Products we use and recommend
As professional retriever trainers, my husband and I have used and tested many retriever training products over the years. Some good, some not so good. On this page we share our recommendations and resources for training retrievers.
The products we recommend we believe are a good value or good investment for anyone working to train or maintain training on their retriever. When possible, we include links to the product. Some of these links may be Amazon or other affiliate links in which I am paid a small commission at no cost to you. All opinions and recommendations are our own.
E-collars
There are a lot of companies making electronic dog collars. We have used a lot of different brands over the years, but our favorite for ease of use and dependability is
Dogtra. They make a large range of collars.
We, personally, use the EDGE RT but they do have a handy E-Collar Finder quiz on their website that can help you narrow down the collars to ones that will work for your training and hunting style. My only caution is that you error on the high side when choosing the Distance/Range since those numbers are line-of-sight and when you are hunting, line-of-sight is often blurred with weeds, brush and water.
For most of our clients, we recommend the Dogtra 1900S. This collar is waterproof, rechargeable and has a 3/4 mile range. It is smaller than the EDGE RT and more suited to hunters not working with multiple dogs.
As readers and followers of our website, we are happy to provide you with a code for 5% off any purchase over $200 from Dogtra.com. Use the code DGTFSOTK
Bark Collars
Some dogs are just noisy dogs. If you have problems with your dog barking at night or at other times, you might want to consider a bark collar. We use bark collars to keep our kennel nice and quiet.
Over the years we have tried many different bark collars. Dogtra bark collars
are the ones we prefer. They are an effective and humane way to curb your dog’s desire for barking.
Be very careful about using inexpensive bark collars. We have heard horror stories about dogs getting shocked continuously even when not barking. This is not a product you want to cut corners on.
Kennels
If you have a high value dog, you want the best protection you can get for him/her. That is why we are proud sponsors of Gunner Kennels. These kennels are American made and have a lifetime warranty. But what really makes these kennels stand out is their protection for the dog. They are 5-star crash tested and proven to save dog’s lives.
We have partnered with Gunner Kennels to offer our followers a rare, discounted price on a new Gunner Kennel. Email or call us for details. Includes free shipping directly to your home in the USA.
Other kennel brands that provide protection for your dog are:
Lucky Duck Kennels – Lucky Duck kennels are 5-star crash rated, like Gunner kennels. They are an American made product and provide good safety for your high-value dog.
Ruff Land Kennels – Ruff Land Kennels are a good option if you are looking for a kennel to use in your home and/or vehicle. Unlike Gunner and Lucky Duck, these kennels are not crash rated and do not provide protection in the case of an accident. But they do weigh a lot less than the Gunner and Lucky Duck so they are a better option if you intend to move your kennel from the home to your vehicle on a regular basis.
Dog stands and blinds
If you don’t hunt out of a boat, it can be really helpful to have a hunting stand or blind for your dog so they can sit comfortably out of the water. MoMarsh has been our go-to brand for these. They are built durable, stable and portable.
There are two versions we love.
Momarsh Final Stand Adjustable Dog Training Platform
Quick release system
During the first year of hunting waterfowl following training, we always recommend that you use some type of stake system to ensure your young dog remains steady. The best system we have found for this is the GUNDOG OUTDOORS QUICK-RELEASE SAFETY SYSTEM. This training restraint system makes it easy to ensure your dog remains steady as he/she learns waterfowl hunting.
Get your Quick Release Safety System here.
Whistles
Whistles are an important training tool for retrievers. Especially if you hunt upland birds or if your dog is trained for blind retrieves and handling to a bird.
We use the Blue Ribbon Whistle. It offers a crisp clean sound even in high wind situations.
Lanyards
If you need a whistle, you also need a lanyard. A lanyard will enable you to keep your whistle close and available, so that you have it when you need it!
There are literally thousands of different lanyards available. For our clients that only use the lanyard and whistle while hunting, we often recommend an inexpensive cord lanyard. If you are an avid trainer or hunter, you may opt for a nicer, leather lanyard that will easily last for years and years to come. This is the one I wear, but this is really a personal preference.
Lanyards come in one clip or two clips or more. If you only have the whistle you need to carry, one clip may be enough. If you carry a back up whistle or a duck call, you may want the two clip version.
Bumpers/Dummies
While there are a LOT of bumpers in the marketplace, we have found that some are better than others.
Our favorite bumpers by far are the Neumann & Bennetts. We started using them back in the 1980’s and they are still, by far, the standard for us. They are made in the USA, which we like, and they are made of non-toxic materials, so they are perfectly safe for the dogs. Unfortunately, at this time the company is not producing these bumpers consistently, so finding them is hit or miss.
We love the weight of these dummies and the great throw ball ends that make them easy to throw for distance. If you can find them, they sell both the 2 x 12 and 3 x 12 sizes.
A great low cost replacement is the SportDog plastic bumper. The do not have the weight that the Neumann & Bennetts do, but they seem to hold up well.
Avery Sporting Dog – Hexabumper
The Avery Sporting Dog – Hexabumper bumpers are smaller than the N&B bumpers, 10 inch long vs the 12 inch long, but we have found that in some situations these are a great addition to our bumper supply. They come with attached ropes, are easy to throw and some dog’s pick them up and carry them better – maybe due to the smaller size. The black and whites version creates a nice contrast in almost all marking situations, but depending on how they land in the water, can be easier or harder to see. This can be a problem for young dogs with less confidence.
The Avery Sporting Dog – Hexabumper bumpers are smaller than the N&B bumpers, 10 inch long vs the 12 inch long, but we have found that in some situations these are a great addition to our bumper supply. They come with attached ropes, are easy to throw and some dog’s pick them up and carry them better – maybe due to the smaller size. The black and whites version creates a nice contrast in almost all marking situations, but depending on how they land in the water, can be easier or harder to see. This can be a problem for young dogs with less confidence.
Dead Fowl Trainers
While we usually prefer to use live or dead birds for marking drills, there are times when it makes sense to use a dead fowl trainer. Dead fowl trainers come in many different sizes and bird replicas. They also are made of various materials.
These are good for teaching your dog to hold a larger object than a dummie. They are also nice for using on water retrieves where a real duck will become soggy and not float as well.
We use a combination of Dokken Dead Fowl and Avery or Tanglefree dead bird trainers. Both seem to work well for the purposes I have described.
Leads and Leashes
We have an entire post on this subject, as it can be complicated. There are many different types of leads or leashes and each one has a specific purpose. A leash is one of the most important training tools you can have.
If you want a good lead for working on obedience or taking walks, a standard 6-foot lead
is a good option. Pair this with a chain or prong collar , and you are ready to work on basic obedience.
There are a couple other leads that I use constantly during training.
A British style or Mendota Slip Lead is my absolute favorite lead. I keep one in every vehicle and hanging on posts randomly around the kennel. The built in slip collar makes it easy for me to quickly get control of a disobedient dog.
A tab lead is what we use when dogs are mostly obedient but we still want an easy way to get control if needed. We often make our own, but this one from Mendota is perfect if you prefer to buy one. They also have this great leather one, but be careful about getting a tab lead with a loop or handle on it. Tab leads are meant to be worn hanging from your dog as a kind of a safety net. Loops and handles could easily get caught on something and seriously injure your dog.
Drying towel
During early and late season water work, the sun may not be strong enough to warm the dogs after being in the water. Puppies are especially vulnerable during these times. We use The Absorber. The Absorber is a highly absorbent towel that allows us to quickly dry the dogs. Water can be easily squeezed out of the towel and storing it for the next use.
