I had an appointment recently, where I mentioned something the dog could benefit from and immediately, the person picked up his phone and found the item on Amazon. If only the person listened to my directions as readily as he ordered items!

There are so many things for sale these days; and they all claim to help us fix a problem.

The slow feeding bowl: for dogs that gulp their food and you fear they will choke or get bloat.

Greenies: to clean our dog’s teeth.

A no-pull harness: it says it right in the name!

An undetectable sound maker: to make dogs stop barking.

Puzzle toys: to stimulate the mind and keep dogs busy.

Automatic treat dispenser: to reward a dog when you won’t or can’t.

Crates: to stop destruction.

Pee pads: to teach the dog where to go.

A leash with a traffic handle: to help control your dog and keep him close.

A flexi-leash: to give the dog freedom and exercise.

A bark collar: to stop barking.

So many wonderful items that make us think our lives with dogs will be easier and allow us to be lazy and disconnected.

Now, here is the truth about these items:

Slow feeding bowls are plastic, which hold bacteria and can cause intestinal distress. Dogs that eat too quickly are expressing an insecurity that their food is not safe and therefore, must be eaten as quickly as possible to keep it safe. A slow feeder makes it hard for your dog to eat his food, causing more stress and it doesn’t address the actual issue. Imagine how much better your dog would feel if you worked with him, by feeding him in smaller portions, taking breaks in between or handfeeding him until he feels safe to slow down and enjoy his food?

Greenies are not only ridiculously expensive (if you can afford Greenies, you can afford training!), but are sticky and starchy, which can cause tooth decay. They have things in them to reduce plaque, but also that cause the buildup in the first place. The best thing to help reduce plaque on your dog’s teeth is a raw bone from the supermarket or butcher shop. Give one a day!

A no pull harness, or any other item used to teach leash walking does not work on its own. Dogs will pull if you let them. How you use your chosen item is what makes the difference.

An undetectable sound maker sounds crazy to me. How do you know if it’s working? I have had many clients buy one of these and never heard that they make any difference. At best, a sound is a distraction or interruption but will not stop barking or teach your dog anything.

Puzzle toys sell like crazy and we all think our dog is so smart when they figure them out! It takes most dogs one trial to get the puzzle and then it’s as good as putting treats on the floor. These do not challenge your dog and are a waste of money. Now, a stuffed Kong, or food hidden in a twisted towel, is a good idea and will somewhat fulfill your dog.

Automatic treat dispensers are commonly used for door training and to ease separation anxiety. The problem is they teach the dog to be reinforced without you around and that’s not helpful in the long run. Dog’s really need YOU to teach them. These things are also killers to wean off.

Crates are very helpful and money well spent as long as you teach your dog to like spending time in there. A crate is not a magical tool that teaches the dog to sleep, rest, be calm, or not destructive. It’s simply a cage that holds a dog. YOU create the meaning to the dog depending on how you use it.

Pee pads don’t teach the dog anything. Simply laying them on the floor, does not tell the dog that he should go there. Peeing outside is normal and allows the dog to get fresh air, social opportunities, and exercise. If you can’t take your dog out to pee, you may not be a good candidate to have a dog. Pee pads make it easy to not meet the dog’s needs.

A leash with a traffic handle helps you hold your dog close to you and away from other things, but does not teach him to walk nicely.

A flexi leash generally teaches the dog to go where he wants, to walk ahead of you and that there are no rules on a walk. This amount of choice and freedom usually results in undesirable dog behavior and tricky interactions with passerbyers.

A bark collar will suppress barking, but without teaching the dog anything, you are just making barking really unpleasant. Suppressing a behavior does not deal with the issue. Most dogs that bark a lot are in distress in some way. Does your dog need to learn to be more confident, more calm, more sociable? In most cases, if you address the issue, the barking stops.

Society wants a quick fix and is willing to pay for it. That is a fact. If you don’t have the time to feed your dog, teach him to walk nicely on a leash, how to be calm and quiet, and to play with him; you don’t have time for a dog. No amount of purchasing items will train your dog or fix anything. A dog is a wonderful creature who longs for your company and guidance! Solutions to behavior problems are attainable through behaving and communicating with your dog in an effective manner. If you don’t know how, a trainer is what you need to spend money on for real results.

Is it that training isn’t affordable or are you spending your money in the wrong areas?

One final point. Although not purchased on Amazon, but through your vet’s office; medications purchased to calm your dog down, stop aggression or destructiveness, are also money spent foolishly. Medication will not train your dog.