2021 Holiday Gift Guide
FYI this page does NOT include affiliate links. If you make a purchase from one of the retailers I’ve linked to, I get nothing.. except the warm and fuzzy feeling from helping you find a gift! Please note that prices may have changed since I published this gift guide in November 2021.
Jump to:
Toys for Mental Enrichment
Want to learn more about why dogs need mental stimulation?
Outward Hound Slow Feeder Bowl • $8
This uniquely shaped plastic bowl helps slow down dogs who have a tendency to Scarf ‘N’ Barf, but it’s also useful for owners who don’t have the time or patience to meticulously fill all 18 of their dog’s Kong toys for the week.
Personally, I feed half of my dog’s meals and her daily behavioral supplements in this slow feeder bowl and feed her the other half during training:
Nina Ottosson Brick Puzzle Toy • $14
One of the most well-designed puzzle toys, in my opinion! The red bricks hinge open and slide to reveal treats inside and under. You can modulate the difficulty of the puzzle by removing or adding the white bone-shaped bricks which the dog needs to remove to slide the red bricks over. Once your dog understands how to retrieve the treats, replace the white bricks. Pro tip: if your dog is pawing at the puzzle, place it on a low table or chair to encourage them to use their nose.
If you’d like to see how it works, here’s a time-lapse video of Laika working through the puzzle. This was her fourth time doing the puzzle and she finishes extracting all the treats in approximately 3 minutes.
PureBites Chicken Breast Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Treats, 3-oz bag • $9
What is it about chicken that dogs love so much? This is a high value treat you can whip out at a moment’s notice without having to boil and/or defrost chicken breast. As an added bonus, your fingers will stay dry and relatively clean. Great for dogs who have sensitive stomachs, or are watching their weight.
Stella & Chewy's Lamb Wild Weenies Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Treats, 3.25-oz bag • $10
Wild Weenies are another treat Kuma Dog Training clients go bonkers for, and there are several different protein options to choose from. These are great for training because it’s less crumbly than the Stella & Chewy’s patties, but can still be easily crushed between your fingers and fed continuously, making it ideal for luring, counterconditioning, and distraction.
BIXBI Rawbble Beef Recipe Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Dog Food, 4.5-oz bag • $11
I use Rawbble while training scent work because I don’t need to break up the small, discrete pieces. Most dogs regard these as high-value and it’s a dog food so I can simply offset the kibble my dog receives that day and not worry about feeding my dog a ton of empty calories.
Bocce's Bakery Sunday Roast Chicken & Pumpkin Recipe Training Bites Dog Treats, 6-oz bag • $6.50
These make the perfect training treats for small dogs, and the cute heart-shaped bits are easy to split perfectly in half. I love them while training loose leash walking, since I use a large quantity of treats and I want them to be small as possible while still being tasty.
Essential Equipment
Doggone Good Rapid Rewards Pouch • $20
Of the many styles of treat bags I’ve tested out, this is the clear winner. There are two compartments inside to separate out low and high value treats, a zippered back pocket for your wallet, an open front pocket for a clicker and emergency squeaker, a side pocket for poop bags, and a second side pocket for hand sanitizer. Note that the belt strap is sold separately, and I would recommend using it with the strap rather than relying on the clip.
Bold Lead Designs 8-Way Leash, 8-ft Length • $90
This is definitely a splurge, but it was one of the best purchases I’ve made to increase my enjoyment of casual and training walks with my feisty fido. Reactive dog owners, like me, who are working on counterconditioning and desensitization will love having both hands free in the over-the-shoulder configuration, while having the assurance that your dog will not break away from you during a bark-and-lunge episode. When I get to an open space where I can see triggers coming from a far distance, I switch to the full 8-ft length to give my dog more freedom to sniff and decompress. The leather softens with use and is the most comfortable leash I’ve ever worked with. Because I have small hands, I got the 3/8″ width, which is strong enough to hold my 73-lb GSD mix at max lunging power.
Balance Harness • $40
The Balance harness has emerged as my preferred harness, because it’s ergonomic, low-profile, and includes both front and back clips. I like Ruffwear’s Front Range Harness as well, but what sets the Balance apart from the Front Range, and all other harnesses, is that the back piece (purple in the photo) is adjustable to prevent the harness from riding up into your dog’s armpits, which often causes chafing and hair loss. I no longer recommend the Easy Walk or other front-clip harnesses that go across the dog’s chest as they can impede gait and cause stress injuries.
Highwave Portable Water Bottle & Bowl, 20-oz bottle • $17
I like the upright easy-to-use style of this portable water bottle. Most people bring water to the park, play date, or on a walk on a hot day.
Fewer people realize that it’s also important to have fresh water available during a training session. What may seem at first glance to be an unmotivated dog might simply be a thirsty dog who can’t eat anymore freeze-dried treats that are tasty but suck up all their saliva. When I’m working with clients’ dogs outdoors, I like to set this water bottle on the ground near our training area so the dog can always indicate that they need to take a water break.
Fashion Accessories
Spunky Styles Co Bandana • $14-20
If your pooch likes to look good, get them a sturdy but soft, beautifully handmade bandana from Spunky Styles Co on Etsy. My dog, Laika, has four bandanas, one infinity scarf, and one collar from this shop (officially making her wardrobe more varied than mine).
Pawsific Pine Dog Infinity Scarf • $10-17
Pawsific Pine is another Etsy shop that sells beautiful bandanas, although I haven’t bought any of the bandanas. I got Laika this infinity scarf because I loved the design (a native Arizonan I’m a sucker for any southwestern designs). I don’t know if it keeps the dogs much warmer but I’ll be damned if it ain’t cute.
Personalized Brass Dog Tag • $15-17
There are many pretty dog tag designs on Etsy, but I prefer the minimal simplicity of the name on one side and phone number(s) on one side. That’s all I need someone to know if they find my dog on the street (dog forbid!) and I want it to be as legible and functional as possible. If your dog is hand shy, you may want to find a tag with name and number(s) on both sides, and a larger font that a good samaritan* can read from a distance.
Pro tip: If you find yourself in the role of a good samaritan who finds a shy dog, crouch down with your side to the dog and use treats to convince him/her to stick around long enough for you to snap a photo with your smartphone camera — then zoom in and read the number from the photo. Nextdoor.com is also a great place to post lost dogs.
Kuma Dog Training Corgi T-Shirt • $25
Show your support for Kuma Dog Training with this original corgi design (see detailed view), illustrated by the trainer. Click the yellow button below to send me a message with your size (sizing chart) to secure your shirt.
Anxious Dogs
"I Need Space" Vest • $32-35
Many anxious dogs are intimidated when strangers pay them attention through direct eye contact, talking, or petting. However, the reality of our lives in the city is that our furry companions must learn to be comfortable in new environments. The vest is the most visible sign on your dog that they are working/training and helps well-meaning dog lovers from distracting or overwhelming your dog. Therapy Dog Vest has many other message options to put on a vest.
Purina Pro Plan Calming Care Probiotic, 45-ct • $50
While there are currently no peer-reviewed papers about the gut-brain connection in dogs, evidence from numerous human studies supports the fact that the bacteria found in the gastrointestinal system has significant effects on mood and higher cognitive functions.
Anecdotally, I’ve found this to have the subtle but marked effect of increasing my dog’s reactivity threshold, enabling us to engage in counterconditioning and desensitization training sessions that were not previously possible.
If you are considering trying this supplement, note that it may take six weeks of consistent use to see results, and understand that it must be combined with an appropriate training protocol in order to facilitate behavior change. As with all supplements, consult your veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist before adding it to your dog’s regimen.
Good Reads
The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs By Patricia McConnell • $6
In an enlightening study of the unique human-dog relationship that leaves you with a fuller understanding of the animals on both ends of the leash, Dr. Patricia McConnell analyzes the differences between the primates and canines who love each other, albeit in different ways.
If you’re local (Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, or Sunnyvale), I have an extra copy I’d be happy to gift to the first person to ask 🙂
Doggie Language: A Dog Lover's Guide to Understanding Your Best Friend By Lili Chin • $14
If there was one thing dog owners should learn, it’s how to read their canine companion’s body language. Dogs are constantly trying to communicate with us; we just have to learn how to see.
Whole Dog Journal, 1-Year Subscription • $20
A valuable resource for the conscientious dog owner, Whole Dog Journal is a monthly publication covering topics such as dog health, common behavior issues and rewards-based training techniques, product reviews, and an annual approved foods list. In addition to the 12 issues, a subscription also grants access to the online archive of past WDJ articles.
Custom Dog Portraits
Custom Portrait of Your Pooch • $50
Looking to add an original, hand-drawn portrait of your best bud to your home? I’ve got you covered (I used to be a graphic artist before my career with dogs)! Here’s the deal — you send me a well-lit, high resolution photo of your beloved dog and I send back a unique portrait. Click on the examples above to view closeups of each pup portrait.
To commission your very own piece, send me a message via the contact form on the KDT homepage to make an order and we’ll discuss sizing, color, and font preferences. Pricing starts at $50 for a digital copy that you can get professionally printed and framed. I’m also happy to print and ship you a physical copy at cost but please note it’ll be a little extra.