Correct Dog Training Equipment
You will be using some basic equipment to train your dog. The specified equipment is not only the correct dog training equipment, but also the only way to safely train a dog. Your goal, at the end of this program, is to have your dog working off-leash and yes, that can include working your dog naked, i.e., no leash, no collar. Will you want to do that initially? Probably not, but as you and your dog progress in learning the Koehler Method of Dog Training, that is a very real goal.
Equipment needed:
Book: You will want to hunt down, find, and buy Koehler’s first dog training book – it has a mustard-colored book jacket. These are out-of-print, so getting hard to find at a reasonable price. Find one (or two or three copies), buy them and treasure them as gems. They are gems. You will not want to lend these books to anyone. *I have several of these books for sale.*
Intro + Weeks 1-2 (on leash) *
A 15’ Longe Line (for small dogs, I will make one and get to you) *
A 6’ leash (for everything including toy breeds) *
A properly fitted chain choke *
*I have these for sale at the start of Lesson 1*
1) Longe Line and 6' leash*
Don’t scrimp when it comes to the Longe Line. For the class student, depending on the breed and strength of your dog, the basic 15' 3/8" wide Biothane Longe Line and a 6' 3/8" wide Biothane leash are excellent investments. For dogs 20 - 10 pounds, a Longe Line can be make out of 3/8” braided nylon cord. For toy breeds, 10 – 3 pounds, a Venetian cord can be used. In all cases, a good quality bronze swivel snap is a must.
*I have them for sale at the start of Lesson 1*
2) Collars*
I recommend German made choke collars, specifically, those made by Herm Sprenger. They are sold in the U.S. under several different labels, but all are stamped (on the end rings) “HS – Germany.” They do not break and worth the investment.
Pictured below is one from allk-9.com. Other sources are Max 200.com, JJdog.com and Horton's Quality.
*I have them for sale at the start of Lesson 1*
Sizing collars
Use the heaviest practical for the application. For most dogs 3mm chain is the size to buy. And even where toys are concerned, I will rarely drop below 2mm, and will always take 2.5mm if available in the length I need. For bigger dogs I use 4mm chain. The length of the collar should be equal to a measurement of once around the dog’s neck, plus 2-3 inches … or, just long enough to slip over his head and not have to pry it back off. Either way, it should ride high on the neck. It should not be slung low like necklace, nor fixed high.
Style of link
Another link that I have found to be very good for the way we use the collar, is the ‘round’ or ‘curb’ style link, both are fast and run smooth. Whichever collar you use, it must weigh more than the combined weight of the “tab” and “light line” (see below). ‘
Flat’ link collars, flat buckle collars, or Tossutti collars (pronged collars) will not work for teaching an unschooled dog to choose to pay attention to the handler/owner. ONLY the properly fitted chain training collar is fair to the dog by giving clear and consistent communication. No other collar works well.
Weeks 3-5 (on leash)
For Week 3
1. Place Board and Negative Space
9' of 1" diameter PVC pipe, 4 PVC elbows to fit your 1” " PVC pipe (you will have leftovers to use for other future training equipment) You will be making a Negative Space. I usually recommend the Place Board dimensions be 22” x 24”, the same dimensions as the Place Board.
Wood needed to build a Place Board, approx. 2" height. Surface should either have glued down indoor/outdoor carpet or sprayed with spray paint that has sand in it. Surface must be stable, so dog doesn't slip when on top.
2. PVC pipe for heeling
9' of 1 3/4" diameter PVC pipe
You will need to purchase a 9' piece of 1 3/4" diameter PVC pipe from your local hardware store. From that 9' piece of pipe, you need three (3) pieces that at 15" in length, three (3) pieces that are 12" in length, and three (3) pieces that are 9" in length. It's easiest to have the hardware store cut these pieces and sand the ends. You want the ends sanded so the pieces stand upright on a firm surface.
That should give you a total of 9 pieces of PVC pipe cut into the three lengths, 15", 12" and 9".
These are used for your Week 3, Day 17. I will upload a video of what you will be doing with these very interesting pieces of PVC pipe in training later this week. This is an exercise used to train service dogs on how to be always aware of their body. This exercise also teaches the dog the wisdom of maintaining correct heel position in a most unusual way.
For Week 4
*Training Table is optional*, but mighty handy (Week 4 and particularly for teaching the retrieve)
Materials and building dimensions.
You will need an 8' table to work on.
Best design is a simple 22" wide by 96" long by 20" tall table.
The top is made of one sheet of 5/8" ACX plywood that is ripped at 22", then glued and nailed together. This will give you a 1-1/4" x 24" x 96" top. The leg assembly is made of 4x4 pressure treated, cut at 18-3/4" each, and three 2 x 4 x 96" that you will use to frame the top (two inches inside the profile of the top) and for bracing.
Buyers Steel Tie-Down Ring Plate Item# 0730, ordered mine from http://www.northerntool.com
Only $1.99. I have my rings attached to this training table and use them constantly.
Give the training table a good coat of exterior paint, and you are good to go for the next 20 years. Total cost - less than $ 200.
For Week 5
1) A Front Place Board is just barely big enough for your dog to do a proper Tuck Sit on it and makes it easy for dogs to succeed. I recommend having two Front Place Boards as they are VERY handy to use for extended distance on Recalls.
Think of this as nothing more than a grab handle because that’s all it is. Well, that, and a fixture onto which you will tie your light line (see below). Although tabs are available from many sources, you can make your own out of ¼” (small) 3/8” (medium) or ½” (large) braided nylon cord.
The reasoning is simple. Tabs are introduced during Week 5 of the Course, but not used until Week 7. That two-week period is used to habituate the dog to the feel of the tab as it bobs and weaves, moves to and fro and side-to-side. During this time the owner is told to ignore what the dog may do with the tab – don’t worry if your dog chews it. It is laying the foundation for the dog to ignore the light lines completely
For Week 6
Smaller step stool - find one at a thrift store or purchase. MAKE SURE the surface is NOT SLICK, but a bit rough so the dog has stable footing. MAKE SURE the stool doesn't slip when a dog is on it, so it must be stable with weight on it. Yes, you can make these also.
These are used for training a dog to move its hips in a different direction (strengthens hip muscles) AND as step stools for teaching a dog to launch into a car or in the back of a truck, etc. Mighty handy.
Another Place Stool - used during Week 6
Weeks 6-10 (off leash)
1. Throw chains (I have them for sale)
100’ of light line (550 parachute cord) You will need one 40' length, one 20' length and one 6' length
Throw chains (once sold as ‘chainettes’)
Though commercially available, for best results, you will want to build them to suit. I offer them for sale when we get to that lesson. For online students, I will ship them to you, plus a tab, prior to Week 6. Cost is $ 20.
Two factors are considered when deciding what weight to use: the size of the dog and attitude of the dog. Throw chains are built in two-ounce increments weighing from 2 to 8 ounces. Generally, large dogs will need 8 ounces (maximum), medium dogs will need 6 ounces, small dogs will need 4 ounces, and toys will need 2 ounces.
However, the attitude of the dog will contribute to the sizing question. Example: A 40lbs. Australian Cattle Dog will probably need more weight than a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever of the same size. While the size of a German Shepherd supports the use of an eight-ounce throw chain, using six-ounce chains on the GSD breed works well most of the time.
2. Light Line
There are three readily available products which make for good light line material. Goldblatt Braided Nylon Masonry Line, 80# Test Braided Dacron Fishing Line, and #4 Braided Nylon Sash Cord. Additionally, I often use 550 parachute cord which you can purchase from any military surplus store. DO NOT PURCHASE NEON COLORS OR BRIGHT COLORS.
There are two important factors to consider when choosing which product to use: its strength, and its weight. The lines I have mentioned are for small, medium, and large dogs, respectively. But whichever light line material you use on any dog, the combined weight of the tab and light line must weigh less than the dog’s training collar.
Note: I will be using neon colors for demo purposes, that's NOT what you want to use for dog training purposes.
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