10 Dog Training Tools From Brandon McMillan

Brandon McMillan is a renowned animal trainer who has spent most of his life working with domesticated and wild animals. The daytime Emmy Award-winning host of the critically-acclaimed CBS TV show Lucky Dogs comes from a family of wild animal trainers.

The animals he’s trained have appeared in countless television commercials and Hollywood motion pictures, including the comedy blockbuster, The Hangover (2009). In 2016, the successful dog trainer released his first book, Lucky Dog Lessons: Train Your Dog in 7 Days.

After spending a year training a service dog for an injured combat veteran, Brandon realized his calling was in training dogs to change people’s lives. To further his goals, Brandon co-founded the Argus Service Dog Foundation, an organization that trains service dogs to assist veterans with disabilities.

Teaching your dog to listen and obey commands is necessary for a healthy relationship with your pet. Below are a few common commands that are essential for every dog to learn:

1. 1. Sit: While you can teach your dog a series of commands in any order, but Brandon thinks that the “sit” command is a great place to start. The sitting position provides a strong foundation to your training regimen and offers a natural transition to the other common commands, making it easier to teach your dog additional tricks.
2. 2. Down: The “down” command is a great command for both puppies and adult dogs to learn. The “down” command helps encourage a more calming state, which can relax your dog and keep their high energy from causing them to act out.
3. 3. Stay: Dogs may be animals, but teaching them the “stay” command is essential for helping control their wild behavior. Teaching your dog to stay can prevent them from going after people or other dogs, or even bolting out the front door as soon as it opens.
4. 4. No: Training your dog can be easier once you know how to implement the right techniques. The “no” command is one of the most basic commands in dog training. The “no” command can help stop your dog from engaging in unwanted behavior.
5. 5. Off: The “off” command is particularly important for training puppies and especially for big dogs, which can pose a safety hazard when they jump up on people. Read more about the “off” command in our complete guide.
6. 6. Come: The “come” command teaches your dog to recall and respond to your voice. Reliable recall is essential for controlling dog behavior in public places like the dog park and can be a lifesaver around the home and other situations. It’s especially important to teach your dog the “come” command if you take your dog off-leash, as it ensures your dog will respond to your voice.
7. 7. Heel: The “heel” command directs your dog to keep pace as they walk side-by-side with you. With the “heel” command, your dog learns proper leash manners, and eventually, they may even be able to walk alongside you off-leash. Heeling can keep your dog from getting under your feet or straying from your walking path.

If you’re ready to teach your old (or new) dog some new tricks, see below for a list of Brandon’s top training tools:

1. 1. Leash: For effective leash training, you’ll want to make sure you have both a shorter leash and a longer leash. Short leashes are about six feet long, and long leashes are about 25 to 30 feet. Leather leashes are more comfortable, but nylon leashes are more durable.
2. 2. Penny bottle: Take an empty water bottle, remove the cap, insert a handful of loose change, and recap the bottle. This training method is useful when teaching the “off” command and for bark control.
3. 3. Dog training clicker: Training clickers emit a clicking noise that you can use while teaching a technique or offering a treat, which conditions your dog to associate the sound with the command or reward. This can help reinforce their training.
4. 4. Lure stick: These are adjustable rods with a clip at the end for holding treats. They’re particularly helpful for training smaller dogs.
5. 5. Martingale collar: Martingale collars use two connected loops to progressively decrease the size of the opening around your dog’s neck. When your dog’s not pulling, the collar fits nice and loose. As they pull, the collar tightens to prevent their heads from slipping out. Martingales are considered more humane than choke and prong collars.
6. 6. Gentle Leader headcollar: The Gentle Leader is an alternative to a traditional dog collar. Designed to attach to the dog’s snout, the collar sits high on your dog’s neck and spares painful yanking on their trachea.
7. 7. Easy walk harness: Harnesses attach around your dog’s body rather than around their neck. This dog harness can be especially useful with small dogs, whose necks can be susceptible to whiplash.
8. 8. Plastic cones: Simple plastic cones can help direct a dog’s walk and be useful for teaching the “heel” command.
9. 9. Treat bag: Dog treat bags are specifically designed to hold your dog’s favorite treat. Attach a treat pouch to your belt for easy access to reward your dog for performing tasks or good behavior.
10. 10. Notebook: While pet training, use a notebook to keep track of your dog’s training progress. Draw out a simple chart to keep track of your dog’s success with each command day after day.

Your dream of having a dog who understands words like “sit,” “stay,” “down,” and—crucially— “no” is just a MasterClass Annual Membership away. The only things you’ll need to train up a well-behaved pup are your laptop, a big bag of treats, and our exclusive instructional videos from superstar animal trainer Brandon McMillan.