Looking For Training Equipment - Tugs, Bite Pillows Etc

[Tilly]

I am looking for some decent leather rags, tugs and bite pillows for our GSD pup's training. I need them to have a suitable range to cover from 8 weeks until he starts on the sleeve (he is being training to personal protection for work security). Is there anywhere in Queensland that actually sells them?

I can only seem to find a decent range in the US. I am having trouble finding a puppy range as most seem to directed to adult dogs.

Many Thanks

[Erny]

I got my tugs from DogEquip in South Australia. I'm looking for the link to his website, but for some reason I can't find it. I'm fairly sure I have the name right. Still checking, but in the meantime, someone else here might know it. Gentleman's name is Kurt.

ETA: Ahhh .... here it is. I had the name slightly wrong. :

DogQuip

He supplied me with a few tugs that would most suit my Rhodesian Ridgeback. Two I use regularly - one is smaller in length (I used that to take out with me) and the other is longer (which was the most suitable while my boy was learning). The third one he supplied to help me promote drive - it has a squeaky in it. Admittedly I haven't used that one yet but it might come into good use for working under distraction, to help motivate and keep his interest. They're soft (which I specifically requested for my boy) yet hard wearing and not the type of material that teeth get stuck in. There are no signs of them wearing (aside from slobber marks :laugh) and we've worked with them for nigh on 6 months now (although I never leave the tug out with him to play with - it's strctly a training toy). There are other more rugged types if you need them. He also has the puppy rag leather tugs, if I remember correctly.

ETA: ..... I'm sure you didn't need that 'blurb' at the end, but there you go. Jeff Jones suggested I talk a lot .

Edited April 26, 2009 by Erny

[Tilly]

Hi Erny - I didn't see any tugs on their site. I am looking in the wrong spot or something

[Just Midol]

These are old prices (attached).

Email him for new ones, I got this last year

Erny, how hard are his soft tugs (if you have any). I have some large tugs from Leerburg which are pretty hard/solid. I had to remove some of the stuffing from my smaller tug from him to get Montu onto it.

Edited April 26, 2009 by Just Midol

[haven]

I received the following email from Von Forell last week that you may be interested in:

Hello All Dog Enthusiast,

I wanted to let you know that Von Forell Australia is now also trading as “Forell K9 Products International”.

We have had the privilege of acquiring the Mera - Dog K9 products company established in 1993 owned by

Roger and Helen Lette. We are especially proud that the Lette’s approached us to continue and expand on their

Quality service. The products available are too many to list and will be available for viewing on our Von Forell

website www.vonforell.com very shortly or you can click onto this link and download the catalogue.

http://www.schweikert-hundesport.de/cms/up...atalog_2008.pdf

We are supplying items from Kong Balls, R Trainers to Police bite suits to dog walking machines and everything in between.

I would have had a look at the catalogue myself to see if it has what you are after, but sadly I'm shaped until the end of the month It sounds like they would have what you are after though, or be able to get it.

[Just Midol]

Hmph. I am also shaped.

Someone read it and give us some base prices!

[OSoSwift]

Have no idea what shaped is, but I can see it - what prices are you after?

[Erny]

Erny, how hard are his soft tugs (if you have any). I have some large tugs from Leerburg which are pretty hard/solid. I had to remove some of the stuffing from my smaller tug from him to get Montu onto it.

It's hard to describe I guess because what is soft to one might not be to another. However, IMO they are soft - easily squeezable, yet they are firm (ie fully stuffed) if that makes any sense. When I spoke to him I explained that having a RR is not like having a Rotty or a GSD in terms of drive and that (especially back then) needed something that would neither fall apart nor be uncomfortable for his teeth (his adult teeth were only just down). At the same time, I needed something he felt he could get his teeth into and score 'wins'. If you would like, tomorrow I'll take a photo of the tugs I got and post them up here. It would at least give you an idea of the material used.

Tilly - I'm sorry. I didn't look at his site before I linked it here. I am certain that he used to display more sample photo's of tugs (including puppy tugs). If you give him a call though, perhaps he can email you some pictures of them, assuming he still has them. Can't imagine why he wouldn't have.

Haven - what does "shaped" mean? Is that a new trendy word for "broke" ? or "confused/haven't a clue/stumped"? or "reached download limit"? Or what?

Edited April 26, 2009 by Erny

[OSoSwift]

There is no prices in this particular catalouge??? Maybe you have to look on a website or something? Some very very nice gear though - if only I could win lotto.........................

[Just Midol]

Ahhh, thanks romm, wanted prices of the tugs but if there are none then it doesn't matter

Shaped means our internet connections have been slowed down as we download too much

Erny, thanks. My leerburg tugs are not what you'd call easily squeezable and if anything I'd say they are very, very firm - some photos will be great. I'll grab some from dogquip eventually as well as Montu needs a middle step from his "very soft" to the "very firm" tugs - he can't get his teeth into this one. He does clamp down on it but not as well - his soft one he'll happily grab in mid air but this one he hesitates.

Edited April 26, 2009 by Just Midol

[Jeff Jones]

Tilly - I'm sorry. I didn't look at his site before I linked it here. I am certain that he used to display more sample photo's of tugs (including puppy tugs). If you give him a call though, perhaps he can email you some pictures of them, assuming he still has them. Can't imagine why he wouldn't have.

Erny is correct if you email Kurt from dogquip he will send you some pictures and prices for his tugs.

Kurts equipment is great and has outlasted alot of my tugs and sleeves that I have bought from Europe and the US.

[Erny]

Pictures of the tugs I have :

The two with the green handle loops are the ones I frequently use. The one with the yellow loop is the 'squeaky' one. I haven't used this as by the time I did get it, I decided that my boy's 'tug' inclination was on the increase. When I first thought of it, I was in the stage of just building drive, encouraging him to play the game. I didn't use it after that as I have felt the squeaky might cause mouthiness. However, my boy's drive tends to drop considerably under distraction and although I'm working on that, I have thought the squeaky might be a good stand-by to at least keep him interested in those times.

This one that follows is a close up, to try to give you some idea of the material that is used. It's not a great shot (I've forgotten how to set the camera for really close up work) but it might give you an idea of the weave. The material is really strong.

[Quickasyoucan]

Pictures of the tugs I have :

The two with the green handle loops are the ones I frequently use. The one with the yellow loop is the 'squeaky' one. I haven't used this as by the time I did get it, I decided that my boy's 'tug' inclination was on the increase. When I first thought of it, I was in the stage of just building drive, encouraging him to play the game. I didn't use it after that as I have felt the squeaky might cause mouthiness. However, my boy's drive tends to drop considerably under distraction and although I'm working on that, I have thought the squeaky might be a good stand-by to at least keep him interested in those times.

This one that follows is a close up, to try to give you some idea of the material that is used. It's not a great shot (I've forgotten how to set the camera for really close up work) but it might give you an idea of the weave. The material is really strong.

I'm looking for a tug too for drive training, I bought one from Katie's bumpers (something like that), but Jake can't get a firm grip because his canines are quite worn down from tennis balls and so are not pointy and I think it is too big for his mouth, it is something like 8cm wide but flat similar design to those Erny has pictured. He seems to slide off the surface... (he is a stafford x kelpie).

I am looking for one that is more like a smaller piece of tough hose, Steve (K9 Force) normally has them but he is out of stock. Anyone who has done one of his seminars will know what I mean if I say the smaller tug??

What size are those Erny?

Edited April 27, 2009 by Quickasyoucan

[Erny]

I'm looking for a tug too for drive training, I bought one from Katie's bumpers (something like that), but Jake can't get a firm grip because his canines are quite worn down from tennis balls and so are not pointy and I think it is too big for his mouth, it is something like 8cm wide but flat similar design to those Erny has pictured. He seems to slide off the surface... (he is a stafford x kelpie). I am looking for one that is more like a smaller piece of tough hose, Steve (K9 Force) normally has them but he is out of stock. Anyone who has done one of his seminars will know what I mean if I say the smaller tug??

I find these ones are easier for the dog to grip than the fire hose material (is that what you mean), but that's not to say the fire hose material ones aren't great for many dogs with high drive and grip.

What size are those Erny?

Measuring across (width) with a straight ruler, they are about 6cm in width. The complete circumference is about 19cm. So take a 19cm piece of string and put it in a circle and that'll give you an idea of the size. The stuffing is full, yet it is soft, so it flattens out a bit under bite grip.

The long tug is about 33cm long (great for early training where dog is just learning not to accidentally bite the handler's hands but aren't quite precise yet) and the smaller length one is about 20cm long.

[Quickasyoucan]

I'm looking for a tug too for drive training, I bought one from Katie's bumpers (something like that), but Jake can't get a firm grip because his canines are quite worn down from tennis balls and so are not pointy and I think it is too big for his mouth, it is something like 8cm wide but flat similar design to those Erny has pictured. He seems to slide off the surface... (he is a stafford x kelpie). I am looking for one that is more like a smaller piece of tough hose, Steve (K9 Force) normally has them but he is out of stock. Anyone who has done one of his seminars will know what I mean if I say the smaller tug??

I find these ones are easier for the dog to grip than the fire hose material (is that what you mean), but that's not to say the fire hose material ones aren't great for many dogs with high drive and grip.

What size are those Erny?

Measuring across (width) with a straight ruler, they are about 6cm in width. The complete circumference is about 19cm. So take a 19cm piece of string and put it in a circle and that'll give you an idea of the size. The stuffing is full, yet it is soft, so it flattens out a bit under bite grip.

The long tug is about 33cm long (great for early training where dog is just learning not to accidentally bite the handler's hands but aren't quite precise yet) and the smaller length one is about 20cm long.

Thanks Erny,

Yes I am talking about the fire hose material, it is quite smooth and poor old "stumpy" can't get a firm grip.

Lesson learnt about tennis balls, my next dog will never play with them.

[Erny]

Yes I am talking about the fire hose material, it is quite smooth and poor old "stumpy" can't get a firm grip.

Even my boy's grip is better on the tugs that I use, rather than the fire hose material. And there's nothing wrong with his teeth. He just doesn't hold on with as much vigour as other dogs might. And of course, typical wussy RR that he is, if it is a bit uncomfortable, he'll give it up.

[laeral]

I currently use an orbee on a string with my girl. She loves her orbee and goes nuts for it when we play. The problem I have though is that she grabs onto the string more than the ball. Im a bit worried that she will rip a tooth out doing this.

Would I be better off looking into the tugs like Erny posted about?

Should you stick to the one type of tug or can you change between say two different ones?

[Erny]

I currently use an orbee on a string with my girl. She loves her orbee and goes nuts for it when we play. The problem I have though is that she grabs onto the string more than the ball. Im a bit worried that she will rip a tooth out doing this.

Would I be better off looking into the tugs like Erny posted about?

Should you stick to the one type of tug or can you change between say two different ones?

Generally, I have stuck with the one style of tug - this helped as a visual cue when my boy was a young pup and I was solely focusing on building his drive. Of course I changed from what I used with him as a pup and went to the tugs that I use now. (Only because I didn't have a proper tug toy for him at the time.) However there have been occasions where I've forgotten to bring one of those tugs with me when we have gone out and where I've wanted to use it to generalise his training and as an alternative I have used his (eg) Orbee ball or Wubba. I am finding that my cue words for drive training and my body language/use of the object in my hand triggers his understanding of what we're about to do so I notice that it is now not so much about what tug object I am using but merely that I am using 'it'.

I don't leave his tugs with him for random play/access. The Orbee ball which I purchased from Steve (I lost my small one ) and the tug that I have pictured here NEVER get left out for him. The Wubba and his other couple of soft toys are his to have whenever he wants and apart from when I am forgetful I don't use them for his drive/tug work. I do use them for 'give' exercises though (as opposed to "oust" which I use as his drive command to 'give') and sometimes chuck them around when we are having a play.

Edited April 29, 2009 by Erny

[cramet]

fire hose tugs a used to help promote a stronger grip same as using leather tugs the dog learns that if it doesnt bite hard enough it looses the toy/pray

thats why softer tugs like the dogquip ones are a great starter tug or full use tug it all depends on what u want ur out come to be

Edited April 29, 2009 by cramet

[Seita]

I had a dogquip one and my only issue with them is if you have a really intense tugger (like my girl) then the stitching at the top where the handle attaches comes undone and the handle starts to rip out. For building drive and early work I think these tugs are great and if you have a softer dog these are good too. I moved my girl up to a firehose tug with a rope right through the middle and a handle on both ends and I think it's virtually indestructable. I need to get a couple of the dogquip style ones for my new pup though as the teatowel I'm currently using isn't coping too well any more and the firehose is too big for him!!

Edited April 29, 2009 by Seita