Need Dog Savvy Consumer Advice

My favorites for my classes are:
Easy Walk Harness
Zuke's Mini Naturals
Charlee Bear treats
6ft. leashes
Kongs
Treat pouches
I sell a ton of those during each class.  I don't think I've had a class start without selling one of each the first day. 

I'm a big fan of Premier Pet Products. They have excellent customer service and seem to make good quality things.

I like a store that has "manly" things for small dogs. Rascal doesn't get enough respect as is, I hate dressing him in "bling." Still, function over form... Since it's New England, things like doggy booties and coats I would definitely be interested in. Small inexpensive stuffed squeakies, or the Booda brand since they seem to hold up fairly well. Training treats that are nutritious. Kibble toppers/treats. Chews. A few health products, like stuff for teeth or nail trimmers or a brush or two.

I third clickers!  You'd be surprised how many pet stores don't carry them.  I just got two at Pet-Co for about $3 ea. - they're a tad bigger and a tad louder than the one I had before, but they have an attached key ring so I can slip it over a finger.  Those of us that need a third hand aren't as likely to lose it in the bushes.  It looks like they're made in San Diego (IPSD, San Diego, Ca 92121) just for Pet-Co.  Also, I remember when Max had his first "new pup" vet visit, I got a folder of info that included the names and phone numbers of local trainers, groomers, etc.  That was good info to have.
 
Joyce

Good for you Anne, congratulations and good luck.  How I would love for Romeo and I to come take one of your classes.

What is important for me, is to find a place where I can find good wholesome natural treats.  I go to 3 different places and order from 2 different websites to get Romeo's food and treats.  I like the treats by Bravo, all natural, grass fed, dehydrated meats, also like Envious Chicken  Treats, Cherby's Tilapia Jerky, natural smoked lamb ears, piggy snouts, dehydrated piggy hearts, and raw tripe.  If I could find all of these things at one store, I would be in heaven.[]   Is true all this products are a little more expensive then what you would find at a regular retail pet store ( $12.00 for an 8 oz can which is about 8-10 little strips is a lot) but to me is worth the price, because the product is nothing but chicken or venison liver etc..

A place where they sell a lot of the holistic and homeopathic products, with a staff that is knowledgeable in the products would be great.

The rest everyone has mentioned already.

Good luck.

I love the new type of bowl that prevents dogs who eat fast from scarfing up their food. I use one for my bigger dog and it's great. The bowl has three elevated sections in the bowl area that the dog has to eat around. It's really great. I'm sorry, I forgot what it's called.

I like my new biothane leash, still looking for a funky biothane collar

Decent bedding.  Something like vetbed or similar, designed for pets, anti-chew, washable, durable, comfortable.  It can be quite hard to find decent bedding.

I would absolutely love love love a store that actually specialized in carrying interactive treat-dispensing puzzle toys. I can't believe how hard these are to find in the real world as opposed to the internet. Given how much we know about how vital mental stimulation is for dogs, I'm generally fairly apalled at the lack of selection of puzzle toys at pet stores. My local PetCo just recently began to carry Busy Buddy toys, like just a month ago. Ridiculous! So I'd love to see a really full selection (don't forget the big dogs! I find there are always more toys in small dog sizes available than big dog sizes) of Busy Buddy, Kong, PetStages, BusterCube, and the smaller companies like the people who make Canine Leo. You can get squeaky or plush toys anywhere, but it's really hard to find a good selection of puzzle toys.

I think the bowl you're talking about is called brake-fast.

As for your first question I'd want good healthy treats like benny bulls, zukes, etc..

I'm a huge ruffwear fan so I second that seeing as I have to order from 3 provinces away to get all the gear.

Good quality training aid devices like easywalk harnesses, haltis, etc...

Training pouches to carry treats. Portable waterbowls. My current training facility has stopped having a shared water bowl due to the possibility of sharing diseases and instead gives out little plastic bowls.

biobags - biodegradable poo bags

Earthdogs collars - but thats not a training thing.

quality books that help with training.

Items that I have purchased from the shop at my training center:
 
Martingale slip leash (for agility)
Treats (Zukos?, Bil-Jac, liver, etc.)
Dog Food (Innova Evo -- they carry various premium brands that are hard to find)
Tuggies (again, for agility)
Water toys
Jawz disc (by Hyperflight)
Crate
T-shirt
Picture frame
 
They carry quite a bit of novelty stuff as well -- bejeweled collars, jewelry, doggy perfumes, etc.  For a smaller shop there is really quite a lot packed into it.  They also do specialty orders if you need something they don't carry in stock.
 
Your students will be your biggest & best market, so I'd try to cater to them first and foremost.  Then try to find items (like dog food) that will bring in the rest of the public -- and possibly entice them to take classes once they get there and see what you're all about.

um, I hear that Ella's Lead sells some wonderful rope leashes and leads that will not burn you hands and are strong, durable, and quite fashionable looking. But, that's just what I've heard...I also heard that they sell wholesale.[][]

AND rumor has it that Collar Mania might be considering wholesale in the future.
Her collars are not only decorative, but sturdy and strong and made for dogs that can pull pretty hard.
[linkhttp://www.collarmania.com]Collar Mania.[/link]

Hahahaha, very subtle, Rebbecca. ~LOL~
 
I agree with the ideas of stocking your retail outlet with training items that you recommend.  I found i frustrating when I took Grady for his first training that the "trainer" recommended stuff that we should use & then had to go out & buy it.  It would have helped if she recommended using a long lead & had them there for sale.  Just an example.
 
DH had a GREAT idea, I think.  How about an RV so you can take your training on the road?  I'm not talking about local stuff.  I know that there are a few hundred i-doggers who would love to have you help them train their puppers.  I'm not totally joking about this.  I know that Grady & I would benefit greatly from your hands on training.
 
Most importantly, I wish you the best of luck & am REALLY excited about the prospect of you opening up a training center.  I'm so excited for the owners & dogs that will benefit from your knowledge.

ORIGINAL: gradyupmybutt

Hahahaha, very subtle, Rebbecca. ~LOL~

I agree with the ideas of stocking your retail outlet with training items that you recommend. I found i frustrating when I took Grady for his first training that the "trainer" recommended stuff that we should use & then had to go out & buy it. It would have helped if she recommended using a long lead & had them there for sale. Just an example.

DH had a GREAT idea, I think. How about an RV so you can take your training on the road? I'm not talking about local stuff. I know that there are a few hundred i-doggers who would love to have you help them train their puppers. I'm not totally joking about this. I know that Grady & I would benefit greatly from your hands on training.

Most importantly, I wish you the best of luck & am REALLY excited about the prospect of you opening up a training center. I'm so excited for the owners & dogs that will benefit from your knowledge.

Everything she said!

TONS would benefit from your training knowledge!

Perhaps you should carry a few models of shock collars.  Definitely choke collars and prongs.  []
 
Seriously Anne.  Good luck with your new venture.  I hope you have A LOT of money in the bank because you certainly have found a way to spend it.  []

I was thinking about the best products I have purchased and here they are, all have been bought thru internet sites, because my local retail store does not carry.

1.- tummy saver.....I absolutely love this, Romeo is short so after a rain, I put his little vest on and out we go, I comeback take off and I have a dog with dry clean belly. yeah.  And if it rains he can still wear his raincoat with it.
2.- backseat extender....this way Romeo can stretch out on the backseat anyway he wants and does not hang. Well as far as his seat belt will allow.  There is also an inflatable extender that I keep in my other car, is actually the first one I purchased, and grandma and grandpa got the fancier one.[]
3.- horse style blanket coat....the ones with legs are hard to fit either long enough and too tight, or short and too loose.
4.- ruffwear booties...love those things.

While not cheap, I did not think they were expensive either because I have gotten my money's worth.  I purchased the tummy saver 3 years ago and I am just now having to replace.

for the worst product...I have to say was an ultrasonic bug stay away thingy, did not work and the thing was 25.00 nothing like good old repellent. [8D]