Guide: The Best Products for Hiking With Your Dog
Earlier this year on Instagram we asked you about the hiking products YOU love that make hikes easier and more enjoyable with your dogs. Once again we were blown away by your responses, and decided to turn them into an 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! PS: One of the easiest ways to be sustainable is to buy less. With that in mind, we compile these lists to try to help you find quality products so you don't have to keep buying things. Just because it is on this list doesn't necessarily mean you need it to hike with your dog. Please feel free to also check around for used versions of these products! [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.]
Navigate to where you want to go:
Dog Clothing and Accessories For Hiking
A First Aid Kit
From @peevepaisley: “…Have the Kurgo first aid kit in the car and an few key items (mostly for paws) in the pack.”
2. A High Tail Hikes Long Line
From @hounddog_mack: “Fav products: @hightailhikes long lines & safety straps — biothane is a gift in cold, snowy, wet weather!” PS: Use code TAILSOFCONNECTION for 10% off on all products!
3. The Ruffwear Harness
4. The Kurgo Adjustable Lead
From @peevepaisley: “…The Kurgo adjustable lead is great too - has a daisy chain connector so you can hook it to you and go short when it’s crowded to regular when it’s not.”
5. High Visibility Gear
From @wigglebutt_bailey: “Love this post! High visibility gear (we used to use a blaze orange bandana but Bailey’s fur is pretty long so we switched to a harness), especially during hunting season.” Note: TOC found this harness on REI’s site.
6. A Y-Shaped Harness
From @petuniapickles_gsp: “So many things😂. Trying to find a few that might not be on here already. I think one that can get overlooked is a harness that has a Y shape in the front so it allows for natural and safe movement especially in a hiking situation.” Note: TOC found this harness on Amazon.
7. A Collapsible Water Bowl
From @brew_stah_the_dog: “GSI Outdoors Collabsible bowl it’s for human hikers so it has a lid and actually stays upright 👏🏻 every dog specific one I’ve ever gotten…doesn’t…”
8. A Dog Backpack
From @amientus04: “Love my dog’s backpack! I have him carry his own collapsible water bowl and poop bags (as well as a Ziploc that I put the dirty poop bags in. Gotta back out his waste!).” Note: TOC found this backpack on Amazon.
9. The Wilderdog Harness
From @maural33: “…And I usually use the Wilderdog or Kurgo harnesses and clip on the back for extra freedom (normally she’s an easy walk front clip kinda gal 😂).”
10. The Ruffwear Convertible Waste Leash
From @sara.bolds: “Ruffwear leash that converts to a waist leash. Great for downhill sketchy spots where you need both hands…”
11. A Water Bottle that Doubles as a Bowl
From @brimounteer: “…I bought a water bottle on Amazon that doubles as a water bowl so I don’t need a collapsible bowl as well…” Note: TOC found this water bottle on Amazon.
12. Extra Balls
From @pheebadoodle: “Lots of extra balls. This is her highest reward so I can always use it as back up if I see she has own ideas…”Note: TOC found these balls on Amazon.
13. A Dog Sleeping Bag
From @rescuedog_lady: “…your dog deserves the same sleeping conditions as you - that means if *you* need an insulating sleeping pad or a cool-down coat, so does your dog...”Note: TOC found this sleeping bag on Amazon.
14. A Tick Key
From @ebpertner: “Tick key!! I find it much easier to use to remove ticks (from dogs and humans) than regular tweezers.” Note: TOC found these tick keys on Amazon.
15. A glow collar
From @chanzmcmanus: “Also, a glow collar! This is more for us TBH. Our pup has good recall but when we are out at night the collar makes him easier to see so he can explore more freely and we can still see him and not call him back unnecessarily.” Note: TOC found this glow collar on Amazon.
16. The Fido Pro Rescue Harness
From @karliemarianne: “We bought a @fidopro rescue harness in case our guys gets hurt and needs to be carried out of the woods. Haven’t had to use it yet but I don’t leave home without it.”
17. An outfox hood
18. A Dog Rescue SLing
From @daysofdarby: “…For really long adventure hikes I also throw in a sling in case D gets hurt and I have to carry her out.” Note: TOC found this sling on Fido Pro.
19. A Spare Dog ID Tag
From @dug_the_adventurer: “A spare ID tag! In the UK dogs must wear ID tags by law when they’re out and about (plus if Dug gets lost I want someone who finds him to be able to call me!), but Dug has lost his in brambles before when it snagged. So now I carry a cheap spare with the correct details on it so if he does lose his tag there’s no change of him going on to get lost without my details on him.” Note: TOC found this tag on Amazon.
20. A K9 backpack
From @bulldognamedcoco: “Our K9 backpack! Couldn’t live without it, as a Frenchie owner she can’t handle big hikes so when she gets tired we pop her in our backpack and carry on.” Note: TOC found this backpack on Amazon.
21. A GPS Collar
From @lulolilbigdog: “My favorite hiking gear if my dog will be off leash are: … a GPS collar…”Note: TOC found this Whistle GPS collar on Amazon.
22. A Kong Safestix
From @manateelotti: “…For playtime and making sure she leaves sticks alone we have a Kong Safestix. Sure gets you some strange looks but our stick-obsessed dog super quickly accepted that instead of wood…”
23. Musher’s Secret
From @chanzmcmanus: “Where we live and hike can get super cold and icy and they often treat the roads and sidewalks with salt so Mushers…on his paws before and after we go out is a must for us. We’ve got a pot of it by the door and a stick applicator for the car.”
24. RollOut Travel Bowl
From @wheresadieroams: “Our @muttruk gear is always a must on adventures! We always carry the…roll up bowl…”
25. A Frisbee
From @miorlanski: “…Frisbees (one of the dogs cannot be on a 20 min off leash walk without having those discs for at least a few throws)…” Note: TOC found this frisbee on Amazon.
26. THe Ruff Rescue Harness
From @camembert.chronicles: ”…Something else I find important is an emergency dog carrier like ruff rescue, this gives me a way to more easily carry my dog if they are ever seriously injured…”
27. Dog Boots
From @camembert.chronicles: “…I also always bring his boots in case he were to have an open wound on his paw to help keep it protected…” Note: TOC found these boots on Ruffwear.
28. An Extra Collar
From @indy_inspired: “…In the backpack we always have a collar and leash (in case something breaks)…”Note: TOC found these biothane collars on Mossy Pawz’s site. They are featured on our friend, Kassidi Jones’, Pet POC Diretory here.
29. A Bear Bell
From @lulolilbigdog: “My favorite hiking gear if my dog will be off leash are: a bear bell…” Note: TOC found this bear bell on Amazon.
Human Clothing and Accessories For Hiking
1. The MuttRuk Sidekick Hip Pack
From @hounddog_mack: “…@muttruk sidekick to carry treats, keys, phone etc— the built in water bottle holder is 👌…”
2. Sandals
From @indy_inspired: “…I also always bring a pair of sandals…”Note: TOC found these sandals on Amazon.
3. A Multi Tool Knife
From @indy_inspired: “…In the backpack we always have a…a multi tool knife…” Note: TOC found this knife on Amazon.
4. A Car Seat Cover
From @hounddog_mack: “…And a car seat cover, important all year between the sand, dirt, mud, and snow 😂…” Note: TOC found this car seat cover on Amazon.
5. The Deuter Fanny Pack
From @manateelotti: “…I found a Deuter that's big enough to hold my camera. That thing was a game changer!” Note: TOC found this Deuter fanny pack on Amazon. Check the size of your camera before you buy this model.
6. An Old Nalgene Bottle
7. The Patagonia black hole 5L waist pack
From @peevepaisley: “The Patagonia black hole 5L waist pack is amazing. Small front pocket for treats, two mesh pockets for water or hauling out 💩. Huge interior and wide band…”
8. A Headlamp
From @hanks.oysterdog: “In our backpack first aid kit (every single hike)…headlamp.” Note: TOC found this headlamp on Amazon.
9. A Waterfly Pack
From @maural33: “Love this thread - I’m interested to hear about what others bring, as we are still learning! So far, I’ve found that Waterfly (found on Amazon) makes a great hiking/walking fanny pack - there’s one that has two water bottle holders so one for her, one for me (and I use their smaller one for neighborhood walks). Great pockets for treats, keys, phone, extra gloves, first aid etc…”
10. A CamelBak with the water pouch removed
From @brimounteer:”…I have a camelbak with the water pouch removed that then hold my car keys and water for the pup…” Note: TOC found this CamelBak on Amazon and it still has the water pouch.
11. A 65L Backpack
12. An Ice Pick
From @cthulu.the.saint: “…For backpacking trips in winter I like to carry an icepick/handshovel/small mallet/hatchet or similar in case gear gets frozen in after a snowfall, we need to drink from a frozen water source, or to collect ice chips for snacking or boiling down.” Note: TOC found this ice pick on Amazon.
13. A Walker Family Goods Fanny Pack Sling
From @one.ear.up.frank: “Fanny pack from @walkerfamilygoods comes with us on all our walks; it's the perfect size for poop bags, a little Stasher treat bag, another Stasher with eye rinse and emergency Benadryl (since apparently Frank is allergic to bees)…”
14. A Small Phone Battery Pack Charger
From @hemorn: “I have a small phone charger in my pack if needed to call out and my phone has died.”Note: TOC found this battery pack on Amazon.
15. A Gardening Vest From Duluth Trading Company
From @the_bramleywolves: “I bought a gardening vest from @duluthtradingcompany and it’s fabulous. Lightweight, and full of pockets and attachment sites. I clip the treat pouch on, and put leashes in the pockets, lens cloth, hat and gloves, Chuckit ball… it’s amazing how much I can carry, have accessible and yet also have my hands free. It’s definitely my fave piece of gear and I hike with a few off leash dogs every day.”
16. A Salomon Vest
From @manateelotti: “…When we go running together I have a Salomon vest with two water reservoirs. One is for me, the other for her so that I can give her some water straight from the tube. That's been super handy. It also has enough space for all kinds of extra stuff I might need, like her frisbee. ;)…”Note: TOC found this Salomon vest on Amazon.
17. The MuttRuk Phoenix Backpack
From @wheresadieroams: “…Our @muttruk gear is always a must on adventures! We…use the Phoenix backpack. The treat pockets are amazing and when I need to carry a larger pack I miss them 😂
18. A Whistle For Recall
19. The MuttRuk Duty Bag
20. A Smaller 25L Backpack
From @camembert.chronicles: “Ooo so many things to mention! I use a small backpack for (25L) which holds water & human snacks, safety and camera stuff…” Note: TOC found this backpack on Amazon.
21. AllTrails App
From @petuniapickles_gsp: “…Another one is using apps to research [trails] and see reviews before you go (I like bringfido and AllTrails) and to navigate when there (AllTrails). It’s also fun to have a record of all the hikes you’ve done and how you’d rate them...”Note on AllTrails from @brew_stah_the_dog: “…Since it’s crowd sourced, it often will send hikers and tourists to sacred Native sites, see @indigenouswomenhike @native_power_rangers for better details.”
22. An Extra Clean T-Shirt
From @indy_inspired: “…I also always bring … a clean shirt to change into for the drive home which is so lovely after a big hike.” Note: TOC found these t-shirt on Black Dog Mom Shop’s site. They are featured on our friend, Kassidi Jones’, Pet POC Diretory here.
Guide: The Best Products For Surviving Winter With Your Dog
If you live in a snowy and icy place, caring for your dog in the winter can be particularly tricky. A few weeks ago we posted on Instagram and asked you about the winter dog products YOU love that make life easier and help you survive winter weather. Once again we were blown away by your responses, and decided to turn them into an 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.]
Navigate to where you want to go:
Winter Dog Clothing and Accessories
Ultra Paw Boots
From @littlesplines: “We've been using ultra paws boots for a few years. They’re a pair of rubber pads that helps grip the paws and they stay on even playing in the snow…”
2. A Waist Leash
From @gimpyballerina: “…a waist leash to preserve the fingers…I've been borrowing this one from a friend. I like the control handle and that it's super easy to unclip to convert to/from a regular leash without having to deal with getting it on and off my body. The shorter length works well for our narrow sidewalks, and the shock absorption is handy for when my pup gets excited to see a friend and suddenly pulls. The reflective parts are helpful at night but with my light up stuff not necessary. I don't use the pockets on the waist portion but some may find them useful.”
3. A Fleece Pullover
From @jesshorwitz: “…My girl Rooney has a fleece pullover and jacket-harness from @ruffwear that work great for very cold days. She’s a lab mix so I feel fortunate her short coat is rather low maintenance in the snow!”
4. Pawz Boots
From @ouimaelle: “In the city where the streets are full of salt and other chemicals to melt the ice, I love the Pawz Dog Boots. They’re the only boot that they can’t shake off, and not the end of the world if they do eventually lose one. They get used to them real quick and they’re so thin it never really seems to bother them.”
5. The Ruffwear Cloud Chaser
6. A Gold Paw Fleece
7. Jawz
From @jabbowaki: “Jawz for easily getting Pawz booties on our dog! He struggles to hold still and the jawz cuts down the time it takes to put them on him.”
8. The Weatherbeeta Waterproof Dog Coat
From @boilermakeranna: “…a WeatherBeeta waterproof dog coat that covers a good amount of their belly!”
9. A Blazin’ Safety LED Collar
10. A Non-stop Dog Coat
From @aaron_theangry_gsd: “Our winters aren't ever too cold. 9 degrees are the lowest temperatures we have. But we will live somewhere else soon with cold winters (Turin or somewhere in South Germany). Aaron has arthrosis so he needs to be kept warm. Therefore I've bought him a warm coat from nonstop dogwear that covers shoulders and legs warming his joints and big muscles groups. Its on his way to us in South Italy…”
11. A Jacket Harness from Ruffwear
From @jesshorwitz: “…My girl Rooney has a fleece pullover and jacket-harness from @ruffwear that work great for very cold days. She’s a lab mix so I feel fortunate her short coat is rather low maintenance in the snow!"
12. A Carhartt Insulated Dog Coat
13. Canada Pooch Boots
From @nickiiolivares: “It’s my first winter so this list is great. Although it rarely falls below 30 degrees (F) and if it snows it melts by the afternoon. We do plan on a winter cabin getaway so I’ve already started conditioning my girl to Canada Pooch Boots.”
14. A Muttluks Snowsuit
From @lily_aka_bean: “Bean has a snowsuit, an entire body covering snowsuit, by Muttluks, I bought it second hand and had to sew up the pant legs but living in Alberta with -30°-40° weather I couldn't not buy her one…”
15. Muttluks Dog Boots
16. Beacon Safety Lights
17. A Wilderdog Fleece Jacket
From @maural33: “And @wilderdog has great jackets that work with their harnesses- excellent for when it’s really cold!”
18. A Canada Pooch Raincoat
From @kronkadoodle: “Canada pooch rain coats because they're functional and cute, and don't have an awful zipper to fuss with…”
19. A Nite Ize Tag
From @jewellgrnb: “Nite Ize tags for their harnesses (I’ve actually had people driving stop and tell me how visible they were)…”
20. A Rechargeable LED Collar
21. A Dog Sweater Suit
From TOC: We found this dog sweater onesie on Da South Breeders Pet Supplies’s site. They are featured on our friend, Kassidi Jones’, Black Pet IG list here.
Winter Human Clothing and Accessories
Convertible Fingerless Mittens
From @gingerbeer.dc: “Convertible fingerless mittens were amazing last winter! It kept my hands warm but when I needed to break up treats I could still use my fingers without taking the gloves completely off.” Note: TOC found these mittens on Amazon.
2. Squeeze Tubes
From @mersey_theadventurebean: “A few key things that I find make our winters most enjoyable are using baby food in a squeeze tube as a treat so I can keep my mittens on…” Note: TOC found these squeeze tubes on Amazon.
3. Crampons
From @leighpeigh: “Crampons for my boots! I have two large dogs and while they walk nicely on a leash, even the slightest yank on your centre of gravity can bring you down on a patch of ice.” Note: TOC found these crampons on Amazon.
4. A Good Winter Coat
From @mersey_theadventurebean: “…a good winter coat for her when it gets really cold (for me too of course 😂)…” Note: TOC found this coat on Amazon.
5. A Pair of Fingerless Gloves Feeding Treats
From @e_chape: “…A pair of gloves that you only use for treat feeding.” Note: TOC found these gloves on Amazon.
6. Icebugs
7. Ice fishing flip top mittens
From @littlesplines: “…Ice fishing flip top mitts so I can use my fingers tips to dispenser treats…” Note: TOC found these mittens on Amazon.
8. A Reusable Hand Warmer
From @littlesplines: “…Trying reusable hand warmers this year.” Note: TOC found these hand warmers on Amazon.
9. A Headlamp
10. A Pair of gloves with the index finger and thumb cut out
From @peevepaisley: “Gloves with a cutout for the index finger and thumb - perfect for treating!” Note: TOC found these gloves on Amazon.
11. Yaktrax
12. Kahtoola EXOspikes
13. The Noxgear Tracer
14. A TurtleFur fleece lined balaclava
15. Thermal Underwear
From @aaron_theangry_gsd: “I use thermal underwear and a warm coat…” Note: TOC found this thermal underwear on Amazon.
16. Baleaf fleece-lined leggings
17. A Long Raincoat
From @kronkadoodle: “…A long old lady rain coat for me that everyone makes fun of me for until they wish they had one as long as mine…” Note: TOC found this raincoat on L.L. Bean’s site.
18. Waterproof Boots that Zip
From @kronkadoodle: “Tall, zip up waterproof boots so my feet stay dry stomping through the water and mud.” Note: TOC found these boots on L.L. Bean’s site.
19. A Reflective Vest
From @kronkadoodle: “…reflective vests for the humans…” Note: TOC found this vest on Athleta’s site.
20. Wool Socks
21. Fleece Lined Pants
22. A Merino Base Layer
From @jewellgrnb: “For me merino base layers…” Note: TOC found this long sleeved Merino top on Amazon.
23. flannel lined jeans
From @jewellgrnb: “For me…flannel-lined jeans…” Note: TOC found these jeans on Duluth Trading Co’s site.
24. A skida balaclava
25. Ski Goggles
From @lily_aka_bean: “…I am going to get ski goggles soon.” Note: TOC found these goggles on Amazon.
26. A Buff
27. A Hat with Ear Flaps
From @summers_dayinthe_sun: “…hats with ear flaps…” Note: TOC found this hat on the Trailheads site.
28. Snow Overalls
From @summers_dayinthe_sun: “…a pair of snow-overalls made last winter so much more manageable!” Note: TOC found these snow overalls on Amazon.
29. A Beanie that advocates for your dog
From TOC: We found this beanie on EukaryaPaw’s site. They are featured on our friend, Kassidi Jones’, Black Pet IG list here.
Enrichment and Snow Toys
A Hol-ee Roller
From @mersey_theadventurebean: “I also really love hol-ee rollers as an alternative fetch toy that is less likely to sink and get lost in deep snow!”
2. Bright Colored Toys
3. Indoor Games
From @isteriae: “Indoor games and chews for the day where we cannot have long walks because we're already under 1m of snow (since december 1st actualy 😭).”Note: TOC found this snuffle mat on Amazon.
4. Enrichment Games
From @raven_not_raisin: “And lots of indoor enrichment backup plans in case outdoors is an absolute no go!” Note: TOC found this toppl on Amazon.
5. An Indoor Agility Kit
From @archkatie: “This is my first winter with my cold hating pup! She has a coat and I have mushers. I also got an indoor agility kit for the darkest days 🤞🤞🤞.” Note: TOC found this agility kit on Amazon.
6. Kong Tennis Balls
7. A Lickimat
From TOC: We found this lickimat on Lizo Bandana Co’s site. They are featured on our friend, Kassidi Jones’, Black Pet IG list here.
For the Home and Grooming
Musher’s Secret
2. A Thermos
From @otis_unleashed: “I also often carry a whisk in my bag to break up some of the snow balls and a towel and a thermos bottle with hot water (I can pour hat water on the hand towel and hold on a snow ball stuck to them if they get one in a painful spot that I can’t break off).” Note: TOC found this thermos on Amazon.
3. A Wire Whisk
From @maural33: “She’s a snow lover and I’ve heard that a wire whisk is great for removing snow balls so planning to use that this winter.” Note: TOC found this whisk on Amazon.
4. A Quick Drying Towel
From @herstabetoff: “An absorbent quick drying towel, similar to ones used for hiking in the backcountry, to put down in the back seat dog hammock. It sucks the melted snow off him so he doesn't have to sit in a puddle of his own melt.” Note: TOC found this towel on Amazon.
5. A Waterproof Blanket
From @roverrehabnj: “And lots of warm blankets for snuggling on the couch after being out in the snow.” Note: TOC found this blanket on Amazon.
6. Burt’s Bees Wipes
From @brimounteer: “But also Burt’s bees wipes for her paws for when we come back in, to get all the salt and everything else off!”
7. The Soggy Dog Doormat
From @kronkadoodle: “…soggy doggy towels and door mats (which double as good "place" mats as well as snuffle mats haha).”
8. Paw Balm
From TOC: We found this paw balm on the Simply Sage Dog Treats site. They are featured on our friend, Kassidi Jones’, Black Pet IG list here.
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.]
Navigate to where you want to go:
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.