The Nifty Canine Gadget Thread

[meloncollie]

I'm normally pretty old school when it comes to canine 'stuff' - the Muttley Crew live the uncluttered life. But once in a while a gadget comes along that fills a need you might not even have known existed, and it quickly turns into an almost essential. That's what this thread is about.

Have you found a gadget, tool, etc. that has made life for you and your four-footed friend easier? If so, tell us what it is, how it's used, and where it can be found.

I'll start:

First: The 'zip line' telescoping clicker.

A standard clicker is a little hand held plastic thingamajig that when pressed makes a click noise. These are used as markers in dog traing - you click at the exact moment the dog does the right thing, helps with getting your timing right (timing is everything in training) and acts as a reinforcer.

The zip line telescoping clicker is a modification where the clicker is on a pull-out-and-retractable thread and combined with a telescoping target stick. The gadget can be clipped to your pocket, coat, etc and pulled out as needed. You don't need to keep the clicker constantly in your hand, freeing your hands for all the million things you need to be doing at the same time. Combining a target stick and clicker in one is brilliant, as again it frees up your hands. No more fiddling with target in one hand, clicker in the other, wishing for a third hand to fish out a treat.

I thought 'what a silly thing' when I first saw it... and now I have one attached to every dogwalking jacket I own.

Made by Trixie (and others), available from Zooplus.de:
http://www.zooplus.de/shop/nager_kle...ninchen/201889



And a second - Oster cordless nail filer:

Again, I was old school, using standard nail ciippers for years. But my (very much missed) Haifisch did me in - poor little guy had quicks extending to the very tip, the vet had to cauterize each nail while trimming or we'd quite literally have a blood bath on our hands. So the search for alternatives began.

The Oster cordless nail filer is pretty much a dremel tool designed to trim dog nails. You file rather than clip, lessening the chance that you will hit the quick. A huge advantage when your dog has black nails. You obviously need to desensitize the dog to the tool, but that is easily done following standard DS/CC protocol.

Made by Oster, available from zooplus.de:
http://www.zooplus.de/shop/hunde/hun...nschere/355809


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So fellow dog owners, what gadgets have you grown to love?

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[Markarina]

Not specifically targeted at canines, but four legged friends in general. We have two cats who, although they are DSH they still leave lots of fur around the place to reduce this we use a furminator and even the cat didn't really like being brushed quite enjoys being burshed with the furminator, the amount of hair that these things get off is nothing short of amazing! and their coats look and feel really good.

[CathHarmony]

Id like to have a good thermometer in the house. Is there a thermometer anyone can recommend? for dogs and humans?

The pharmacy sells
1. non-electronic, non quick silver, takes 5 mins 13chf
2. electronic flexible tip, 10 secs, 18chf
3. braun ear thermometer? 75chf (does anyone know if this would work for a dog?)

[lucy_who]

I reckon my top two gadgets are the furminator and the roomba...

Also, for the Idiot Labrador, the kong for slowing down eating and the kong brand frisby which (a) exercises her while the old mutt has a pleasant, uninterrupted bimble, and (b) appears to be absolutely indestructible.

[Sharkbait]

In India, our apt dogs don't play much, but I have a couple kittens (as much as you can actually HAVE a cat) that like to play with "stuff".

I got a tennis ball and a piece of rope, poked holes through the ball and shoved the rope through and tied knots in it. They knock it all around my flat

Cost me about 1CHF in Indian rupees

[meloncollie]

	Quote:	CathHarmony
	3. braun ear thermometer? 75chf (does anyone know if this would work for a dog?)

Cath you might want to take a look at this thread:
Ear Thermometer: Can it be used on a dog?

In the end I bought an ear thermometer to use during a seizure, as a rectal is impossible if she has gone rigid or is flailing. However, doing my own home quality testing using both when she is not seizing - the temp measured by the ear thermometer does differ from the rectal thermometer.

It doesn't matter all that much as I only need to alerted to a spike while seizing, gross measurements at the start of the seizure and then at intervals during are good enough. But for anything else, it's the good old-fashioned rectal one.

(Rectal thermometers are available at Meiko.)

Have very few gadgets for our dogs. 2 I've got is the screw post to tether dog when having a picnic, etc. And other is the RAC screw down and click bottle which fits into drinks container with clip for belt. I am not a gadget person for me, never mind the dogs.

I'm going out this week to get a good reflective harness - and a good flash light (tail light).

My other favorite gadget is Lily's thundershirt.

Oh, and Lily despises the furminator. Maybe it's my technique.

[meloncollie]

Bringing this thread back up, with a gadget that has made my life a lot easier, the finger clicker:
https://www.clicker.ch/shop/clicker#fingerclicker

Lately arthritis has taken it's toll on my hand dexterity, and thus my timing when using standard clickers. And as y'all likely know: bad timing means less effective teaching with the mutts.

So I tried a finger clicker. This is worn on your index finger, you then click with your thumb, no fiddling with zip lines, wrist bands, etc. so a good solution for my dexterity issues. And I essentially free up one hand.

Indeed a nifty little gadget.

[irishgirl]

Two things that have made my life easier when looking after boarding dogs who might be a little tricky to settle at night are kongs (of all types, the original, the wobbler, the Kong style connectable toys) and a holistic calming spray which actually works for anxious dogs!

I also love finger clickers Meloncollie! And I firmly believe in, and recommend, thundershirts. And front clip harnesses which take all of the strain off my shoulders because they really do work to stop the dogs pulling. And "through a dogs ear" canine music which is very relaxing, I have it playing all the time round here, free to download on YouTube (I bought the whole rang of cds back in the day!)

[Mrs. Doolittle]

Not a gadget but I recently learned that the spray for humans (Hansaplast)which forms a bandage to cover a wound which is otherwise diffucult to wrap or cover is safe for dogs.

Not a gadget, but I will never live in a house/ apartment without a windowless basement or storage. We live in a characterless lump of concrete built into a hill. But it’s great. The storage rooms run across the back of the flat against the hill. All we need to do is go into the storage room, Lily follows and quickly falls asleep on the floor.

Thundershirt is still fab, but the room is better.

Lily likes the music of Vaughan Williams, especially the Lark Ascending. Great for the car. After 12 years, great ambivalence in the car. (Dog box helps too).

[robBob]

What ever happened to the good old bone from the butcher. Always kept my dogs happy and out of trouble.

[Corbets]

	Quote:	lucy_who
	I reckon my top two gadgets are the furminator and the roomba... Also, for the Idiot Labrador, the kong for slowing down eating and the kong brand frisby which (a) exercises her while the old mutt has a pleasant, uninterrupted bimble, and (b) appears to be absolutely indestructible.

I second everything in this post.

I also found that getting Rusty (and training him to use) a bell next to the door, so that he can alert me when it’s time to go outside, was pretty useful.

And he loves his Clever Pet as well, of course.

[Fish Paste]

	Quote:	irishgirl
	..... And front clip harnesses which take all of the strain off my shoulders because they really do work to stop the dogs pulling.

Do you have any recommendations?
I had a cheap one off Amazon as a tester and it really did work, however poor design for the clips meant it chaffed his armpit, so I'm looking for a replacement.
Thanks!

[irishgirl]

Fish Paste - this one is really brilliant, got it from my trainer and now recommend it to all owners who have dogs that pull. I haven't found it in Switzerland but I believe they deliver from France. If you have difficulties ordering let me know, my trainer sells them. https://www.animalinboutique.fr/educ...-animalin.html

[Mrs. Doolittle]

	Quote:	Fish Paste
	Do you have any recommendations? I had a cheap one off Amazon as a tester and it really did work, however poor design for the clips meant it chaffed his armpit, so I'm looking for a replacement. Thanks!

I bought harnesses from this company sold at Qualipet. This is the kind of item that must fit right and I cannot buy online. The quality is super, I washed them many times.

http://colly.kmy.ch

[meloncollie]

	Quote:	Fish Paste
	Do you have any recommendations?

My guys wear Ruffwear, the Front Range harnesses for everyday walks, and the Webmaster for trail hiking. Both have the usual lead clip over the back of the shoulders, taking the strain away from the dog's neck - and your arms. The front range has an additional front clip if you are doing training control with two leads. The Webmaster has a second belly belt, making it virtually escape proof.

Front Range:
https://ruffwear.com/collections/har...-range-harness

Webmaster:
https://ruffwear.com/collections/har...master-harness

I love Ruffwear gear. Robust, durable, extremely well designed.

Available in Switzerland from Meiko ( meiko.ch ) , Amazon.de ships these to Switzerland as well.

[meloncollie]

	Quote:	Corbets
	And he loves his Clever Pet as well, of course.

Oh my goodness, this is amazing!