A flat buckle collar may be made of leather, cotton, nylon, or biothane. It fits snugly around the dog's neck, closes with a clasp or buckle, and has a ring attachment for a leash. This type of collar is good for dog who have learned to walk on a loose leash (i.e., without pulling) and are not at risk for backing out or escaping the collar.

A Martingale collar, sometimes called a sighthound or greyhound collar, is one with two loops. This type of collar is designed for dogs with heads smaller than their necks (such as a sighthound) or who are at risk for escaping from a standard flat collar. When fitted correctly, the collar will fit snugly during normal use but tighten gently if the dog attempts to back out.

A back clip harness is the most common type and what most people think of when they hear "harness." This type of harness has a leash attachment point along the dog's back or near the shoulder blades. Harnesses are good for dogs who have not yet learned to walk on a loose leash, are at risk for escaping a flat collar, or have or may develop neck injuries or trachea damage from a flat collar. Contrary to popular belief, harnesses do not teach dogs to pull. They are used for pulling sports such as sled racing or bike-joring because they are safer for the dog. Teaching dogs to pull or not pull is the responsibility of the human.

A front clip harness, often called a no-pull harness, is one with the leash attachment point in the front. This type of harness is good for dogs who pull hard or are stronger than their humans. It can provide more safety for dog and human as they work together on developing loose leash walking skills.

A head harness is based on equipment from the horse training world and the idea the body will follow the head. This type of harness fits around the dog's snout with a leash attaching at the side or bottom. It can be good for dogs who pull hard or are stronger than their humans. It can provide more safety for dog and human as they work together on developing loose leash walking skills.

We do not under any circumstance recommend the use of prong, pinch, choke, or electronic shock collars and such equipment is not permitted at our training center for the safety of our instructors, students, and dogs. Use of such equipment is not necessary for effective training and is not without risk. If you have questions, please contact your instructor.

We recommend using a four- or six-foot nylon, biothane, or leather leash (sometimes called a lead) for training and walking in populated areas (e.g., neighborhoods, high traffic parks). In some situations with dogs who are well-trained and have a reliable recall (i.e., return to you 99% of the time), or for certain sports, longer leashes (or lines) are sometimes used.

We do not recommend using a retractable or flexi-lead and such equipment is not permitted at our training center for the safety of our instructors, students, and dogs.

At DTCCC much of our training uses food treats to reinforce desirable behaviors and we recommend using a treat pouch for convenience. Although each dog will have individual preferences, most respond well to real meat and cheese; hot dogs; soft meat-based packaged treats; and homemade meat, cheese, or fish treats. For most dogs, the stinkier the better! Large pieces aren't necessary; dogs will work for even small bits of the good stuff.

You may have concerns about using treats in your training. This module will address many of the questions new handlers often have. This blog post speaks to using treats in training as well, The Truth about Treats: Why Do We Use Then in Training?

If your dog has health issues, please speak to your veterinarian about safe options and when you transition to in-person classes be sure to let your instructor know if your dog has dietary restrictions.

Any sound - including your voice - can be used to mark correct behaviors. At DTCCC, our students often use the word "yes!" as a verbal marker. The marker is paired with a treat so that it predicts a treat. Once a dog understands that marker (yes!) = treat, it is used to mark the exact moment your dog does the desired behavior during a training session. The marker is always followed by a treat to ensure the relationship between the marker and treat remains strong. You will often hear the phrase "mark and treat" used by DTCCC instructors to remind handlers to mark and reward their dogs. Markers are most valuable when teaching new skills and are phased out as behaviors become more ingrained.

Some trainers use a clicker, a small device that makes a sharp, short, distinct sound when a button is pressed. If you would like to learn more about using clickers, Fifteen Tips for Getting Started with the Clicker was written by Karen Pryor, the animal trainer who popularized clickers after working with marine animals.

Management tools allow your dog to be successful by preventing undesirable and/or unsafe behaviors. The most commonly used tools include

• crates

• baby / dog gates

• ex-pens

• leashes

• tethers

• fences

• muzzles