On this page, I’ve put together a list of the dog training products I use, and recommend to my clients. Whether you’re training a puppy, working with a reactive dog, or just want better, calmer walks, these may help. Some of these are affiliate links (which means I may earn a small commission), and some are simply products I stock because I genuinely believe in them, but every single one has earned its place here.

Tug-E-Nuff – Brilliant Training Toys That Dogs Go Wild For

Best for:

• Building engagement and focus
• Recall training
• Prey drive
• Channelling bitey puppy behaviour
• Making training fun again

Tug-E-Nuff are a UK-based dog toy brand, and a Devon local! Their toys are genuinely something special. They’re made to help you teach skills, build motivation, and strengthen your relationship with your dog.

I use Tug-E-Nuff toys all the time in training because they’re fantastic for:

• Reward-based training
• Teaching recalls
• Giving dogs a safe, appropriate outlet for biting, tugging and chasing
• Making yourself fun!

They’ve even released a blog with awesome training games using their toys, which is well worth a look.

Your discount

I’m a Tug-E-Nuff partner, which means new customers can get 10% off their first order.

Grab your discount here: https://tug-e-nuff.com/AXEVALLEY

If you use my link, I’ll get a little thank you that goes towards keeping my demo toys stocked for use in my classes.

These toys are especially great for safely building and channelling your dog’s prey drive into training. If you’d like to understand this better, I’ve written a full guide on prey drive in dogs and how to use it in training here.

Pet Remedy – Natural Calming Support for Anxious Dogs

Best for:

• Anxious or worried dogs
• Fireworks, visitors, vet trips, car journeys
• Settling into new environments
• Supporting behaviour work alongside training

Pet Remedy make natural calming products that can really help take the edge off for dogs who find the world a bit overwhelming. I often recommend them as a support tool alongside training, especially for dogs who are very sensitive, easily stressed, or struggling to relax.

They’re not a “magic fix” (nothing is), but they can be a really useful part of a wider behaviour and training plan to help dogs feel safer and calmer while they’re learning.

Your discount

You can get 25% off your purchase using my referral link: https://petremedy.co.uk/ref/AXEVALLEY/

Butternut Box – Fresh, High-Quality Food Delivered to Your Door

Best for:

• Owners who want simple, high-quality nutrition
• Supporting overall health and wellbeing
• Dogs who are fussy eaters

Butternut Box make fresh, gently cooked dog food that’s delivered straight to your door. The quality is excellent, and for many dogs it can be a real game-changer for appetite, energy levels, and even training motivation.

Good nutrition matters, not just for health, but for learning, focus, and emotional regulation too.

Your discount

You can get 50% off your second box using this link: https://butternutbox.com/AxeValley50

The Muzzle Movement – Stylish, Comfortable Safety Muzzles

Best for:

• Dogs who need safe mouth control in public spaces
• Reactive dogs in training
• Vet or groomer visits
• A positive muzzle-wearing experience

The Muzzle Movement make very well-designed muzzles that balance safety, comfort, and freedom of panting/licking, without the bulky or restrictive feel of old-school basket muzzles. Whether you’re working with a reactive dog, managing fear-based behaviours, or simply want peace of mind on walks, a good muzzle can be a game changer, and these ones are built with both dog comfort and humane training in mind.

What I really like about them:

• Anatomically shaped for comfort and airflow
• Made from high-quality materials
• Great for positive muzzle training, not just restraint
• Looks friendlier and feels more breathable than many others

Your discount

You can get 10% off your order when you use my affiliate link: https://themuzzlemovement.com/?ref=axevalley

Perfect Fit Harness – My Go-To Harness (Not an Affiliate)

Best for:

• Comfortable, secure walks
• Dogs who don’t fit “standard” harness sizes
• Reducing pressure on the neck
• Better freedom of movement

Perfect Fit Harnesses are not an affiliate. I stock them because I genuinely think they’re one of the best harness systems out there.

They’re modular, which means you can mix and match pieces to get a proper, comfortable fit for your dog (no more awkward rubbing, twisting, or escaping). I recommend these a lot in training because good equipment makes everything easier, for both you and your dog.

If you’re interested, just ask me and I can help you get the right fit.

Biothane Long Lines – Durable, Low Maintenance Training Lines

Best for:

• Recall and long-distance training
• Field work and off-lead progressions
• Reliable control without knots or stretching
• Wet or muddy conditions

When you’re working on recall, engagement or distance work, a long line is one of the most useful tools you can have. While many training lines are made from nylon or rope, biothane long lines offer a few advantages that make them a favourite for a lot of handlers:

Why I Recommend Biothane Long Lines

• Easy to clean: Mud, grass and water wipe straight off, no soaking or scrubbing.
• Don’t knot as easily: Unlike fabric leads, biothane doesn’t get knotted as easily.
• Weather resistant: Great for UK conditions, rain, puddles and wet grass don’t degrade the material.
• Durable: Tough stuff that lasts through heavy use without fraying.

These qualities make biothane lines especially useful for recall training, long-distance work, scentwork, providing freedom while still under control, particularly with dogs who need space.

A Quick Transparency Note

Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. That means:

• You don’t pay extra
• You often get a discount
• I get a small commission as a thank you for the referral

I only recommend products I genuinely believe in and use in my training or with my clients.

Final Thoughts: Choosing the Best Dog Training Products for Your Dog

There’s no single “perfect” piece of kit for every dog, but choosing well-designed, training-friendly equipment can make a huge difference to your dog’s progress and your enjoyment of training.

If you’re ever unsure what would suit your dog best, or you want help choosing the right equipment for your situation, feel free to ask me, either in a session or via message.

And if you’re looking for more help with training, you might also want to check out my:

• Puppy training classes
• 1-to-1 training sessions
• Free online resources

The right tools + the right training plan = a much happier dog (and human).

The post My Favourite Dog Training Brands (And Why I Recommend Them) appeared first on Axe Valley Dog Training.

Which is why it’s slightly embarrassing to admit that, three days into learning how to crochet, I completely ignored my own advice.

I often remind my clients that taking things slowly is one of the most important parts of training a dog.

Which is why it’s slightly embarrassing to admit that, three days into learning how to crochet, I completely ignored my own advice.

This whole experience has been fairly solid proof that the phrase “do as I say, not as I do” is 100% accurate.

When I’m teaching my lovely clients and students, I regularly talk about the importance of repeating the basic skills. Practising the “boring” stuff until both the dog and the human really get it.

It might not feel exciting, but it works.

Those foundations are what lead to success, reduced frustration, lower stress levels, and a much more enjoyable learning experience overall.

Which is why, after just three days of learning three basic crochet stitches, I decided I was ready to make a granny square.

(Reader, I was not ready.)

To be clear, I did follow instructions — I’m not that reckless. But what followed was two further evenings of effort, over ten complete unravels, and a surprising number of swear words aimed directly at a ball of yarn.

Eventually, I did manage to make a granny square.

If you’re being generous with the word square.

If I had done what I tell my students to do — “practise the easy things until they’re second nature, then add difficulty” — I could have saved myself hours of frustration. And that ball of yarn would not have been launched across the room.

The following evening, I went back to basics.

I practised the same stitch over and over again. No project. No end goal. Just repetition. Getting familiar with how it felt, how the yarn moved, how my hands worked together. Trying to enjoy the process instead of rushing to the result.

And that’s when it really clicked.

Because even in crochet, there are so many things happening at once. How to hold the hook. How to hold the yarn. How tight the stitches should be. Which stitch comes next. How to count properly. And that’s all before you’ve even made anything recognisable.

For someone new to a hobby, that’s overwhelming.

So instead of trying to do everything at once, I focused on one thing at a time.

First, familiarity with the stitches.
Then, a very simple beginner project.
Then, paying attention to tension.

I made several small pieces, and with each one I got better — at counting stitches, at seeing where each stitch actually was in the mess of yarn, at controlling tension, and at making sure things ended up roughly where they were meant to be.

I couldn’t have done all of that at once.

One of the nicest things about crochet is that mistakes aren’t a disaster. If you spot one, you can go back a few stitches. You can unravel the whole thing if you want. Or you can leave the mistake in, finish the piece, and look at it later to understand why it happened.

That part felt very familiar.

With dogs, mistakes in training aren’t the end of the world either. Yes, repeated mistakes can take longer to undo – but a few slip-ups here and there are often brilliant learning opportunities. They tell you what needs more clarity, more repetition, or a simpler setup.

I’m still frustrated with the yarn sometimes. That hasn’t magically disappeared.

But I haven’t stopped enjoying the process of learning and creating. I’m getting better with every attempt, and I’m learning something new each time I pick it up — even when things don’t go to plan.

And when it does all come together, when something finally works, the outcome feels worth it.

Not because it’s perfect.
But because I know how much patience, repetition, and learning went into it.

If you’re feeling stuck with your dog right now, or frustrated that progress feels slow, consider this your reminder: slow doesn’t mean failing — it usually means you’re doing it properly.

The post What Crochet Taught Me About Patience (And Why I Ignored My Own Advice) appeared first on Axe Valley Dog Training.

You know those tasks you have to do, but absolutely dread? For me, that task is social media. I sat down the other day to tackle a month’s worth of posts — and was instantly filled with that heavy, joyless fog of “ugh.”

So naturally, I did what any adult would do:

I put on a playlist called “Sea Shanties That Drop Your Panties.”

⚓ The Sea Shanty Spiral

I’ve always had a soft spot for sea shanties. Long before The Wellerman took over TikTok, I was singing along to “What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor” as a kid. My love for rugged bearded men and their salty tunes has not faded with time.

As I tried (and failed) to write the first post, a song came on that made me cackle. I’d never heard the band before, so obviously I had to go full detective. Turns out:

• They’re based in Bristol (local legends!)
• They’re touring
• They’re playing in Lyme Regis
• And — wait for it — they’re performing at the Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival.

🤯 There’s a SEA SHANTY FESTIVAL?!

Cue frantic Googling. (Sadly I can’t go this year, but I’ve already set a reminder for next.)

✍️ Procrastination That Actually Worked

Once the excitement settled, I realised I had something here — a blog post in the making.

Here’s a confession: I usually find writing these blog posts pretty hard.

But not this time.

I opened a Word doc and spilled out this post in five minutes. Normally, that would’ve taken me an hour or two of dragging my feet.

It’s a classic case of procrastination doing something right.

My brain was clearly in the mood to write a blog post… just not social media content.

And instead of fighting it, I followed the flow.
Result? Done faster. Done better. Done with joy.

🐶 What This Has to Do With Dog Training

This is something I tell my clients all the time — especially those struggling with loose lead walking.

Because let’s be honest:
Lead walking is the Facebook posts of dog training.
It’s necessary. It’s repetitive. And most of the time? It’s not fun.

But maybe one morning you wake up, look at your dog and think:
“I want to teach you a little happy tappy dance instead.”

Maybe you saw a Reel last night of a dog doing a ridiculously cute paw-tapping routine, and you just need to try it.

💃 Teach the Happy Tappy Dance

And you know what? Do it.
Because even though lead walking matters, it’s also totally valid to follow your curiosity and joy that day.

Teaching your dog something silly and fun still holds value:

• You’re engaged and excited.
• Your dog is picking up on your energy.
• You’re both learning together — and having a brilliant time doing it.

That’s a win.

🎶 So What’s the Takeaway?

Sometimes productivity looks like doing the thing your brain is actually ready to do — even if it wasn’t what was on your to-do list.

Progress doesn’t always come in the form you expect.
So if you and your dog want to do a happy tappy dance today?
I say, tap away.

PS: The band that started this whole thing?
Here’s the song: The Longest Johns – Moby Duck

Enjoy this post?
This started out as a story for my email subscribers, but it felt too fun (and useful) not to share here.
If you’d like more lighthearted dog training advice with a salty twist, hop on my email list or follow me on Facebook.
Bonus points if you send me your dog’s best dance moves. 💃🐾

The post How Procrastination, Sea Shanties, and a Dancing Dog Taught Me to Work Smarter appeared first on Axe Valley Dog Training.