Product Review: Genuine Dog Gear Tug Leash

Genuine Dog Gear makes tug leashes, tug toys, bungee leashes, bungee tugs, ribbon collars, and a ton of other agility stuff. These fleece tug leashes have a nylon webbing strap braided in for strength. They are available as basic snap leashes, slip leads, and limited slip leads. Standard leashes are 5' long and legal for AKC agility. These can be ordered in a near-infinite number of color and pattern combinations!

Photo by Erin Koski

Tug leashes make a lot of sense when your dog wants to bite everything on earth. Sisci Godzilla cheerfully chomped through all of my nice leather leashes, so now we're using either steel cables or tug leashes. 

I bought this leash at the Hoots and Hounds booth at Bark at the Park 2016. I always hit the vendor booths filled with hope that I'll meet some amazing new vendors, and Hoots and Hounds inevitably ends up having the best booth there. They just have so much more stuff than everyone else, and so many different options! 

It's tough to buy gear online without being able to touch it and feel the weight and workmanship myself. This leash caught my eye immediately, not only because of the colors, but because it is perfect weight and length for me and Godzilla. The clip isn't super heavy, and the leash itself feels sturdy without being bulky.

Photo by Erin Koski

I like this leash so much, that I bought a second one after Godzilla ate the first one on our camping trip. I foolishly left her tied up while setting up my tent. Tug leashes aren't chew-proof, but they stand up to interactive tugging nicely.

Pros

• Lightweight
• Sturdy
• Incredibly customizable
• Easy on teeth

Cons

• Not the perfect leash in all situations, fleece picks up burrs and stays wet on outdoor adventures.

Bottom Line

This is now our primary dog sports leash. I love that Godzilla can chomp and tug to her heart's content, it really helps keep her focus on me and off the multitude of things happening around her. It's also the perfect shade of pink, not too light, not too fluorescent, just right!

For a genuinely chew-proof leash, check out my reviews for the Vir-Chew-Ly Indestructible Leash and the Last Leash.

Product Review: Tugaway Raccoon Reward Pouch

Zip thinks the Tugaway Raccoon Reward Pouch is the only thing worth getting excited about at agility class. This thoughtfully-designed toy has features a velcro treat pouch covered in soft fleece on one side, and a piece of real raccoon hide on the other. The handles are braided fleece with rope reinforcement inside.

Photo by Erin Koski

I bought this tug toy for agility class, right before we took a break for several weeks. Sisci Godzilla is going back to basics for the new session, just because it fits my schedule better. Zip and I are doing baby beginner agility even though she has most of the foundation behaviors already. This is her very first class experience of any kind, ever!

Sometimes I forget what a big deal classes really are for dogs. Mine can do all sorts of wonderful things in my backyard, at work, or at the park. Put them in a new place with a bunch of other dogs and humans with varying concepts of manners and personal space, and it's a whole different game. Godzilla spent her first three agility classes stress sniffing and staring at everybody and everything. She was introduced with some agility obstacles, but mostly she just processed the general environment and became familiar with this new concept.

Photo by Erin Koski

With this in mind, I had very low expectations for Zip's very first class ever. It was a very, very easy class, we worked on asking for and rewarding familiar behaviors, teaching our dogs to follow along on either side, tugging as a reward, and basic training concepts.

The first thing we started with was clicker training. Zip came to me terrified of clicking noises. We've slowly worked up to using a very quiet clicker as a marker for extremely exciting rewards. Half a dozen people popping noisy box clickers? Nope, nope, nope! We ended up taking a stroll while everyone else practiced their clicker skills.

Zip is not terribly food motivated, sometimes I think she eats the treats just to be polite. When the clicking stopped and we finally came back to class, she just sort of melted into the grass and couldn't engage with me. That was when I pulled out the Tugaway Raccoon Reward Pouch.

Photo by Erin Koski

No exaggeration, Zip suddenly acted like a completely different dog. She's never seen this toy before, but she immediately became obsessed with it to exclusion of absolutely everything else in the park. From overwhelmed and shut down to focused and engaged in an instant.

Pros: Sturdy enough to handle a whole lot of tugging. The fur is attached very securely, more so than on our bunny bungee pouch. Secure treat pocket can be used to help motivate a dog that is less toy-motivated, or hold a squeaker. Two-loop design gives multiple option for holding the toy.

Cons: This is a shorter toy, so harder to keep your hands out of harm's way if you have an overly enthusiastic tugger. To get a choice of colors, you have to find a physical storefront and choose from their selection. I don't think Tugaway does custom colors.

Bottom Line: Tugaway is a home business in Wisconsin, and they care enough about their product to tell you exactly where the hides used in their toys came from, and what they were tanned with. Not only are their tug toys superior to everything else I've used, I also get warm fuzzy feelings when I give them my money. Go Tugaway!

Hello 2016!

I'm not a big fan of new year's resolutions, but I thought I'd do a post welcoming the new year anyway. I have lots of plans and hopes for 2016 and it's probably worthwhile to put them down here.

Brisbane

Photo by Erin Koski

Briz will be turning 11 years old this April. He has developed some arthritis in his hips and front feet over the last year so he is now on a couple of different pain medications. We visited a rehab specialist and developed an exercise plan to help keep him fit and active as he ages. Now that his allergies are under control, I'm hoping his skin and coat continue to improve.

In 2015, Brisbane earned his Novice Trick Dog title, his Coursing Ability Advanced title, and attended his first herding trial. Our amazing herding instructor is hosting a trial next month where Brisbane will hopefully get at least a leg towards his first herding titles with the AKC and AHBA. I will be volunteering at this trial and am hoping to learn a lot!

A couple of days ago we learned that the mass on Brisbane's cheek is not a tooth abscess. The cytology report should hopefully come back on Monday and then we'll know more. If it turns out the be the worst case scenario, I plan to make his life as enjoyable and comfortable as I can, and enjoy all the time I have left with him.

Photo by Erin Koski 

Sisci Godzilla

Sisci joined our family in 2015 and earned her Novice Trick Dog title. She will also be participating in the herding trial next month and will hopefully be getting legs towards her AKC and AHBA titles. 

We started agility this fall and hope to continue attending practices and classes and possibly even trialing by the end of the year. We also started playing with discs, and would like to find a club or group to get involved in. Maybe we'll join Sisci's parents and sister at dock jumping, too. Really, there's nothing she can't do.

Photo by Erin Koski

Ru 

Ru will be sitting on my lap for much of the coming year, as per usual. After five years he may finally be starting to grasp the concept of a nose touch on cue, and I am currently failing to teach him to spin in a circle.

I bought some fleecy fabric recently, and I'm hoping to make Ru some four-legged super-warm pajamas this winter.

I am interested in trying out Barn Hunt with all three dogs in the coming year. Brisbane and Sisci both enjoy digging for gophers, and Ru might be willing to participate if the venue is warm enough. I'd also like to get into rally obedience, but not badly enough to do it on my own without the support of an instructor or training club.

We are currently in transition, about to move in with my parents for a few months in order to save for a house. I'm hoping to be out of there and in our own place this summer. I am currently learning Javascript, PHP, and MySQL in order to improve the Dog Food Wizard and keep it more up to date. So much to do!

Those are our plans for 2016, what are yours?

Product Review: Alcott Essentials Treat+Ball Bag

The Alcott Essentials Treat+Ball Bag is a bait bag that can be worn on a pocket or belt. It has a secure spring closure and enough space to hold a tennis ball and plenty of treats. The Alcott Essentials bait bag is only available in one color and size so far.

Photo by Erin Koski

Treat bags like this are an essential part of everyday life with a reactive dog like Brisbane. I have been through many of them over the years, and so far this is my favorite. I've been through several RC Pets treat bags, some Outward Hound bags, and I still have a big Karen Pryor bag that I use occasionally. None of these compares to this Alcott bag.

I was looking for a new treat bag when we started carrying these at work. I've been irritated with drawstring pouches for a while because they require two hands to close. Velcro closures get gunked up with hair a squishy treats. My Karen Pryor bag has a sturdy spring closure, but it is very wide and tends to flop around and fall off easily. I can thread it on my belt, but then I can't take it off or move it easily. So far the Karen Pryor bag is the only one that hasn't had the lining fray and come apart.

When I started looking for a new bag, I know I wanted a nice deep one with a spring closure, and preferably a secure enough clip to not fall off when I'm running around. I started by reading reviews on Amazon, and quickly found that the spring closures on most big box store bags are weak and break right away. Happily, the Alcott Essentials Treat+Ball Bag is far higher quality than anything I've tried before. The spring closure pops open and closed smoothly, and it is secure enough to keep treats from falling out when I toss it across the room or wrestle it from the mouth of a cheerful bull terrier. The clip sticks right where I put it and stays on through all sorts of adventures. The fabric is sturdy enough to handle the strong spring, and the whole thing is holding together beautifully.

Pros: Well-made treat bag, not going to fall apart anytime soon. Awesome for agility. Spring closure works instantly with one hand, and keeps treats from flying out in assorted circumstances. Stays on the belt or pocket where I put it.

Cons: The gray is ok, but I wish this bag came in pink or purple. Most of my agility stuff is pink, purple, or lime green.

Bottom Line: Whenever I want to use my Alcott bag I've either left it in the car if I'm at home, or at home if we've gone somewhere in the car. Obviously the solution is to buy another one. Best bait bag ever.

Product Review: TugAway Bungee Reward Pouch

The TugAway Bungee Reward Pouch is a tug toy with features. The nylon bungee handle is attached to a velcro pouch that is covered with real fur. It comes in several colors and with different bits of real animals, I've seen them in bunny, bison, coyote, and sheepskin.

Photo by Erin Koski

This toy is clearly designed with Brisbane in mind, because I haven;t found anything that he goes quite as crazy for. Sure, he likes to tug, but the TugAway really ups the ante. First, it's basically an extremely sturdy pouch that closes tightly with velcro all the way across the opening so that no treats can leak out at all. This means I can stuff it with the most horrible, smelly, godawful treats on earth to make it uber-motivating.

Photo by Erin Koski

Second, the TugAway is covered with actual dead animal. Brisbane has bunny fur. Between that and the treat smell, this toy gives him an instant case of crazy-eyes. The rabbit skin isn't totally durable, he has managed to rip a big hole in it so the toy looks extremely ratty, but this has not decreased his motivation in the slightest.

Third, the TugAway has a bungee handle. This means that it creates tugging action like a springpole, storing some of the energy Briz exerts and uses it to tug back so I can use less effort to swing him around by his face.

Photo by Erin Koski

Pros: Where to begin? The sealed pouch means I can use food as a motivator along with the toy. I can toss it in front of him and have him run to it and then open it and give him the treats. It's sturdy enough that he can't get to the food on his own in the time it takes for me to catch up and open it for him. The bunny fur probably taps into the part of his brain that we normally only use when hunting gophers.

Cons: I'm told that when the dog lets go the bungee effect can cause the toy to snap back and hit the handler in the face, but Briz doesn't willingly let go of it so I wouldn't know. Bunny fur isn't the toughest material out there, and bit of it are currently blowing across my lawn. The slightly-shredded pelt and general disorderly appearance of the TugAway is kind off gross for non-dog people. I suspect the velcro fabric pouch concept goes over best with herding breeds, retrievers, and other dogs who are on board with the concept of humans solving their problems for them. I think a more independent dog would just take off with it and shred it at their leisure, but I have not actually experienced this because I'm not a big fan of primitive/Nordic/hound/terrier breeds.

Bottom Line: At agility class I carry this thing draped over my belt like a sordid trophy. It's slightly macabre, just the way I like things. Also, Brisbane wants to bite it more than he wants to bite almost anything else. Best tug toy ever, I just have to keep it out of his reach when we're not training.

Book Review: Control Unleashed

By Leslie McDevitt, Control Unleashed is a fantastic read for anyone who has a dog that sometimes looks at things, or barks at things, or otherwise does things they wish it didn't do in public.  It's primarily for agility dogs, but it pretty much works for every handler and all but the most mellow dogs. Actually, there's some stuff in there for the mellow guys too.

Photo by Erin Koski

I think my favorite part about this book is that all of the exercises are explained as games. Whenever you are training your dog, the two of you are engaging in a fun game. It's voluntary and enjoyable for the dog. The result is supposed to be a calm, confident dog that can focus on his handler in any circumstances, because he has learned that certain situations are cues for happy fun time. 

This is a massive difference between this and a different book, Susan Garrett's Ruff Love, which also offers to help turn your dog into a calm, confident, focused working partner. The difference is that Ruff Love instructs readers to remove all opportunities for the dog to "self reward", the program begins with several weeks of keeping the dog in a covered crate at all times unless it is actively being trained. Don't come when called? Go back in the box. The author has since been quoted as saying it isn't meant to be an isolation program, and she has no idea why people lock their dogs in boxes continuously for several weeks when she instructs them to lock their dogs in boxes continuously for several weeks. I'm told that she holds multi-day training workshops where people start their dogs on the Ruff Love program, and that by the second day everyone was crying because it was so difficult to put their beloved dogs through this.

Needless to say, Ruff Love isn't for everyone, or really anyone except people who want to win at all costs. Still, it is often recommended to aspiring agility handlers who wish their dogs were more focused and are willing to brainwash their dogs via extreme isolation. Control Unleashed is exactly the opposite. Control Unleashed is for people who love their dogs and want to engage in dog sports as a way to bond and have fun with their beloved companions. Leslie McDevitt obviously feels this way, because one of the first stories in her book is about a dog that didn't really enjoy agility, so she stopped making him do it. 

Right up there with Bones Would Rain from the Sky, Control Unleashed is by someone who sees her relationship with her dogs the same way I do. They aren't clay to moulded, our dogs are dance partners and we need to teach them the steps while listening to their music. Control Unleashed is filled with games to play with dogs to teach them how to work with us, but it's also a story about Leslie's dog Zip and his journey from being an overstimulated pile of nerves to a calm and confident dog.

The thing I use the most from this book is called the Look at That! game. Brisbane sees things and gets very excited about them, particularly skateboarders and squirrels. Often he is concerned about the thing he sees, so training him to stop looking at it is difficult. I can click and treat him for looking at me, but he will still feel highly concerned about the thing, maybe even more so now that he is looking at me and not watching for impending doom. Control Unleashed taught me to click and treat him for looking at the skateboarders or squirrels. Right away, his focus shifts to me and the food, and the skateboarders become the cue to play this fun game. This has been extremely successful when he can see the skateboarders or mailman, we're still working on not losing our minds over hearing skateboards.

Control Unleashed is filled with these silly games that work amazingly well. Teach the dog to remain focused on playing with the handler by refusing to play with the dog. Teach the dog to stop freaking out about squirrels by letting him chase the squirrels. I lend this book out a lot, but not as often as some of my others because it's slightly expensive and somewhat troublesome to replace. I'm told there is a sequel about puppies that is equally universally applicable, but I haven't read it yet.

At face value, this book appears to be a manual for teaching a remedial agility handling class using very specific equipment in a very specific setting. In sunny California I have never seen or heard of an indoor agility course, I don't know anybody who has ring gates, and I still found this to be the most helpful book I've read so far for my reactive dog-beast. I recommend it for reactive dogs, lazy dogs, easily distracted dogs, stupid dogs, and anyone who wishes their dog was a bit less or a bit more fill-in-the-blank-here. It's a manual for changing the way your dog does stuff in a way that is fun for the dog, and will never make you cry.

Product Review: Lone Wolf Martingale Slip Leash

The Lone Wolf Martingale is a combination slip-on leash with a martingale-style collar. It comes in two webbing widths, two lengths, and 16 different color combinations. Lone Wolf makes a variety of webbing products in each width, including traffic and traditional slip leads, and regular leashes. The company also make round nylon braid leashes in a variety of colors.

Photo by Erin Koski

I have several dozen different collars for Brisbane, but maybe ten leashes because those do a lot more than just hold tags. Briz walks nicely on a loose leash 99% of the time, and then once in a while he explodes. I mostly use 3/4" wide leather leashes for their superior grip, when I buy a leash I try to imagine what it will feel like to have it violently ripped through my hands. Lone Wolf's flat braid is soft and grippy, and wide enough to grab comfortably even with sore hands.

Slip leashes are extremely versatile, and very popular in agility where dogs aren't allowed to wear collars while they run. I like martingale slip leads because they are limited-slip rather than choke collars. They also tighten more evenly than a collar that slips through a single ring. The Lone Wolf martingale lead has a leather slide to keep it from opening too wide. Brisbane's is a 4' long black and purple martingale in 5/8" wide flat braid.

Pros: Easy and convenient to put on. Requires no opening or closing of hardware and is made from big, beefy braid so I believe it would be comfortable for arthritic hands. Seriously, the 5/8" wide braid is at least 1/4" thick with nice rounded edges. This might be the greatest leash ever for people with limited hand mobility. I also love the variety of colors available. Comes in 4' and 6' lengths., and mine is big enough to fit a dog with a 42" neck.

Cons: The collar is non-adjustable. My 5/8" martingale has a 16" collar and Brisbane has a 17" neck, so it is snug when tightened and he can't back out of it. I'm just lucky it worked out that way because the collars don't come in different sizes. If he had a bigger neck, the collar would choke him when pulled tight. If he had a smaller neck I would have to use the smaller size, which has a much shorter collar. Ru is too small for the smaller martingale.

Bottom Line: I use this leash for agility class and quick trips when I don't feel like putting a harness on Brisbane. It lives in my dog event bag and goes on various trips with us. I know several people who use them as their primary leashes.

Product Review: ComfortFlex Sport Harness

The ComfortFlex Sport Harness is a Norway-style harness that is popular for agility and other dog sports. It is manufactured by PetPDC, the company makes a matching limited slip collar as well as various food puzzles for dogs.

Photo by Erin Koski

This was the third Norway harness I tried for Brisbane, after failing to find a long enough front chest strap on either the EzyDog or Hurtta harnesses. I specifically ordered this harness because the Amazon reviews contained several complaints about the front chest strap being too long. This strap is fixed on the Comfortflex harness, but there are so many different sizes that it would be difficult not to find a good fit.

Brisbane's purple harness is size M/L, the size M would fit him around his girth, but the front strap would probably be too short. This same ComfortFlex harness also fit Josie very well.

I like that the ComfortFlex harness is lined all the way around the girth strap as well as the chest. Literally the entire harness is lined. The girth strap is adjustable, and the smaller it is adjusted, the more the lining overlaps on itself. There is a section of velcro to keep this overlap secure. The buckle for the harness sits close to the top, well out of Brisbane's armpit. The long chest strap keeps it well clear of his elbow.

Pros: The ComfortFlex Sport Harness comes in ten sizes, from 12.5" around to 42" around. It also comes in a dozen different colors. It is machine washable and made in the USA. This harness is easy to put on, and very well padded. The buckle is placed near the top where it won't chafe. The long front strap makes for a very large head opening, which is nice for dogs that don't like having things pulled over his head.

Cons: The velcro makes a loud sound, which worries Brisbane. I'm working on desensitizing him to it, but it's a project. The leash attachment ring on this harness is very heavy, much heavier than any of the other Norway harnesses we've tried. The ring bangs against the buckle when the leash isn't attached.

Bottom Line: The ComfortFlex Sport Harness is my favorite Norway harness, I use it for sporting events and long hikes because it is comfortable for Brisbane and easy to put on. It is definitely the most comfortable, and least likely to chafe or rub Brisbane's delicate coat.