What are your fave pet products that kept you sane during those hard puppy months?

[Nala and Cooper]

Your profile information box already asks you what your favorite doodle product is- mine is Grannick's Bitter Apple Spray. It saved my life, and my leather couch's life (One morning I woke up to stuffing everywhere. I spray it on the tear everyday and it has been untouched since!). It's a non-toxic taste deterrent that has a nasty effect on your pups taste buds. My Nala despises it and stays far away from any furniture that has been sprayed! Affordable and very effective. My puppy is very mouthy, and any dog owner who raised their little baby would understand!

I just thought it'd be fun to read about other experiences and what products helped out different doodle owners. Post your comments below! Which pet products do you consider to be absolutely indispensable? Not only for the puppy months of course but for any stage in their life that proved to be useful to you :-)

[Moe]

I love Himalayan dog chews. They are great for keeping little mouths busy. I also love using a clicker to help with training. Makes things so much easier. 

My favorite new product is a double leash for walking two dogs together. It is great. Gives each space to explore and doesn't tangle. 

[Nala and Cooper]

Those himalayan chews look great. All natural and safer than rawhide for choking hazards, definitely on my shopping list now! And is clicker training really better than the traditional ways?

[Moe]

I think it is much better. It is hard to reward a pup the exact second they exhibit the behavior you want. If you are training sit you have them sit but then they will usually stand to get the treat. It confuses them as to what they are getting the treat for. With the clicker you mark the behavior with a click then trick later. Works great for potty training also. You can also try using a word as a marker but I've found when the clicker comes out the pup knows they are supposed to be learning something. THIS book explains the science behind it. It's a great little kit. The technique was adapted from training dolphins. 

[Nala and Cooper]

Went to Petco today and got those Himalayan chews, they're fantastic, she loves them! Also they were sold out on clickers :( they said they would restock tomorrow so I'm making another trip in the morning!

[Moe]

Great! I usually take the Himalayan chews away after half an hour or so or they will chew them for hours. I don't think that would be good for their teeth. I try to save them for when I need them. 

THIS is a great youtube trainer. She goes through all aspects of clicker training and every other part of training. 

[Jenny and Cooper]

I just picked up a bag of Himalayan dog chews today at Petco.  :)  There were four in a pack, and it says for dogs up to 15 lbs.  My Cooper is about 18 lbs, so I hope it's ok!  Thanks for the recommendation.  We're going to try that tonight and see if we can watch TV longer than 30 minutes.  lol

[Jenny and Cooper]

We gave the Himalayan dog chew to Cooper last night.  It was so funny because he wasn't sure what to do with it at first.  He was playing with it for the first minute.  Then he finally started chewing it.  After 30 minutes went by, it still look almost the same size!  He probably got frustrated he couldn't eat the darn thing, so he started barking at it and played with it like it was a ball.  LOL.  We took it away after 40 minutes into it.  Thank you!

[Jenny and Cooper]

Cooper loves to play with the Hide-A-Squirrel Squeak Toy.  The short chain line we attached to his leash is a BIG help in stopping him from chewing and controlling the leash!  Last but not least, the cowtail chew...he loves it and we love it because we get to watch half hour of TV without interruption! :)

[Nala and Cooper]

Omg the hide a squirrel toy is so adorable. And Im looking to buy more chews for Nala so Ill definitely try cowtail. Shes tearing up my couch lol!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

By far, it was the CD, "While You Are Gone: Music Pets Love". It saved my sanity! It worked to calm and lull Lucy into settling for a nap while crate training, and worked even better with Oscar 3 yrs later (he's calmer by nature). There was no stress or anxiety associated with either pup while going through that training period. It just worked. I had wondered if maybe it was a fluke when it worked so well with Lucy, but realized it must be the CD when Oscar had the same results. 2 very different temperaments, btw.

I also love the stainless steel water bottles designed for dogs called the, "H2O4K9". We pack them over our shoulders in the "Neosling" that's sold separately by the same company. Its one of those 'essentials' in the warm summer months. We never leave the house without them.

[Jenny and Cooper]

I'm currently just using a relaxation music on youtube for dogs.  I would turn it on for about 10 minutes until he is dozed off.  I will definitely have to get the CD you recommended.  I think that'll be great for a car ride too!

I just put the H204K9 water bottle on my wish list on Amazon! :)  Thank you!!!

[Nala and Cooper]

Ditto the H204K9 water bottle. It's getting warmer by the day.

And I've never tried the relaxation music. But now it's going on our bucket list!