Nationwide Resources
Friends & Favorites
- The Real Meat Company - Our favorite treats! Their jerky treats are semi-soft and hold their shape no matter how small the pieces are. They’re great to work with as they don’t crumble or stick to your fingers. They’re also the most well-loved treat we’ve found. Use code “Clever” during checkout and receive 10% off your first order.
- Skout’s Honor - Dog grooming products that make a world of a difference. Their probiotic products alone are really great as they help aid in your dog’s skin health and recovery, but they truly have an option suitable for every dog, with wonderful scents. Use code “CLEVERCANINE10” to receive 10% off your first order.
- Ruffwear - By far, this company is our favorite for comfortable and great quality dog gear. Whether your dog is active outdoors, working, or hanging with you at home, they have equipment for everyone. Not only is everything super durable, but they also put in a lot of effort in terms of how their gear is constructed. Their harnesses especially will likely not interfere with your dog’s structure and body movement.
- Thundershirt - Our go-to for anxiety pups who need help taking the edge off. It provides a nice, firm wrap around the body and abdomen and gives your pup the feeling and comfort of something similar to a tight hug. Please keep in mind that using these outdoors in hotter months is probably not the best idea.
Food, Treats & Supplements
- Dog Food Advisor - This site is a life saver when it comes to understanding dog food. They rate each brand’s options and break everything down to help you pick the best food for your dog and your budget. We recommend choosing a 4-star food or above if possible, as these are of a higher caliber and tend to have more benefits for your pup.
- The Real Meat Company - So good that it deserves a second mention. As stated at the top of this page, these are by far our favorite training treats. Dogs adore them, and they’re super great to work with while training.
- OriJen - Great quality dog food and dog treats - Their freeze-dried dog treats break apart like butter and are contain limited, high-quality ingredients. Their dog food is also consistently one of the higher ranked foods on Dog Food Advisor.
- Wholesomes - Specifically Cleo’s Jerky Sticks - These are a great option for something super tasty and tempting, but also a solid bang for your buck. They are a longer, tube-like jerky but are a semi-soft treat so are easy enough to work with while training.
- Zukes - Great quality treats, and they have many different varieties to choose from. They have a lot of lower-calorie options if you’re concerned about your pup packing on some pounds.
- Pet Botanics - Pretty good quality and tend to be preferred by pups who love bacon or beef flavors. Their Training Rewards treats are specifically lower in calories so that you can train for longer with your pup.
Training Tools
- Treat Pouch - Our all-time favorite is the Treat Trader by Ruffwear as it forms to the curve of your hip, has a great liner inside, and has a magnetic closure. Any treat bag will do to keep food bits out of your pockets, but theirs is a cut above.
- Harness - We highly recommend using an harness for whenever your dog is on leash. Dogs as a whole tend to pull at various points for various reasons, and pulling over time can cause damage to your dog’s trachea. Our all-time favorite in this category is the Front Range Harness by Ruffwear. It’s wonderfully padded, has multiple adjustment points for a great fit, and has multiple attachment points to fit any activity you might be doing. The Hi & Light Harness by Ruffwear is another great option for pups who have extra fluff and get overheated easily.
- Leash - We’ll always and forever suggest using a fixed-length leash over a flexi-leash, as the flexi-leash options tend to promote pulling by always adding resistance as your dog walks. For a fixed-length leash, you’ll want to aim for something between 4 & 6 feet in length. Our favorite here is the Ruffwear Knot-A-Leash because of the large locking carabiner. Other loved options are Ezydog Zero Shock, Kurgo Quantum 6-in-1, and Rok Straps leashes.
- Hands-free Leash - These are so great if you want your hands free while walking your dog. They also help a ton with teaching loose leash walking as they don’t give you as much of an opportunity to pull on the leash in response to your dog pulling, which can make pulling worse overall. Our favorites: Ruffwear Roamer, Ruffwear Switchbak, Kurgo Quantum, or Life Handle Leash System. The Life Handle system is super padded around your shoulders and is a great option for runners and people who love being active for longer periods of time with their dog.
Toys & Puzzles
- Woof Pupsicle - This product is what happens when a great company comes up with a great idea and helps solve many issues for puppy parents and pups alike. The Pupsicle is our number one pick for versatility. You can freeze home-made goodies inside to create a longer experience or simply purchase refills from the company. Either way, you can’t go wrong and your pup will love every second while playing with this toy.
- Kong Classic Treat Toy - This is a great introduction to “stuffed” toys, and a great option for all ages as they have age-specific strengths that are great for puppies, adults, strong chewers, and even seniors. For more difficulty, you can freeze
- Starmark Treat Dispensing Chew Ball - This bright green treat ball is our favorite! It’s a good level up from the Kong Classic and has a nice big interior so you can ramp up the difficulty once your dog is used to playing with it. It’s also squish-able and smells great!
- West Paw Qwizl Dog Puzzle - Consider this the advanced version of the previous two on this list. It’s great for experienced puzzlers and you can place a bully stick or treat like it directly in the center for an extra challenge!
- ChuckIt Ultra Ball or Paraflight Frisbee - The ball is a classic, it’s durable bounces great, and dogs love to squish/crunch on it. For the frisbee-loving pups, the Paraflight is fantastic - it flies great, floats far, and has a soft rim so your dog won’t damage their teeth over time. Both, like many Chuck-It products, also float!
- GoDog - All of their toys are great options for dogs that love stuffed toys, but their bite-guard-infused line is the best. Not the best for dogs playing tug with each other, but fantastic for individual play and super durable in that context.
- Benebone - For pet parents who want something that won’t splinter as their dog chews away, this is a great option. They have many different styles and flavors, our favorite style is the Wishbone. As with any nylon-based chew, just make sure you take it away when it gets warn down and rough.
Dog Training Books
- Dog Tricks by Carol Lea Benjamin & Captain Arthur J Haggerty - This was the first dog training book Lisa ever read, when she was 16. Easy to follow for kids and young adults, and all-around great fun.
- 101 Dog Tricks by Kyra Sundance - Another fun and easy to follow book! It’s composed of instructions that are easy to follow along with, images that are very helpful, and makes it easy for you to have fun with your dog and see results quickly.
- Guide to a Well-Behaved Dog by Zak George - If we were to recommend any one trainer’s material outside of our own, it would be Zak George, as his positive reinforcement style very closely mimics ours.
- Don’t Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor - This is one of our favorites for anyone wanting to further their teaching and training skills.
- What Is My Dog Thinking by Gwen Bailey - Inside this book, you’ll find a fantastic guide to dog behavior and body language. We highly recommend it for anyone truly wanting to understand what their dog is going through.
Local Resources
Veterinarians
- BluePearl Pet Hospital - Nobody wants to head to an emergency vet, but this is a great one to have in your back pocket. Their staff is super kind and friendly, knowledgeable, and are able to assist in complex emergency situations when you need them most.
- Animal Medical Clinic - Truly a vet that cares - they specialize in fear-free handling, which means that your pup will be in good hands even if they’re afraid. They have multiple vets and two different locations in town, so getting in to be seen isn’t too much of a hassle.
Boarding & Day Care
- Paws & Pints - We’re always a fan of this concept. It’s a dog bar with a dog daycare built in, so you and your dog can both socialize. The best part is, you get to see what goes on while you’re there so you can monitor your pup if you’re worried.
Groomers
- Stylin’ Paws Salon - A very kind and caring groomer with plenty of options to choose from. They also have a great staff who are great to work with.
- Paws & Pints - Although it’s listed above, we like this one for the versatility. You can have your dog groomed and have a drink while you wait - it’s a win-win!
Rescues
- Animal Rescue League of Iowa - Iowa’s largest nonprofit animal shelter, caring for thousands of pets each year.
- Furry Friends Refuge - Specific to Des Moines, this nonprofit rescue is top-notch. They tend to stick up for the unwanted, discarded and misunderstood pups. Their staff is caring and know their stuff as well.
- Hope Animal Rescue - Catering to Des Moines and central Iowa, Hope is another great nonprofit animal rescue option.