Training a dog on your own can be challenging. Luckily, there's plenty of hunting dog training equipment on the market to help you out. The trouble is, not all dog training supplies are equal. Your job will be much easier if you do some research and invest in high-quality gear that's vetted by the pros. Here's our roundup of the best hunting dog training equipment money can buy.
Dog Training Collars
It's your responsibility to make sure your dog is safe during training and hunting. One of the best ways to do this is make sure they're visible with this Dog Brite Waterproof Lighted Collar. Featuring two light modes - steady and flash - it's visible over one foot and provides more than seven hours of life on two included AA batteries.
In terms of tracking and training, you can't go wrong with this GPS tracker and e-collar receiver from SportDOG (which is compatible with the brand's TEK2 Tracking and Training Collar). Using advanced HopTek technology, the receiver can report the location of up to 12 dogs within a seven-mile range, and all info is easily viewable on the handheld device's LCD screen. It also offers various tones and vibrations - as well as 99 levels of static stimulation - to communicate with your dog for highly effective training.
If you want a simpler training collar without GPS, we recommend the Garmin Tri-Tronics Pro 70 System. It provides control for your dog from up to one mile away and can cover up to six dogs total (additional collars are sold separately). The handheld device features an easy-to-use, top-mounted selection dial that offers six levels of stimulation, plus tone setting for adjustability. There are also controlled beacon lights on the hunting dog device to ensure safety in low-light situations.
Dog Training Accessories
One of the best ways to show your dog exactly what he should be after is to add some scent to a racoon training drag. We suggest using a bottle of Nite Lite Natural Scent Coon Trail, which can be used to train for tracking of a wide variety of game, including coon, bear, squirrel, duck, coyote, fox and deer. To prevent your dog from going after undesirable game like skunk, this Nite Lite Natural Scent Deer Break works wonders.
A well-made check cord is another must-have piece of hunting dog training equipment. Hunters like this 50-inch-long nylon cord from Nite Lite, which is bright orange for visibility. And if you're training multiple dogs at once, you can use these brass and nickel-plated Nite Lite Dog Bells to help distinguish between them.
Dog Training Treats
If you're training a pup, a racoon roll cage is perfect for encouraging their natural instinct to chase and fight. We like this complete rolling cage system, which includes a sturdy, 18" x 20" roll cage, plus a waterer, feed dish, rack, rope, and training instructions.
And you can never go wrong with a little dog training "rocket fuel" for that extra edge. This high-energy supplementary dog energy bar helps reduce the negative physiological and physical effects a full gut can have on performance.