less expensive but nothing compared in terms of fluffiness.”
5. The KONG Bamboo Puzzle Toy
6. The Toppl
From @lumosdogtraining: “We love @westpawsus for so many reasons! They're a B Corp with transparency about their BLM support, support for employees during the pandemic, they gave employees paid time off for voting, they're involved in their local community, and they happen to make fantastic dog toys. We love the bumi and the toppls.”
7. A Lickimat
From @8bitchip: “We know a senior who's struggling to care for their dog as they lose mobility in their hands (weak grip, stiff and arhritic, tremor) and legs (uses cane). I think if more enrichment products were made to be easy to fill and clean, it would be more inclusive - so for example, Lickimat's new-er line of tough mats for chewers is easier to hold with one hand, especially when it's filled and goopy, so it's easier to handle while moving with a cane. It's easier to lay flat in the freezer because it is hard-backed, or bring over directly to a place for a dog to eat than its floopy original form. It's also easier to clean since it is dishwasher safe. I don't think they were considering mobility issues in the new designs, but nevertheless, it made their product more accessible than it was before.”
8. A Makeshift Sand Pit
From @lemonadeandmaddie: “Makeshift sand pit! Lemonade used to jump into our planters and dig. Eventually got her her own sandpit and she hasn't even looked at the planters since. She didn't even need redirecting. She just needed a digging space for herself.” Note from TOC: We found this sandbox featured above in the photo in case you don’t want to make your own!
9. The Snuffle Ball
10. An Outward Hound Puzzle Toy
11. The Pineapple Slow feeder from Zippy Paws
From @miss.maca: “The pineapple slow feeder from @zippypaws so Maca can eat slowly and be entertained.”
12. The Kong Classic
From @6lack6eautyy_:“…A dog product that's the best value, I would say the Kong. It's pretty indestructible and I can put all types of food in it…”
13. The Little Tree Root
From @rubyfurever: “We got this little tree root thing when Ruby was tiny! I'm convinced that she hasn't ever damaged our wooden furniture (only one tooth mark from when she had a fever so I don't count it) because there was that one wooden thing she was allowed.”
14. The Gorilla Wood Chew
![From @johannap25: “Our puppy had an urge to chew wood and ONLY wood. We discovered chew toys called Gorilla Wood that [are] safe for dogs (it's a pulpy wood that becomes mush and is safe to digest bits of once wet, but chews in a satisfying way for her wood craving). These saved our window sills, coffee table, chairs ... our house and our sanity basically. I wouldn't offer it to a dog who doesn't already have the hankering, but it was 100% what we needed to avoid destruction and provide her with the chewing enrichment activity she needed.”](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cfec609958de40001253e1d/1634254846993-PWD3PHILOGG3I6TSLIOX/gorilla+wood+chew+with+the+tag+on+it+against+a+white+backdrop.jpg)
From @johannap25: “Our puppy had an urge to chew wood and ONLY wood. We discovered chew toys called Gorilla Wood that [are] safe for dogs (it's a pulpy wood that becomes mush and is safe to digest bits of once wet, but chews in a satisfying way for her wood craving). These saved our window sills, coffee table, chairs ... our house and our sanity basically. I wouldn't offer it to a dog who doesn't already have the hankering, but it was 100% what we needed to avoid destruction and provide her with the chewing enrichment activity she needed.”
15. A Rubber Ball Dog Chew Toy and Treats Dispenser
From TOC: We found this rubber treat ball on Grumpy Puppy Bakery’s site. They are featured on our friend, Kassidi Jones’, Black Pet IG list here.
Leashes and Harnesses
The 30 foot Biothane Long line from Kirsten’s Canine Gear
2. The Wilderdog Harness
From @thelexitales: “…the wilderdog harness. (Lexi is an escape artist and chewed through a Ruffwear harness once!!! It was quite impressive but sad for my wallet)…”
3. The Pro-Mohs Six foot Leather Leash
From @giothestandard: “…One of my all-time favorite dog products is a quality 6 foot leather leash - mine from promohs is perfect. Saves your hands and lasts forever…” PS: The promo code TOC15 is good for a one time 15% discount per customer through 12/31/21.
4. The PetSafe 3 in 1 Harness
From @krys10x: “…his PetSafe 3in1 harness. Easiest harness I've ever put on since it clips on like a collar and doesn't go over the head and the front loop was very helpful for LLW training.”
5. The 10 foot biothane long line from high tail hikes
From @chickencherrypie: “A 10 ft. biothane long line from @hightailhikes…” PS: Use code TAILSOFCONNECTION for 10% off on all products!
6. The Hurtta Harness
7. The Doggy Backpacks From Reddy
From @kim.harlington: “My pugs love their doggy backpacks from Reddy. It has opened up their worlds. They can now go everywhere with us, from hiking to traveling on airplanes. Best thing we ever got them.”
8. The Spotted Nose Design Biothane Leashes
![From @adoringatlas: “Oh and another personal favorite is biothane leashes. We get ours from @spottednose.designs [and have] been obsessed since we started using [it] and will never use another material. Fantastic to customize every detail and easy to clean. Super durable.”](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cfec609958de40001253e1d/1634318676447-FA20SEGDPP3OLZ7KDGTT/purple+and+white+biothane+leash+from+spotted+nose+design)
9. A Waist Leash
From @youngkaa: “We love our waist leash for long neighborhood, neighborhood, and farmer’s market walks…”Note: TOC found the waist leash above on Amazon.
10. The Off Road K9 Biothane Long Line
11. The Halti Training Leash
From @ashlathemalinois: “The halti training leash at the moment is my favorite. I love its versatility and the price is achievable for most. Our original one is 8+ years and still going strong.”
12. The Beige Tartan Rope Leash
From TOC: We found this leash on The Lofty Leash’s site. They are featured on our friend, Kassidi Jones’, Black Pet IG list here.
For the Home
A Cooling Mat
2. The Gulpy Water Dispenser
From 8bitchip: “Gulpy Water Dispenser. Ours is ~8 years old, has never leaked and seen a lot of use/multiple dogs, and still going strong…”
3. The Moroccan Bed From Pet Play SF
From @miss.maca: “…Oh and also the Moroccan bed from @petplaysf so comfy, durable, and easy to wash.”
4. A Dog Camera
From @barkuterieboards: “The dog camera. But's that's really for my separation anxiety because they just sleep all day.” Note: TOC found this dog camera on Amazon.
5. The Houndry Bed
From @otis_unleashed: “…Otis is OBSESSED with his round soft bed from The Houndry. I've tried a million beds for this dog and this is the only one he's ever truly loved.” PS: Use the code OTIS for 20% off on any order.
6. The Snuggle Puppy
From @petuniapickles_gsp: “…Her snuggle puppy would be right up at the top of the list. It's the one we used for sleep time when she was first brought home and she takes such good care of it and only takes it out morning and night for bed. It's the item I pack in her overnight bag…”
7. The Majestic Pet Suede Bagel Bed
From @carmren: “Magestic Pet Suede Bagel Bed - she loves this bed so much, it's become a joke because we're pretty sure if it was between us and the bed she'd choose the bed.”
8. The Colaroo Elevated Cot
From @otis_unleashed: “For Sully, the Coolaroo elevated cot is the best thing! She loves that cot so much! I honestly got it mostly as a station for her, but it's her go to safe spot. Otis never liked his.”
9. The Victure Baby Monitor
From @ariadneshmariadne: “A cheap video monitor for crate training - Invaluable!!! We have the Victure baby monitor. I would easily pay triple for what I ordered it for. It's been such a life saver and gives me so much peace of mind! It's also helped us ensure that she never has any bad experiences in her crate so only positive associations. Would recommend getting a monitor for any new dog owner.”
10. A Crate
From @thisgoodgirlcharlie: “A crate. It's been vital to help my nervous dog feel safe.” Note: TOC found this crate on Amazon.
11. The ‘Do Not Touch My Dog’ Pom Pom Beanie
From TOC: We found this human hat on EukaryaPaw’s site. They are featured on our friend, Kassidi Jones’, Black Pet IG list here.
Toys
A Ball That Glows In The Dark
![From @milo_dcavalier: “[A] glow ball especially during winter, when it easily gets dark.” Note: TOC found this glow ball on Amazon.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cfec609958de40001253e1d/1634568968969-VN5RPZ01U2RX3HXFYDB3/a+max+glow+ball+in+its+packaging+from+chuckit.jpg)
From @milo_dcavalier: “[A] glow ball especially during winter, when it easily gets dark.” Note: TOC found this glow ball on Amazon.
2. Tug-e-nuff toys
From @erno_in_kernow: “His @tugenuff toys - we only use them out on walks so they are extra special and brilliant for recall.”
3. The Outward hound Hedgehogz
From @owenthelobo: “…Outward Hound large and XL hedgehogz because they're Owen's absolute favorite toy so now we've got 6 of them scattered around the house.”
4. The Whistler Balls from Chuckit!
5. The West Paw Soft Frisbee
From @anna.richardella: “The West Paw soft frisbee has been our boy's favorite. Because we had brought him home initially to a townhouse with limited backyard space and he was always leashed, he didn't know how to play outside. Once we bought a house with a fenced yard, he didn't seem interested in his indoor toys, but boy did he love when we played kanjam. Now he will go outside and play frisbee by himself.”
6. The Jolly Ball
7. a flirt poll
From @6lack6eautyy_: “The one toy I would take to an island would be her flirt pole as she has a high prey drive and it meets her needs. After working her, she is mentally and physically tired and she is able to focus a lot better…” Note: TOC found this flirt poll on Amazon.
8. The playology scented ball
9. The Pet Play SF Toys
10. Cardboard boxes and kitchen towels
From @puppanara: “Cardboard boxes and kitchen towels count?” Note: TOC found these kitchen towels on Amazon and you could differently put kibble on them and roll them up for some enrichment fun!
11. Oven Mitts
From @bonniegeez: “Oven mitts. Grommet loves to wrestle and mouth my hands while he does. I've taught him that wrestle and mouthing time is totally cool when I've got the oven mitts on. We have so much fun playing "oven mitt wrestling."“ Note: TOC found these oven mitts on Amazon.
12. Two Identical Soft Toys
From @plutodood: “Not something we bought but something we got for free - two identical soft toys. Taught him give/drop it/fetch better than any other technique I've tried.” Note: TOC found these soft toys on Amazon.
13. The Ruffwear Frisbee
From @tails_of_toasty: “The Ruffwear Frisbee and only the Ruffwear frisbee ... will not play with any other frisbee.”
14. A Tug Toy With the Ball on the End
From @ajojodoodle:”…Buuut. If we're talking desert island ... We'd need a tug toy for sure. Our favorite has a rubber ball on the end…”Note: TOC found this ball attached to a tug on Amazon.
15. The Pro-fit Mega Ring from Coastal Pet Products
From @josielowry: “Pro-fit Mega Ring from @coastalpetproducts Our Golden has not mastered catching in the air but carries it everywhere and loves to fetch it. Best ever.”
16. A Chuckit! Ball
17. Burrow Toys
From @telltaildog: “Burrow toys - I've got the unicorns and chickens for my terrier and she's obsessed.” Note: TOC found this burrow toy on Amazon.
18. The Chuckit! kick fetch ball
From @gingerbeer.dc: “Best toy we've bought is the Chuckit Kick Fetch ball! If we let her Ginger would play fetch with it for hours.
19. The Kong Tennis Ball
From @stanleysthoughts: “The Kong tennis ball! Stanley can literally entertain himself with it for hours lol. It's insane.”
20. The GoDog Stuffed Chicken
From @taralfk: “Favorite toy - the GoDog brand stuffed chicken.” Note: TOC could only find the stuffed rooster on Amazon lol.
21. the virtually indestructible ball
22. The Hide and squirrel
From @maclynnie: “A toy called a "hide a squirrel" I think it was an Outward Hound brand. At first we used it with the squirrels but then it became a really good tug toy and also we hide her balls in it. She lives to get the balls out of it. She also plays with it herself and tries to put a ball in the hole and then she will pick it up and if she has placed the ball just right it will get inside the hole and then she puts it back down and gets the ball out.”
23. The Passport Dog Toy
From TOC: We found this passport toy on the Lizo Bandana Co site. They are featured on our friend, Kassidi Jones’, Black Pet IG list here. We love this toy because sometimes dogs like to shred important things. Now you can just give them an approved important thing to chew lol.
Training Gear
A treat bag
From @taylor_hornung: “…a treat bag for out and about training.” Note: TOC found this treat bag on Amazon.
2. A muzzle
3. Nervous collar and leash
From @lexis_bierle: “My dog was extremely scared of strangers, and getting her "Nervous!" collar and leash made it SO much easier to take her out to enjoy being outside without being constantly approached. Made it so much easier to not have to constantly be on the defense.” Note: TOC found this collar on Amazon.
4. The Tails of Connection Challenge
From @owenthelobo: “I wanted to say that I can’t even begin to thank you all enough for this program and the community you’ve built! I truly believe the TOC Challenge was the turning point for Own and I’m glad I made the decision to commit to our building our relationship over having a “good” or “well-behaved” dog. Last night’s progress would not have been possible without your program kickstarting this journey for us.”
5. A treat mold
From @owenthelobo: “Treat molds to bake homemade training treats…”Note: TOC found this mold on Amazon.
6. A human fanny pack
From TOC: We found this fanny pack on the Afropawlitan site. Afropawlitan is featured on our friend, Kassidi Jones’, Black Pet IG list here.
For the Car/Travel
The Sleepypod Car Harness
From @meritthemini: “@sleepypod car safety harness. The only one on the market to pass a crash safety test.”
2. The L.L.Bean Zip Top Tote
From @youngkaa: “…I also got her an extra large ll bean zip top tote as a travel bag for when we go on trips, and honestly it's amazing just to have one spot for all of her stuff. Makes bringing her so much easier for me and it's a good experience for her!”
3. a dog sleeping bag
From @mashazhuuu: “…best value: @whyld_river sleeping bag.” PS: Enter TAILSGIFT at checkout for 10% off your purchase.
4. A cooling vest
From @natalyla: “Actually I was thinking about this yesterday on a hike! Cooling vest! My dog has long hair and he is really outdoors and with the high temperatures, even in the afternoon (after 7 pm) this has been a game changer! @euli.thedog is so happy now in summer.” Note: TOC found this cooling vest on Amazon.
5. A ramp for getting in and out of the car
From @baileybythebay19: “…a ramp for getting into and out of our car in a safe fashion.” Note: TOC found this ramp on Amazon.
6. seat covers that attach to all four headrests
From @taralfk: “…Also a huge fan of back seat covers that attach to all four headrests.” Note: TOC found this seat cover on Amazon.
7. A soft folding dog crate
From @taralfk: “Best product we have is the EliteField folding soft dog crate. Ivy will sleep anywhere in that!…”
8. A Dog Travel Water Bottle
From TOC: We found this dog travel water bottle on the Lizo Bandana Co site. It is featured on our friend, Kassidi Jones’, Black Pet IG list here.
Grooming
a shower head attachment that has a retractable comb
From @owenthelobo: “…shower head attachment that has a retractable comb so I can simultaneously brush Owen's long coat while rinsing the shampoo out of it.” Note: TOC found this attachment on Amazon.
2. a coral slicker brush
From @giothestandard: “If we were on an island ... I’d have to bring a brush probably my @chrischristensensystems coral slicker.
3. The Pet Wand Pro
From @kristin.l.e: “The @waterpikpets Pet Wand Pro. makes bath time SO much faster and more tolerable for my doodle who hates baths! A lot of reviews said the plastic diverter it comes with breaks easily, so I bought a $7 metal one to use instead and haven't had any problem.”
4. The mud buster
From @adoringatlas: “...My personal favorite is the mud buster to clean his paws. I get so much satisfaction seeing the dirty water pour out afterwards. This is super helpful especially since he doesn't like bathing/water.”
5. DE-MATTING RAKE
From TOC: We found this de-matting rake on the Grooming Extraordinaire’s site. They are featured on our friend, Kassidi Jones’, Black Pet IG list here.
