The Latest and Greatest in Positive Dog Training Technology
With Christmas just around the corner, I am always looking for the latest and greatest to buy for my dogs. (And test out for my clients!) In the recent years, I have seen an increase in new technology meant to help owners train their dogs more efficiently than ever before. We are a family that is completely infatuated with technology so, naturally, I want to test out all the new training gadgets. I know I have clients who feel the same way. I have created a list of the latest and greatest in positive dog training technology for my tech-savvy clients to refer to whenever they need a new toy. So go out there and spoil some dogs this holiday!
1. CleverPet, the best in separation anxiety treatment technology.
Separation anxiety in our dogs can be stressful for every member of the family, and it is one of the most common complaints I hear from dog owners. Realistically, separation anxiety treatment can take a long time because it requires particular role play on the owners part (pretending to leave home for periods of time), right timing for your reinforcers, and patience with your clearly distressed pet. The challenging training process is why I am so excited that CleverPet finally launched back in November. While CleverPet may not work for every dog with separation anxiety, if your dog is eating all of your furniture when you leave, it is worth a try.
For dogs with mild anxiety or boredom when left alone, this can be a perfect solution for them too. CleverPet holds your dog’s food or treats and to access the food; the dog must play through a puzzle first. I describe it to clients as Simon-Says for your dog. The lights on the front light up in different patterns and your dog must follow the pattern to release the food. If your dog has already gone through every puzzle toy in your house without a sweat, this is your solution because the puzzles get harder as your dog “levels up.”
To buy one, find this link to CleverPet.
2. iFetch, your dog’s automatic fetch robot.
I am the proud owner of an iFetch Too and all I can say is my Australian Kelpie loves it! When I first adopted her, she wanted to play fetch for hours, and I felt like my arm was going to fall off after a play session. She was addicted to fetch. When I saw iFetch, I was a bit wary, but overall, was glad I purchased it.
iFetch is an automatic ball launcher that can fit your average sized tennis balls and launch them feet into the air. Your dog can also be trained to bring the balls back and place them into the machine for human-free fetching. iFetch comes in a smaller size and larger size for dogs of different shapes and breeds. What I like about the iFetch that most, owners of highly energetic dogs can get relief and have fun at the same time. However, I will mention that it is not for every dog since the device does make noise when launching the tennis balls and noise sensitive dogs might not find it to be enjoyable without some convincing.
To buy one, follow this link to iFetch.
3. Treat&Train, remote positive training.
Dr. Sophia Yin’s Treat&Train is another one of my “babies.” I use my Treat&Train often, and my dogs are crazy about it. The Treat&Train is a remote-controlled kibble/treat dispenser that can be used to reward your dog up to 100 feet away. It also has an auto-feed mode that can be set to dispense rewards at different time intervals.
I used the Treat&Train to teach my Australian Kelpie her “place” cue because I found the Treat&Train was more accurate in its rate of reinforcement than myself and it was much better at randomizing when she received rewards on auto mode. Later, we phased out the Treat&Train and now we just have a solidly reinforced behavior, and if we ever need a refresher, I can just bring out the Treat&Train to do the job for me.
To buy the Treat&Train, follow this link.
Thanks for reading and I hope you found an amazing new gadget for you and your dog to try out. Keep in mind that no device will ever replace training your dog yourself and spending the time to create that bond with them. No matter what promises companies make, each dog is different and will need personalized training to help them succeed in all areas of life.
