Training Starter Kit

You have been told to bring “high value treats and a treat pouch” and you are now standing in a pet shop aisle with forty options and no idea which ones matter. Or your dog will not settle while you eat your dinner. Or the chew you bought lasted ninety seconds.

The Training Starter Kit is the shortcut. It is the set of things we actually reach for with our own dogs and recommend to clients week after week, packed together so you can get on with training instead of shopping.

What arrives

• Lickimat — for settling, for calm, and for the twenty minutes when you need your dog occupied and quiet. Licking is genuinely soothing for dogs, which is why this is the first thing we suggest for a dog who cannot switch off.
• Split antler — a long-lasting, low-mess natural chew for dogs who need something serious to work on.
• Treat pouch — small, unglamorous, and the single biggest difference to whether you actually train. Treats in a pouch on your hip get used. Treats in a bag in the cupboard do not.
• Yak chew — hard, long-lasting and popular with dogs who lose interest in everything else.
• Training treats — small, quick to eat and worth working for, so you can reward often without overfeeding.

Everything is posted out to you together.

Why these five

Good training is mostly about being ready. Most people are not held back by technique — they are held back by not having anything decent to reward with when the moment arrives, or by having no way to give their dog something to do when they need five minutes’ peace. This kit fixes both, which is why we suggest it before class or at the start of a training plan.

• You can reward good choices the instant they happen, which is when reward actually teaches something
• Your dog has a legitimate outlet for chewing, so your furniture gets a break
• You have a reliable way to help your dog settle — at home, in the car, or while you are on a call
• Fewer decisions, less guesswork, and you start this week rather than next

Who it is not for

If your dog has food sensitivities or a restricted diet, check the treats and chews against your vet’s advice before ordering — the kit is a fixed pack, not a bespoke one. Very determined chewers should always be supervised with antlers and yak chews, and any chew should be taken away once it is small enough to swallow. And this is equipment, not a training plan: it makes training easier, it does not do the training for you.

Questions people ask

Is it suitable for a puppy? The Lickimat, pouch and training treats are ideal for puppies. Hard chews are better introduced a little later — ask us if you are unsure of the right age for your dog.

Do I need this if I am coming to a class? No, but it covers everything you will be asked to bring, which is why most people find it easier than assembling it themselves.

Are antlers and yak chews safe? They are hard chews, so supervise your dog, do not let them work on one to the point of splintering, and remove it when it gets small. Dogs with dental problems should stick to the Lickimat.

Can I choose the treat flavour? The kit is a fixed pack so we can keep it at £30. If your dog has a specific requirement, get in touch before ordering.

How is it sent? As one parcel, posted to your delivery address at checkout.

Get set up

£30 for the pack, posted out to you. If you are just starting out, start here — and Dog Enrichment pairs well with the kit if you want plenty more to do with everyday household items.